[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11518-11519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6200]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33343]
Coach USA, Inc., Control Exemption, Progressive Transportation
Services, Inc.; Powder River Transportation Services, Inc.; Worthen Van
Service, Inc.; and PCSTC, Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice of filing of petition for exemption.
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SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a noncarrier that controls 15 motor
passenger carriers, seeks to be exempted, under 49 U.S.C. 13541, from
the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(5) to acquire
control of four additional motor passenger carriers.
DATES: Comments must be filed by April 11, 1997. Petitioner may file a
reply by April 21, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB
Finance Docket No. 33343 to: Office of the Secretary, Case Control
Unit, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20423-0001. Also, send one copy of comments to petitioner's
representatives: Betty Jo Christian and David H. Coburn, Steptoe &
Johnson LLP, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1600 [TDD
for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach seeks an exemption to acquire stock
control over four additional motor carriers of passengers that operate
in interstate and intrastate commerce: Progressive Transportation
Services, Inc. (PTS) (MC-247074) (primarily charter operations and
regular-route service in New York State); Powder River Transportation
Services, Inc. (PRTS) (MC-161531) (primarily charter operations and
regular-route service in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, and South Dakota);
Worthen Van Service, Inc. (WVS) (MC-142573) (charter operations in
Wyoming); and PCSTC, Inc., d/b/a Pacific Coast Sightseeing/Gray Line of
Anaheim-Los Angeles (PCSTC) (MC-184852) (primarily charter operations
and regular-route service in California). 1 According to
petitioner, PRTS and WVS largely share common stock ownership, as each
is controlled by the same family. Coach states that each of the four
carriers accounts for a relatively small market share and operates
regionally in diverse markets across the United States.
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\1\ Petitioner indicates that the stock of PTS, PRTS, WVS, and
PCSTC was placed in separate, independent voting trusts with
different trustees, with the intent of avoiding any unlawful
control.
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Coach indicates that it currently controls the nation's second
largest group of motor passenger carriers. In May 1996, Coach acquired
control of the following 10 motor passenger carriers: Arrow Stage
Lines, Inc. (MC-29592); Cape Transit Corp. (MC-161678); Community
Coach, Inc. (MC-76022); Community Transit Lines, Inc. (MC-145548);
Grosvenor Bus Lines, Inc. (MC-157317); H.A.M.L. Corp. (MC-194792);
Leisure Time Tours (MC-142011); Suburban Management Corp. (MC-264527);
Suburban Trails, Inc. (MC-149081); and Suburban Transit Corp. (MC-
115116).2 In November 1996 Coach acquired control of the following
[[Page 11519]]
five motor passenger carriers: American Sightseeing Tours, Inc. d/b/a
ASTI (MC-252353); California Charters, Inc. (MC-241211); Texas Bus
Lines, Inc. (MC-37640); Gulf Coast Transportation, Inc. d/b/a Gray Line
Tours of Houston (MC-201397); and K-T Contract Services, Inc. (MC-
218583).3 Petitioner asserts that there is little competition, and
no significant overlap in operations, among the 15 carriers it now
controls and the four it seeks to control. It acknowledges that there
is some overlap in service but states that this overlap will have no
meaningful effect on the continued availability of competitive
transportation.
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\2\ See Notre Capital Ventures II, LLC and Coach USA, Inc.--
Control Exemption--Arrow Stage Lines, Inc.; Cape Transit Corp.;
Community Coach, Inc.; Community Transit Lines, Inc.; Grosvenor Bus
Lines, Inc.; H.A.M.L. Corp.; Leisure Time Tours; Suburban Management
Corp.; Suburban Trails, Inc.; and Suburban Transit Corp., STB
Finance Docket No. 32876 (Sub-No. 1) (STB served May 3, 1996).
\3\ See Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--American Sightseeing
Tours, Inc.; California Charters, Inc.; Texas Bus Lines, Inc.; Gulf
Coast Transportation, Inc.; and K-T Contract Services, Inc., STB
Finance Docket No. 33073 (STB served Nov. 8, 1996).
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Following the acquisition of control, Coach indicates that each of
the four carriers will continue to operate in its respective market,
under its own name and in the same basic manner as before. Coach claims
that improved service at lower costs will result, because of the
coordination of functions, centralized management, financial support,
rationalization of resources, and economies of scale that are
anticipated from the common control. Coach also states that all
collective bargaining agreements will be honored, that employee
benefits will improve, and that no change in management personnel is
planned. Additional information may be obtained from petitioner's
representatives.
A copy of this notice will be served on the Department of Justice,
Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20530.
Decided: February 26, 1997.
By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-6200 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P
