Pennsylvania SB 597: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for definitions, for fund, for application and approval process, for Federal funding, for coordination and consolidation, for operating program, for asset improvement program, for new initiatives program, for programs of Statewide significance and for program oversight and administration, providing for small purchase procedures and repealing provisions relating to evaluation of private investment opportunities.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 761
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 597
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, FLYNN, LANGERHOLC, YAW, BARTOLOTTA,
SAVAL, FONTANA, VOGEL, DUSH, PENNYCUICK, HUTCHINSON, BAKER,
KANE, STEFANO, KEARNEY, ARGALL, BOSCOLA AND COMITTA,
MAY 12, 2025
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MAY 12, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options,
further providing for definitions, for fund, for application
and approval process, for Federal funding, for coordination
and consolidation, for operating program, for asset
improvement program, for new initiatives program, for
programs of Statewide significance and for program oversight
and administration, providing for small purchase procedures
and repealing provisions relating to evaluation of private
investment opportunities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definitions of "community transportation
service" or "shared ride service," "community transportation
system," "local transportation organization," "operating
expenses" and "Public Passenger Transportation Performance
Report" in section 1503 of Title 74 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes are amended and the section is amended by
adding definitions to read:
§ 1503. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Class 1 transit entity." A local transportation
organization or transportation company, excluding PAAC,
operating 1,000 or more transit vehicles in the peak period.
"Class 2 transit entity." A local transportation
organization or transportation company, excluding SEPTA,
operating more than 300 but less than 1,000 transit vehicles in
the peak period.
"Class 3 transit entity." A local transportation
organization or transportation company, excluding SEPTA and
PAAC, operating 300 or less fixed-route transit vehicles in the
peak period serving an urbanized area. A class 3 transit entity
may also hold a class 4 designation for certain portions of its
service area for purposes of eligible funding.
"Class 4 transit entity." A local transportation
organization or transportation company, excluding SEPTA and
PAAC, which serves a nonurbanized area and, during the 1990-1991
fiscal year, received or was approved to receive funding under
the act of February 11, 1976 (P.L.14, No.10), known as the
Pennsylvania Rural and Intercity Common Carrier Surface
Transportation Assistance Act. A class 4 transit entity may also
hold a class 3 designation for certain portions of its service
area for purposes of eligible funding.
* * *
"Community transportation service" or "shared ride service."
[Door-to-door] A demand response transportation system that is
available to the general public on a nonexclusive basis,
operates on a nonfixed route basis and charges a fare to all
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riders. The term does not include exclusive ride taxi service,
charter and sightseeing service, nonpublic transportation,
school bus and limousine service.
"Community transportation system." A [person] public or
nonprofit entity or organization that provides community
transportation service designated by a county or other
governmental entity and contracts with the Department of
Transportation to receive revenue replacement funds.
* * *
"Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program." A public
transportation program, authorized by the Congress of the United
States and administered by the United States Department of
Transportation to assist states and local governmental
authorities in financing capital, operating, planning and job
access and reverse commute projects, associated with providing
public transportation in rural areas under 49 U.S.C. § 5311
(relating to formula grants for rural areas) .
"Full level of performance." The objective standard
established by the Federal Transit Administration or the
department, or both, for determining whether a capital asset is
in a state of good repair.
* * *
"Local transportation agency safety plan." The plan to
improve the safety of all public transportation systems that
receive Federal and State financial assistance under 49 U.S.C. §
5329 (relating to public transportation safety program).
"Local transportation organization." Any of the following:
(1) A political subdivision or a public transportation
authority, port authority or redevelopment authority,
organized under the laws of this Commonwealth or pursuant to
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an interstate compact or otherwise empowered to render,
contract for the rendering or assist in the rendering of
transportation service in a limited area in this
Commonwe