It Is Renewal Time! October Membership Renewal and Directory Updates

Invoices were emailed on August 2nd and are due October 1. If you need another copy of the invoice, please follow the instructions below to download a copy from the InfoHub or you can send us an email.

To retrieve the invoice from the InfoHub, you must login.  (You must first be listed as a contact in your company's member profile and have created a user account).

PBA Member, Quick's Bus recently acquired the Virginia Bus Doctor and replaced the mobile mechanic with Andrew Wagner. Newly named: "The Bus Doctor", we can provide provide mobile bus repair service providing "24 Hour Roadside Remedies" in the Washington, D.C. metro area including Virginia & Maryland. Not only will the service provide support for Quick's but will also be available for other operators with needs in the greater DC Metro area. 

Their new mobile mechanic can be reached at andrew@quicksbus.com or 703-794-0949. Read more...

PBA Member, Susquehanna Trailways transported Little Leaguers to the Grand Slam parade to celebrate the start of the annual Little League Baseball® World series in the Williamsport community. Susquehanna Trailways has been a long time sponsor for some of the Little League teams. Read more and checkout the pictures!

PBA Member, Trans-Bridge Lines is pleased to announce the promotions of Lauren JeBran-Helgerson and Mark Ertel.

“I am proud to recognize Lauren and Mark for their accomplishments and outstanding performance’, said Tom JeBran, President. “Nothing is more important to the long-term success of our company than our employees. Lauren and Mark’s level of dedication to their jobs is admirable and inspiring.”

Lauren has been named Controller, after holding the role of Assistant Controller for the past ten years. Lauren manages the Accounting Department staff and oversees all accounting-related activities. Mark Ertel has been promoted to Vice President of Operations. In his role, Mark will continue to oversee all aspects of operations including safety, security, Dispatch, and maintenance and facilities. Mark has been with TransBridge Lines since 2015. Congratulations to both!  Read the press release.

Despite grueling weather conditions, including triple-digit temperatures and interoperability, availability, and capacity issues within the public infrastructure grid, the Van Hool TDX25E 45-foot double deck coach posted impressive stats throughout the journey, according to PBA Member, ABC Companies. Read more...

At the 2023 International Motorcoach Group Awards Dinner, PBA Member Amaya-Astron Seating was named the 2023 Partner of the Year! Congratulations! Read more...!

The expansion represents a $550 million investment aimed at increasing capacity and accelerating the use of technologies that support more efficient commercial fleets. The project will expand the plant by 850,000 square feet while adding 380 new jobs. PBA Member, Bridgestone celebrated construction starting with a groundbreaking ceremony. Read more...

PBA Partners With One+ For Advocacy

We hired One+ Strategies to lead our advocacy efforts in Harrisburg. This is part of an effort to significantly increase the association members' voices at the Capitol. Read the press release.

Have You Contacted Your Senators and Representatives Yet?

Senators. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Tax Exemption Act in the Senate (S.1944). S.1944 is companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 3510) re-introduced in May.

Bill H.R. 3510, reintroduction of a bill that would eliminate the tax burden for those who received CERTS Act money during the pandemic, was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means after being sponsored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.). The bill has since garnered the support of Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Jared Golden (R-Maine), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.).

We need your help to advocate for our industry! Please contact your Senators and ask them to support S. 1944 and contact your Representatives and ask them to support H.R. 3510. Below are two easy forms that will only take a few minutes of your time to complete.

The 10th Annual PBA Motorcoach Safety & Preparedness Workshop was held August 16, 2023 at the York Springs Fire Hall in York Springs, PA.

Congratulations to Brent from Innovative Coach for winning the 50-50 for the scholarship raffle and the other gift card winners! Check out the pictures from the workshop.

This year's sessions were designed to address issues that a variety of our members are seeking. Members and their key staff will be able to pick and choose which topics are most relevant to their job responsibilities.

The PBA Marketplace two-day event will be held March 25-26, 2024, hosted by The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau at the Nittany Valley Sports Centre!

Monday, March 25th will be set-up day for exhibitors, educational seminar on tourism, Board of Director's meeting and an evening reception. Tuesday, March 26th will start with an informative Exhibitor breakfast, followed by the main event, our Group Leader Marketplace. 

Shapiro Administration Modernizes Commercial Driver’s Skills Test

PennDOT announced that a new, modernized commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test will be implemented at all PennDOT Driver License Centers that offer CDL skills tests and at all third-party CDL driving skill testers beginning August 28, 2023. Read more... 

Governor Shapiro Announces Nearly $36 Million in Green Light-Go Grant Funds to Communities Across the Commonwealth to Improve Traffic Safety

Governor Shapiro announced that 77 municipalities across the Commonwealth will receive over $35.5 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing safety, and mobility across Pennsylvania's communities through PennDOT's "Green Light-Go" program. Read more...

PA Senate Will Return to Session

The Pennsylvania State Senate will return to session to take up the unfinished budget-related bills. When their counterparts in the State House come back is another story. Read more...

Jennifer Berrier Appointed as PUC Executive Director

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced the appointment of Jennifer Berrier of Harrisburg as executive director for the PUC, effective September 11, 2023. Read more...

New Fee Structure Part of Pennsylvania Turnpike Tolling Plan

The goal is a cashless, free-flowing system called Open-Road Tolling. Read more...

NHTSA Kicks Off “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign

During the Labor Day holiday period, we typically see an increase in drunk-driving deaths — and that's why you'll likely see more law enforcement on the roads. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, which runs from August 16-September 4, aims to educate people about the dangers and consequences of driving drunk. Read more...

New Drug Testing Rule from USDOT Could Help Alleviate the Bus Operator Crisis

In recognition of this dilemma, the USDOT changed drug testing rules on June 1, allowing transit agencies and others involved with transportation to use oral fluid drug testing instead of, or alongside, urine testing. Oral fluid testing (sometimes called a spit or saliva test) only detects use as far back as 5 to 48 hours. This was a positive development, as it will give agencies the ability to hire more operators and preserve and expand transit service. Read more...

Mask Mandates Reemerge Amid Upturn in COVID-19 Cases

The recent upturn in COVID-19 cases in some regions has spurred a handful of entities around the country to reinstate mask mandates, reigniting the debate over what place masking requirements have in an era of living with the coronavirus. Read more...

Amtrak’s First Electric Bus To Serve Pacific Northwest

The electric bus will provide transportation between Seattle and Bellingham with stops in Everett and Mount Vernon and can make the nearly 200-mile roundtrip on a single charge. Read more...

How One City Used Transit to Cut Traffic During a Taylor Swift Mega-Concert

Building highway lanes will never, ever, ever get America's traffic problems under control — but a new study suggests that investing in other modes will, even when a massive pop star is in town. Read more...

ICYMI

Alerts, Invitations, Press Releases, and more are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the emails we sent out since last Go News below.

• Pennsylvania Bus Association Partners With One+ For Advocacy