Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Company’s previous two-step business approach, with heavy manufacturing relegated to its plants in Hungary, and with final assembly accomplished at its Anniston, Ala., has now been entirely discontinued.

It is the first step toward upgrading a fleet of nearly 700 buses by opting to buy as many as 300 American-made buses over the next two years to replace aging, less dependable vehicles.

Under the Invest in American Jobs Act of 2013, all future highway, bridge, public transit, passenger rail, and airport projects financed by U.S. taxpayers would be stamped “Made in America” and crafted with American workmanship.

Move to Alpharetta, Ga., allows a quicker response to the production and service needs of its customers in North America, as well as meeting “Buy America” compliance.

The new factory, based in Rochelle, Ill., will employ 250 workers by the end of next year and create additional jobs throughout the company’s American supply-chain. Nippon Sharyo has already identified more than 200 potential suppliers and vendors in the Midwest region alone.

In total, the 40-foot long, diesel-fueled buses will cost $16.4 million-with $8.2 million in agency funds being matched by $8.2 million from the State Local Partnership Program.

Sunline Transit Agency’s new zero-emission American Fuel Cell Bus is FTA has invested more than $75 million in the project through the National Fuel Cell Bus Program.

Administrator Rogoff also touched on Buy America requirements, ciivil rights initiatives, and the most recent work at the FTA in regards to funding projects and programs.

Enables California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Missouri to purchase next-generation, American-made trains. Trains will be designed to travel more than 110 mph along intercity passenger corridors.

In September, a railcar procurement with CAF, a Spanish manufacturer, was terminated because Metro's contract was in conflict with Buy America rules.