[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46098-46100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23203]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. MC-F-20927]


Coach USA, Inc.--Control--Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Inc.; 
Colonial Coach Corp.; GL Bus Lines, Inc.; Gray Line Air Shuttle, Inc.; 
Gray Line New York Tours, Inc.; Hudson Transit Corporation; Hudson 
Transit Lines, Inc.; and International Bus Services, Inc.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving Finance Transaction.

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SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a noncarrier that controls several 
motor passenger carriers, filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 
for control of Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Inc. (Chenango), Colonial 
Coach Corp. (Colonial), GL Bus Lines, Inc. (GL), Gray Line Air Shuttle, 
Inc. (GL Air), Gray Line New York Tours, Inc. (GLNY), Hudson Transit 
Corporation (HTC), Hudson Transit Lines, Inc. (HTL), and International 
Bus Services, Inc. (IBS), all motor passenger carriers related to one 
another through largely common ownership. Persons wishing to oppose the 
application must follow the rules under 49 CFR part 1182, subparts B 
and C. The Board has tentatively approved the transaction, and, if no 
opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board 
action.

DATES: Comments must be filed by October 13, 1998. Applicant may file a 
reply by November 2, 1998. If no comments are filed by October 13, 
1998, this notice is effective on that date.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB 
Docket No. MC-F-20927 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of the 
Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 
20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments to applicant's 
representatives: Betty Jo Christian and David H. Coburn, Steptoe & 
Johnson LLP, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1600. 
[TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach currently controls several motor 
passenger carriers.1 In this transaction, it seeks to 
acquire control of Chenango; 2

[[Page 46099]]

Colonial; 3 GL; 4 GL Air; 5 GLNY; 
6 HTC; 7 HTL; 8 and IBS 9 
by acquiring all of the stock of each of these commonly-controlled 
carriers.10
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    \1\ The Board recently issued a notice tentatively granting 
Coach authority to control nine additional motor carriers of 
passengers. Coach USA, Inc.--Control--Blue Bird Coach Lines, Inc. et 
al., STB Docket No. MC-F-20921 (STB served June 19, 1998). Because 
no adverse comments were filed, the notice became the final action 
of the Board. In addition, the Board more recently issued notices 
tentatively granting Coach authority to control two motor passenger 
carriers, Coach USA, Inc.--Control--Kansas City Executive Coach, 
Inc. and Le Bus, Inc., STB Docket No. MC-F-20923 (STB served July 
24, 1998); and to control five motor passenger carriers, Coach USA, 
Inc.--Control-- Brunswick Transportation Company d/b/a The Maine 
Line, et al. STB Docket No. MC-F-20926 (STB served Aug. 14, 1998). 
Finally, Coach has recently filed an application with the Board to 
continue in control of a motor passenger carrier, Coach USA, Inc.--
Continuance in Control--Salt Lake Coaches, Inc., STB Docket No. MC-
F-20928 (filed Aug. 3, 1998).
    \2\ Chenango is a New York corporation. It holds federally 
issued operating authority in Docket No. MC-141324, as well as 
authority from the New York State Department of Transportation 
(NYDOT). Chenango utilizes a fleet of approximately 14 motorcoaches 
and employs 47 full and part time employees. Chenango's gross 
revenue for fiscal year 1997 was approximately $2.2 million. 
Chenango is owned in full by noncarrier Limousine Rental Service, 
Inc. (Limousine). A majority of the shares of Limousine are owned by 
Mr. Barnett Rukin. Limousine also wholly owns GL.
    \3\ Colonial is a New Jersey corporation. It holds federally 
issued operating authority in Docket No. MC-39491, as well as 
authority from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). 
Colonial operates a fleet of 8 motorcoaches and employs 25 full and 
part time persons. Colonial's gross annual revenue in 1997 was 
approximately $945,000. Colonial is owned by Mr. Barnett Rukin (who 
holds a majority interest), Mr. Julius Eisen and Ms. Susan Eisen.
    \4\ GL is a New York corporation. It holds federally issued 
operating authority in Docket No. MC-180074, as well as authority 
from NYDOT. At present, GL is not conducting motor passenger 
operations and has no revenues from bus operations. GL, like 
Chenango, is owned in full by noncarrier Limousine.
    \5\ GL Air is a New Jersey corporation. It holds federally 
issued operating authority in Docket No. MC-218255, as well as 
authority from NYDOT. GL Air operates a fleet of 44 vans, 33 double-
deck buses, 17 minibuses and 1 trolley. GL Air employs approximately 
200 persons. GL Air's gross annual revenue in 1997 was over $9.2 
million. GL Air is owned by Mr. Barnett Rukin, Mr. Julius Eisen, Mr. 
Charles Flateman, Mr. Andrew Eisen, Ms. Cara Eisen, Mr. Joshua 
Eisen, the Emily Rukin Grantor Trust, the William Rukin Grantor 
Trust, and the Alexandra Rukin Family Trust.
    \6\ GLNY is a New York corporation. It holds federally issued 
operating authority in Docket No. MC-180229. GLNY employs 
approximately 90 persons. GLNY's 1997 annual revenues were in excess 
of $17.8 million. GLNY is owned by Mr. Barnett Rukin, Mr. Julius 
Eisen, Ms. Brina Lois Rosenblatt, Mr. Bernard Flateman, and Mr. 
Charles Flateman.
    \7\ HTC is a New York corporation. It holds federally issued 
operating authority in Docket No. MC-133403, as well as authority 
from NYDOT. HTC employs approximately 40 persons. HTC's gross annual 
revenue for 1997 was $5.1 million. HTC is owned by Mr. Julius Eisen, 
Mr. Joshua Eisen, Mr. Andrew Eisen, William Rukin Grantor Trust, 
Cara Gail Eisen Trust, Ms. Donna Rukin, and Short Line Terminal 
Agency, Inc. (Short Line), a noncarrier which owns a majority 
interest in HTC. The voting shares of Short Line are in turn owned 
largely by Mr. Barnett Rukin.
    \8\ HTL is a Delaware Corporation. It holds federally issued 
operating authority in Docket No. MC-228, as well as authority from 
NJDOT. HTL operates a fleet of 150 vehicles, mostly motorcoaches, 
and employs approximately 325 persons. HTL's gross annual revenue in 
1997 was approximately $25.6 million. Short Line, in which Mr. 
Barnett Rukin holds the large majority of voting shares, owns a 
majority interest in HTL. HTL is also owned by Mr. Barnett Rukin, 
Mr. Julius Eisen, Ms. Susan Eisen, Mr. Joshua Eisen, Mr. Andrew 
Eisen, William Rukin Grantor Trust, Trust for the Benefit of Joshua 
Eisen, Trust for the Benefit of Andrew Eisen, and HTC, another of 
the acquired companies.
    \9\ IBS is a New York corporation. It holds federally issued 
operating authority in Docket No. MC-155937, as well as authority 
from NYDOT and NJDOT. IBS operates a fleet of approximately 50 
vehicles and employs approximately 150 persons. IBS's gross annual 
revenue in 1997 was approximately $5.8 million, most of which was 
earned from transfers from related companies. IBS is owned by Mr. 
Barnett Rukin (who holds a majority interest), Mr. Julius Eisen, Ms. 
Brina Lois Rosenblatt, Mr. Charles Flateman, and Mr. Bernard 
Flateman.
    \10\ The Interstate Commerce Commission had previously approved 
the common control of these entities in Hudson Transit Lines, Inc.--
Purchase--Inter-City Transportation Co., Inc., No. MC-F-8620 (ICC 
served July 27, 1964); Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Inc.--Purchase--
Binghamton Short Lines, Corp., and Chenango Valley Transit, No. MC-
F-12502 (ICC served Oct. 16, 1975); David Rukin, et al.--Control-- 
International Bus Services, Inc., No. MC-F-15297 (ICC served Aug. 
30, 1983); Julius Eisen, et al.--Continuance in Control--GL Bus 
Lines and Gray Line New York Tours, Inc., No. MC-F-16347 (ICC served 
July 23, 1985); and Barnett Rukin, et al.-- Continuance in Control, 
No. MC-F-19545 (ICC served Jan. 1990).
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    Applicant submits that there will be no transfer of any federal or 
state operating authorities held by any of the acquired carriers. 
Following the consummation of the control transaction, each of the 
acquired carriers will continue operating in the same manner as before. 
According to applicant, granting the application will not reduce 
competitive options available to the traveling public. Applicant 
asserts that none of the carriers proposed to be acquired competes to 
any meaningful degree with any of the others. Applicant submits that 
each carrier faces substantial competition from other bus companies and 
modes of transportation.
    Applicant also submits that granting the application will produce 
substantial benefits, including savings in interest costs from the 
restructuring of debt and reduced operating costs from Coach's enhanced 
volume purchasing power. Specifically, applicant claims that the 
carriers to be acquired will benefit from lower insurance premiums 
negotiated by Coach and from volume discounts for equipment and fuel. 
Applicant indicates that Coach will provide each of the carriers to be 
acquired with centralized legal and accounting services and coordinated 
purchasing services. In addition, applicant states that vehicle sharing 
arrangements will be facilitated through Coach to ensure maximum use 
and efficient operation of equipment. Applicant states that, with 
Coach's assistance, coordinated driver training services will be 
provided enabling each carrier to allocate driver resources in the most 
efficient manner possible. Applicant also states that the proposed 
transaction will benefit the employees of the acquired carriers and 
that all collective bargaining agreements will be honored by Coach.
    Coach plans to acquire control of additional motor passenger 
carriers in the coming months. It asserts that the financial benefits 
and operating efficiencies will be enhanced further by these subsequent 
transactions. Over the long term, Coach states that it will provide 
centralized marketing and reservation services for the bus firms that 
it controls, thereby further enhancing the benefits resulting from 
these control transactions.
    Applicant certifies that: (1) none of the carriers holds an 
unsatisfactory safety rating from the U.S. Department of 
Transportation; 11 (2) each has sufficient liability 
insurance; (3) none of the acquired carriers is either domiciled in 
Mexico or owned or controlled by persons of that country; and (4) 
approval of the transaction will not significantly affect either the 
quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy 
resources. Additional information may be obtained from applicant's 
representatives.
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    \11\ Chenango, Colonial, GL Air, GLNY, HTL, and IBS each hold a 
satisfactory safety rating. GLNY and HTC have not been rated.
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    Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), we must approve and authorize a 
transaction we find consistent with the public interest, taking into 
consideration at least: (1) the effect of the transaction on the 
adequacy of transportation to the public; (2) the total fixed charges 
that result; and (3) the interest of affected carrier employees.
    On the basis of the application, we find that the proposed 
acquisition of control is consistent with the public interest and 
should be authorized. If any opposing comments are timely filed, this 
finding will be deemed vacated and a procedural schedule will be 
adopted to reconsider the application. If no opposing comments are 
filed by the expiration of the comment period, this decision will take 
effect automatically and will be the final Board action.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''
    This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of 
the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.
    It is ordered:
    1. The proposed acquisition of control is approved and authorized, 
subject to the filing of opposing comments.
    2. If timely opposing comments are filed, the findings made in this 
decision will be deemed as having been vacated.
    3. This decision will be effective on October 13, 1998, unless 
timely opposing comments are filed.
    4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) the U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Office of Motor Carriers-HIA 30, 400 Virginia 
Avenue, S.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024; and (2) the U.S. 
Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania 
Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20530.

    Decided: August 21, 1998.


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    By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-23203 Filed 8-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P