Maxwell Frost Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Public Transit and Lower Bus Procurement Costs
Frost’s Transit Bus Affordability Act Would Empower the Federal Government to Help Cities Purchase Buses More Efficiently and Expand Local Transit Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH) introduced the Transit Bus Affordability Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at helping local transit agencies and bus manufacturers find ways to reduce the cost of new buses in order to meet the growing demand for bus ridership.
The legislation comes at a pivotal moment: in 2024, Americans took 7.7 billion public transportation trips – nearly half a billion more than the previous year – marking a 25% increase in ridership since 2022. To meet this rising demand and better serve existing riders, communities need more buses. But steep and rising prices are making that difficult. Today, a single transit bus can cost upwards of $1 million, with average prices hovering around $800,000.
Despite the severity of the issue, there has been little federal-level analysis or strategy to reduce transit bus procurement costs. The Transit Bus Affordability Act would change that as the bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review and analyze the current drivers of transit bus costs and recommend actionable strategies to reduce them.
“Public transit is a lifeline for folks who depend on these services to get to work, school, doctor appointments, and more,” said Rep. Frost. “But the rising cost for a city or town to purchase a single bus is holding back local transit agencies from meeting demand and expanding service. This bill is a first step toward understanding the root of the problem and driving down costs so that communities can invest in more reliable, affordable transit options.”
“As the former Mayor of Dayton, I understand the burden procurement costs place on local transit agencies, which subsequently impact the availability and reliability for riders,” said Congressman Turner. “That is why I am proud to work with Rep. Frost on the Transit Bus Affordability Act. Our bipartisan legislation will help inform lawmakers on the federal, state and local levels on options to lower bus costs – which will ultimately lead to savings-generating strategies for transit agencies providing essential services to riders in communities like Dayton and those across the country.”
The bill is endorsed by The Bus Coalition, GILLIG, and ABC Companies.
“At ABC Companies, our commitment to advancing safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation spans the full spectrum of passenger mobility, from public transit to private motorcoach fleets. We proudly endorse the Transit Bus Affordability Act and commend Representatives Frost and Turner for their bold, bipartisan leadership. With more than five decades of experience serving operators across North America, we understand the cost pressures and operational challenges transportation providers face every day. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) study presents an important opportunity to explore practical and scalable solutions that can help make modern transportation more accessible and cost-effective for the communities that depend on it,” said Jay Oakman, Chief Operating Officer, ABC Companies.
“Simply put, transit buses are too expensive, and it takes too long for new buses to hit the road. The Transit Bus Affordability Act is an essential tool to help us better understand how to stretch federal dollars further, streamline the procurement process, and incentivize competition in the bus manufacturing marketplace. The Bus Coalition applauds Representatives Frost and Turner for introducing a commonsense bill to objectively examine the bus market and identify the impediments to a more efficient and cost-effective procurement system. We need this legislation to foster a healthy marketplace—and ultimately to make transit more affordable and accessible for riders across the country,” said Ed Redfern, Executive Director, The Bus Coalition.
The Transit Bus Affordability Act instructs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the factors responsible for the current costs of transit bus manufacturing and procurement in order to recommend ways to mitigate those costs. The review must look at several factors including:
- Cost drivers in design and procurement;
- How transit bus costs and prices in the United States compare with those in other countries;
- How transit bus costs compare with the manufacturing of other large vehicles; and
- Steps taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the states, transit agencies, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to reduce costs and accelerate delivery times.
As this work is already within GAO’s mandate, this legislation has no budgetary impact while offering a path toward cost savings, economic growth, and more effective use of local, state, and federal taxpayer dollars.
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