State Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland County) said she soon will introduce legislation that would give counties more flexibility to fund public transportation.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) currently is required to provide $450 million in annual transfer payments to support the operating and capital expenditures of public transportation across the state.
PTC has increased tolls annually since 2009 to make these mandatory contributions. As a consequence, it is $6 billion in debt.
The transfer payments amount would decrease to $50 million annually from 2023-2057, according to state law.
“This approach is clearly unsustainable,” Ward said. “My legislation will broaden authority and responsibility for counties to support public transportation in their regions. This legislation will be developed with input from the working group that I recently announced to help address the complex issues facing our interconnected transportation system.”
The working group will evaluate the options for ending PTC transfer payments.
PTC also is facing pending litigation and this is delaying the transfer payments. The delay creates uncertainty for public transportation projects as well as mobility, economic competitiveness, and quality of life, Ward said.
If the proposed bill becomes law, it will not mandate county action but instead will provide options to fund transportation projects.