Skoutelas Cites Lasting Benefits at New Siemens Rail Manufacturing Hub

Siemens Mobility celebrated the opening of its new $220 million railcar manufacturing hub in Lexington, NC, April 3. APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 200-acre Rolling Stock and Rail Service facility, which will create more than 500 jobs when fully operational.

Congratulating state and local officials and Siemens’ leadership, Skoutelas noted the importance of the rail investment, not only for Lexington and North Carolina, but for the more than $100 billion U.S. public transportation industry.

“One of the most exciting parts of my job is seeing how communities, private companies, and local and state governments come together to make life better,” he said, adding, “This investment supports new skilled jobs, more than 2,000 North Carolina suppliers and service companies, and millions of riders who will enjoy improved mobility.”

Skoutelas said APTA’s mission is to advocate for public transportation funding by showing how investments, like the one in Lexington, create lasting benefits. APTA’s most recent research shows that:

• Every $1 invested in transit returns $5 to the U.S. economy
• Almost 80 percent of all federal dollars spent on public transportation flows to the private sector
• The public transit industry relies on approx. 3,000 American suppliers in more than 1,700 communities across all 50 states
• For every $1 billion invested to expand or modernize public transportation, more than $250 million is generated in federal, state, and local tax revenue

Locally, the Siemens Mobility Rail Facility will boost North Carolina’s economy by $1.6 billion over the next 12 years, growing the state’s businesses and strengthening the manufacturing base.