Test Reports

All the data collected from the various tests on a bus are compiled into a report that contains the test results. Bus reports can be accessed in electronic form by entering the bus database. 

Effective October 31, 2016, The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a new pass/fail standard and new aggregated scoring system for buses and modified vans (hereafter referred to as “bus” or “buses”) that are subject to FTA's bus testing program, as mandated by Section 20014 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The pass/fail standard and scoring system address the following categories as required by MAP-21: Structural integrity, safety, maintainability, reliability, fuel economy, emissions, noise, and performance. Buses must meet a minimum performance standard in each of these categories in order to receive an overall passing score and be eligible for purchase using FTA financial assistance. Buses can achieve higher scores with higher performance in each category, and today's rule establishes a numerical scoring system based on a 100-point scale so that buyers can more effectively compare vehicles.  

The bus reports are considered confidential until the manufacturer gives permission to publish it or until such time as the manufacturer responds to a procurement bid by a Federal Transit Administration-funded recipient.  

Prior to taking delivery of a new bus model, FTA grantees using federal funding must obtain a copy of the bus test report for the specific bus model. Utilizing the test report during the procurement process enables the recipient to manage risk by providing an unbiased means of comparing different bus models based on performance and standardized test results. 

 
 

About

Established in 1989 by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute with funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration, the Larson Transportation Institute’s Bus Research and Testing Center tests buses for safety, structural integrity, durability, performance, maintainability, noise, emissions, energy economy, and fuel economy. Based primarily in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the Center also has a facility located at the Larson Transportation Institute Test Track in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.  

Bus Research and Testing Center

2237 Plank Road

Duncansville, PA 16635

Phone: 814-695-3404

Fax: 814-695-4069