Philly Leader

Senator Bob Casey confirmed new funding for public transportation projects in Pennsylvania. The funding is overseen by the Federal government and will go to projects across the state. It is for this year. 

The funding is going to be given out by the Federal Transit Administration and will permit for infrastructure improvements and additional projects in both urban and rural regions, in addition to funding to improve access to transit for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. 

“Thanks to the infrastructure law, Pennsylvania's public transit systems will see $234 million in federal funding for improved reliability, safer trips, more convenient services & improved accessibility for seniors & people with disabilities" Senator Casey said in a post to his official Twitter account on February 5. 

Senator Casey went on to talk about the law more expansively in a press release.

“From our biggest cities to our rural communities, Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth rely on public transportation to get everywhere they need to go—work, school, the grocery store and more” Senator Casey said in a press release. “Thanks to the infrastructure law, many of the Commonwealth’s public transit systems will be able to upgrade vehicles, improve facilities and provide faster, safer and more convenient service. I’m also very pleased that this bill includes $8 million to directly make public transportation more accessible to our seniors and people with disabilities. This is just a down-payment of what’s to come for Pennsylvania’s public transit.”

The funding will cover the first 4 and a half months of the 2022 fiscal year. More funding is anticipated following Congress passing a further spending plan for the new fiscal year. Philadelphia will receive $147,188,295 with Pittsburgh receiving $30,497,326. This includes the new provisions for funding for seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

Funding dedicated to the increased mobility of seniors and people with disabilities added up to $2,536,761. This funding is for regions with populations under $200,000.