Pittsburgh, Pa – April 14, 2025 – Today, the chairman of the Polityka Committee in the Senate Nick Miller conducted an interrogation in order to examine the needs of regional mass transport systems and assessing ways to ensure that their benefits remain available to residents and local enterprises in Pennsylvania.
“In our entire community, we noticed the growing crisis of financing mass transport characterized by significant cuts of services due to budget restrictions. Therefore, we threaten the daily lives of our residents who rely on public transport to get to work, visit friends and loved ones, and travel these regions for everyday needs.” Senator Miller said. “Although today’s interrogation has focused on Pittsburgh and Allegheny, we are observing a reduction in transit access in every corner of the community of nations, including in rural and suburban areas. In my district, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (Lanta) also has a crisis and recently reduced services. interrogation.
“Today’s interrogation was a key step in understanding work ahead of us in providing excellent public transport for every Pennsylvania and I am grateful for all testimonies that shared their knowledge and knowledge with us” Senator Costa said. “Public transit is a critical infrastructure for our students, our seniors, our employees, our tourists, our disabled friends and neighbors, our parents and our climate. By providing the necessary services for riders, public transit also fuels the economy of our region, combining employees to jobs, improves access to family jobs and ensuring employee needs for working employers.
“Public transport is an indispensable advantage for the community in the entire community of nations, including here in Western Pennsylvania, where transit authorities serve residents, enterprises and guests” Senator Fontana said. “We are obliged to ensure long -term sustainable development of our transit systems so that we do not face drastic cuts for the services of so many of our voters.”
“As a new member of the PRT Council and a senator of the state representing the Allegheny’s region with the largest number of cuts from 2013, I undertake to find a long -term solution to the financing of our public transport system to keep it not only alive, but also to develop” Senator Lindsey Williams said. “Our people, our workforce and future economic prosperity in Pennsylvania depend on access to transport. I am grateful to today’s testimonies who represented older and disabled communities as well as the largest employers of our region and clearly transferred the tragic need for a financed public transport system.”
“We have to bravely think about the future of transport in Alleghena and Pennsylvania,”, ” Senator Sikanka said. “We actively cooperate with state and local leaders in order to examine solutions for current gaps in financing and preventing harmful cuts of services, including those in favor of balanced, long -term investments in public transport to support riders and provide just services. Today, wise investments, we can build a transit system that supports our communities.”
Katharine Kellman, CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, found the importance of finding a financing solution that will avoid disturbing services and economic failures.
“If we do not meet and do not identify a permanent solution, transit agencies of the fiscal cliff in Pennsylvania will ultimately hinder supporting economic possibilities, attracting and stopping employees and supporting the social and business needs of our community,” said Katharine Kellman. “Transit is not and should not be an optional priority – it is fundamental.”
Michael Carroll, secretary of the Pennsylvania transport department (Penndot), emphasized his commitment to strengthening the public transport system through further cooperation, innovation and strategic investments.
“Throughout Pennsylvania, 53 Public Transport Agencies provide millions of travels each year – supporting mobility in each of our 67 poviats. In rural areas, small towns and cities, such as Pittsburgh, Transit is a daily necessity,” said Michael Carroll. “In fact, apart from the regions of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, over 45,000 travel takes place every day, maintaining tens of thousands of cars from our roads and reducing embolism and emissions.”
Kendra Ross, the head of social influence in Duolingo, expressed concerns among the growing workforce in Pittsburgh.
“We are lucky to be well served by PRT today and we hope that this can continue. The proposed cuts of services will have a direct impact on us, as well as many other companies in our community, with several lines in East Liberty, which will be cut off or significantly reduced,” said Kendra Ross. “It was a topic of significant fear among our workforce; I heard from many of our employees, worrying about what it will mean for their travel.”
Lauren Pokkin, an executive director of Greater Pittsburgh, emphasized, emphasized the need to invest in public transport in the good of the community, the economy and quality of life.
“Transport avoids institutionalization, which is both extremely expensive and not what people want,” said Lauren Pokin. “People want to age in a community. Both from human and fiscal perspective, it is an investment that cannot afford it, cannot afford it.”
Panelists at today’s interrogation included:
- Michael CarrollIN Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Transport
- Donminika Brown, financial director, Pittsburgh Regional Transit
- Katherine Kellleman, CEO, Pittsburgh Regional Transit
- Ross Nicotero, president of Business Manager, Atu Local 85
- Dan Yablonsky, digital director of the organization, Pittsburghs for Public Transit
- Laura Pokkin, executive director, age -friendly Pittsburgh
- Kendra Ross, head of social influence, Duolingo
- Vic Vercammen, Vice President for Safety, Regulation and Government Affairs, Giant Eagle, Inc
- Dr. Mark Rubino, president, Allegheny Health Network Forbes and Allegheny Valley Hospitals
Senator Nick Miller was elected chairman of the policy of the Senate of the Democratic Club in December 2024. Today’s interrogation was its fifth chairman.
The film material from the interrogation, as well as the written testimonies of the panel, are available at Pasenatormiller.com/policy. Photographs and video for download are available on demand.
Learn more about the PA Senac Democrats commitment to protect the needs of healthcare in Commonwealth and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
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Panel 1: Perspectives of the Nations Community
Panel 2: The State of Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Panel 3: Impact of the community
Panel 4: Regional economic effect
Additional testimonies
