An executive order issued Tuesday by Governor Josh Shapiro (D) created the “Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program” and tasked the governor’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity with overseeing and coordinating program implementation.
According to Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Shapiro’s aim is to accelerate permitting for big, complex economic development and infrastructure projects whose progress relies on permits from multiple agencies. The program is designed “to help project sponsors better understand and meet permitting requirements, reducing costly delays by coordinating meetings across state agencies and getting sponsors answers to their questions efficiently,” Shapiro said in a quoted news release. “Every permit submitted through Fast Track is still subject to the same rigorous review as every other application across the Commonwealth.” A public dashboard that shows the progress of permit applications for each project in the program will add “unprecedented transparency and accountability” to the process, Shapiro said.
One of the Office of Transformation and Opportunity’s responsibilities is to identify and designate major projects for participation in the program. However, Shapiro indicated that the state will also be open to businesses seeking program assistance.