State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman has issued a statement on his party’s support for a strong and robust transportation network across Pennsylvania.
In his comments, the Senator focused on a bill passed by the Senate in August that would use taxpayer money in the Public Transportation Trust Fund to pay for substantial transportation investments, with that funding going out to all 67 Pennsylvania Counties. The bill was rejected by Democrats and Governor Josh Shapiro.
Pittman said that taxpayers already invest over $1.5 billion each year for mass transit programs, but the state was also sitting on $2.4 billion in unused funds in the PTTF. Pittman saidm “It was not until our transparency efforts shed light on the massive fund balance that the Governor’s hand was forced to finally make these resources available for their intended use.” While Senate Republicans recognize the value of mass transit and the need for funding, he said that investments made by taxpayers “need to include reasonable accountability measures.
