Metro Ushered Out of Shuttle Bus Business

WANT TO GET from Metrorail to FedEx Field for a Redskins game? New rules by the Federal Transit Administration will make that task a bit more confusing.

Reports The Post's Lena H. Sun:

Under Federal Transit Administration regulations that became final May 1, public agencies cannot operate charter bus service if private companies are available to provide the service. Last year, Metro chartered nearly 2,500 buses for revenue of $1.6 million.

Without a waiver from the FTA, Metro cannot provide charter service unless it first checks with dozens of charter bus companies in the Washington region, a time-consuming task that would require Metro to send e-mails to every motorcoach company registered in a regional database, officials said.

Metro General Manager John Catoe said the move will have little financial impact; Metro's charter service rates allowed for only "a small profit," he said, according to Sun.

The result for customers, however, could be the scratching of heads. The move means that non-Metro buses will use Metro station bus depots — and so far, there's no clear indication of how the Redskins organization plans to ferry passengers from Morgan Boulevard to FedEx, since walking from the station is verboten.

According to Sun, Metro received an exemption to continue its charter service to Wolf Trap until the end of this year. Venue spokesman Chris Guerre said those buses, which are in service today, provide round-trip rides from the West Falls Church station for a $3 fare. "We are looking for other options for next year," Guerre told The Post.

» "New Rules Close Doors On Metro Shuttle Buses" [WaPo]

Photo by Larry Morris/The Washington Post

Posted By Greg Barber at 9:42 AM on May 23, 2008 Tagged in Free Ride , Maryland , Metro , Morgan Blvd. , News , The District , Top Stories , Transit , Virginia , West Falls Church

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