State transit funding is stuck in the mud, Mobilify Executive Director Chris Sandvig writes in The Tribune-Review and PennLive | The Patriot-News, and the only way out is for the administration and lawmakers to work as a team to keep us all rolling.
“It’s not just a Pittsburgh or Philadelphia problem, either,” he continues. “The reality is that all 67 Pennsylvania counties have some form of public transit. In rural Pennsylvania, these systems really are lifelines; practically everyone who uses them needs them for crucial, basic needs. People everywhere rely on that ride to get to and from their jobs, reach crucial medical care, make it to class, visit family and friends, and meet other basic needs that are a necessary part of daily life.”
Unfortunately, fare hikes and service cuts for transit systems across the state are the new norm.
To address the issue, Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to raise transit’s annual state sales tax allocation, boosting overall funding by $292 million in the first year of his proposed 2025-26 budget and growing it to $330 million by the 2029-30 fiscal year. He also proposed an additional $750 million over five years for repairs to the state’s highways and bridges.
“Supporting a robust transportation system is a core function of government,” Sandvig writes. “It helps Pennsylvania compete globally for new commerce and talent, making us a more attractive place to live, work, and conduct business. It connects people to job opportunities they otherwise couldn’t reach and boosts productivity. It connects our parents and grandparents to the communities that are so crucial to their continued wellbeing and independence.”
Read his southwestern Pennsylvania-focused piece in The Tribune-Review HERE or his statewide edition in PennLive | The Patriot-News HERE.
