Oxford Economics has released its Buses Mean Business report, examining the economic impact of U.S. heavy-duty bus manufacturing. The report was sponsored by Business Members of the American Public Transportation Association.
The report was released in conjunction with a “Built in America: The Private-Sector Engine Behind Transit Buses” panel on Capitol Hill Sept. 16. The event focused on U.S. domestic bus manufacturing, employment, and supply chain resilience. APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas participated in the panel.
According to Oxford Economics, the U.S. transit bus manufacturing industry supports:
- 34,100 American jobs
- $5.1 billion in U.S. gross domestic product
- $1.1 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue
The report states that the industry has an economic footprint in all 50 states, including approximately 13,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs. It also estimates that each job at a transit bus manufacturer supports an additional 6.3 jobs across the U.S. economy.
The report also examines the potential demand for new transit buses, noting that more than 54 percent of the nation’s heavy-duty transit bus fleet—approximately 35,200 buses—is already beyond, or will reach within five years, FTA’s 12-year useful-life benchmark.