The National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Catholic place of prayer devoted to the Blessed Mother, Mary. This beautiful mountainside shrine features one of the oldest American replicas of the Lourdes Grotto in France, built about two decades after the apparition of Mary at Lourdes in 1858. Each year, the National Shrine Grotto draws thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. It is a place of worship, pilgrimage, conversion, and reconciliation.

Contact: Julie Smith 301-447-5318 or ju.m.smith@msmary.edu.

PBA Member, Antique Coach Excursions is for sale and includes three (3) restored on the road antique buses including parts inventory, bookings through 2024. 

For more information on the company and buses, visit www.AntiqueCoachExcursions.com or call 724-947-9000.

Due to the devastating earthquake in Turkey, PBA Member, TEMSA, is currently housing several hundred people who have nowhere else to go and working to get families set up in “tiny homes” as well as providing medical attention as well as food for them and their pets. Bailey Coach is looking to help by sending donations.

To donate: Please send a check MADE OUT TO Bailey Leasing by 3/24. Their address is 1708 Route 116, Spring Grove, PA 17362.

Thank you for your consideration to help those in need in Turkey.

The structure at 778 Baltimore St. was demolished to make way for a replacement building on the same footprint. Construction is to begin once the site is cleaned up.

The post-COVID rebound in visitation and plans by the borough to revitalize the Baltimore Street corridor “inspired me to do my part to make sure that the first thing visitors see as they enter the borough of Gettysburg is a welcoming, attractive building,” owner Max Felty said in a recent release.

The site has been the departure location for PBA Member, Gettysburg Battlefield Tours since the business began in the 1950s. Read more...

PBA Member, Starr Bus Charter & Tours is thrilled to be able to finally share their secret with you! If you get their emails and/or vacation catalogs, you may have noticed Starr's new logo. Having turned 75 last year, they felt it was time to give their brand an update.

They partnered with PBA Member, Niagara Falls USA, to help roll out this beautiful coach. #NiagaraFalls is a place they frequent so they found it fitting to bring awareness to this beautiful destination. This bus is extra special and the first of many to get a new look!

Keep an eye out as they start to roll out the new branding across the rest of their fleet.

PBA Member, Trans-Bridge Lines announced that effective Monday, March 6, they moved their Allentown stop from the, now-closed, Allentown Bus Terminal to the Allentown Transportation Center (ATC), located at 603 Linden Street. Drop-off and pick-ups will operate from Platform C at the location. Read more...

We are busy preparing for the upcoming Marketplace and are getting excited to see you there! Registration closed February 15. If you missed the deadline and would like to attend, please send us an email. We do have just a handful of booths open.

21 Operator/Tour Planners will be in attendance!

You won't want to miss this extraordinary learning experience! We have planned a T-START Security Plan workshop, facilitated by TSA, at Bailey Coach in Spring Grove, PA. Thank you to Bailey Coach for volunteering their facilities to host the workshop!

T-START which stands for Toolkit Security-Plan Template and Assessment Review, will be conducted to guide operators through the development of company-specific plans. The purpose of this workshop is to strengthen prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities within the Highway Motor Carrier (HMC) industry, school bus, motorcoach and trucking communities. They do this by helping companies to develop comprehensive and tailored security plans using a TSA-provided Security Plan template. Space is extremely limited! Get more information and register today!

Registration officially opened March 1st for the PBA 2023 Annual Conference, scheduled for June 18-21, 2023!

We will be in the hometown of Lucille Ball and staying in a luxury resort on the lake. Our theme this year: Keeping a sense of humor in business! We all need a reminder now and then.

Hosted by Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, the primary location will be at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, while the opening and closing events to be held also at Chautauqua Institution and National Comedy Center.

The multi-day event welcomes motorcoach operators, tour planners, associate members, and travel supplier members to Network, Educate and Showcase to increase business opportunities.

PBA’s 100th Anniversary Family Day on Saturday June 10, 2023 will run from 12:00PM - 3:00PM at the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, PA. We are delighted to join our friends at the museum to celebrate our 100th anniversary during their Annual Spring Fling.

Please join us for a Cake and Ice Cream Social, a fun Scavenger Hunt with prizes and more! In addition, the bus annex will be open. This is an opportunity to view the collection which is not on display at the museum and is only offered once a year during Spring Fling. Buses once operated by PA carriers will be on display at the museum, in addition to those which the PA Operators drive in to show for the day.

If PBA members want to drive a bus to the event, we will need to give the museum a bus count in April, so we are assured an ample-sized, designated parking area. Please let Pattie know if you want to bring a bus. 

Overnight Accommodations

Best Western Premier, the Central Hotel

800 East Park Drive | Harrisburg, PA 17111

Book Online: or Call: 717-561-2800, dial 0, then give the front desk agent check-in and check out date, as well as the group name; PA Bus Association.

A new member benefit was announced recently: the PBA Scholarship Program. The goal of the PBA scholarship is to support Member education goals and to encourage the pursuit of formal education. Formal education includes trade certification, specialized training and of course, college. There will be two annual scholarships awarded. 

The first scholarship will be awarded in 2024, while fundraising will start this year. The PBA Executive Committee will accept applications between January 1 and April 30 annually. Read the Announcement.

Set-Up an Autopay Option and Keep Your

Organizational Information Updated in the PBA Member Portal

When was the last time you checked out the benefits of PBA Membership? Take a peak! Also, read what some Members have to say about what PBA Membership means to them! We would love your testimonial too, click here to submit yours.

Pennsylvania Bus Association has an active Motorcoach PAC.

Your contributions enable the PBA to advance the industry’s agenda while also stopping legislation that would be harmful to our industry.



PBA’s board of directors, staff and lobbyists will continue to advance the industry’s agenda and push for positive change, but your individual financial commitment to Motorcoach PAC is needed.

Please consider donating (corporate checks are prohibited by state law) to Motorcoach PAC, for $50, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 today and mail a check payable to "Motorcoach PAC" to 200 North Third Street, Suite 1500 Harrisburg, PA 17101. This is our lobbyist firm's address. Alternately, we have a new payment method: you can pay online via PayPal.

Following strong bipartisan efforts from Congress to address the CERTS tax relief issue, that unfortunately ended when the FY 2023 omnibus bill did not address tax provisions, we are continuing to seek opportunities in this Congress to move the issue forward. PBA Executive Director, Pattie Cowley, met with three PA reps on March 2nd regarding the CERTS tax relief on the grant money our Members received: Cartwright, Meuser and Reschenthaler.

Also, the Senate passed two pieces of legislation that WE supported:

• Senate Bill 121 (Langerholc-R): This legislation creates a new schedule of caps for the Pennsylvania State Police Diversion from the Motor License Fund. This legislation would see PSPs diversion brought down to $250 million for FY 2023-24 and then a gradual decrease until FY 2028-2029 when the PSP diversion is brought down to $0. (Final Vote: 28 to 21) Passed the Senate 2-28-23. This legislation will help to ensure that Pennsylvania’s Motor License Fund is used to take care of Pennsylvania’s road and infrastructure while having the State Police funded out of the General Fund. This legislation will now be sent to the House Transportation for consideration.

• Senate Bill 254 (Yaw-R): create the Heavy-Duty Diesel Emissions Control Program Suspension Procedures Act, which provides for the suspension of DEP’s program which required heavy-duty highway diesel engines sold in the Commonwealth to have California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification. The legislation clarifies that the Federal standards for heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines will apply in the Commonwealth. (Final Vote: 29-20) Passed the Senate 3-1-23. This legislation will ensure that California Air Resources Board standards do not come into effect in Pennsylvania. This legislation ensures that PA business owners are not stuck with this pricey regulatory requirement. This legislation will now be sent to the House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee for consideration. 

International Roadcheck Is May 16-18 with Emphasis on ABS and Cargo Securement

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced May 16-18 as this year’s International Roadcheck. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume 72-hour inspection and enforcement event where CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct inspections of commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, designated inspection areas and along roadways. Read more...

Earl Adams, Jr. Appointed as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Earl Adams, Jr. was sworn in as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Adams has served as FMCSA’s Chief Counsel since July 2021. He takes over the role previously held by Robin Hutcheson, who was officially confirmed as FMCSA’s Administrator on September 22, 2022.  Read more...

DHS Announces $2 Billion in Preparedness Grants

Start your application today for the $2 Million in funding available through the FY 2023 Intercity Bus Security Grants. Completed grant applications are due by May 18. 

NPS Releases Commercial Tour Fee Schedule, 2023 Entrance Fee Rates

Note that the Commercial Tour Fee Schedule currently only applies to parks that charge per vehicle fees. For parks that only charge per person fees, commercial tour operators also pay per person. View the rates.

ELDS are Now Mandatory in Canada

Electronic logging device (ELD) hardware and software must be tested and certified by a third-party certification body accredited by the Minister of Transport. Review the list of certified ELDs.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Hosting a FAM Trip

Here’s how properties and destinations can stay top of mind for upcoming group travel, events, and meetings. Read more...

It's International Women's Month, See How Women’s Roles in Travel Have Evolved

Around 54 percent of the entire industry’s workforce is women! Read more... 

UMA Fly-In April 18-19

The United Motorcoach Association's (UMA) Congressional Fly-In is scheduled for April 18-19, 2023. Join them to protect private motorcoach companies' interests in Washington. Get more information.

ICYMI

Alerts, Invitations, Press Releases, and more are sent out to our Members as needed. Here are the emails we sent out since last Go News below.

• The Senate Passed Two Pieces of Legislation that PBA Supported!
• Did You Hear? PBA is offering a FREE TSA Workshop on April 13th!
• 2023 PBA Marketplace Door Prizes and Other Information!
• PBA Opens Registration for the 2023 Annual Conference hosted by Chautauqua County CVB!