Rep. Summer Lee Joins Secretary Pete Buttigieg for Light Rail Transit Visit, Highlighting Transformative Investments in Western Pennsylvania’s Transportation and Infrastructure
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2025
Contact:
Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov | (771) 215-7243
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov | (412) 841-7913
Rep. Summer Lee Joins Secretary Pete Buttigieg for Light Rail Transit Visit, Highlighting Transformative Investments in Western Pennsylvania’s Transportation and Infrastructure
(Pittsburgh, PA) – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on a Light Rail Transit (LRT) ride from the North Shore to Steel Plaza to celebrate the federal investments delivering transformative infrastructure improvements to Western Pennsylvania. This visit underscores the strong working relationship between Rep. Lee and Secretary Buttigieg, who share a commitment to building safer, more equitable, and sustainable transit systems that connect communities and drive economic growth. Rep. Lee also hosted Secretary Buttigieg in January 2024 to highlight securing funding to fix the I-376 bottleneck.
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“Every day, folks across Pittsburgh rely on public transit to get to work, school, and to take care of their families. We’ve fought hard to bring home the federal dollars needed to make our transit systems faster, safer, and more affordable for everyone and modernize our airports,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. “Today’s visit with Secretary Buttigieg reflects the power of partnership and persistence in delivering investments that connect communities, cut emissions, and create opportunities for Black, brown, and working-class folks who have been left behind for far too long.”
Secretary Buttigieg’s visit to Pittsburgh highlights projects funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other federal programs championed by Rep. Lee. These investments include:
- $123.7 million for Pittsburgh International Airport modernization, improving passenger experience, and reducing travel times.
- $142 million to decongest and improve safety along I-376, including bridge rehabilitation, floodwall construction, and landslide prevention.
- $150 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the Downtown-Uptown-Oakland Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project
- $4.1 million to expand EV charging infrastructure in Allegheny County, adding 150 new EV charging ports and accelerating the region’s clean energy transition.
- $800,000 Reconnecting Communities grant for the Turtle Creek Valley corridor, building equitable development and safer, more affordable transit options.
- $1.4 million Reconnecting Communities grant to reconnect Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhoods.
- $2 million Reconnecting Communities grant for the Penn Avenue Cap Connector Project, linking East Liberty Business District with Bakery Square.
Background:
This marks Secretary Buttigieg’s second visit to Pittsburgh in collaboration with Rep. Lee. His last visit on January 26, 2024, celebrated the groundbreaking on infrastructure improvements for I-376’s “Bathtub” corridor. During that visit, Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the Biden administration’s commitment to delivering federal infrastructure investments to communities like Pittsburgh that are leading the way in equitable transit development.
Since joining Congress, Rep. Lee has secured critical federal dollars to advance Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit systems while addressing systemic inequities. These investments are directly tied to her leadership in advocating for federal funding to reconnect communities, expand transit access, and drive clean energy innovation.
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