Tripper Rule

Introduction

The "Tripper Rule" refers to FTA Regulations (49 CFR Part 605), which serves to protect private school bus operators from competition and to ensure that transit agencies that receive FTA funding are serving the needs of the general public.

Implications for Transit Agencies

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority uses the following descriptions to establish when they operate school tripper service and what requirements it must meet:

Criteria for Operation:

• Sufficient demand
• Sufficient resources available
• Will not result in a significant increase in travel time for regular customers
• Operated as part of the regularly scheduled public transportation service

Requirements:

• Comply with established policies and procedures
• Published on public timetables
• All locations where trippers board or alight passengers, including the bus stops at deviated routes, must be marked with Metro signage including the bus line numbers servicing the stop
• Changes must be provided to the general public by a service change notice or on the Metro website

LA Metro states that "requests for new school trippers or modifications to existing school trippers will be considered when a minimum notice is given at least two weeks prior giving ample time to complete an appropriate analysis of the request and to allow appropriate notification of changes."