Legislation soon to be introduced in the state Senate would modernize the management of the state’s public transportation systems.
The legislation would update Title 74 to provide predictability in capital funding and increase local control in transit decisions. The bill would do this by ensuring rural transit authorities are given priority for receiving federal funds designated for rural transit; maintaining the existing split for capital funds; add definitions to emphasize the federal requirements for the Transit Asset Management Plan performance goals and the Public Transit Safety Plans; add a definition for Simplified Acquisition Threshold-Small Purchases to match federal language; and provide for a detailed independent planning study or Transit Development Plan conducted by award recipients rather than Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) performance reviews.
The bill also would allow PennDOT to develop and implement a pilot program for shared ride service delivery and require additional accountability from PennDOT annually on the amount, use, and distribution of funds.
The bill would modify language concerning fare increases to reflect local performance goals; and modify language for performance measures to be determined locally.
The Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association represents Pennsylvania’s public transportation systems, which provide more than 1 million rides daily.
Sen. John T. Yudichak (I-Luzerne/Carbon) will introduce the bill.