House moves to pass stimulus deal

Federal bill includes $248M for regional transit, $35M for airport

WASHINGTON — As part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill advanced by House Democrats on Friday, the Pittsburgh region was earmarked to receive about $248 million for transit agencies and $35 million for the Pittsburgh International Airport — money that would shore up budget deficits as people curtailed travel during the pandemic.

In addition, the final version of the bill heading to the House floor included even more money than previously allocated for the Pittsburgh region’s municipalities.

The city of Pittsburgh would receive $355 million and Allegheny County would receive $383 million, according to an updated spreadsheet circulated by the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Earlier this month, lawmakers allocated the city about $328 million and Allegheny County about $267 million.

Put together, the massive bill — which still must be considered by the evenly split Senate — would inject federal cash into ailing transportation systems and local government budgets that pay police, firefighters, sanitation workers and health personnel.

The American Rescue Plan,

advanced by President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats, is opposed by virtually all Republicans, including GOP members from Western Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania would receive a total of more than $13 billion for state and local funding: about $7.3 billion would go to the state, and the other $5.7 billion would be spread among local governments.

In Western and Central Pennsylvania, the data detailed specific amounts for 33 major cities across the state. Cities received slight increases in funding: $79 million for Erie, $41 million for Altoona, $32 million for Johnstown, $27 million for McKeesport, $18 million for Penn Hills and $13 million for State College.

Smaller boroughs and townships received less money than previously reported, according to the committee’s data. Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon, Cranberry, Ross, McCandless, Shaler, Monroeville and Plum were each estimated to receive between $2.7 million and $3.2 million.