http://www.mta.info/news/stories/?story=272
Bus Contract Keeps 220 Jobs in Plattsburgh
The MTA Board this week approved the purchase of 328 low-floor articulated buses to be manufactured in Upstate New York by Nova Bus.
The clean-diesel, high-capacity buses will contain a substantial level of local content and be built in Plattsburgh, protecting 220 jobs and helping to provide a healthy boost to the economy across the state.
“This bus procurement tells a very exciting story about the impact that our Capital Program has on economic development across New York State,” said MTA Chairman Jay H. Walder. “Thanks to steady work from the MTA Capital Program, Nova now operates a facility in Plattsburgh, creating jobs and economic activity that would not be in New York without the MTA Capital Program.”
The buses will be similar to a 90-bus evaluation fleet that began operation in May 2009 and now provides service along NYC Transit’s two Select Bus Service (SBS) routes. With ease of boarding and additional capacity, low-floor, articulated buses are a major component of the MTA’s plan to bring bus service into the 21st century for the more than 2.7 million customers who depend upon it each day. Nova Bus is currently the only manufacturer with a low floor, articulated bus structurally qualified for purchase by NYC Transit.
The contract for the purchase is valued at $231 million and will be paid for with capital funds. An important part of the contract negotiation was content. As a result, Nova has committed to a 38% New York state content and will strive to increase that figure to 39.5%.
3 comments:
What's really sad is that Oregon in particular has everything it needs to start a transit bus industry, which would EASILY employ 1,000 workers in good paying, good benefits manufacturing jobs.
Just look at all the shuttered RV factories from Harrisburg, Coburg and Junction City, to Dallas, to McMinnville, to Pendleton.
Look at the underutilized Freightliner plant on Swan Island.
Throw in hundreds of trained and eager former sawmill workers all up and down the Valley, Southern and Eastern Oregon.
New Flyer has such a huge backlog that it takes TWO FREAKING YEARS to get your bus delivered. TWO YEARS! Think about how many jobs could be created right here in Oregon, employing Oregonians, using Oregon suppliers like Oregon Iron Works, Oregon Steel and Cascade Steel and Williams Controls - among so many others - that would revitalize communities left and right.
Instead, because buses aren't sexy, those factories are closed. Locked up. In some cases, bulldozed to a bare concrete pad. But, we're endlessly patting our backs over United Streetcar - a company that has been in business for several years and has exactly ONE Streetcar to its name. ONE! In several years!
It's a case of someone who can't see the trees for the forest... Let's chase down an imaginary, theoretical industry, versus one that's time proven. Then again, this is the same state whose industry aspirations is to be a leader in sportswear...or, a leader in designing stuff that gets made in Taiwan or China or Thailand or Vietnam. When's the last time you rode on a bus made in China?
Your right Erik, as usual, but don't forget, the "rail revolution" started here in Portlandia!
There is no turning back now I'm sure!
There actually has been talk (by I believe multiple TriMet head people) of getting the Diamler plant used for bus building. But TriMet, and Oregon transit agencies in general, don't have the luxury of needing large orders of buses.
And given the competitive marketplace, it can take a lot to get a manufacturer to make the long-term investment in a plant.
And as for articulated buses, its generally better to increase frequency. Plus, they have problems in ice and snow, as seen in Seattle.
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