Brewster: New Transportation Funding Leads to PAT Service Improvements

McKeesport – March 6, 2014 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) said today that new revenue generated by the recently adopted transportation funding law has resulted in Port Authority (PAT) service changes, and additional improvements will be phased-in later this year.

“I fought for passage of the transportation funding plan because it will result in much-needed road and bridge repair and it will make significant investments in mass transit,” Brewster said. “There is no doubt about the benefits of the new funding plan for motorists and mass transit users.”

“As a member of the PAT board, I believe it is essential that we make changes and upgrades to the transit system as quickly as possible.”

On Wednesday, PAT announced a service improvement plan that includes frequency changes and increased stops in order to alleviate overcrowding.

“One of the most important things that PAT officials can do in the immediate future is rebuild the transit system and the rider network by responding to consumer demand,” Brewster said. “The changes announced yesterday are just the start and more upgrades are on the way.”

Brewster serves as secretary of the PAT board and is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. The McKeesport lawmaker was a strong advocate of ensuring that mass transit monies were a significant part of the funding legislation.

Act 89 will generate an additional $2.4 billion annually within five years to build and maintain roads, bridges, highways and mass transit systems. By the fifth year, a total of $1.7 billion will be earmarked annually for highway and bridge projects; nearly $500 million more would be targeted for mass transit.

Information on changes can be viewed on PAT’s website: www.portauthority.org

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