Rural Pennsylvania Ditched: Governor Shapiro Diverts Federal Highway Funds to Bail Out SEPTA
Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus today condemned Governor Josh Shapiro’s decision to divert over $150 million in federal highway funds to subsidize Philadelphia’s struggling SEPTA transit system. This decision not only undermines the original purpose of these funds, to maintain and improve Pennsylvania’s highways, but also unfairly prioritizes urban transit over critical infrastructure needs in rural and suburban communities across the Commonwealth.
“The Governor’s choice to redirect federal aid away from essential road and bridge projects is a betrayal to the millions of Pennsylvanians who rely on safe, well-maintained highways,” said State Representative Robert Leadbeter (Columbia). “Rural communities are being steamrolled to patch up SEPTA's endless financial potholes.”
The Rural Cost of Urban Bailouts
Federal funds that were programmed for vital infrastructure projects across Pennsylvania now hang in the balance. Some projects at risk due to Shapiro's highway robbery include:
Mercer County: A $10 million project for resurfacing nine miles of I-79.
Columbia County: A $28 million reconstruction and bridge preservation project on I-80.
York County: Over $3.3 million allocated for resurfacing I-83 in Newberry Township.
Jefferson County: Two major reconstruction projects on I-80, totaling $66.5 million.
These projects, which are critical for rural safety, economic activity, and regional connectivity, are now at risk as Governor Shapiro prioritizes SEPTA, an agency that has systematically and repeatedly struggled with budget overruns and declining ridership with rides costing taxpayers more while transporting less.
SEPTA's Systemic Problems Shouldn't Be Rural Pennsylvania’s Burden
SEPTA’s long-standing financial mismanagement, poor governance, and dwindling rider base are not new problems. Instead of implementing meaningful reforms, Governor Shapiro is using federal highway dollars as a stopgap, further enabling SEPTA’s inefficiency while rural and suburban Pennsylvanians are left to navigate crumbling infrastructure.
The Freedom Caucus remains committed to ensuring all Pennsylvanians receive their fair share of infrastructure investments. Such funds are not luxuries—they are lifelines for families, farmers, and businesses that depend on safe and reliable transportation.
A Call for Accountability
"Governor Shapiro must answer to the people of Pennsylvania for prioritizing urban special interests over the everyday needs of rural communities,” said State Representative (and Senator-Elect) Dawn Keefer (York). “Our state’s infrastructure challenges require solutions that serve all Pennsylvanians—not just a select few in Philadelphia.”
The Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus will continue fighting to hold government spending and government officials accountable.
This is what you get when you elect Democrats to run stuff. We lived in Pennsylvania for 64 years and we had to move to Tennessee to get away from government overreach and Financial Freedom. Wake up Pennsylvania you need to cleanse the state of Democrats.
What should we do to let these liberals know our disgust