Sponsors (3)
The bill funds a GAO study that could identify ways to lower bus procurement costs and speed delivery—stretching public dollars and benefiting riders—but may impose short-term compliance costs on manufacturers and requires federal resources to conduct the review.
State and local transit agencies and taxpayers: a GAO report could identify procurement practices and policy changes that reduce bus purchase prices, stretching Federal, State, and local grant dollars and improving cost-effectiveness of spending.
Transit riders and transportation workers: implementation of GAO recommendations could accelerate manufacturing, shorten delivery times for new buses, and improve service reliability.
Manufacturers (including small firms) and transit agencies: recommended procurement changes or new procurement rules could create short-term compliance and adjustment costs to meet new standards or processes.
Federal agencies and taxpayers: commissioning the GAO study will use agency staff and resources over an 18-month period and incur administrative costs without delivering immediate procurement changes.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to review causes of high U.S. transit bus costs, compare trends and practices, assess FTA-funded procurements, and recommend ways to reduce costs within 18 months.
Official title: To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the efficient use of funds in procuring new buses for transit service, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 16, 2025 by Maxwell Frost · Last progress July 16, 2025
Requires the Government Accountability Office to study why U.S. transit buses are becoming more expensive to build and buy, compare costs and price trends with other countries and vehicle types, evaluate how supply and manufacturing issues affect federally funded procurements, and report recommendations to Congress to reduce costs and improve use of federal, state, and local funds within 18 months of enactment. The review must identify primary cost drivers, compare 10-year price trends with similar vehicles, assess impacts on Federal Transit Administration-funded projects, summarize actions taken by stakeholders to lower costs and speed delivery, and evaluate procurement practices like state contracts and joint purchasing.