Harrisburg, PA – This week, Governor Josh Shapiro visited two regional transit hubs — Rabbittransit in Dauphin County and LANTA in the Lehigh Valley — where business leaders, legislators, transit operators, and riders highlighted how the Governor’s proposed investments in mass transit would help people get where they need to go, connect communities across the Commonwealth, create jobs, and grow Pennsylvania’s economy.
Since taking office, the Governor has delivered over $380 million in new funding for roads and bridges, improving over 12,000 miles of roads and leading the nation in repairing poor-condition bridges. Now, his 2025-26 budget proposal includes $292 million in new mass transit funding, growing to $1.5 billion over five years — the first significant increase in state support for transit in over a decade.
Nearly one million Pennsylvanians rely on mass transit every day — and the Governor’s proposal would invest in 52 systems serving cities, suburbs, and rural towns alike.
Mass transit isn’t just about our biggest cities — it’s essential statewide. Rural shared-ride services alone provide 2.6 million trips a year for seniors, helping them get to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, and more. Meanwhile, mass transit across the Commonwealth supports more than 39,000 jobs and drives $5.4 billion in economic activity each year, according to the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association.
Governor Shapiro has taken action — proposing long-term support for mass transit systems across the Commonwealth. That proposal has passed the state House of Representatives three times — but the Senate has yet to act. The Governor is calling on both Democrat and Republican lawmakers to join him and pass a comprehensive, bipartisan transportation funding plan that meets the moment and secures the future of public transit in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians are sharing their strong support for the Governor’s plan — highlighting how critical mass transit is to our economy, workforce, and quality of life.
Read below what transit operators, riders, and leaders, and legislators are saying about Governor Shapiro’s proposed mass transit investments:
Shawn Wilson, a transit operator for CAT: “Every day, I get behind the wheel knowing that I'm not just driving a bus – I'm providing a lifeline to my community. I've driven the same dialysis patient three times a week for years, picked up veterans heading to VA appointments, and helped seniors maintain their independence and dignity. Every Pennsylvanian benefits from strong public transit — whether they ride the bus or not. But without adequate funding, we risk losing experienced operators and cutting services to the people who need us most. We can't let that happen. I am here to stand with Governor Shapiro to communicate the importance for the transit funding proposal — to keep connecting Pennsylvanians to jobs, healthcare, and independence, and maintain the dignity and quality of life public transit provides across our Commonwealth.”
Richard Farr, Executive Director of SRTA: "Governor Shapiro’s proposal isn’t just smart policy — it’s a lifeline for Pennsylvanians who rely on public transit to get to dialysis, chemo appointments, or their jobs. Right now, transit systems are losing drivers, cutting service, and falling behind just as ridership is surging. This investment means we can hire and retain workers, improve reliability, and keep people connected to opportunity. Transit supports every county in the Commonwealth — and when we invest in transit, we invest in our economy and our communities."
Owen O’Neill, Executive Director of LANTA: “In a recent survey, 75 percent of our riders said they rely on LANTA to get to work, and more than 20 percent use it to get to school. Without transit, those trips stop. While we serve urban centers and dense suburbs, LANTA also provides critical service to rural areas in northern Northampton, Lehigh, and Carbon counties. Many don’t realize we operate in Carbon County — but in places like Jim Thorpe, public transit is just as essential. Our service connects people to medical care, groceries, farmers markets, and social opportunities — lifelines for seniors, people with disabilities, and those who face isolation. We’re especially grateful to Governor Shapiro for his leadership. For the third year in a row, he’s proposed a solution to increase public transit funding across Pennsylvania — and that investment would make a real difference for the people we serve.”
Tony Iannelli, President and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce: “I remember when LANTA was moving people just a few blocks — and now, it’s moving people miles. That growth reflects the incredible expansion happening here in the Lehigh Valley. There are so many people who want to work, who want to support their families, who want to build something lasting — and Governor, your commitment is making it possible for opportunity to meet need. This investment will help people find jobs, get to work, and create legacies for their families.”
Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director of Workforce Board Lehigh Valley: “I’m here today to speak on behalf of both job seekers and employers across our region who are struggling to find skilled, available talent. Reliable public transportation isn’t just about mobility — it’s about economic connections. It connects workers to jobs, students to training, parents to childcare — and just as importantly, it connects businesses to the workforce they need to grow. Governor Shapiro gets that. He understands the connection between transit and opportunity, and he’s prioritized it — rebuilding the infrastructure that keeps Pennsylvania moving and proposing the largest investment in public transportation in more than a decade.”
Dr. Joseph G. Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health: “Public transit is something thousands of our providers, patients, and community members rely on every day to access high-quality health care in the Lehigh Valley Health Network, which is now part of Jefferson. Reliable transportation reduces barriers for individuals and families seeking life-saving treatment and supports our colleagues’ ability to get to work. Stand outside one of our hospitals and you’ll likely see someone stepping off a LANTA bus — a clinician who prefers not to drive, a cancer patient too weak to get behind the wheel, or a neighbor who can’t afford a ride-share to see a specialist. Transportation is a key social determinant of health, and it should never be a barrier to health care. At Jefferson, we’re striving to be the most accessible health system in the country, and public transit is an essential part of that vision. We can only achieve it by ensuring our colleagues and patients have easy, affordable ways to reach our care sites.”
Senator Lisa Boscola: “Investing in public transit pays dividends tomorrow. These investments are no different than any other infrastructure investment like roads and bridges. The reality is public transit moves people to their jobs, schooling, and other everyday activities. Having an efficient public transit system helps keep our community afloat, helping employers retain a reliable workforce, ensuring access to opportunity, and reduces our reliance on cars, reduces congestion, and improves our environment.”
Senator Patty Kim: "Public transit keeps people employed, seniors healthy, students learning, and families fed. House Bill 1364 will direct nearly $300 million in new funding to transit agencies across Pennsylvania, including critical resources for our Capital Region that will improve access to jobs, schools, and essential services. We need Senate Republicans to bring this bill up for a vote immediately - we cannot waste time when transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to financial stability for working families."
Senator Nick Miller: “We’re back in the Lehigh Valley — the fastest-growing region in the Commonwealth — and preparing for that growth takes strategy and foresight. That’s exactly what this budget proposal represents: a thoughtful plan that recognizes the needs of all the people who rely on transit every day, whether it’s to get to work, dialysis, or other critical healthcare. This is about being smart and strategic statewide. I want to thank Governor Shapiro and his team for their leadership — and we’ll keep fighting to get this budget across the finish line.”
Representative Nathan Davidson: “Governor Josh Shapiro is working to grow Pennsylvania’s economy and support commuters, working families, and businesses by proposing a major investment in mass transit so that Pennsylvanians in every region, including in Central Pennsylvania, can get where they need to go safely and reliably. The Governor has put forward a plan to sustainably fund mass transit two years in a row — the House has passed his plan three times — now it’s time for the Senate to get it done.”
Representative Robert Freeman: “You cannot overstate how important public mass transit is to the people of the Lehigh Valley — and across Pennsylvania. People rely on it every day to get to work, school, medical appointments, and even to buy groceries. Many riders live in urban areas that are food deserts, and their only access to fresh food might be a farmers market or a bus ride to a suburban supermarket. Transit also delivers broader benefits: it cuts pollution, reduces traffic congestion, and strengthens our entire region. But right now, transit agencies across the state are facing a funding crisis. This isn’t just a big city issue. That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor House Bill 1364, which would provide $292 million in funding without raising taxes. We must act to ensure public transit remains accessible, reliable, and fully funded for the people who depend on it every day.”
Representative Steve Samuelson: “As the Governor said, economic development depends on both employees and businesses — and they’re deeply interconnected. Mass transit is part of every single conversation we have about growing our economy. When you think about it, it’s the employees getting to work, and the employers relying on the Lehigh Valley’s incredible workforce. Everyone depends on transit.”
Representative Mike Schlossberg: “Mass transit is about more than just a ride — it’s the engine that powers the entire Lehigh Valley community. Three times, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives have voted to pass the mass transit funding package the Governor supports — and three times, the Senate has said no. That’s no fault of Senators Boscola or Miller, who have been strong advocates. But if we truly care about growing our economy, we need to invest in it. If we truly care about keeping people working and off the taxpayer rolls, then we must ensure they can get from point A to point B. We must pass this transportation package and keep Pennsylvania — and the Lehigh Valley — moving forward.”
Representative Peter Schweyer: “This isn’t just a story about economic development or business — this is a story about people. It’s about making sure folks have what they need to live a good and decent life, the kind of life we’d want for anyone. The entire transportation system — whether someone is driving over a newly repaired bridge thanks to the Shapiro Administration, arriving in a shared van, or commuting to work on a bus — accomplishes the same goal: keeping our economy flowing, our businesses operating, and our communities growing. I stand with my colleagues in supporting this legislation and call on the Senate to act.”
See what Pennsylvanians are reading and watching about Governor Shapiro’s proposed mass transit investments:
ABC27: Governor Shapiro fights for public transit in new budget
PennLive: Harrisburg public transit nearing fiscal cliff as Gov. Shapiro pushes for budget deal
WJET: Governor Shapiro fights for public transit in new budget
WFMZ: Gov. Shapiro stops in Lehigh Valley to push 'critical' funding for mass transit
Erie News Now: Governor Shapiro Highlights Need For Mass Transit Investment During Visit to Hospital
Lehigh Valley Business: Shapiro promotes transit funding in Lehigh Valley visit
The Mon Valley Independent: Shapiro fights for public transit in budget
Pike County Courier: Shapiro emphasizes need for public transit investment
# # #