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Resolution expressing the support of the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for HB 2697 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and SB 1162 in the Pennsylvania State Senate identifying stable, predictable and dedicated funding for public transportation.
WHEREAS, in order to reduce air pollution, roadway congestion, promote economic development and redevelopment opportunities, and provide affordable transportation to our residents, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh strongly supports the broadest use of public transportation; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the primary funding source for public transportation agencies such as Port Authority of Allegheny County offering financial assistance to support its bus, commuter rail, light rail, incline and paratransit services; and
WHEREAS, the two largest funding sources of state funds that are primarily used to sustain operations are the General Fund Mass Transportation Assistance Budget Line Item and the Public Transportation Assistance Fund (PTAF) which contains several different sources of dedicated funding; and
WHEREAS, over the past 10 years, both funding sources fell well below the rate of inflation, forcing public transportation providers to take various cost-cutting actions, including laying off personnel, curtailing capital investments and worst of all, eliminating service; and
WHEREAS, an immediate and long-term solution to the structural deficit problem in public transportation can be found in the identical legislation currently before the PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE AND SENATE, HB 2697 AND SB 1162 RESPECTIVELY; AND
WHEREAS, passage of HB 2697 and SB 1162 would generate approximately $282 million annually for Pennsylvania's public transit agencies by dedicating additional Sales and Use Tax revenue to public transportation and by removing the cap on other tax revenue dedicated to transit agencies under Act 3 of 1997; and
WHEREAS, with the passage of HB 2697 and SB 1162, Port Authority would realize approximately $64 million annually.
WHEREAS, with the passage of HB 2697 and SB 1162, a dedicated source of funding from the Commonwealth for public transportation, will be established that will make it possible for public transportation to be funded at levels that allow for transit agencies to both support existing operations and to allow for expansion to meet additional need and demand.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the council of the City of Pittsburgh expresses its support for passage of HB 2697 and SB 1162 and recommends that the Governor of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Legislature use this legislation as a way to restore stable, predictable and dedicated funding for public transportation.