Assemblymen Jones and Magnarelli Tour Plattsburgh Transit Manufacturers
Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Plattsburgh) was joined by Assemblyman William Magnarelli on Monday, Oct. 28, for a tour of Bombardier Transportation and Nova Bus to learn more about Plattsburgh’s transportation manufacturing industry.
“For many folks around the state and nation, getting where they need to go starts right here in the North Country,” said Jones. “Plattsburgh is the proud home of two state-of-the-art companies that specialize in transit manufacturing for some of the country’s busiest regions. I was happy to show Assemblyman Magnarelli the exciting and transformative projects these companies are working on in our communities.”
On Monday, Jones and Magnarelli, who is chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, along with Garry Douglas, North Country Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, toured Bombardier’s rail car manufacturing complex, where Bombardier produces high-tech rail cars for its customers, including New York City’s Subway system. For many years, Bombardier has offered good-paying jobs to North Country residents who are helping revolutionize transportation for folks nationwide, Jones noted.
Jones and Magnarelli also got to see Nova’s 140,000-square-foot Plattsburgh assembly plant, where the company manufactures its Nova Bus LFS line.[1] Earlier this month, Nova Bus revealed that it’s launching the LSFe+, a new fully electric bus with an electric motor that significantly reduces maintenance costs and emits no greenhouse gas.[2] New York City Transit recently announced that it plans to use an all-electric fleet for its public bus system by 2040,[3] and Jones is hopeful that Nova Bus will play a major role in the transition.
"The North Country is in the transportation equipment business, which is strongly impacted by state and federal policies and decisions," states Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce. "That's why it is always important when we are able to have key officials like Chairman Magnarelli come to learn first-hand about our transportation equipment cluster and to tour major operations like Bombardier and Nova Bus. We know he left with a heightened awareness of the capabilities of these companies, especially in connection with upcoming green transportation initiatives, and we thank Assemblyman Billy Jones for arranging and allowing us to co-host this very important visit by a key official who will now be a partner."
[1] esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/success-stories/nova-bus-getting-world-where-it-needs-go