Versailles Avenue viaduct reconstruction, my April 25 shred event, and more

Rep. Dan Goughnour April 1, 2026 | 2:23 PM

Announcing the rebuild of the Versailles Avenue viaduct

I was thrilled to join officials from the local, county, state, and federal levels on Wednesday to announce the rebuild of the Versailles Avenue Viaduct in McKeesport. We’ve been living with this detour and this crumbling piece of central infrastructure for the past four years, so it’s great to see a rebuild in the works.

This kind of thing doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a cooperative and committed effort from people at all levels. Let’s keep building and let’s keep the Mon Valley moving forward.

Mark your calendar for my April 25 shred event

I’m hosting a free shredding event April 25 to help you safely dispose of papers and disks with sensitive information. It will run from 10 a.m. to noon at McKeesport High School parking lot. It’s a great way to protect your identity by ensuring documents don’t fall into the wrong hands—documents such as financial statements, cancelled checks, legal and insurance papers.

So plan on stopping by if you have any documents you’d like to shred, and feel free to call my office with any questions at (412) 664-0035.

House passes bill to raise PA’s minimum wage

As a longstanding member of Teamsters 205, I was proud to support a bill last week that would institute a long overdue hike in PA’s minimum wage. H.B. 2189 passed the House and now heads to the Senate. It would raise the statewide minimum wage, which has languished at $7.25 since 2009, to $15 by 2029 and allow municipalities to reach the $15 mark sooner. The bill also raises the minimum wage for tipped employees from the current $2.83 per hour to 60 percent of the hourly minimum, or $6.60, in 2027.

Election deadlines: Make your voice heard

Pennsylvania will hold primary elections on May 19, so it’s time to consider how to make your voice heard. First, make sure you’re registered—you have until May 4.

If voting in person doesn’t fit your schedule, PA offers dependable vote-by-mail options. The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12. Allegheny County recently approved ballot return sites for voters to return a mail-in ballot without relying on the mail, and you can read more about them here.

Get more info on voting by mail at www.pa.gov.

Tax season reminder: new tax credit

for workers who need it most

Gov. Shapiro Monday visited Allegheny County this week to encourage eligible workers to take advantage of new state tax credits for those who need it most.

Eligible taxpayers can now claim the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC), created in the 2025-26 budget which I supported last year. Modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the WPTC can provide up to $805 in tax relief.

The credit is expected to deliver $193 million in tax savings to approximately 940,000 Pennsylvanians this year. Anyone who qualifies for the federal EITC automatically qualifies for the state credit, helping to put more money back into the pockets of working Pennsylvanians. Visit pa.gov/wptc for more information and to check eligibility using an online calculator.

Plan your transportation needs during the NFL Draft

With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected this month for the NFL Draft, local leaders have unveiled a transportation plan that includes road closures and increased public transit options. The draft will be April 23-25, and I encourage you to plan ahead. Residents can learn all the details for navigating the city from Visit Pittsburgh here.

Welcoming the House speaker to the Mon Valley

I recently had the pleasure of welcoming the speaker of the PA House, Rep. Joanna McClinton, to the Mon Valley. Along with Rep. Inglis, we had a great conversation about all of the exciting things going on in our legislative districts. Thank you Madam Speaker for taking the time to vist our area and enjoying a great Tillies dinner with us.

Fish stocking at Long Run Road Creek

I enjoyed getting out this week to help stock the Long Run Road Creek ahead of opening day with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, Sen. Nick Pisciottano, and McKeesport Mayor Thomas Maglicco. Trout season opens Saturday, April 4. For more information, visit the Fish and Boat Commission website here.

Share your feedback on PennDOT winter services

PennDOT is seeking feedback on their winter services in our communities. Through the anonymous survey, available through April 14, respondents can share their thoughts on PennDOT’s performance this winter season, how they receive PennDOT roadway information and if they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services.

The survey also covers subjects such as timeline expectations for safe and passable roadways, as well as how locals rank snow-removal priorities. The survey includes 17 questions and should take about five minutes to complete.

To respond to the survey, click this link.

Happy Easter!

I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter this Sunday!

Connect with me or my district office: We’re here to help!

My team and I are here to assist with a variety of state government-related services, so please don’t hesitate to visit the district office at Tube City Center in McKeesport, call us at 412-664-0035, or visit my website, www.repgoughnour.com.