$628,880 in State Grants Awarded to Allegheny County for Traffic Upgrades

Allegheny County – July 7, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Sen. Wayne Fontana and Sen. Lindsey Williams announced $628,880 in state grants have been awarded to the area for traffic signal and equipment improvements. The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT’s) “Green Light-Go” program to support the modernization of traffic equipment throughout the state.  

“New, higher tech traffic signaling improves safety for travelers whether they’re in a car, bike or on foot. The grants coming to Allegheny County in this round of Green Light Go will help the City of Pittsburgh and Edgewood make critical upgrades, and I was happy to support their application and award,” said Senator Costa

Three grants will support projects in the county:  

    • $230,144 for traffic signal modernization upgrades at Race Street and Pennwood Avenue in Edgewood
    • $132,000 for an East End Signal Retiming project in Pittsburgh
    • $266,736 for a Fiber Network Expansion project in Pittsburgh that will improve communications and connections back to traffic management

“I applaud PennDOT’s investment in the City of Pittsburgh’s critical infrastructure. Traffic signal modernization means safer roads and reduced congestion,” Senator Fontana said.

“I’m happy to see critical infrastructure projects being funded across Pittsburgh that will allow improved traffic management. Better traffic flow will lead to less wear and tear on our roads and to safer travel conditions for all road users, including drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians,” said Senator Lindsey Williams.

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E-Scooter Pilot Program to Start in Pittsburgh

Harrisburg – June 30, 2021 − Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Senator Jay Costa (D-43), minority leader of the Senate, announced a two-year pilot program for electric low-speed scooters (e-scooter) to commence in the City of Pittsburgh with the passage of Act 24 of 2021.

“Micromobility is transforming how we move people and goods in communities across the United States. With Act 24, the Commonwealth is embracing the innovation of e-scooters in a controlled setting in the City of Pittsburgh,” said Senator Langerholc. “E-scooters are a novel invention for a short trip or a last-mile destination. In every case, riders are encouraged to operate e-scooters in a safe manner by following the rules established by the City of Pittsburgh.” 

“Pittsburgh is a world class city, and with so much to see and do – its residents and visitors need access to all modes of transportation,” said Senator Costa. “This pilot program for e-scooters is exciting and I’m confident that folks will enjoy them safely and responsibly to enjoy all Pittsburgh has to offer.”

Act 24 authorizes rental e-scooters on a bike lane, a roadway (with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less) or a bike path in the City of Pittsburgh. An individual must be at least 16 years old, and e-scooter operators shall be granted all of the rights and duties as a bicyclist.

E-scooters will be managed under “Move PGH,” which is a city-led initiative to create an integrated platform allowing residents and visitors access to e-scooters, e-mopeds, carshare, carpool, bikeshare and transit services from the Port Authority of Allegheny County. This legislation does not permit the use of personally-owned e-scooters on public infrastructure in the City of Pittsburgh.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa Votes for PA Budget, Highlights Timeliness and Major Education Investments

Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – Pennsylvania State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today voted in support of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22.

The final budget package included bipartisan and bicameral compromises, but Senator Costa highlighted several important investments it made this year.

“This isn’t the budget I would have designed and in many ways, I feel that it does not take full advantage of the unprecedented resources we have from a budget surplus and the federal American Rescue Plan – but this is a process of compromise, and there is a lot here that I support,” said Senator Costa. “We are seeing major levels of new and equitable funding in education, and that’s been something my caucus and I have fought for over many years. Further, we are still in recovery from a pandemic that ravaged our state for more than a year and it was important to me that we fund critical state programs with an on-time budget.”

Increased education line items this year include:

  • $300 million in basic education
    • $200 million to be funded through the Fair Funding Formula
    • $100 million for Level Up, a new program to provide funding for schools that have been historically inadequately funded 
  • $20 million for Ready to Learn block grants
  • $25 million for Pre K Counts
  • $5 million for Headstart
  • $50 million for special education
  • $11 million for early intervention
  • $200 million for PASSHE, over 4 years, including funding for the Diversity, Education & Inclusion program proposed by the PA Senate Democrats

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania was allocated $7 billion in funds from the American Rescue Plan and until this budget they remained unspent, despite a bold proposal from the Senate Democratic Caucus, a New Deal for PA. Of those dollars, $4 billion will go to balancing this year’s budget and more than $2 billion remains for future spending. 

“The American Rescue Plan was designed to help people get back on their feet, not just balance spreadsheets,” said Senator Costa. “It is my hope, and a major goal of this caucus, to spend the remaining funds directly on the programs and initiatives that will help folks recover from the personal, public health, and economic devastation of 2020.”

The final budget also moves $2 billion in revenue surplus into the state’s Rainy Day Fund. 

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For more information on the New Deal for PA, please visit pasenate.com/newdeal

Senator Costa Announces New Compensation Guidelines for NCAA Athletes In Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. – June 25, 2021 – Pennsylvania athletes may soon be able to earn compensation from their name, image and likeness, thanks to a bill that passed the General Assembly, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa announced Friday night. 

“There is an immense amount of money surrounding college athletics, and the players that attract attention to their sports have not been fairly compensated for their skills and work,” said Senator Costa. “I’m pleased with the efficiency we worked with here at the state level to grant all the appropriate permissions for our athletes to be compensated in their upcoming seasons.”

State law regarding athlete compensation was changed as part of a budget related bill, commonly referred to as the School Code. The language provides for the following:

  • Authorizes college student athletes (athletes) to earn compensation for the use of the athlete’s name, image or likeness (compensation).
  • Prohibits institutions of higher education (institutions) from:  1.   hindering athletes earning compensation, and 2.  attempting to recruit athlete by using third party compensation for name, image or likeness as an incentive.
  • Prohibits the NCAA and other such intercollegiate athletic entities (entities) from:  1.  preventing athletes from earning compensation; preventing an institution from participating in intercollegiate athletics due to athletes’ earning compensation.
  • Requires persons making a profit on college team merchandise to make a royalty payment to each athlete whose name, image or likeness is used on the merchandise.
  • Prohibits institutions and entities from interfering with athletes’ participation in athletics due to obtaining professional representation for name, image or likeness rights.
  • Prohibits entities from interfering with institutions’ participation in intercollegiate athletics due to athletes obtaining professional representation for name, image or likeness rights.
  • Provides that an athlete’s scholarship cannot be used to limit the athlete’s right to use name, image or likeness except as required in federal or state student aid guidelines.
  • Prevents institutions and entities from being required to assist name, image and likeness compensation opportunities for athletes.
  • Authorizes institutions to prohibit athletes name, image and likeness rights that conflict with institutions’ existing sponsor arrangements, or with institutions’ values.
  • Provides athletes with State law protections and right to adjudicate, and the right to file a private civil action for a violation under the article.

The enabling legislation has passed the House and Senate; it now awaits a final signature from Governor Tom Wolf. 

Six other states have similar laws that will permit athletes to earn compensation starting July 1. 

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