PREMIERPREMIER ISSUEISSUE March 1, 2003 THE NEWS RESOURCE FOR THE BUS AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY INSIDE FTA reviews Pennsylvania tax collection initiative TThehehe Houston Metro DOCKETDOCKET charter activity could spark coach industry backlash The Federal Transit Ad- DWI Initiative A new program by the state of customers. “If someone calls and there annually during the past four Two agencies of the U.S. ministration is investigating Pennsylvania to step up collection wants to go there, we will take years. Elmore said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation whether Houston Metro, the of corporate taxes from out-of- them, but we no longer will be will have to decide what is more have quietly launched a new 8th largest transit agency, has state motorcoach companies and marketing the state like we used beneficial: A million dollars a year initiative designed to force been violating the FTA's make the taxes retroactive for 10 to, at least until this is taken care to its economy from tourism or 17 states to lower their legal Charter Service Regulations years could cost the state millions of,” said Gwen Elmore, president. $15,000 in tax dollars. “I think standard for driving while in tying up transportation of dollars in tourist traffic. “You know, if your heart isn’t in it, they’re cutting off the arm that intoxicated. Page 4 services for the giant Houston Fun Tours Inc. of Norfolk, Va., you don’t do a very good job.” feeds them. That’s the big issue.” Livestock Show and Rodeo. says the state’s handling of the tax The tour and charter company Last month, the Pennsylvania FMCSA Meeting The investigation is in issue has soured it on Pennsylvania has heavily marketed Pennsylvan- Department of Revenue sent Fun The Research & Technology response to complaints filed by as a tourist destination and it will ia as a tour destination in the past Tours 10 notices saying it owed Office of the Federal Motor private tour companies who no longer market the state to its and has made several dozen runs CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Carrier Safety Administration say Houston Metro's strangle- will consider motorcoach safe- hold on transportation for the ty issues at a day-long meeting livestock show and rodeo has Prevost coach in mid March. Page 4 locked them out, violating the FTA's charter service rules. command post Good News? The Houston Livestock A spate of bridge and highway Show and Rodeo is Texas' ver- aids in shuttle toll increases may be over. sion of the Mardi Gras and the debris search Page 4 running of the bulls in Pamploma, Spain, combined. NACOGDOCHES, Texas - CDL Rules It's the world's largest live- An advanced mobile command The Federal Motor Carrier DFW's new high-tech mobile command post has been moved to east Texas stock exhibition, richest post built on a Prevost LeMirage Safety Administration has regular-season rodeo and pop- XLII conversion shell is playing a It has been moved to Nacogdoches the county and to handle the cleared up confusion about its ular entertainment venue. key role in the effort to recover County in east Texas where hun- relief schedule for those who tough new CDL rules. Page 6 More than 1.5 million people debris from the Columbia Space dreds of shuttle pieces landed. have been working 12-hour will attend show events Shuttle. All incoming calls regarding shifts. SBA 7(a) Changes between Feb. 25 and March 16. The command post is owned the shuttle are being fielded at the More than 500 local and state The stars were in alignment One source who has been and operated by DFW Intern- command post for Nacogdoches law enforcement officers and vol- for getting positive changes involved in the dispute said ational Airport, the world’s third- County’s operations center. The unteers have been involved in made to the SBA's popular the companies approached busiest airport, located midway post is being used to coordinate searching for, removing and 7(a) loan subsidy program. Page 5 Houston Metro about infor- between Dallas and Fort Worth. the search-and-recovery team in CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 mally settling their complaints but were shunned. “One Houston METRO staff person MCI plans plant expansion in Winnipeg told one of the companies that INSIDE employee training, plus lending Finally, the City of Winnipeg is the transit agency had just WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Motor MCI $9.4 million from its giving MCI a $1.1 million tax received 200 new buses and Coach Industries has taken the Industry News . .3 Industrial Opportunities Program. break over two years. said ‘we are going to provide wraps off plans to spend $40 mil- Those dollars are to be repaid. The company is matching the The Docket . .4 this service and there is noth- lion to expand its manufacturing In addition, the Canadian gov- government money, bringing the ing you can do about it.’” operation in Winnipeg, including Opinion . .8 ernment is setting up what is being total expansion to $40 million In a letter dated Feb. 5, to consolidating production of its E-, called a “Vehicle Technology (Canadian). Metro's general counsel, FTA G- and J-model coaches in the Expo Show Daily . .10 Centre” that will benefit MCI’s MCI President Tom Sorrells Regional Counsel Eldridge Canadian city. research and development pro- said the loans, training subsidies Onco said the FTA was To help finance the expansion, Coach Deliveries . .20 gram. The center will be a virtual and tax breaks not only will help reviewing the matter "to make MCI is getting an incentive pack- organization, supplying specialized the company expand but will Calendar of Events . .21 a determination as to whether age of more than $20 million equipment and services to MCI allow it to finish coaches in the Houston Metro is in compli- (Canadian) from three levels of Classifieds . .22 and other vehicle and transporta- Winnipeg plant for the first time ance or noncompliance with government. The Province of Manitoba is providing $5 million tion-related companies in greater in decades. People . .23 CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 for expansion, equipment and Winnipeg. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 MOTORCOACH EXPO SHOW DAILY What’s New at Expo Schedule & Special Events Pages 10-13 M1000 Series Join US AT UMA BOOTH #1307 for a Preview of the “New“ M500! A Blueprint for Versatility. Introducing the M1000 Series from ABC. 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CALIFORNIA 800-322-2877 FLORIDA 800-222-2871 MINNESOTA 800-222-2875 NEW JERSEY 800-222-2873 TEXAS WWW.abc-companies 800-222-2877 .com BUS & MOTORCOACH NEWS — March 1, 2003 — 3 INDUSTRY NEWS UMA adopts bold logo to help communicate role The United Motorcoach Asso- adopted after the association ciation has unveiled a bold, new changed is name seven years ago. logo designed to reflect the associ- For the first 25 years of its exis- ation’s strength, professionalism tence, the association was called and leadership. the United Bus Owners of UMA President and CEO America. In 1996, it became the Victor Parra said the association United Motorcoach Association “also wanted a logo that members and got a new logo. would want to proudly display on “We also were looking for a the side of their motorcoaches.” logo that would help us say who The logo’s unveiling was a we are,” Parra noted. “And that highlight at the gala hospitality we are moving forward success- Upwards of 2,000 athletes travel to Idaho from 23 states to compete. event that concluded the first full fully into the future, representing day of Motorcoach Expo 2003. operators’ interests in Washing- The Sneak Preview party ton, D.C. At the same time, that Simplot Games rely on Idaho operator allowed Expo attendees to get an UMA is friendly and approach- POCATELLO, Idaho - Teton Stage Lines of experience that puts our athletes, coaches and families early look at the manufacturer able—even for the smallest of Idaho Falls played a key role last week in the success first. The bus operators are an integral part of the over- and supplier exhibits on the show coach operators,” Parra added. of the nation’s premier indoor track and field event all experience,” Bohne added. floor. While UMA has adopted a for high school athletes, the Simplot Games. Transporting athletes to the games has its own par- UMA contracted with a new logo, its tag line remains The 2003 Simplot Games brought 2,000 prep ticular challenges. Like transporting pole vaulting Gaithersburg, Md.-based adver- unchanged: “What it takes to athletes from 23 states to Idaho and many of them poles. The 20-foot poles are slipped into the coaches tising firm to develop the logo. In drive your business.” were transported by Teton Stage Lines. This year’s through a front side window and laid in the aisle.