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April 11, 2024 - Lancaster, PA

Shapiro Administration, Transit, Business Leaders Highlight Importance of Public Transit to Pennsylvania's Economy

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll joined Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association Executive Director Shawna Jones, South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing, and Pennsylvania business leaders at the PPTA's annual conference to highlight public transit's contributions to our economy and how Governor Josh Shapiro's budget proposal supports those contributions.

The 2024-25 budget Governor's Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit - the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.

"Public transit doesn't just get seniors to medical appointments and bring people to work - the overall industry making the products and vehicles transit providers need is an important part of Pennsylvania's economy,"Carrollsaid. "Governor Shapiro's commonsense proposal wouldn't just help maintain clean, safe, and reliable transit services, but would also directly support jobs across the state."

Soundbites with the Following:
Mike Carroll - Secretary of PennDOT
Shawna Jones - Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA)
Greg Downing - Executive Director of the South Central Transit Authority
Jim Gallagher - Owner & Vice President of Bus Stuf Inc.
James Gallagher - Sales Manager with Bus Stuf Inc.
Troy Whitesel - Director of Sales & Marketing for TSI Video Surveillance
Ray Melleady - Exec. Vice President for Global Sales with United Safety & Reliability



From left; Raymundo Delgadillo, of the South Central Transit Authority; Andrew Gardner, of Gillig LLC; Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority; South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing; Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll; and Jerry Sheehan, of Gillig LLC, talk together during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0001.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing, left, Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) Executive Director Shawna Jones, center, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, right, talk together during the PPTA annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0002.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, shakes hands with Kevin Chau, sales director of Commute with Enterprise, during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0003.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> The Adaptive Transportation Network Companys Dan Barone, manager of business development, and Julie Nelson, director of business development talk with Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0004.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, right, talks with David Delforte, sales representative at Coach & Equipment Manufacturing, center, during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0005.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, left, South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing, center, and Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority, right, talk together during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0006.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> From left; Raymundo Delgadillo, of the South Central Transit Authority; Andrew Gardner, of Gillig LLC; Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority; South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing; Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll; and Jerry Sheehan, of Gillig LLC, talk together during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0007.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll delivers remarks during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund. Public transit doesnt just get seniors to medical appointments and bring people to work the overall industry making the products and vehicles transit providers need is an important part of Pennsylvanias economy, Carroll said. Governor Shapiros commonsense proposal wouldnt just help maintain clean, safe, and reliable transit services, but would also directly support jobs across the state.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0008.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll talks with David Lomison, director of Centre County Office of Transportation, during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund. Public transit doesnt just get seniors to medical appointments and bring people to work the overall industry making the products and vehicles transit providers need is an important part of Pennsylvanias economy, Carroll said. Governor Shapiros commonsense proposal wouldnt just help maintain clean, safe, and reliable transit services, but would also directly support jobs across the state.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0009.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, left, Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority, center, and Ray Melleady, executive vice president of United Safety and Survivability Corporation, right, talk together during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0010.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, right, talks with David Delforte, sales representative at Coach & Equipment Manufacturing, center, during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0011.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing speaks during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0012.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll is pictured during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund. Public transit doesnt just get seniors to medical appointments and bring people to work the overall industry making the products and vehicles transit providers need is an important part of Pennsylvanias economy, Carroll said. Governor Shapiros commonsense proposal wouldnt just help maintain clean, safe, and reliable transit services, but would also directly support jobs across the state.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0013.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> From left; Raymundo Delgadillo, of the South Central Transit Authority; Andrew Gardner, of Gillig LLC; Bob Fiume, executive director of Luzerne County Transportation Authority; South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing; and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, talk together during the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0014.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> South Central Transit Authority Executive Director Greg Downing, left, Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) Executive Director Shawna Jones, center, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, right, talk together during the PPTA annual conference inside the Lancaster County Convention Center on April 11, 2024. The Governors Budget proposes an additional $282.8 million investment for transit the first of its kind in over a decade. This would be achieved with an additional 1.75 percent of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax being deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/25728_dot_transitProposal_NK_0015.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a>