Contact: Anthony Campisi
Anthony@WalnutLaneStrategies.com
(732) 266-8221
Labor and environmental leaders demand swift action from Harrisburg to send transit and infrastructure funding to Governor Shapiro’s desk
A statewide coalition of labor and environmental leaders have joined together to demand swift action from Harrisburg to pass legislation funding Pennsylvania’s public transportation systems, highways, roads and bridges.
This coalition has united to emphasize the importance of transit for both environmental advocates and labor unions whose jobs rely on a comprehensive and well-funded transit system.
While the state House of Representatives just passed a bill that, for the fifth time in recent months, provides long-term infrastructure funding for the fifth time in recent months, the Senate has yet to act:
Cutting transit is a lose-lose that will hurt workers, their families, the economy, and the planet. Less reliable public transit will mean longer and more dangerous commutes to work and school, skipped doctors’ appointments, and more noise and air pollution. We need mass transit for our state to function. We can’t afford to short change SEPTA.
— State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Phila.)
Transportation and infrastructure affect every corner of the commonwealth. HB1788 is a good starting point for bipartisan collaboration on solving these complex and vital issues. The Pennsylvania state building trades looks forward to working with both sides of the aisle and both chambers in getting a comprehensive solution to the challenges the commonwealth is facing.
— Robert S. Bair, President, Pennsylvania State Building Trades Council
A strong public transit system is a critical tool in the fight against climate change and for sustainable communities. Our public transit systems power Pennsylvania, connecting workers to their jobs, seniors to doctor’s appointments and students to our commonwealth’s high schools and colleges. Yet our entire state’s economy is being put in jeopardy as transit agencies across Pennsylvania face a fiscal cliff that will force crushing service cuts and fare increases that will cause cars to flood our roads, damaging our environment while reducing mobility options.
The House has repeatedly passed legislation to make critically needed investments in Pennsylvania’s infrastructure. With time running out to avoid a catastrophe, Senate Republican leadership must finally put an infrastructure funding bill on the floor for a vote. Reliable, sustainable, and affordable public transportation shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and working families from every county across Pennsylvania need action now.
— Molly Parzen, Executive Director, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania
Funding public transportation isn’t optional — it’s essential. This is not a battle between cities and rural communities. It’s a statewide imperative. Without adequate funding, public transit systems across Pennsylvania face serious decline — and it’s our most vulnerable who will bear the brunt. Seniors, people with disabilities, students, and working-class families rely on these services every day. Failing to act will not only limit opportunity and mobility — it will deepen inequality and leave too many Pennsylvanians stranded.
— Angela Ferritto, President Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
I'm hopeful that state legislators will soon find common ground on transportation infrastructure and mass transit funding. We've had conversations with many elected officials from both sides of the aisle, and all agree on the value of these investments — transportation projects put people to work and mass transit takes people to work, all elevating the quality of life for our members and all Pennsylvanians.
— Ryan N. Boyer, Business Manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council and Business Manager for the Laborers' District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
A bipartisan solution to funding transportation isn’t just good politics, it’s a lifeline for southeastern Pennsylvania. More than 223 million riders rely on public transit every year to get to work, school, and essential services. With the world’s eyes on our region in 2026, our lawmakers have the opportunity to showcase Pennsylvania as a hub for connectivity, commerce, and opportunity — or risk pushing jobs, investment, and visitors away. The choice is clear: Make the right decision and pass a transportation funding plan that keeps our communities and economy moving.
— Mark Lynch Jr., Business Manager, IBEW Local 98
Transit connects people—especially those without cars—to employment centers, reducing barriers to work. Businesses benefit from a larger, more reliable workforce since employees can commute from a wider area.
Transit stations increase foot traffic and bring people directly into commercial districts, boosting retail, restaurants, and services. Investment often follows transit hubs—developers build housing, offices, and amenities nearby to transit stations, increasing property values and tax revenue—and providing jobs to those who build our communities.
Effective transit isn't just a transportation issue—it's an economic engine. It shapes how cities grow, who can participate in their economies, and how efficiently they function overall.
— Jim Snell, Business Manager, UA Steamfitters Local 420
Public transit is the backbone of equitable, sustainable communities. A failure to fund SEPTA and transit systems across Pennsylvania isn’t just a transportation issue — it’s a climate, jobs, and justice crisis. Without reliable transit, workers lose access to jobs, communities become isolated, and car traffic — and the pollution that comes with it — skyrockets.
Slashing service would hit low-income communities the hardest, reverse progress on climate and result in economic losses across the state. We urge state leaders to act now to close the transit funding gap and protect the future of clean, accessible mobility for all Pennsylvanians.
— Tom Schuster, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Pennsylvania
Transportation funding is a critical legislative priority for LIUNA. We deeply appreciate the work being done by our friends in the legislature to advance essential funding bills and conversations and bring these job creation opportunities to reality.
— Joe Laquatra Jr., President and Business Manager of the Pennsylvania Laborers' District Council, which represents workers in 62 counties across Pennsylvania.
Millions of Pennsylvanians – from Philadelphia to Erie – rely on public transit every single day. They are counting on their elected officials to sustain access to safe, affordable transportation because it serves as a lifeline to work, school, healthcare, and opportunity. House passage of HB 1788 was an important step forward, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to keep the momentum going. We will continue to work with our labor allies and communities across the Commonwealth to deliver a bipartisan solution that protects clean air, good-paying jobs, and equitable transit funding for all.
— Robert Routh, Pennsylvania Policy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
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