[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28770]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 22, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part VI





Department of Transportation





_______________________________________________________________________



Federal Highway Administration



Federal Transit Administration



_______________________________________________________________________




Axle Weights of Public Transit Buses; Extension of Exclusion Period; 
Notice
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration

 
Axle Weights of Public Transit Buses; Extension of Exclusion 
Period

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Congress directed the Secretary of Transportation to study 
and provide recommendations to address the matter of public transit 
buses that exceed Interstate System axle weight limits. The Congress 
also excluded public transit buses from Interstate System axle weight 
limits for 2 years (until October 6, 1994) and provided that the 
Secretary could extend the exclusion for an additional year. The study 
was transmitted to the Congress on September 20, 1994, but legislation 
would be required to implement its recommendation to allow higher bus 
axle weights until lighter buses can be developed and this will require 
additional time. Therefore, renewing the exclusion for 1 more year will 
allow public transit buses to continue to operate on the Interstate 
System at axle weights authorized by each state while a permanent 
solution is implemented.

DATES: The exclusion of public transit buses from the Interstate System 
axle weight limits is extended to October 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Klimek, Office of Motor 
Carrier Information Management, at (202) 366-2212, or Mr. Charles 
Medalen, Office of Chief Counsel, at (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
Administration; Mr. Bart W. Mancini, Office of Engineering Evaluation, 
at (202) 366-0224, or Mr. Richard Wong, Office of Chief Counsel, at 
(202) 366-1936, Federal Transit Administration, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office 
hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 341 of the FY 1993 Department of 
Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 102-
388, 106 Stat. 1520, at 1552) amended section 1023 of the Intermodal 
Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-240, 105 
Stat. 1914, at 1951) by adding a new paragraph (h). Paragraph (h)(2) 
required the Secretary to conduct a study of the maximum axle weight 
limits of ``public transit vehicles'' on the Interstate System. 
Paragraph (h)(1) excluded ``any vehicle which is regularly and 
exclusively used as an intrastate public agency transit passenger bus'' 
from the single- and tandem-axle weight limits imposed on the 
Interstate System by the second sentence in 23 U.S.C. 127 for 2 years 
from the effective date of the legislation, October 6, 1992, and 
authorized the Secretary to renew the exclusion for an additional year.
    States that fail to enforce the Interstate System weight limits 
could be penalized by the loss of their Federal highway funds under 23 
U.S.C. 141(c)(2). Before the exclusion became effective, buses were, on 
occasion, stopped by State enforcement personnel and forced to unload 
passengers until they were no longer overweight.
    The study required by paragraph (h)(2) was transmitted to the 
Congress on September 20, 1994. However, action to address overweight 
axles of public transit buses on the Interstate System will require 
additional time. A 1-year extension will allow public transit buses to 
continue to operate on the Interstate System without the threat of 
possible funding sanctions or the removal of passengers while a 
permanent solution to the problem is implemented.
    Therefore, any vehicle which is regularly and exclusively used as 
an intrastate public agency transit passenger bus is excluded, until 
October 6, 1995, from the second sentence of section 23 U.S.C. 127 
relating to axle weight limitations for vehicles using the Dwight D. 
Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

    Authority: Sec. 1023, Intermodal Surface Transportation 
Efficiency Act of 1991, Pub. L. 102-240, 105 Stat. 1914, at 1951, as 
amended by sec. 341, Pub. L. 102-388, 106 Stat. 1520, at 1552.

    Issued on: November 15, 1994.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.

    Issued on: November 15, 1994.
Gordon J. Linton,
Federal Transit Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-28770 Filed 11-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P