Op-Ed by State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia
Pennsylvania has more roads and bridges than New York, New Jersey, and all the New England states combined. We have roads that we must police, plow and pave.
Yet currently, PennDOT is facing an annual budget shortfall of $9.4 billion. This doesn’t include all the local roads and bridges that are maintained by local governments, which need relief as well.
Act 89 of 2013 marked the last time the state legislature attempted to address transportation funding. It’s time to address it again – and make sure we include all aspects of transportation, especially public transit.
The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee just wrapped up a series of public hearings across the state to discuss how our transportation infrastructure impacts communities and what we need to address in the state legislature.
This series of public meetings focused on many aspects of transportation. We spoke of ways to properly fund our infrastructure, workforce, public transit, and airports. All these areas have a great impact on Pennsylvania’s economy, and we must do everything as state legislators to keep Pennsylvanians connected.
From Philadelphia’s busy streets to the quiet towns of central Pennsylvania, a reliable and well-funded transit system is crucial for keeping our state connected. A lack of reliable public transportation would have a devastating effect in all 67 counties of the Commonwealth.
Yet, despite its importance, public transit funding is often overlooked or underfunded, threatening the sustainability and growth of this vital service.
It fuels local economies through job creation, both directly in the transit sector and indirectly by supporting industries like retail and tourism. Investing in public transportation not only strengthens economic growth but also fosters more equitable and sustainable development across the state.
To put it into perspective, according to the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association, our public transportation system employs more than 39,000 people and generates more than $5.4 billion annually for our economy. In 2022, there were 232 million bus trips, which helped nearly 24 million seniors travel to medical appointments and make other important trips.
These massive numbers emphasize the impact that public transit has on local economies and the enormity of its impact on the state’s gross domestic product.
Not only did we hear from experts who work within the transportation sector, we listened to real life stories of how public transit provides a lifeline to people with disabilities. In Philadelphia, Michael Anderson, legislative advocate for The Arc of Philadelphia, spoke honestly about how nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians — that’s 28% of us — live with a disability.
“I used to use Paratransit, or SEPTA’s CCT, to a lot of my community outings but they have become way too unreliable to use. One-time CCT arrived 5 hours after my scheduled pick up,” Anderson said. “These systems won’t be fixed with a mobile app, so I implore the committee to explore ways to support accessible transit.
“Please, do not let ableism persist in our transportation systems,” Anderson concluded.
As Pennsylvania looks toward the future, investing in public transportation must be a priority, not only for the sake of commuters but for the health and prosperity of the state.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll testified: “There is no denying the positive impact that transit has on citizens and communities across Pennsylvania. We are grateful for the General Assembly’s acknowledgement of the transit funding issue highlighted in the governor’s budget address in February and that transit agencies will see an increase this state fiscal year.
“However, this is a temporary fix, and the conversation is not over,” Carroll stated.
I’m happy to say that these conversations have stoked movement for supporting public transportation. The state Senate also recently held a hearing on transportation funding, with plans for another hearing soon.
Properly funding our transportation network is not a partisan issue. Whether you live in a rural, suburban, or urban community, we all depend on reliable roads, bridges, and transit to get around.
If we don’t come together and fix these issues today, the fiscal cliff our transportation sector is experiencing will take our economy down with it.
State Rep. Ed Neilson is chairman of the PA House Transportation Committee. He represents the 174th Legislative District in Northeast Philadelphia.
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