CamTran Funding Approved in Contentious Split Vote by County Commissioners

The Cambria County Transit Authority has officially secured its necessary local funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

 

In a pivotal meeting in Ebensburg, the Cambria County Commissioners approved $988,314 in crucial financial support for the public transit service.

 

The decision, however, was far from unanimous.

 

Commissioners Scott Hunt and Thomas Chernisky voted in favor of the measure, ensuring CamTran could access a much larger pool of state operating funds.

 

Without this local match, the county risked losing an estimated $9.6 million in state aid, which officials warned would be redirected to major urban centers like Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

 

Commissioner Chernisky framed his support as an essential "investment in mobility and quality of life for our residents."

 

Voicing strong opposition, Commissioner Keith Rager cast the dissenting vote.

 

While stating his support for mass transit, Rager questioned the sustainability of the ever-increasing funding requests and their impact on taxpayers, asking at what point the cost becomes too great.

 

This vote highlights a growing local debate over public spending.

 

The county's decision comes shortly after Westmont Borough council members declined a similar funding request from CamTran, signaling that financial scrutiny is intensifying across the region.

 

For now, the CamTran funding approved by the county ensures that essential mobility services will continue for thousands of local residents.

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