Newsroom

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) met with officials from Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) to congratulate the agency on their recent $82 million federal grant award and to discuss their plans for replacing aging light rail cars on the T.

From left to right: Melissa Girty, Senator Fetterman, Donminika Brown and Katharine Kelleman

PRT is the main public transportation system serving Allegheny County and the greater Pittsburgh area. With more than 700 buses and over 90 local and express routes across the county, it provides connections between neighborhoods, job centers, and campuses.

In the meeting with the agency’s Chief Executive Officer Katharine Kelleman, Chief Financial Officer Donminika Brown, and Senior Government Affairs Liaison Melissa Girty, Senator Fetterman reiterated the importance of public transit not only in Western PA, but across the Commonwealth and the country. The senator also reaffirmed his commitment to continued federal investment in public transit in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

“On behalf of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s 120,000 daily riders, I want to thank Sen. Fetterman and all of the elected officials who supported our application to fund the next generation of rail cars,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman. “This investment will help us provide riders with a safer, more accessible, more comfortable, and more reliable transit experience.”

Earlier this month, Senator Fetterman congratulated PRT on their $82,774,074 award which will support the replacement of its aging light rail fleet. This follows a letter in support of PRT’s grant application to FTA Acting Executive Director Jamie Pfister in July. 

Senator Fetterman has a strong track record supporting public transit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to secure more than $100 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill to support public transit operations during the FIFA World Cup, including $8,474,327 for transit in the Philadelphia region. Senator Fetterman has also co-led legislation like the Moving Transit Forward Act, which would provide Pennsylvania’s transit agencies with the reliable funding support they need to avoid service cuts and keep our communities moving. He also helped deliver millions in grant awards for both PRT and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in the last two weeks.

Senator Fetterman will continue to push for a stronger public transit system to ensure no community is left behind.