Reposted from the San Leandro Patch
BART Adopts “Buy America” – First in U.S., Agency Says
Charles Buress | November 20, 2011 | San Leandro Patch
BART has adopted a “Buy America” policy, saying it is the first transit agency in the nation to do so. BART will soon accept bids for a $3-billion replacement of its old fleet of cars
The Bay Area Rapid Transit district has become the nation’s first transit agency to approve a “Buy America” policy, BART said.
The new Buy America Bid Preference policy, adopted unanimously by the BART board Thursday, “gives preferences to rail car manufacturers who create jobs in the U.S.A.,” according to a BART news release Friday.
BART is preparing to award $3 billion in contracts for its new fleet of train cars, which the agency calls the “Fleet of the Future.”
“The Buy America policy mirrors the economic goals of federal lawmakers,” BART Board President Bob Franklin said in a statement. “Adopting this policy on a regional level demonstrates BART’s leadership in the rail industry. It will also transfer rail car technology to the U.S.”
The new policy, which takes effect Jan. 1, “scores bids for federally funded procurements by using a formula that considers the domestic content level of a product,” BART said.
Nice of them to do so – but is there still a passenger car builder left standing in the United States? Cruel irony if there isn’t. But then I’m sure BART has researched whether or not a builder exists in the US.
Bravo, BART! After California’s penny-wise foolishness with the Bay Bridge, it’s refreshing to see a government entity act with a little foresight for once. As for Robert’s point, if enough transportation authorities around the country followed BART’s lead, we would see rail car manufacturing relocate to the US.