Updates for a Happy New Year!

Rep. Tim Brennan December 27, 2024 | 4:22 PM

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I hope you're having a wonderful & relaxing holiday season and getting to spend quality time with loved ones.

I’m looking forward to a productive 2025-26 Legislative Session, working on your behalf on the issues that impact our community.

As a reminder, my office is closed through New Year's Day and will reopen on Thursday, Jan. 2.

I also just received a notice the New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge will be shut down to all traffic from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Jan. 6 as crews install a stabilization device.

Harrisburg Update

Local infrastructure news

Reliable transportation is key to our economic progress and quality of life, and I've been focusing much of my time on long overdue transportation projects — such as improvements to 611/202, which I provided an update on in November after sitting down with PennDOT leadership. There is a great amount of progress and we hope to provide more good news soon!

I recently headed to the Transport Workers Union Local 234 headquarters in Philly for a joint hearing of our House Policy and Transportation committees; we heard from officials and industry experts about their plans to bring regional PennDOT staffing levels up to par and keep these crucial updates coming to our roadways and bridges. It is what our taxpayers deserve!

Gov. Josh Shapiro is the first governor in decades to create an actual business plan for Pennsylvania. Part of that plan focuses on improving our infrastructure and preparations for businesses to find a home here. Last week, I learned the Shapiro Administration will invest $5.4 million into three railroad improvement projects in Bucks County. Many of the county’s businesses depend on our rail freight system, especially those that need warehousing for their exports or are located in one of our growing industrial parks.

You might recall that in August, I met with a member of the Nichini family, who operate New Hope Railroad, one of the beneficiaries of this round of funding.

County planners and local officials have put Bucks County in an excellent position over the years by maintaining the system and making sure it keeps up with our businesses’ needs.

Lending to our success is that three interstate highways traverse Bucks County, offering plenty of local access along the freight lines.

Governor Shapiro’s strategic investments into shoring up our rail freight and highway transportation systems, combined with the productive conversations Sen. Santarsiero & I had with PennDOT over the past year, have me more optimistic than ever about our economic growth.

In the District

Grants for higher education, housing development in Bucks

I'm excited to share the news on the most recent state investments into the 29th District! Sen. Santarsiero and I have been making the rounds to present checks to the recipient organizations.

At Delaware Valley University’s Doylestown campus we visited the site of the future Poultry Science Center to announce the $2,025,000 grant we helped them secure for this incredible project! I began working to preserve agriculture space immediately upon taking office, including advancing a bill to save more farms in Bucks and beyond. Projects like the Poultry Science Center make sure we’re doing the most we can with that preserved space.

DelVal consistently demonstrates excellence in agricultural sciences, and the Center is a testament to their commitment to innovation. This is such big news that it even made headlines in a niche industry magazine, WATTPoultry, a leading voice in the global chat on chicken! Who knew my work as your state rep would lead to such an un-egg-spected appearance in a poultry magazine?

In Buckingham Township, we visited the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County to present a $500,000 grant to construct new research and teaching labs.

It’s good news for Bucks County that a huge part of Gov. Shapiro’s business plan includes investment in the life sciences. We've become a leader in the field, and this funding will help maintain that status and provide residents with opportunities to secure good jobs that make a positive impact on our lives.

And in New Hope Borough, we presented $100,000 in state funding to the Bucks County Housing Development Corporation, which it will use to repair the roof at New Hope Manor.

Our older neighbors who call the Manor home (and their families) deserve the peace of mind knowing a stable roof is over their heads, and I loved getting to catch up with the caring staff.

Celebrating the holidays!

We had a wonderful time at New Hope Borough's annual Holiday Parade! Thanks to the agreeable weather, we got to greet tons of neighbors and help spread plenty of cheer.

As always, thank you to Visit New Hope for bringing the community together.

I very much enjoyed Temple Judea of Bucks County’s community Hanukkah celebration, and am so proud of the ways our community continues to show up in support of our Jewish neighbors. I was honored to be asked to address everyone who attended.

As usual, the donuts were delicious, crafts impressive, performances full of talent, and latkes irresistible – I took home 16 pounds of them. Thank you, Temple Judea, for everything you bring to Bucks County as one of our most dynamic and welcoming institutions.

As always, the Doylestown tree lighting delivered the magic – for the 110th time this year! Trish and I loved catching up with folks and enjoying the parade and performances, especially CB West’s choir and marching band and the State Street Dancers.

It’s good to see people come together and share in the celebrations that bring our community to life. Thank you Borough of Doylestown, Discover Doylestown, and all the volunteers and sponsors!

Wreaths Across America is a national effort that gives us an opportunity to unite and honor our veterans, and to teach our next generation about their great sacrifices— and the duties we all have to each other as citizens.

It was a privilege to attend this year’s ceremony at Doylestown Cemetery.

And last but not least, I joined my fellow Southeast Delegation legislators to tour the holiday displays at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square and learn about their newest tourism efforts, such as the huge renovation they completed this fall. Did you know Longwood was named the most beautiful botanical garden in the world by a British travel company in June?

I was impressed to learn that Longwood is entirely ADA accessible (check out their social guide that helps people with conditions like autism prepare for their visit) and is often a field trip destination for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They also offer Continuing Education opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Definitely worth a visit!

Philly City Hall announcement on bike lanes

I headed to Philly earlier this month to celebrate Mayor Cherelle Parker signing a new law that bans vehicles from stopping in the city’s designated bicycle lanes. As an avid biker myself, I support this important safety measure and introduced a bill this session and last session that would ban stopping in bike lanes all across the commonwealth. This measure is good for public safety, public health, and the environment.

Philadelphia City Council passed the measure unanimously after cycling safety advocacy groups campaigned for it, following a series of crashes that killed cyclists and pedestrians last summer.

Whole Home Repair event

Thank you to everyone who attended the Whole Home Repairs Program info session Sen. Santarsiero and I co-hosted with Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County at Central Bucks Senior Center. The program pays for home repair services for eligible homeowners in need of affordable interior and exterior home repairs and modifications that increase the safety, accessibility, condition and livability of their home.

Click here for the application and all the info you need to determine your eligibility.

FYI

Pennsylvania just added six new license plates that honor military veterans: three for medals/honors and three for women veterans. That's now a grand total of 53 options for specialty military plates!

All plates and application forms are on PennDOT's website.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program applications due Dec. 31

Don’t miss out on your rebate! Pennsylvanians have until December 31 to apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has already received over 523,000 rebate claims in 2024, including nearly 103,000 first-time applicants. My colleagues and I fought hard to expand this program and we want everyone who is eligible to get a rebate on taxes or rent they paid in 2023. Apply here!