FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexis Campbell, alecampbel [at] pa.gov or Erin Waters-Trasatt, ewaterstra [at] pa.gov, 717-783-8800
Shapiro Administration, Transit, Business Leaders Highlight Importance of Public Transit to Pennsylvania’s Economy
Lancaster, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll today joined Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association Executive Director Shawna Jones, South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing, and Pennsylvania business leaders at the PPTA’s annual conference to highlight public transit’s contributions to the state’s economy and how Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal supports those contributions.
The Governor’s Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit – the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.
“Public transit doesn’t just get seniors to medical appointments and bring people to work – the overall industry making the products and vehicles transit providers need is an important part of Pennsylvania’s economy,” Carroll said. “Governor Shapiro’s commonsense proposal wouldn’t just help maintain clean, safe, and reliable transit services, but would also directly support jobs across the state.”
According to PPTA data, association members procured $2.5 billion in goods and services from Pennsylvania companies from 2018-2023.
“Transit means business and jobs for Pennsylvanians. Transit agencies across PA employ 17,000 people directly,” Jones said. “Our procurement of goods and services also supports jobs in Pennsylvania. And beyond creating jobs, public transportation provides others access to jobs, which also contributes to Pennsylvania’s economy. In all we do, transit means business.”
Various Pennsylvania companies supplying equipment or vehicles to public transit providers were at the conference including three whose representatives joined the media availability. Exton, PA-based United Safety & Survivability Corporation provides safety solutions to a wide range of industries; TSI Video, based in Zelienople, PA, is a video surveillance and software company; and Bethlehem, PA-based BusStuf, Inc. markets various transit services and products.
On average, 64 percent of the people who use fixed-route services say that they have no alternate means of transportation. Public transportation services are available in every county in Pennsylvania, including:
- Shared ride service in all 67 counties;
- Fixed route bus service in 49 counties; and
- Fixed route rail service in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The public is encouraged to learn about public transit options and apply for transportation assistance programs through the Commonwealth’s Find My Ride (FMR) tool. FMR includes FMR Apply, an online tool which was developed collaboratively with transit agencies and streamlines the application process for transportation assistance programs in the state, including the Senior Shared Ride program, the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP), ADA complementary paratransit, the Persons with Disabilities program; the Free Transit Program; and fixed route half/reduced fare for persons with disabilities. In counties where they’re available, eligible residents can apply for Area Agency on Aging funded trips for people 60-64 and discounted shared ride service for veterans.
Additionally, FMR Apply allows third parties – such as a family member or healthcare provider – to apply for services on behalf of a rider.
More information on public transit and alternative transportation options like ridesharing, biking, and walking, is available on PennDOT’s website.
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