Hicks-Hudson Commends Senate Passage of the Transportation Budget

Today, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) commended the Ohio Senate’s passage of House Bill 54, the state’s two-year transportation budget. The budget invests $11.5 billion over the biennium into Ohio’s roads, bridges, airports, and railways, with nearly $200 million being invested in public transportation.

“With the support of the Northwest Ohio delegation, there is a way forward for better connection from Lucas County to Columbus,” said Hicks-Hudson. “The bill includes two amendments that I offered to clarify liability regarding adaptive mobility dealers and remanufacturers and to direct the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create a plan to connect Rt. 23 to I-71. As Ohio continues to bring new jobs and markets of opportunity to the state, the accessibility of inter- and intra-state transportation is critical. I hope that this will remedy the neglect of critical state infrastructure between our region into central Ohio, and consequently, the rest of the state.”

Senate Democrats advocated for the following provisions that were included in House Bill 54:

• Maintain an increase in funding for Transportation Improvement Districts to invest in local infrastructure ($18M over the biennium);
• Continue funding for the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership program ($13.5M per fiscal year);
• Continue the Systemic Safety Program, which awards funding for projects that reduce pedestrian-related crashes;
• Support contract changes supported by Regional Transit Authorities, including the Cleveland RTA;
• Appropriate an additional $2.56 million each FY for maintenance of roads within the boundaries of metropolitan parks;
• Distribute gas tax revenues to municipalities, townships, and counties;
• Continue funding commitments to the Brent Spence Bridge;
• Maintain funding requested by ODOT to expand access to truck parking in Ohio; and,
• Allow ODOT to remove abandoned telecommunication or utility lines.

House Bill 54 now heads back to the Ohio House of Representatives for concurrence.