Karen Miner - Comments

August 3, 2012 U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. Docket Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140 Washington, DC 20590-0001 RE: Federal Transit Administration docket number FTA-2012-0029 To whom it may concern, I am writing in support of the FTA’s action to rescind the Buy America waiver for minivans and minivan chassis, which has allowed FTA funds to be utilized to purchase final assembly of minivans completed outside of the United States (specifically Canada). The waiver was only to be in place until a Buy America product was made available. I support the intent of the Buy America program, and its goal of keeping U.S. taxpayer dollars purchasing products that have at least 60% of their content manufactured and final assembly in the United States, supporting American jobs and American workers. The Vehicle Production Group LLC (VPG) and their OEM vehicle, the MV-1, serve this goal while creating a price competitive product which allows for universal access and an optional factory-direct alternate fuel (CNG) powertrain at a competitive price point. The MV-1 is a wheelchair-accessible factory-produced vehicle assembled in Mishawaka, Indiana which meets or exceeds all “Buy America” qualifications for Federal funding. The vehicle includes a standard OEM vehicle and powertrain warranty, including the integrated ramp. It is the ideal paratransit vehicle for local, state and federal needs. Furthermore, the optional factory-direct CNG powertrain offers an alternate fuel solution that further reduces fuel operating costs by 25% - 55%. The MV-1 program currently supports more than 900 jobs (includes employees, suppliers, retailers and service personnel) in the U.S. and positively impacts the U.S. economy. The quality controls implemented at the Mishawaka facility where the car is built by the United Auto Workers (UAW) are outstanding and second to no other facility in the world today and distributed through 150 poi