The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a proposed rule on June 26, 2026 in the Federal Register that would amend the agency's bus testing regulations under 49 CFR Part 665, according to the official filing under Docket No. FTA-2024-0012.

The proposed amendments are designed to improve the efficiency of the bus testing program for stakeholders, enhance the value of bus testing reports for consumers of bus transit equipment, and assist in removing outdated test reports from the program, according to the Federal Transit Administration.

For GovCon firms providing transit vehicles, bus components, or related services under FTA-funded programs, bus testing requirements directly affect procurement and deployment timelines. Bus manufacturers and suppliers must generally have vehicles tested and certified before those vehicles may be purchased by transit agencies using federal grant funds. Updates to testing procedures and report standards may affect compliance planning, vendor schedules, and procurement timelines for both contractors and transit agency grant recipients.

The proposed rule is published under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration. The relevant regulatory framework is codified at 49 CFR Part 665.

Source: Federal Register — Docket No. FTA-2024-0012