In a recent op-ed, PSATS executive director David Sanko explains how Governor Josh Shapiro’s transportation funding bill, recently passed by the House, excluded local roads and bridges. Despite local municipalities maintaining over 77,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s public roads, the bill allocates no funding for their upkeep.

Sanko highlights that while the bill boosts mass transit and proposes $500 million in one-time borrowing for state projects, it overlooks the local transportation networks that most Pennsylvanians rely on daily. He warns that borrowing adds long-term costs and diverts funds from essential services like Medicaid and childcare.

Citing recent reports and commissions, Sanko calls for modernizing outdated laws like the Prevailing Wage Act to help local governments stretch limited resources without impacting the state budget. He urges lawmakers to ensure local infrastructure is part of any comprehensive transportation strategy.