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FTA Bus Testing Program
20.529
The purpose of the program is to provide assistance for testing new transit bus models and reporting on their maintainability, reliability, safety, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, and noise performance characteristics. Per 49 U.S.C Section 5318(e), amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this chapter may be obligated or expended to acquire a new bus model only if that model is tested at the Bus Testing Facility and the bus achieved a passing test score based upon the performance standards for maintainability, reliability, performance (including braking performance), structural integrity, fuel economy, emissions, noise, and safety. The program is administered under FTA’s implementing regulation at 49 CFR Part 665, commonly referred to as the Bus Testing Regulation.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
The Bus Testing Facility will conduct standardized tests and prepare test reports for up to twenty new transit bus models and will also bring a compressed hydrogen fueling station on-line in June of 2016 to enable the testing of new hydrogen fuel cell bus models. Overall, the Bus Testing Program has proven to be valuable to the transit industry. As of March 31, 2016 testing has been completed on 444 buses with a total of 9,324 bus failure modes were identified since the program’s inception. Of those failure modes, 44 could have resulted in serious injuries or significant property damage had they occurred in revenue service. Another 175 failure modes would have resulted in the bus being stranded on its route had they occurred in actual service. Many of the other malfunctions identified would adversely impact transit service (e.g., resulting in road calls stranding passengers), and all would increase maintenance costs by requiring corrective maintenance actions. The Bus Testing Program ensures that by testing new bus models before they are purchased, recipients and manufacturers can often address problems before the fleet is built, potentially saving the federal government and grant recipients considerable money and time and avoiding inconveniencing passengers. The Bus Testing Facility conducted standardized tests and prepare test reports for up to twenty new transit bus models and brought a compressed hydrogen fueling station on-line in June of 2016 to enable the testing of new hydrogen fuel cell bus models. Overall, the Bus Testing Program has proven to be valuable to the transit industry. As of March 31, 2016 testing has been completed on 444 buses with a total of 9,324 bus failure modes were identified since the program’s inception. Of those failure modes, 44 could have resulted in serious injuries or significant property damage had they occurred in revenue service. Another 175 failure modes would have resulted in the bus being stranded on its route had they occurred in actual service. Many of the other malfunctions identified would adversely impact transit service (e.g., resulting in road calls stranding passengers), and all would increase maintenance costs by requiring corrective maintenance actions. The Bus Testing Program ensures that by testing new bus models before they are purchased, recipients and manufacturers can often address problems before the fleet is built, potentially saving the federal government and grant recipients considerable money and time and avoiding inconveniencing passengers.
The Bus Testing Facility conducted standardized tests and prepared 6 full, and 5 partial bus testing reports for buses that started testing in calendar year 2017.
The Bus Testing Program applies to recipients of FTA capital assistance who purchase new model transit buses or existing bus models being produced with a major change. As of December 31, 2017, testing was completed on 469 buses with over 9,500 bus failures identified. Of those failures, 46 could have resulted in serious injuries or significant property damage had they occurred in revenue service. Many of the other malfunctions would adversely impact transit service (e.g., resulting in road calls standing passengers), and all would increase maintenance costs by requiring corrective maintenance actions. The Bus Testing Program ensures that by testing new bus models before they are purchased, recipients and manufacturers can often address problems before the fleet is built, potentially saving the federal government and grant recipients considerable money and time and avoiding inconveniencing passengers.
ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR PROJECT FUNDED IN FY 2019 INCLUDE: FTA funded the Bus Testing Facility in FY 2019, which continued to test new bus models and previously-tested models being produced with major changes and issued full and partial Bus Testing Reports. FTA worked to coordinate the activities, and the testing and reporting procedures of the two new LoNo bus testing centers with the existing bus testing center.
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROJECT FUNDED DURING FY 2020 INCLUDE:
Funded the Bus Testing program in FY 2020, which continued to test new bus models and previously-tested models being produced with major changes and issued full and partial Bus Testing reports. FTA worked to coordinate the activities, and the testing and reporting procedures of the two new LoNo bus testing centers with the existing bus testing center.
Posted new reporting guidelines for bus testing on FTA’s website. Altered and implemented a new report number format for buses tested in 2020. Recipients must receive a copy of the full Bus Testing Report or any applicable Partial Testing Report in order to be Awarded (Assistance Agreement) FTA funds for the vehicle.
ACCOMPLISHMENT EXPECTED OF PROJECT FUNDED IN FY 2021 INCLUDE: FTA expects to continue funding the one existing Bus Testing Center and two new LoNo Bus Testing Centers (under 5312(h)). FTA also officially rolled out an enhanced outline based bus testing request system in the Summer of 2021.
During FY 2023, the Bus Testing Center successfully continued its mission by testing both new bus models and previously tested models that underwent significant modifications. The center conducted a comprehensive evaluation process and issued both full and partial Bus Testing Reports, providing essential insights into the performance and compliance of these vehicles. This data was crucial for establishing eligibility of bus models for FTA funding, for transit agencies in making informed procurement decisions, and for ensuring that the tested buses met federal safety and performance standards.
In FY 2024, the Bus Testing Center successfully continued its mission by testing both new bus models and previously tested models that underwent significant modifications. The center conducted a comprehensive evaluation process and issued both full and partial Bus Testing Reports, providing essential insights into the performance and compliance of these vehicles. This data was crucial for establishing eligibility of bus models for FTA funding, for transit agencies in making informed procurement decisions, and for ensuring that the tested buses met federal safety and performance standards.
For FY 2025, the testing center plans to finalize the construction of a new electric vehicle charging station, enhancing its capability to test electric-powered buses. The center is anticipated to conduct 15 to 18 tests on these models, producing comprehensive evaluations that will inform procurement decisions for transit agencies. Detailed test reports will continue to provide Pass/Fail scores, ensuring that only compliant models are eligible for federal funding.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
