NEW YORK, NY — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., joined transportation industry leaders Monday to announce bipartisan legislation aimed at ending New York City’s citizen-driven bus idling enforcement program and establishing federal standards for over-the-road buses.
The Buses Utilizing Safety and Environmental Standards (BUSES) Act, introduced with Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., would create a 15-minute federal minimum allowance for bus idling during certain operational activities and prohibit bounty-style enforcement programs tied to idling violations.
Gottheimer said the measure is intended to protect bus operators serving seniors, children and passengers with disabilities while maintaining environmental safeguards.
“This bus idling tax is not just bad policy. It is an offense to every principle of access and inclusion this country stands for. Operators are being put in an impossible position: do the job right and risk a fine, or cut corners on safety to beat an arbitrary clock. No one should ever have to make that choice,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).
Gottheimer added, “In the last five years, the price of motorcoach tickets has increased by thirty-five percent. That’s yet another tax on Jersey families at a time when people are already getting crushed under the cost of living.”
Under current New York City regulations, buses and trucks generally may not idle for more than three minutes, or more than one minute near schools. The city enforces those rules through its Citizens Air Complaint Program, which allows residents to receive a portion of fines collected from reported violations.
According to Gottheimer’s office, complaints filed through the program have risen from 49,000 in 2022 to 124,000 in 2024, with more than 62,000 complaints already filed in 2026.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the current system penalizes bus operators performing routine tasks such as federally required safety inspections, loading passengers with disabilities and maintaining safe temperatures for passengers during extreme weather.
“Bus operators, who often travel across state lines and multiple jurisdictions, should not be forced to navigate a confusing maze of conflicting regulations just to do their jobs,” said Congressman Langworthy (NY-23). “This legislation creates a commonsense national standard that protects transportation providers from excessive mandates while ensuring they have the flexibility needed to safely operate, especially in regions where safety, traffic, and weather conditions are a legitimate concern. This bill also rightly puts an end to the disturbing big brother bounty programs that are nothing more than a cash grab.”
The legislation would establish a 15-minute federal floor for idling restrictions on over-the-road buses, end bounty-style enforcement programs tied to bus idling violations and prevent citizen complaints from being used against operators carrying out essential operational duties.
Supporters emphasized that the bill would not eliminate anti-idling laws or environmental protections.
“Professional bus operators deserve clear, consistent rules that allow them to focus on safety. The BUSES Act provides the certainty our industry needs while protecting the passengers who depend on motorcoach transportation every day,” said Fred Ferguson, President and CEO of the American Bus Association. “Motorcoaches are already one of the most environmentally responsible group transportation options available. They deliver the lowest carbon emissions per passenger mile while helping relieve congestion by moving more people in fewer vehicles. As policymakers look for safe, efficient ways to expand mobility, buses belong at the center of the solution. We thank Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Congressman Nick Langworthy for their bipartisan leadership on this legislation and for recognizing that safety, mobility, and common-sense national standards can go hand in hand. The BUSES Act gives operators the clarity they need to keep passengers safe, comfortable, and moving.”
“A policy intended to reduce emissions created more emissions. That is not good policy. It is not good for the environment,” said Michelle Petelicki, President, Panorama Tours Inc. & Representative of Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association. “That is exactly why the BUSES Act matters. It recognizes the operational realities of passenger transportation while continuing to support the environmental goals we all share.”
Gottheimer also announced plans to request a federal study examining the impact of strict idling limits on Americans with disabilities and to urge congressional leaders to move the legislation through committee this summer.
