On Wednesday, Indiana County hosted the first of a series of hearings conducted by the House Transportation Committee.
Photo on right: The House Transportation Committee, joined by State Representatives Jim Struzzi and Brian Smith (far right) meet at the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development.
(Photos by Josh Widdowson)
The purpose of these hearings, according to committee majority chairman Ed Neilson from Philadelphia, is to find new and innovative ways to fill funding gaps.
Neilson said the reason they started in Indiana County was to get the issues from the rural perspective, which can be very different from the city. State Representative Jim Struzzi said that he was happy they came, but there is a lot to discuss.
(Left: John Kanyan with the Indiana County Transit Authority. Right: Dan DeBone, President and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce)
Among those offering testimony was John Kanyan, the Executive Director of Indiana County Transit Authority. He feels that without additional money coming in, there will be a funding cliff approaching, and he hopes that some bills in the state house and senate will help.
Dan DeBone, the President and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, said the rural community needs three things from funding.
Also providing testimony today were representatives with Associated Pennsylvania Constructors and PennDOT Secretary Michael Carroll.
To view the hearing in its entirety, click on the video player below.
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