Federal rules hinder special event bus service
The future of those shuttle bus rides the city offers Husker fans for home games — on the Big Red Express — is up in the air, thanks to new federal regulations.
But the Holiday Lights Tours city buses offer as a gift to the community every Christmas are definitely a thing of the past.
Cities nationwide are figuring out whether to continue providing shuttle service to everything from football games to horse races under new federal regulations that prevent transit agencies from providing chartered buses if private companies can provide the service.
Under a law that went into effect April 30, transit systems could lose federal funding if they use public buses for special events.
The law is intended to prevent public systems from taking business from private companies.
The rules will spell the end of the holiday lights tours offered by Lincoln for the past 16 years, and will require additional work for the city to continue offering the Big Red Express shuttle to home football games.
Big Red Express buses carry fans to Memorial Stadium from seven sites around the city.
StarTran head Larry Worth said the new rules required him to offer the game shuttle service to charter companies nationwide — and he did so July 7. Those companies have until Tuesday to indicate interest.
If a company wants to provide the shuttle service, the city can either let the company do it or provide the shuttle at regular bus rates of $1.25 one-way, rather than premium rates charged in the past.
In the past, the city has charged $4 one-way for adults and $2 for children — or $40 for season tickets. StarTran makes about $60,000 by charging premium rates, it said, and would lose about $80,000 if it charged regular rates.
“It’s our understanding that either way, we’re going to provide the service,” Worth said, referring to directions he’s received from the mayor’s office.
Worth think it’s unlikely local charter companies could do the gig, and doubts any from out of town could afford to bring a caravan of buses in for Husker games.
“They’d have to find 35 buses and 35 drivers for eight times a year,” Worth said. Just driving from Omaha would cost “a chunk of change,” he said.
Other cities around the nation decided to stop providing shuttle service rather than muddle through new rules: The Metro in Washington, D.C., will no longer provide shuttle bus service to Washington Redskins games and school field trips. The Maryland Transit Authority ended its shuttle services to Orioles and Ravens games in early June. And Tennessee Titans fans are being told to find another way to games.
One way or another, the Big Red Express will likely ride again.
But StarTran’s Holiday Lights Tours are over. The feds will no longer allow public buses to be used for sightseeing tours, Worth said.
For a small fee, city buses have been taking Lincolnites on a tour of particularly festive homes decked out in Christmas decorations for about 16 years. The tour itself is somewhat of a spectacle, with about a 20-bus caravan and police escort.
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.
But the Holiday Lights Tours city buses offer as a gift to the community every Christmas are definitely a thing of the past.
Cities nationwide are figuring out whether to continue providing shuttle service to everything from football games to horse races under new federal regulations that prevent transit agencies from providing chartered buses if private companies can provide the service.
Under a law that went into effect April 30, transit systems could lose federal funding if they use public buses for special events.
The law is intended to prevent public systems from taking business from private companies.
The rules will spell the end of the holiday lights tours offered by Lincoln for the past 16 years, and will require additional work for the city to continue offering the Big Red Express shuttle to home football games.
Big Red Express buses carry fans to Memorial Stadium from seven sites around the city.
StarTran head Larry Worth said the new rules required him to offer the game shuttle service to charter companies nationwide — and he did so July 7. Those companies have until Tuesday to indicate interest.
If a company wants to provide the shuttle service, the city can either let the company do it or provide the shuttle at regular bus rates of $1.25 one-way, rather than premium rates charged in the past.
In the past, the city has charged $4 one-way for adults and $2 for children — or $40 for season tickets. StarTran makes about $60,000 by charging premium rates, it said, and would lose about $80,000 if it charged regular rates.
“It’s our understanding that either way, we’re going to provide the service,” Worth said, referring to directions he’s received from the mayor’s office.
Worth think it’s unlikely local charter companies could do the gig, and doubts any from out of town could afford to bring a caravan of buses in for Husker games.
“They’d have to find 35 buses and 35 drivers for eight times a year,” Worth said. Just driving from Omaha would cost “a chunk of change,” he said.
Other cities around the nation decided to stop providing shuttle service rather than muddle through new rules: The Metro in Washington, D.C., will no longer provide shuttle bus service to Washington Redskins games and school field trips. The Maryland Transit Authority ended its shuttle services to Orioles and Ravens games in early June. And Tennessee Titans fans are being told to find another way to games.
One way or another, the Big Red Express will likely ride again.
But StarTran’s Holiday Lights Tours are over. The feds will no longer allow public buses to be used for sightseeing tours, Worth said.
For a small fee, city buses have been taking Lincolnites on a tour of particularly festive homes decked out in Christmas decorations for about 16 years. The tour itself is somewhat of a spectacle, with about a 20-bus caravan and police escort.
Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.
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