(a) In this section, “experimental service change” means an addition of service to an existing transit route or the establishment of a new transit route.
(b) A public hearing under § 370.352 is not required for:
(1) a reduced or free promotional fare that is instituted daily or periodically over a period of not more than 180 days;
(2) a headway adjustment of not more than five minutes during peak-hour service and not more than 15 minutes during nonpeak-hour service;
(3) a standard seasonal variation unless the number, timing, or type of the standard seasonal variation changes; or
(4) an emergency or experimental service change in effect for 180 days or less.
(c) A hearing on an experimental service change in effect for more than 180 days may be held before or while the experimental service change is in effect and satisfies the requirement for a public hearing if the hearing notice required by § 370.354 states that the change may become permanent at the end of the effective period. If a hearing is not held before or while the experimental service change is in effect, the service that existed before the change must be reinstituted at the end of the 180th day after the change became effective and a public hearing must be held in accordance with § 370.352 before the experimental service change may be continued.