Transportation (Public Transit)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 711: An Act providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfers and increases.

SB 711, titled "An Act providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfers and increases," aims to modify the funding and allocation mechanisms for public transportation in Pennsylvania. The bill mandates that 6.15% of the revenue collected under Article II of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 be deposited into the Public Transportation Trust Fund monthly. It also allows the total financial assistance provided to local transportation organizations to exceed the current 20% limit of the prior year's allocation. Furthermore, the Secretary of Transportation gains the authority to adjust the annual increase in the local match requirement for these organizations for five fiscal years, starting in fiscal year 2025-2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 6.15% tax revenue transfer to public transit fund, increasing dedicated funding for transportation services.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates 6.15% tax revenue deposits into Public Transportation Trust Fund and lifts funding limits, directly increasing public transit financial support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 30, 2025

HB 1524: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Public Transportation Assistance Fund, further providing for Public Transportation Assistance Fund.

HB 1524 amends the Public Transportation Assistance Fund provisions within Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971. The bill revises how funds are managed or allocated for public transportation programs, directly affecting state transportation agencies and public transit providers receiving these funds. It modifies specific sections of the existing tax code governing this dedicated fund. The bill was recently referred to the Transportation committee for further consideration. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAmends Public Transportation Assistance Fund provisions to revise fund allocation, ensuring continued support for state transit programs and agencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 10, 2025

HB 1587: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in rules of the road in general, providing for obedience to school crossing guards; and imposing penalties.

HB 1587 requires drivers to obey school crossing guards' signals at school zones, mandating they stop within 10-30 feet of the guard or crosswalk and remain stopped until the guard signals to proceed. It directly affects drivers near schools during children’s arrival/departure times, with violations punishable by a $250 fine plus a $35 surcharge. The surcharge funds Pennsylvania’s School Bus Safety Grant Program, which supports safety initiatives. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and defines "school crossing guard" as an appointed person managing traffic during school hours.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates driver stops at school zones with fines funding safety initiatives, directly enhancing road safety and transportation infrastructure near schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety Public Transit Traffic Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 11, 2025

HB 1594: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in general budget implementation, further providing for Multimodal Transportation Fund.

This bill maintains the Multimodal Transportation Fund's authorization through December 31, 2025, ensuring continued funding for Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure projects like road maintenance and public transit. It directly affects the state's transportation budget by preserving existing funding mechanisms without altering the expiration date. The bill is procedural, confirming the fund's timeline rather than creating new policies.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill maintains Multimodal Transportation Fund funding through 2025 for road maintenance and public transit infrastructure, preserving existing transportation project funding without changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 1539: An Act establishing the Electric School Bus Grant Program and the Electric School Bus Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 1539 creates a new grant program to help school districts purchase electric school buses, funded through a dedicated "Electric School Bus Grant Program Fund." It directly affects public school districts seeking to replace diesel buses with electric models by providing financial assistance for vehicle purchases and related infrastructure. The bill requires the Department of Education to administer the program, including setting eligibility rules and distributing funds. The bill is currently pending in the Energy committee after being re-referred there from Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated state funding for electric school bus program, advancing public infrastructure investment through new budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a grant program funding electric school bus purchases and infrastructure for school districts, directly advancing school transportation infrastructure and funding under education policy.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates grant program for electric school buses, directly funding clean energy infrastructure transition from diesel vehicles95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds electric school bus adoption to reduce diesel emissions, directly promoting clean transportation and lowering pollution per bill's grant program for replacing fossil-fuel buses.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds electric school bus adoption, promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure and reducing diesel emissions in public transit.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Public Transit

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 9, 2025

HB 1714: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided.

HB 1714 updates Pennsylvania's school transportation rules under the Public School Code. It requires school districts to provide free transportation for public school students to and from school (within 10 miles, with exceptions for career schools and field trips), and extends this same free transportation requirement to nonprofit nonpublic schools during their regular school hours. The bill also allows districts to use local funds for urban mass transit to cover school transportation costs without state reimbursement, and mandates the State Board of Education to set school bus driver qualifications. Finally, it prohibits districts from funding transportation to schools located outside Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free school transportation for public/nonprofit nonpublic students, directly enhancing educational access by removing transportation barriers for K-12 attendance.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates free school transportation using public transit, extends to nonpublic schools, and allows urban mass transit funding for school transport, directly advancing public transit infrastructure use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Public Transit

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 23, 2025

SB 954: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for operating program.

SB 954 amends Pennsylvania's transportation code to establish new performance standards for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The bill requires the state transportation department to create minimum criteria focused on reducing fare evasion, improving public-private transportation partnerships, and optimizing bus routes. These standards will be based on SEPTA's past performance and comparisons with similar transit authorities. Failure to meet these criteria would trigger specific procedures outlined in the bill, though the exact consequences are referenced to another section. The bill directly affects SEPTA's operations but does not change funding or create new programs.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes performance standards for SEPTA to improve efficiency, reduce fare evasion, and optimize routes under sustainable mobility framework, directly advancing public transit operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1295: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in other required equipment, further providing for general requirements for school buses; and, in size, weight and load, further providing for width of vehicles.

HB 1295 allows Pennsylvania school buses to install extended stop signal arms on the left side, with specific size limits: the front extension cannot exceed 78 inches from the vehicle's left side (minimum 36 inches above ground), and the rear extension cannot exceed 32 inches (also minimum 36 inches above ground). These extensions must include flashing red lights and are permitted only when the bus is stopped for loading or unloading students. The bill permits these extended arms to temporarily exceed standard vehicle width limits during such stops. The Department of Transportation will create implementing regulations for this change, which takes effect in 60 days.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnhances school bus safety with extended stop arms and flashing lights during student loading/unloading, directly improving vehicle safety regulations in transportation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SB 795: An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally), 66 (Public Utilities) and 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in transportation network companies, providing for excise fee; in transportation network service, providing for excise fee; and, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for fund.

SB 795 imposes a new fee on transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) operating in Pennsylvania. Companies must pay 4.6% of total ride fares in Philadelphia (a city of the first class) and 6% elsewhere, remitted quarterly to the Public Transportation Trust Fund. These fees will directly fund transportation programs, including operating costs for public transit systems, as specified in the bill’s fund allocation provisions. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 4.6-6% excise fee on ride-share companies to fund public transit operations via Public Transportation Trust Fund, directly advancing transportation program funding.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationImposes fees on ride-sharing companies (Uber/Lyft) to fund public transit operations via the Public Transportation Trust Fund, directly advancing transportation infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1145: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Public Transit Security Grant Program; establishing the Public Transit Security Grant Program Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

HB 1145 creates a new Public Transit Security Grant Program in Pennsylvania, providing funding to public transit agencies for security improvements like cameras, patrols, or emergency response systems. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance these grants and requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to manage the program, including setting eligibility rules and distributing funds. It directly affects public transit operators across the state by offering financial support for safety upgrades. The legislation amends transportation laws to formalize this funding mechanism, ensuring transit security needs are addressed through state resources.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates grant program funding public transit security measures like cameras and patrols, directly supporting transit infrastructure safety through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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