Letter to the editor: Reliable transit is key to survival for many

Reliable transportation is the key to maintaining a strong workforce and a healthy economy — yet in Pennsylvania, thousands of people with disabilities and low-income workers struggle to get to and keep their jobs due to inadequate public transit.

My family has a history of working in the nonprofit sector, a sector that, as most people know, doesn’t tend to pay well monetarily. Riding transit allows us to keep food on our table and continue helping our neighbors.

Too often, workers lose jobs, miss shifts or turn down employment opportunities simply because buses don’t run early/late enough/on-time, paratransit services are unreliable or transit routes don’t connect them to job centers. Businesses across the state — especially in health care, retail and hospitality — are already facing labor shortages. Without investment in accessible, affordable transit, this problem will only get worse.

When people can’t get to work, businesses lose workers, tax revenues decline and our economy takes a hit. Investing in public transportation isn’t just about mobility — it’s about economic stability, workforce development and keeping our communities thriving.

Pennsylvania lawmakers must act now to ensure public transit funding meets the needs of our workforce and our economy. No one should have to choose between having a job and being able to get there.

Whitney Falba

Ross