Senator Patton Supports $11.5 Billion Transportation Budget Passed by Senate

COLUMBUS—Senate Transportation Chairman Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) supports the $11.5 billion Transportation Budget passed by the senate today, Amended Substitute House Bill 54.

“The Transportation budget addresses significant safety concerns for our citizens and business travelers,” said Senator Patton. “This is truly a forward looking, 21st Century budget that helps keep Ohio’s economy moving from Lake Erie to the Ohio River.”
 
The Transportation Budget allocates $15 million for emergency pavement repair. It also helps smaller communities keep their roads clear a maintained through the help of ODOT. Villages can be snowed under, quite literally, and could use some help from the Department of Transportation from clearing snow to clearing debris from storm damage. HB 54 provides that at no cost to a village.

The Transportation Budget is free from gas or diesel tax increases.

“The last four years under the Biden Administration has driven inflation and especially higher prices at the pump,” said Senate President Rob McColley. “It is important that we live within our means, much like the hard-working Ohioans who in the last several years have hoped that last quarter tank gets them to pay day.”
 
The budget also protects rental car drivers from tickets if they are pulled over and the rental car’s registration is expired, and it keeps the ramps to closed rest areas open for truckers who need to stop for their required rest periods.
 
The $11.5 billion budget also maintains the convenience of voter registration at the BMV, as long as the applicant provides proof of U.S. citizenship which is required to vote in Ohio.

###