Luzerne Times

Dec. 13, 2023 - Rep. Mike Cabell (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation to prevent the pending expiration of a state grant program's critical local match waiver. The Multimodal Transportation Program, administered by PennDOT, provides grants for transportation projects coordinated with local land use needs. Since 2017, the General Assembly has annually waived the 30% local match requirement for municipalities undertaking such projects. However, this provision is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31.

"The language necessary to extend the expiration date has always been included in budget implementation legislation. However, the 2023-24 budget remains unfinished, creating a serious problem for municipalities that rely on the program and the local match waiver to fund their transportation projects," said Rep. Cabell. "House Bill 1912 would make the waiver permanent, so that transportation funding for municipalities is not held hostage to future budget delays."

If the waiver expires, any pending applications that have not been awarded as of Dec. 31 will be required to meet the 30% local match. This would create severe financial hardships for many municipalities. House Bill 1912 aims to provide an immediate resolution and allow municipalities to move forward with their transportation projects without concern.

Rep. Cabell's proposed legislation is crucial in ensuring that Pennsylvania municipalities continue to benefit from the savings offered by the Multimodal Transportation Program. By making the local match waiver permanent, the bill would provide stability and eliminate the uncertainty that arises from budgetary delays.

The importance of this bill has been emphasized by the Shapiro administration, which has highlighted the potential financial hardships that municipalities would face if the local match waiver is not extended. Rep. Cabell's bill presents an opportunity to address this issue effectively.

With the pending expiration of the local match waiver, municipalities are eagerly awaiting the passage of House Bill 1912. It is a solution that would not only provide immediate relief but also pave the way for future transportation projects without unnecessary financial burdens.

For more information on the bill and Rep. Cabell's work, please visit RepCabell.com or Facebook.com/RepMikeCabell.

Media Contact:

Andy Briggs

717-260-6474

abriggs@pahousegop.com

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.repcabell.com/News/33274/Latest-News/Cabell%E2%80%99s-Bill-Would-Prevent-Expiration-of-Critical-Local-Match-Waivers-for-Multimodal-Transportation-Program-