With the Pennsylvania budget deadline looming June 30, Gov. Josh Shapiro and legislators have a chance to approve a state spending plan on time for the first time since 2020.
Last year’s nearly five-month delay hinged heavily on public transportation funding. Shapiro’s ask for an additional $292 million in the 2025-26 budget was denied by Senate Republicans. This year, he is asking for $300 million from the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund, used to cover public transit across the state.
Roughly 7.7% of sales and use taxes go into the fund. The request would increase that by 1.75%. The measure, Shapiro maintains, could spur up to $330 million in transit allocations by 2029.
While the money is heavily weighted for Philadelphia- and Pittsburgh-area transit systems — by far the two largest in the state — money set for dozens of smaller systems around the state can essentially be held hostage as politicians wrangle over funding for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit.
A two-year stopgap measure for Philadelphia’s and Pittsburgh’s systems was approved in 2025. Like that request, millions from the next budget would go to every system in the state through an allocation funded by Pennsylvania’s sales and use taxes and transit-related fees.
“This budget calls for sustainable, recurring funding for mass transit to begin in 2027,” Shapiro said in his February budget address. “Democrats and Republicans must come to the table and fund a long-term solution for mass transit.”
Calling it a historic opportunity to connect communities, officials with the state’s Department of Transportation told USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania that transit funding spurs economic development and creates opportunities for future generations.
Roughly 87% of the money would go to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh’s authorities.
SEPTA is slated to get, in total, more than $1 billion from the state. The next largest, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, would get at least $500 million.
But how would the other public transit systems across the state fare?
Pennsylvania’s smaller mass transit systems
After Pennsylvania’s two largest metropolitan areas, the dozens of smaller transit systems across the state would essentially get what is left. Under the proposed budget, they would split around $39 million based on ridership, an area’s population and other factors.
There are more than 30 fixed-route public transit systems in the state, where buses and trains follow consistent schedules and routes to specific locations. Work and school commuters rely heavily on such systems, especially those who do not have a vehicle or do not drive.
PennDOT estimates the state’s transit systems employ nearly 16,000 people statewide. The department also estimates that 65% of the state’s public transit users have no other transportation option, underscoring the need for the service.
Listed in the interactive graphic below are Pennsylvania’s public transportation systems in order of annual state subsidy received. State allocations based on a formula hew along ridership figures.
After Philadelphia’s and Pittsburgh’s, dozens of smaller public transportation systems serve smaller counties around the state. What follows are the 10 next-largest public transit systems based on proposed allocation from the state’s transportation trust fund. Funding differences hew closely to ridership figures.
- SRTA/rabbittransit in York, Lancaster, Lebanon counties: $60M-$90M, 12 million riders
- LANTA in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties: $45M-$50M, 8 million riders
- CATA in Centre County: $30M-$40M, 7 million riders
- EMTA in Erie County: $25M-$35M, 4 million riders
- BARTA in Berks County: $25M-$30M, 5 million riders
- Westmoreland Transit in Westmoreland County: $20M-$30M, 2 million riders
- COLTS in Lackawanna County: $20M-$30M, 3 million riders
- LCTA in Luzerne County: $20M-$30M, 4 million riders
- ATA in Northcentral counties: $15M-$25M, 2 million riders
- CamTran in Cambria County: $15M-$20M, 2 million riders
What about specialized rider services?
Additionally, there are at least 40 community- or shared-ride systems serving all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties that receive between $2 million and $6 million from the state. This model provides door-to-door service for lower-income seniors who cannot access other means of transportation because of costs or disabilities.
Most of these are small, rural and sometimes regional systems.
While the shared-ride transit goes practically unnoticed compared to buses and trains, the service is crucial for people who need it, explained Kim Whetsell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association.
“A lot of this funding is going to help your grandma get to her eye doctor’s appointment,” Whetsell said. “If you keep supporting this program that serves a ton of individuals who need it, it’s good will but it’s also good for the economy, families, neighborhoods. Sometimes it’s the only option they have.”
