YORK, Pa. (WHTM) -- Governor Josh Shapiro's budget proposal would invest more the $280 million in the state's public transit system. More than $5 million would go to rabbittransit -- the Midstate's biggest transit agency.

“Nearly one million Pennsylvanians rely on public transit every single day. Public transit provides freedom and opportunity for millions of Pennsylvanians while making the Commonwealth more competitive,” said State Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll while visiting the Harrisburg Area Community College York campus on Tuesday. “That’s why Governor Shapiro proposed the first major new investment in public transit in over 10 years."

Supporters of the plan argued the funding would benefit people who use the buses to get to work.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, an average of 64% of people who use fixed-route services report having no other means of transportation. In the 10 counties served by rabbittransit, according to the department, 69.4% of riders say they have no other option.

With the additional funds, the agency could increase frequency on its 1W West York route giving riders more options and reliability to help them get around. Last year, rabbittransit's frequency increase on their 1E route led to 20 percent ridership growth on the route.

“Transit is the great equalizer,” rabbittransit Executive Director Richard Farr said. “Providing mobility assists everyone to participate fully in society. It allows our friends and neighbors to access employment opportunities, medical needs, access to food, and allows individuals to be connected. It helps keep the economy moving.”

Under the plan, rabbittransit would receive an additional $5.4 million next year. Among other agencies serving the midstate, Lebanon Transit would receive an additional $601,818, and the South Central Transit Authority (SCTA), which includes Red Rose Transit in Lancaster, would receive $5.6 million, although that funding would be divided between Lancaster and SCTA's system in Berks County.

To come up with additional funding dollars needed for Shapiro's plan, the governor is proposing to deposit an additional 1.75% of the Pennsylvania Sales Tax into the Public Transportation Trust Fund.

Some Republicans, however, are more skeptical of this spending.

abc27 spoke with Republican Appropriations Chair Seth Grove (R-York) who said the state has already put up the money to fuel mass transit.

"We spend over a billion dollars already between higher taxes, sales tax revenue going to mass transit. It's a function of the ridership has been down since COVID. And they've mismanaged one time federal dollars. It's leaving them a financial hole, none of which is the state's problem. They need to figure that out at the local level," he said.

Grove argues that mass transit agencies need to address other issues such as safety before the government invests more money.

At the event on Tuesday, abc27 also asked Carroll how the spending would benefit suburban and rural Pennsylvanians who might never get on a bus.

"They don't need to get on a bus, we have transit in every county in this Commonwealth from the smallest rural county to the city of Philadelphia, and Shared Ride is that transit service in rural counties," said Carroll. "So admittedly there may not be a traditional fixed-route bus or a train, but in the most rural counties including Northumberland, and Columbia, and Montour -- clearly rural counties-- and York in many ways outside of the city, the use of residents across our state with the shared ride program is transit."

According to PennDOT, public transportation services currently available in Pennsylvania, include:

• Shared ride service in all 67 counties;
• Fixed route bus service in 49 counties
• Fixed route rail service in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania residents can learn more about their public transit options and apply for transportation assistance programs only using the Commonwealth’s Find My Ride tool.