Buying American Is Making Infrastructure More Expensive, Study Finds

The think tank American Action Forum (AAF) released a study that finds that transit costs for commuters and governments are being elevated by policies that require agencies to buy American. "Washington’s beleaguered Metrorail system, according to the study, could have saved $700,000 on each of its 7000-series rail cars if it was able to purchase new cars at the price they cost overseas," reports Melania Zanona for The Hill. The AAF study may also have consequences for GOP proposed infrastructure legislation.

AAF concede that buying American is one of many factors effecting the costs of American rail and transit system, but they say current policies are driving up costs. For example: "Rolling stock, which includes buses, vans and railcars, must have 60 percent of its components from American sources under current federal requirements," Zanona reports.