33760 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices

1Blue Bird is a New York corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–108531,

intrastate operating authority issued by the New

York Department of Transportation (NYDOT), the

Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission

(PAPUC), the New Jersey Department of

Transportation, and the Ohio Public Utilities

Commission (OHPUC), and authority issued by the

Province of Ontario, Canada. The carrier operates

127 motorcoaches, 21 school buses and 8 vans; and

it earned revenues of approximately $14.1 million

in Fiscal Year (FY) 1996. Prior to the transfer of its

stock into a voting trust, it had been owned by

Louis A. Magnano.

2Butler is a Pennsylvania corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–126876

and intrastate authority issued by the PAPUC. The

carrier operates 28 buses and 3 sedans; it has 68

employees; and it earned revenues of approximately

$4.7 million in FY 1996. Prior to the transfer of its

stock into a voting trust, it had been owned by

William G. Kaylor, Robert M. Kaylor and Thomas

M. Kaylor. Prior to the establishment of a voting

trust, Butler owned all of the stock of Gad-About,

which Coach is also proposing to acquire in this

transaction.

3 Gad-About is an Ohio corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–198451

and intrastate authority issued by the OHPUC. The

carrier operates 3 buses; it has 14 employees; and

it earned revenues of approximately $1.9 million in

FY 1996. Prior to the transfer of its stock into a

voting trust, it had been owned by Butler.

4P&S is a Florida corporation. It holds federally

issued operating authority in MC–255382. The

carrier operates 30 buses; it has 58 employees; and

it earned revenues of approximately $3.7 million in

FY 1996. Prior to the transfer of its stock into a

voting trust, it was owned by Daniel G. Schambon.

5PTCS is a Delaware corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–319195.

The carrier operates 400 vehicles; it has 260

employees; and, together with affiliated companies,

it earned revenues of approximately $13 million in

FY 1997. Prior to the transfer of its stock into a

voting trust, it had been owned by Tyburn Limited,

a noncarrier.

6S&O is a New York corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–117805

and intrastate authority issued by the NYDOT. The

carrier operates 14 buses; it has 26 employees; and

it earned revenues of approximately $1.7 million in

1997. Prior to the transfer of its stock into a voting

trust, it had been owned by Russell Ferdinand. The

carrier is affiliated through common ownership

with Utica-Rome.

7Tippett is a Florida corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–174043.

The carrier operates 17 buses, 3 minibuses, and 1

limousine; it has 38 employees; and it earned

revenues of approximately $4.4 million for the

fiscal year ending June 30, 1997. Prior to the

transfer of its stock into a voting trust, it was owned

by Marie Louise Tippett.

8Tucker is a Florida corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–223424.

The carrier operates 7 buses; it has 24 employees;

and it earned revenues of approximately $650,000

for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1997. Prior to the

transfer of its stock into a voting trust, it was owned

by Benjamin C. Early.

9Utica-Rome is a New York corporation. It holds

federally issued operating authority in MC–7914

and intrastate operating authority issued by the

NYDOT. The carrier operates 13 buses; it has 37

employees; and it earned revenues of approximately

$1.6 million in 1997. Prior to the transfer of its

stock into a voting trust, it was owned by Russell

Ferdinand, who also owned all of the stock of S&O.

Utah Department of Transportation is

preparing an EIS for transportation

improvements in the corridor from 2100

North and I–215 in Salt Lake City, Utah

northward and eastward to the I–15/

U.S. 89 interchange in Farmington, Utah

due to transportation demand studies

identifying the need for an additional

north-south route in corridor. System

connections at each end as well as other

appropriate interchanges will be

included. The proposed improvement

involves construction of approximately

13 miles of limited access, divided

highway along a new alignment.

Alternatives considered in this study

include: (1) taking no action; (2)

transportation system management; (3)

intelligent transportation systems; (4)

investment in mass transit; (5)

reconstruction and widening of I–15

North; and (6) build alternatives.

Transportation build alternatives being

studied in detail include, but are not

limited to: three alternative alignments

with options.

Letters describing the proposed action

and soliciting comments have been sent

to appropriate Federal, State, and local

agencies, and to private organizations

and citizens who have previously

expressed or are known to have interest

in this proposal. Three public meetings

have been held. Scoping meetings were

held on April 30, 1997 and May 1, 1997.

Public meetings presenting alternatives

were held on August 20 and 21, 1997,

and public meetings presenting impacts

of alternatives were held on October 28

and 29, 1997. A public hearing will be

held after the draft EIS has been

prepared. Public notice will be given of

the time and place of the hearing. The

draft EIS will be available for public and

agency review and comment prior to the

public hearing.

Comments and suggestions are invited

from all interested parties. Comments or

questions concerning this proposed

action and the EIS should be directed to

the FHWA.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Number 20.205, Highway Research,

Planning and Construction. The regulations

implementing Executive Order 12372

regarding intergovernmental consultation of

Federal programs and activities apply to this

program.)

Issued: June 15, 1998.

Michael G. Ritchie,

Division Administrator.

[FR Doc. 98–16331 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–M

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. MC–F–20921]

Coach USA, Inc.—Control—Blue Bird

Coach Lines, Inc.; Butler Motor Transit,

Inc.; Gad-About Tours, Inc.; P&S

Transportation, Inc.; Pittsburgh

Transportation Charter Services, Inc.;

Syracuse and Oswego Coach Lines,

Inc.; Tippett Travel, Inc., d/b/a Marie’s

Charter Bus Lines; Tucker

Transportation Co., Inc.; and UticaRome Bus Co., Inc.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board,

DOT.

ACTION: Notice tentatively approving

finance transaction.

SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a

noncarrier, filed an application under

49 U.S.C. 14303 to acquire control of

Blue Bird Coach Lines, Inc. (Blue Bird),

Butler Motor Transit, Inc. (Butler), GadAbout Tours, Inc. (Gad-About), P&S

Transportation, Inc. (P&S), Pittsburgh

Transportation Charter Services, Inc.

(PTCS), Syracuse and Oswego Coach

Lines, Inc. (S&O), Tippett Travel, Inc.,

d/b/a Marie’s Charter Bus Lines

(Tippett), Tucker Transportation Co.,

Inc. (Tucker), and Utica-Rome Bus Co.,

Inc. (Utica-Rome), all motor passenger

carriers. Persons wishing to oppose the

application must follow the rules under

49 CFR part 1182, subparts B and C. The

Board has tentatively approved the

transaction, and, if no opposing

comments are timely filed, this notice

will be the final Board action.

DATES: Comments must be filed by

August 3, 1998. Applicant may file a

reply by August 24, 1998. If no

comments are filed by August 3, 1998,

this notice is effective on that date.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10

copies of comments referring to STB

Docket No. MC–F–20921 to: Surface

Transportation Board, Office of the

Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, send one copy of

comments to applicant’s

representatives: Betty Jo Christian and

David H. Coburn, Steptoe & Johnson

LLP, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beryl Gordon, (202) 565–1600. [TDD for

the hearing impaired: (202) 565–1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach

currently controls 45 motor passenger

carriers. In this transaction, it seeks to

acquire direct control of Blue Bird,1

Butler,2 Gad-About,3 P&S,4 PTCS,5

S&O,6 Tippett,7 Tucker,8 and UticaRome 9 by acquiring all of the

outstanding stock of these carriers.

According to applicant, the stock of
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices 33761

1MC certifies that its projected revenues will not

result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail

carrier.

2BNSF classified the SEMSD as industrial

trackage, and, consequently, there are no mileposts

on the subject trackage.

each of these carriers is currently held

in independent voting trusts to avoid

any unlawful control pending

disposition of this proceeding.

Applicant submits that there will be

no transfer of any federal or state

operating authorities held by the

acquired carriers. Following the

consummation of the control

transaction, each of the acquired carriers

will continue operating in the same

manner as before and, according to

applicant, granting the application will

not reduce competitive options

available to the traveling public.

Applicant asserts that the acquired

carriers do not compete with one

another or, to any meaningful degree,

with any other Coach-controlled

company. Applicant submits that each

of the acquired carriers is relatively

small and each faces substantial

competition from other bus companies

and other transportation modes.

Applicant also submits that granting

the application will produce substantial

benefits, including interest cost savings

from the restructuring of debt and

reduced operating costs from Coach’s

enhanced volume purchasing power.

Specifically, applicant claims that the

carriers to be acquired will benefit from

lower insurance premiums negotiated

by Coach and from volume discounts for

equipment and fuel. Applicant indicates

that Coach will provide each of the

carriers to be acquired with centralized

legal and accounting functions and

coordinated purchasing services. In

addition, applicant states that vehicle

sharing arrangements will be facilitated

through Coach to ensure maximum use

and efficient operation of equipment

and that coordinated driver training

services will be provided. Applicant

also states that the proposed transaction

will benefit the employees of the

acquired carriers and that all collective

bargaining agreements will be honored

by Coach.

Coach plans to acquire control of

additional motor passenger carriers in

the coming months. It asserts that the

financial benefits and operating

efficiencies will be enhanced further by

these subsequent transactions. Over the

long term, Coach states that it will

provide centralized marketing and

reservation services for the bus firms

that it controls, thereby enhancing the

benefits resulting from these control

transactions.

Applicant certifies that: (1) Blue Bird,

Butler, Gad-About, and P&S hold

satisfactory safety ratings from the U.S.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

and that PTCS, S&O, Tippett, Tucker,

and Utica-Rome have not been rated by

DOT; (2) each of the acquired carriers

has sufficient liability insurance; (3)

none of the acquired carriers is either

domiciled in Mexico or owned or

controlled by persons of that country;

and (4) approval of the transaction will

not significantly affect either the quality

of the human environment or the

conservation of energy resources.

Additional information may be obtained

from applicant’s representatives.

Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), we must

approve and authorize a transaction we

find consistent with the public interest,

taking into consideration at least: (1)

The effect of the transaction on the

adequacy of transportation to the public;

(2) the total fixed charges that result;

and (3) the interest of affected carrier

employees.

On the basis of the application, we

find that the proposed acquisition of

control is consistent with the public

interest and should be authorized. If any

opposing comments are timely filed,

this finding will be deemed vacated and

a procedural schedule will be adopted

to reconsider the application. If no

opposing comments are filed by the

expiration of the comment period, this

decision will take effect automatically

and will be the final Board action.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

This decision will not significantly

affect either the quality of the human

environment or the conservation of

energy resources.

It is ordered:

1. The proposed acquisition of control

is approved and authorized, subject to

the filing of opposing comments.

2. If timely opposing comments are

filed, the findings made in this decision

will be deemed vacated.

3. This decision will be effective on

August 3, 1998, unless timely opposing

comments are filed.

4. A copy of this notice will be served

on the U.S. Department of Justice,

Antitrust Division, 10th Street &

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,

DC 20530.

Decided: June 10, 1998.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice

Chairman Owen.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–16392 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33606]

Minnesota Commercial Railway

Company—Acquisition and Operation

Exemption—Certain Lines of The

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company

Minnesota Commercial Railway

Company (MC), a Class III rail carrier,

has filed a notice of exemption under 49

CFR 1150.41 to acquire and operate

approximately 5 miles of rail line

owned by The Burlington Northern and

Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF),

plus incidental trackage rights to reach

certain industries and MC’s own

trackage.1 The line is located in

Minneapolis, MN, known as the

Southeast Minneapolis Switching

District (SEMSD).2

The transaction was scheduled to be

consummated on or shortly after May

28, 1998.

If this notice contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the

exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)

may be filed at any time. The filing of

a petition to revoke does not

automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33606, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, a copy of each

pleading must be served on Eugenia

Langan, Esq., Shea & Gardner, 1800

Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington,

DC 20036.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

Decided: June 11, 1998.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–16317 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P