Public Transit: Cornerstone of Every Element of the Community

Rep. Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr. (R-PA) emphasized that public transportation is fundamental not only for mobility but also for economic growth, job creation, and community connectivity during remarks at APTA’s Legislative Conference April 12-14 in Washington, DC.

A central focus of his remarks was the long-anticipated restoration of passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City, a project requiring coordination across state lines and federal approvals, including oversight from FRA. He stressed that such investments would expand access to jobs, healthcare, and economic opportunity throughout the region.

Bresnahan also pointed to urgent infrastructure challenges, citing that roughly a quarter of bridges in his district are structurally deficient. He described a deteriorating bridge over the Susquehanna River as an example of how delays in project delivery can double costs and disrupt local economies and emergency services.

To address systemic delays, Bresnahan highlighted bipartisan efforts, including collaboration with Dina Titus on the proposed Mobile Parity and Permitting Act. The legislation would streamline permitting by allowing transit projects to acquire land earlier in the environmental review process, aligning them more closely with highway project timelines.

He also reaffirmed bipartisan congressional support for robust funding for Amtrak, particularly along the Northeast Corridor, despite ongoing budget debates. “Nobody asks you if you’re a Republican or Democrat before you go across a bridge,” he said. “You still need to get from point A to point B. So, investing in transit is the cornerstone of every element of the community.”

Framing transit as a unifying investment, Bresnahan noted its role in supporting a $90 billion industry and hundreds of thousands of jobs. He urged APTA members to communicate the tangible, local benefits of transit projects to lawmakers, emphasizing that infrastructure investments ultimately deliver real results for communities and ensure regions like northeastern Pennsylvania remain competitive and connected.

View images from the Legislative Conference and Advocacy Afternoon.