Ohio Senate to Vote on $7.6 Billion Transportation Bill

On March 5, 2009, the Ohio House voted 53-45 to approve the transportation budget. In doing so, the House approved the Ohio Department of Transportation’s $7.6 billion budget for the next two years. This overall transportation budget also includes $2.2 billion in federal stimulus money, which Ohio is expected to receive. Out of this $2 billion, approximately 56% of the federal stimulus money, $1.1 billion, is projected to go to the highways and transit – the biggest beneficiary of the stimulus money. And, 85% of that is to be allotted to traditional road and bridge projects.

The remaining is to be set aside for rail and mass transit. This plan would enable the state to compete for federal money for a passenger rail line between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. The plan, however, provides that no construction could begin on the rail until the transportation department studies the rail project. One of the objectionable details of this transportation bill is that it gives the state Controlling Board authority to approve spending on the rail line and not the Legislature.

This transportation bill represents the state’s ambitious effort to change the way people travel in Ohio. Included in these changes are 1) cameras monitoring speed in construction zones ticketing speeders when workers are present; 2) drivers required to turn on headlights when using windshield wipers; 3) drivers having to change lanes when a tow truck/yellow light service vehicle is stopped; and 4) toll roads would be allowed beyond the Ohio turnpike. Further, failure to wear seatbelts could become an offense that can trigger a traffic stop. At the present, you must commit another driving offense before you can be pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. Also, the tripling of the vehicle title fees, an increase from $5.00 to $15.00, is suppose to net the state $26 Million a year.

Currently, the state has received over 3,800 suggestions for transportation projects totaling $8 billon. These jobs are being prioritized by those that bring economic development to distressed areas, create jobs and are “shovel ready.” Watching over the stimulus money flowing in the state will be a new deputy inspector general. The bill now heads to the Republican controlled Senate where the bill will likely face heavy scrutiny.

Posted by: Bonnie Lee Wolf

Categories: Current Developments / Legislation