March 31, 2025
Mr. Van Drew (for himself and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
To amend title 23, United States Code, to clarify provisions relating to equal access for over-the-road buses, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Bus Parity and Clarity Act
.
Sec. 2. Clarification of equal access for over-the-road buses
(a) In general
(1) Toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries
Section 129(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (9)(A) by striking that serves the public
and inserting in scheduled or charter service
; and
(B)
in paragraph (11) by adding at the end the following:
(F) Charter service
The term charter service has the meaning given the term in part 604 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) HOV facilities
Section 166 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
(A)
in subsection (b)(3)(C) by striking serving the public
and inserting in scheduled or charter service
; and
(B)
in subsection (f) by adding at the end the following:
(7) Charter service
The term charter service has the meaning given the term in part 604 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) Value pricing pilot program
In carrying out a value pricing pilot program under section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (23 U.S.C. 149 note), a public authority with jurisdiction over a toll facility shall provide to an over-the-road bus in scheduled or charter service access to a toll facility under the same rates, terms, and conditions as a public transportation vehicle, consistent with section 129(a)(9) of title 23, United States Code.
(c) Publication
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration shall publish on a publicly available website a unified database containing information with respect to the rates, terms, and conditions of each toll facility covered under the equal access provisions described in sections 129(a)(9) and 166(b)(3) of title 23, United States Code.
(d) Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Charter service
The term charter service has the meaning given the term in part 604 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2) Over-the-road bus
The term over-the-road bus has the meaning given the term in section 301 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12181).
(3) Public authority; toll facility
The terms public authority and toll facility have the meanings given the terms in section 129(a) of title 23, United States Code.
(4) Public transportation vehicle
The term public transportation vehicle has the meaning given the term in section 166 of title 23, United States Code.