ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) is urging its members to show their support for the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) proposed new rules to protect private school bus companies from unfair competition from federally-funded public transit agencies.

NSTA officials recently reported that the FTA is not hearing from enough people who are in favor of maintaining the protections. They went on to say that if the FTA is forced to back down on the issue, transit authorities will seize the opportunity to use their federal subsidies to undercut the cost of school transportation.

NSTA has posted on its Website a sample letter with comments in support of the FTA’s protections.

Association members can copy the comments to their letterhead, insert an opening paragraph about their company, fill in the blanks where necessary, and submit the letter to the FTA via fax or e-mail.

NSTA encouraged its members to add more information to the letter, such as examples of transit encroachment in their area, or to draft an original letter. The association also asked that copies of members’ letters be sent to their respective Congressional representatives with a note asking them to submit comments to drum up additional support.

For instructions on how to submit letters to the FTA, click here.