April 17, 2025 - Washington, PA

ADVISORY - Shapiro Administration, Local Leaders Outline How Governor's Public Transit Proposal Would Help Washington County

Following a public transit stakeholder meeting today in Washington, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll and officials from Freedom Transit and UPMC Washington outlined how Governor Josh Shapiro's public transit budget proposal is a commonsense way to create good-paying jobs, spur economic development, and help Pennsylvanians reach their destinations safely.

After securing $80.5 million in additional public transit funding in the 2024-25 budget, the Governor's Budget proposes an additional $292.5 million investment for transit this year - 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. The proposal would invest nearly $470,000 more in Freedom Transit in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

"To grow our economy and our communities, our infrastructure and public transit systems must both be properly funded, which is why Governor Shapiro proposed the first major new investment in public transit in a decade," Carroll said. "The Governor's proposal has advanced three times in the House without Senate action. We need our legislature to meet Pennsylvanians' current and future public transit needs just like we improve roads and bridges in every community."



List of Speakers:
Sheila Gombita, executive director of Freedom Transit
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll
Terry Wiltrout, VP for Operations, UPMC Washington

• Full Advisory