HARRISBURG – Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, announced the 2021-22 budget includes a new appropriation of $279 million to improve roads and bridges across the Commonwealth.
“We targeted these dollars to put Pennsylvania companies and workers back to rebuilding our transportation system,” said Senator Langerholc. “This investment will alleviate the immediate concerns we heard over the last several months regarding the transportation shortfalls. I want to applaud the hard work of Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, who led this effort to invest in the Commonwealth’s transportation system.”
On June 2, Senator Langerholc announced the DRIVE SMART Act to reform and invest in the Commonwealth’s multimodal transportation system. The comprehensive plan called for a portion of the American Rescue Plan Act to provide immediate relief for the design and construction of roads and bridges, as well as to prioritize innovative federal financing over the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s bridge tolling initiative.
“This decision by the General Assembly will help launch the DRIVE SMART Act, as we continue working on legislation to reform and invest in the Commonwealth’s multimodal transportation system,” said Senator Langerholc. “In my role as Senate Transportation Chairman, I will continue holding conversations with the public and stakeholders on how we can adequately address our transportation needs.”
The DRIVE SMART Act is a short-term and long-term plan to overhaul the Commonwealth’s transportation system by reforming and investing in our roads and bridges, public transportation, airports, passenger rail and active transportation.
CONTACT: Nolan Ritchie, nritchie@pasen.gov