Neilson applauds passage of funding for public transit

After months of negotiations and informational meetings regarding Pennsylvania’s transportation sector, state Rep. Ed Neilson, majority chair of the House Transportation Committee, today announced the passage of House Bill 2625.

House Bill 2625, authored by Neilson, would increase the share of the state’s sales tax revenue designated to transit funding from 4.4% to 6.15%, resulting in approximately $282 million in new transit funding for all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties without raising taxes.

“We’ve voted three times on legislation that would allow mass transit agencies across the commonwealth to continue providing vital services to urban, rural and suburban communities,” Neilson said. “Reliable public transit is a vital service that many Pennsylvanians rely on, especially our seniors and people with disabilities who require a robust public transit system to reach important medical appointments and much more.

“There is still time for the Senate leadership to do the right thing and fund public transit for all 67 counties,” he said.  

House Bill 2625 now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate.