US public transit manufacturing mapped across all 50 states

US public transit manufacturing is the focus of new research from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The research shows how federal public transport spending connects thousands of suppliers across the United States. Those suppliers help build rail vehicles and buses.

APTA says in its bus manufacturing schematic that roughly 77 percent of federal transit funding goes to private-sector businesses. It says that spending supports manufacturing activity and family-wage jobs nationwide. Also, the association has published updated bus and rail manufacturing schematics.

These visuals show how the network works. They also show where components are produced. In addition, they identify the states involved in making different parts for trains and buses.

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APTA schematics trace the public transport supply chain

According to the research, more than 3,000 suppliers in over 1,700 communities across all 50 states are involved in public transport vehicle production. The diagrams show that components are sourced from multiple states before final assembly into buses or rail cars.

For example, the supply chain for fuel systems used in both buses and trains includes facilities in California, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Meanwhile, the schematics show that transit manufacturing spans multiple states. They also show that bus and rail vehicle production depends on a broad supplier base.

Federal public transit funding and the manufacturing network

APTA says the visuals are intended to show the scale of the transport manufacturing supply chain. They also show its links to workers in many parts of the country. At the same time, the organisation is urging lawmakers to maintain federal investment in the next surface transportation legislation. It says the schematics could help policymakers understand how transit funding affects local economies.

The diagrams come out of a year-long research effort led by APTA’s policy development and research team. Separately, the team worked with external partners. It gathered nationwide data on transit manufacturing suppliers. Still, the work did not stop there. The team then analysed the dataset. It identified suppliers and mapped where particular components are produced.

Additional APTA materials are still to come

The findings have been condensed into schematic form. They provide a visual summary of the sector’s manufacturing footprint. In addition, APTA expects to unveil two more schematics at its upcoming APTA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

These will focus on bus maintenance facilities and rail stations. For example, they will extend the analysis beyond vehicle production. They are intended to cover additional parts of the public transport system.

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