June 05, 2025 - Lower Nazareth Township, PA
Governor Josh Shapiro and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll joined transit leaders, local officials, and Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) bus operators and riders at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks in Northampton County to highlight the critical role of mass transit to connect communities across the Commonwealth, create jobs, and grow Pennsylvania's economy. The visit comes as the Governor continues to advocate for his 2025-26 budget proposal, which includes $292 million in new mass transit funding next year - generating over $1.5 billion in the next five years. This is the first significant increase in state support for mass transit in more than a decade, benefiting 52 transit systems that serve nearly one million riders each day in rural, urban, and suburban communities across the Commonwealth."Just like we repair and maintain the bridges in rural and suburban communities, we owe it to the Pennsylvanians who take mass transit to be there for them and their families too," said Governor Shapiro. "Mass transit drives $5.4 billion in economic activity every year in Pennsylvania, and it enables businesses to affordably get their employees to offices and job site - it's well worth the investment in our budget. For two years in a row, I've proposed the first major new investment in mass transit in more than a decade - the House has passed that proposal three times and it's now up to the Senate to act."Speaker list:Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO, Jefferson HealthGovernor Josh ShapiroOwen O'Neil, Executive Director, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation AuthoritySecretary Mike Carroll, PennDOTTony Iannelli, President & CEO, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of CommerceNancy Dischinat, Executive Director, Workforce Board Lehigh ValleySenator Lisa BoscolaSenator Nick MillerRepresentative Bob FreemanRepresentative Steve SamuelsonRepresentative Mike SchlossbergRepresentative Peter Schweyer
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