In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation to assist our Commonwealth’s growing counties secure supplemental funding for public transportation.
 
The “Supplemental Allocation for Public Transportation in Growing Counties” program would allow transit systems in growing counties to expand service beyond current service levels and attempt to address regional growth now and in the future. The proposed program includes a mechanism to direct operating assistance that is supplemental to base funding to public transportation systems in counties that are growing in population and/or employment. These enhanced funding levels would allow for these types of needs to be addressed. Areas across the Commonwealth would benefit from the Growing County Program, administered by PennDOT. Under the structure outlined in the program, an estimated 60 of 67 counties would benefit from some level of supplemental funding.
 
Individuals across the Commonwealth rely on public transportation for work, access to medical care, basic and necessary shopping, and much more.
 
Every resident of the Commonwealth – whether they ride a bus, subway, railway, or trolley every day or not – benefits from the public transit systems that serve Pennsylvania. Connecting workers to jobs, students to classes, seniors to medical services, and opportunities for socialization which are so important for healthy aging, public transit makes possible economic growth and improvements to our quality of life.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.