H.R. 2526 — Bus Parity and Clarity Act

This section revises equal access provisions for public transportation vehicles on toll facilities under 23 U.S.C. §129(a)(9)(A) and in high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes under 23 U.S.C. §166(b)(3)(C) by replacing "that serves the public" or "serving the public" with "in scheduled or charter service" (i.e., expanding eligibility to over-the-road buses providing charter service, as defined in 49 C.F.R. part 604); adds conforming definitions of "charter service" to 23 U.S.C. §§129(a)(11)(F) and 166(f)(7); and requires public authorities operating value pricing pilot programs (23 U.S.C. §149 note) to provide over-the-road buses in scheduled or charter service the same toll rates, terms, and conditions as public transportation vehicles. The section further directs the Federal Highway Administration administrator to publish, within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter, a public database of such toll facility rates, terms, and conditions under §§129(a)(9) and 166(b)(3). (Thus, private intercity buses operating in charter service gain parity with public transit buses for toll discounts and HOV lane access previously restricted to public-serving operations.)