Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on Tuesday establishing the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program, aimed at expediting the state’s permitting process for infrastructure projects.
The Fast Track Program identifies economic development projects and assists with the permit process by organizing agency meetings and enhancing transparency through a public online dashboard. The dashboard will track the progress of projects, permitting timelines, feedback from project sponsors, and provide accountability for both state agencies and project sponsors.
“When I became governor, I promised to make state government work efficiently and effectively for Pennsylvanians, breaking down barriers and creating real opportunity for the good people of our Commonwealth. By streamlining permitting processes and focusing on results, we’re not just creating jobs and driving economic growth — we’re getting stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro. “The PA Permit Fast Track Program is a game-changer.”
The Fast Track Program is designed to help project organizers better understand and meet permit requirements, reducing costly delays.
The program was piloted with three economic development projects. Shapiro signed the executive order while visiting one of those projects – the Bellwether District in Philadelphia, a 1,300-acre logistics and innovation campus on the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery site.
“Transforming a site of this scale and creating thousands of new jobs requires business, government, labor, and institutions to work together — along with a little imagination and a lot of grit,” said Roberto Perez, CEO of HRP Group, developer for the Bellwether District. “I firmly believe that together, we will show that in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we can innovate and accomplish big things.”
Two additional projects are underway: Project Hazelnut in Luzerne County — a 1,300- acre transformative technology campus — and Martinsburg Community Digester in Blair County — located at Metzler Farm, which will convert manure from local dairy farms into biogas.
“Governor Shapiro knows that to create jobs and put the men and women of the Philadelphia building trades to work, we must make Pennsylvania a place where businesses want to invest,” said Ryan Boyer, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council. “Meaningful permitting reform is long overdue, and Governor Shapiro is making it a reality.”
Read more information about the PA Permit Fast Track Program, visit pa.gov
