LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. — Standing in front of a LANTA bus and shuttle Thursday morning, Gov. Josh Shapiro urged support for a massive investment in public transit he said was important for future success.
Shapiro stopped at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks to tout his budget, which would allot $292.5 million to mass transit across the commonwealth in 2025-26, growing to more than $330 million in 2029-30.
Shapiro and a slew of state and local officials stressed how such an investment would be a driving factor for economic growth that lets employees safely commute to and from work and other locations.
“Funding for public transit is vital here and throughout eastern Pennsylvania as it fuels our colleagues’ ability to get to work, and reduces barriers for individuals and families who obtain care — lifesaving care.”Jefferson Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joseph G. Cacchione
“Funding for public transit is vital here and throughout eastern Pennsylvania as it fuels our colleagues’ ability to get to work, and reduces barriers for individuals and families who obtain care — lifesaving care,” Jefferson Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joseph G. Cacchione said.
“When you stand outside the doors of one of our hospitals, you're likely to see someone step out of LANTA bus: a clinician who's coming here who prefers not to drive their vehicle, a cancer patient too weak to drive, a community member who can't afford a ride share to get to a specialist appointment.”
Shapiro highlighted his three previous attempts to launch a funding stream that would go directly to mass transit, none of which came to fruition.
'Without transit that stops'
Thanks to a cash injection into the matter, mass transit agencies are able to continue on to June 30, Shapiro said, “but there’s no more quick fixes.”
“It's time for the legislature, in particular, the Senate of Pennsylvania, to act and to fund our mass transit," he said.
"To fund it for those moms that need to get home for their kids, to fund it for our businesses that rely on mass transit.
"We can tell you firsthand that transit service is just as important, if not more important, in the rural areas of our region than it is in the urban ones.”Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority Executive Director Owen O’Neil
“Mass transit has a $5.4 billion — that's a ‘B,’ billion — dollar economic impact here in the Valley and all across Pennsylvania. It is a good business decision to invest in mass transit.
"It's a good business decision to make sure folks have the buses they need to get where they need to go. My proposal is still on the table. The House is prepared to pass it again. It's time for the Senate to pass it as well.”
Failure to make that happen could result in a 20% cut in LANTA services, Shapiro said, which would be devastating for those relying on public transit.
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority Executive Director Owen O’Neil said the Lehigh Valley has seen substantial growth since 2010, with 50,000 more residents, 65,000 more jobs, 70% GDP growth, and 48 million square feet of warehouse and industrial space.
The challenge is providing consistent and convenient transit across that environment, O'Neil said — especially without effective transit funding.
“Seventy-five percent of LANTA riders said they use our transit system to get back and forth to work," he said. "Another 21% said they use it to get back and forth to school.
"And without transit, that stops.
"While much of LANTA’s service area is characterized by urban centers and densifying suburbs, we also serve rural areas in northern Northampton and Lehigh counties.
"And many people don't know this, LANTA also runs the transit service in Carbon County. We can tell you firsthand that transit service is just as important, if not more important, in the rural areas of our region than it is in the urban ones.”
'Applaud this amazing effort'
State Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said the issue is not limited to the Lehigh Valley. Every county has at least a sizable portion of the population that needs public transit, Carroll said.
"So this investment offered by the governor would help stabilize and advance service, because otherwise the choices are to raise fares or cut services or both,” Carroll said.
“There are many people that need and want opportunity. They want to employ families. They want to lift families up. And governor, this commitment is going to allow opportunity to meet need, where people can find their jobs, get to their jobs, and create legacies for their families."Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Tony Iannelli
He said Shared-Ride Public Transit Services support "our seniors’ quality of life, empowers our economy. Fixed routes often get people to work at school. It provides opportunities across the board, no matter where you live.”
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Tony Iannelli spoke on the importance of public transit not just for those seeking jobs, but business owners, as well.
“There are many people that need and want opportunity," Iannelli said. "They want to employ families. They want to lift families up.
"And governor, this commitment is going to allow opportunity to meet need, where people can find their jobs, get to their jobs, and create legacies for their families.
"So we applaud this amazing effort.”
State Sen. Lisa Boscola again touched upon the growth of the Lehigh Valley as a whole, saying that supporting public transit is a key element to make it continue.
Boscola said she proposed a bill that said that "when we look at transit funding, we really have to look at our growing areas like the Lehigh Valley and try to support them a little bit more with the funding formula that makes sense for the whole state,” Boscola said.
'Stepping up to support mass transit'
Workforce Board Lehigh Valley Executive Director Nancy Dischinat talked about a veteran who was only able to take a job thanks to public transit, and a student who relied upon it to complete their HVAC training after their car broke down.
“We can't expect business to grow when their employees can't get to work," Dischinat said. "We can't close the labor gap if talent is stranded.
"And we can't build a striving economy if our transportation infrastructure leaves large portions behind.
“Public transit is a workforce infrastructure, it's a business infrastructure, it's a community infrastructure. Let's treat it like it matters, because it does.”
“It is time if we truly care about getting people to work, about keeping people gainfully employed and off of the taxpayer dole, that we actually ensure that they can get from point A to point B."State Rep. Michael Schlossberg
State Rep. Bob Freeman urged the state Senate to act on House Bill 1364 to ensure public transit would have sustained funding.
“House Bill 1364, of which I am a co-sponsor, would provide $292 million without raising taxes by using existing amounts of sales tax revenue," Freeman said.
The bill, though, would increase the current 4.4% to 6.15%.
"And that means that it would be a total of $1.5 billion in funding over a five-year period," Freeman said. "That's a difference that matters."
State Rep. Michael Schlossberg emphasized the role public transit plays in improving communities such as the Lehigh Valley.
“It is time if we truly care about getting people to work, about keeping people gainfully employed and off of the taxpayer dole, that we actually ensure that they can get from point A to point B," Schlossberg said.
"We must pass this transportation package and ensure that Pennsylvania's economy and the Lehigh Valley's economy can continue growing."
Shapiro thanked Cacchione and his team for their support.
“You do a great job saving lives, and you are great civic leaders, as well," the governor said.
"You understand your responsibility to a community, and I'm grateful that you're here today, stepping up to support mass transit."
