Pennsylvania HB 2684: An Act providing for commuter impact zones; establishing the Commuter Impact Zone Grant Program, Commuter Impact Mitigation Grant Program and Commuter Impact Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3739
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2684
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PROBST, SANCHEZ, PASHINSKI AND D. WILLIAMS,
JUNE 30, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 30, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for commuter impact zones; establishing the Commuter
Impact Zone Grant Program, Commuter Impact Mitigation Grant
Program and Commuter Impact Fund; and imposing duties on the
Department of Transportation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Commuter
Impact Zone Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commuter impact zone." A municipality designated under this
act as experiencing significant impact from regional commuter
traffic or major transportation corridors.
"Department." The Department of Transportation of the
Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Commuter Impact Fund established under section
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5.
"Grant recipient." A person that meets the requirements of
section 3 or 4.
"Regional commuter traffic." Daily travel by individuals
residing in one county and working in another county or state.
Section 3. Commuter Impact Zone Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Commuter Impact Zone Grant Program
is established and shall be administered by the department.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to award grants
to municipalities designated as commuter impact zones to
mitigate the impacts of regional commuter traffic.
(c) Implementation.--The department shall implement the
program, including the designation of commuter impact zones as
follows:
(1) The designation shall be based on the following
criteria:
(i) At least 25% of employed residents commute
outside the county or this Commonwealth.
(ii) Interstate traffic volume on interstate and
major arterial highways exceeds 150% of the county
population on a daily basis.
(iii) Presence of major interstate corridors.
(iv) Demonstrated infrastructure strain, including
road degradation and congestion.
(v) Environmental impacts, including storm water,
flooding, air quality and watershed disruption based on
department data.
(vi) Impacts to historic or established community
structures.
(vii) Presence of highway segments identified as
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high-risk or safety-priority corridors based on crash
data, congestion patterns or Federal and State safety
analysis.
(2) Initial designation shall include municipalities
meeting the criteria established under paragraph (1).
(d) Eligible use of grants.--A grant recipient under this
section may use money from the program for the following
purposes:
(1) Road and bridge repair and maintenance.
(2) Traffic safety improvements.
(3) Storm water management and flood mitigation.
(4) Environmental restoration related to transportation
impacts.
(5) Pedestrian and community reconnection projects.
(6) Emergency services support related to transportation
burden.
(e) Procedure.--The department shall develop rules and
procedures for awarding grants under the program in accordance
with subsection (c). The department may approve a grant
recipient that meets the rules and procedures developed by the
department under this subsection.
(f) Limitation.--A grant awarded under the program may not
exceed $5,000,000 per year for a grant recipient.
Section 4. Commuter Impact Mitigation Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Commuter Impact Mitigation Grant
Program is established and shall be administered by the
department.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to award grants
to municipalities designated as commuter impact zones to support
residential mitigation measures and small business stabilization
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and access improvements.
(c) Implementation.--The department shall implement the
program, including the development of a process to review and
approve annual grant applications under the program.
(d) Eligible use of grants.--A grant recipient may use a
grant under the program for the following purposes:
(1) Residential mitigation measures, including:
(i) Noise reduction improvements.
(ii) Indoor air quality improvements.
(iii) Storm water and flood mitigation for impacted
properties.
(iv) Vegetative buffers and environmental screening.
(v) Other measures deemed necessary by the
department to protect public health and housing
stability.
(2) Small business stabilization and access
improvements, including:
(i) Assistance for businesses experiencing
demonstrated revenue disruption due to transportation-
related construction, congestion or access limitations.
(ii) Improvements to business access and visibility.
(iii) Temporary