People understand the need for public transit in urban centers. That is TODAY — what’s HERE and NOW, in May 2025.
“Every day, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) keeps our communities moving. Whether it is getting workers to their jobs, connecting people to vital services, driving economic growth, public transit is an essential part of our communities…” Katharine Kelleman, CEO, PRT.
The MBA views transit as part of the workforce issue — workers need reliable transportation to and from workplace, as much as they need affordable child care, education, training and health care.
I dare employers to look ahead to May 2035, just 10 years away. For the sake of this article, we are putting aside transportation infrastructure, roads and bridges and focusing exclusively on public transit.
My persistent thought is that reliable and affordable public transit is also needed in suburban and rural areas. Transit is a huge need all over the Commonwealth. Here are three reasons why.
- The Commonwealth’s poor demographics.
- We have a declining workforce age population — meaning the source of taxes is shrinking — and an increasing elderly population. It’s a given that we will need every available worker in the workforce pipeline to grow the economy. In 2020, there were 3.1 workers paying taxes to support one retired person. In 2030, there will be 2.4 workers to support one retired person. Costs for long-term living and medical assistance will grow significantly.
- The growing unaffordability of purchasing, financing and insuring personal vehicles.
- In 2024, the average age of cars and light trucks in the United States was 12.6 years, a record high, according to S&P Global Mobility. When people replace those cars, they will confront the average cost of new vehicles: Gas powered $48,6141; Hybrid $39,040; and Electric $56,371. A car is a huge expense for some considering, in 2023, the median household income in Pennsylvania was $79,820.
- Do not look for car prices, financing, insurance and maintenance to come down. The typical cost of car insurance in Pennsylvania is $1,608–$2,436 annually. Financing is dependent on credit scores and whether it is a new or used vehicle. The current interest rate is 5.08 percent for new and 7.41 percent for used, climbing to 13 percent for new and 18.95 percent used for subprime borrowers
- There is a growing trend of young people with no interest in driving.
- There was a time when teens could not wait for their 16th birthday. That is changed. Who can blame them for not wanting a license considering the associated costs of car ownership. The percentage of 19-year-olds with a driver’s license dropped steadily from 87.3 percent in 1983 to 68.7 percent in 2022, according to most recent data from the Federal Highway Administration. They want other transit options instead.
Moving Ahead
Public transit needs go beyond urban centers. Suburban and rural communities must be considered. According to the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau, 16 of the 18 counties in western Pennsylvania have areas where 10 percent and more households are without a vehicle.
Keep in mind that employers considering moving to Pennsylvania routinely ask about availability of public transit.
If Pennsylvania wants to grow and employers want workers in May 2035, then we need to get every last worker into the pipeline and to and from the workplace. Our workforce age population is declining, and our older population is increasing. Pennsylvania needs a sustainable transportation plan that includes a steady revenue stream to support public transit — urban, suburban and rural — and transportation infrastructure. It is time for all creative minds to come to the table, acknowledge the reality of public transit and figure out how to move positively to 2035 with all on board.
Eileen Anderson is the director of Government Relations at The MBA. Contact her at 412/805-5707 or eileenanderson@mbausa.org.
