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Appropriations chair: governor’s proposal adds transit transfers but PRT shortfall could remain
Summary
Committee staff described a proposed increase in sales‑tax transfers that would add roughly $292.5 million to mass transit programs and about $40 million more to Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) under the governor’s plan; legislators said additional supplemental options are under consideration because PRT projects larger shortfalls.
At the Penn Hills briefing, committee staff described a proposed increase to transfers from the sales and use tax intended to provide additional operating and capital support for mass transit across the commonwealth.
Courtney Richardson summarized the transfer mechanics and preliminary allocation: the governor’s proposal would increase the transfer and generate about $292.5 million (reported as $292.5 and a half million in the presentation) for mass transit; Richardson said “how that would be affecting PRT would be an additional $40 million” and that the combined proposed allocation would be in the low‑$300 million range.
Members of the delegation acknowledged PRT’s larger stated need. Harris said past House measures to supplement transit funding passed the chamber but stalled in the State Senate; he and local members described plans to pursue supplemental revenue options — including adjusting fees and targeting lease/rental/ride‑share fees — if negotiations allow.
During public comment, riders and long‑time transit employees raised operational and governance concerns including management layers, parts‑and‑maintenance practices, safety at stops and declining ridership. Representative Emily Kincaid read a list of cost‑saving measures PRT reported (debt refinancing, data migration savings, maintenance purchasing changes) and also urged attention to ridership recovery and stop‑level safety and access as essential to restoring pre‑pandemic use.
The committee left the conversation open: funding levels are contingent on ongoing negotiations with the Senate and the governor, and committee members urged constituents to track progress and attend upcoming town halls.
