North Summit News

Serving as the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, I have had many opportunities to travel around the state. This has allowed me to become even more familiar with Ohio’s roadways.

In a large and diverse state like Ohio, it is important for people to easily travel from place to place. This movement keeps the economy active, and a great transportation system attracts more people, businesses, and money from outside the state. Therefore, providing funding for road maintenance is crucial.

The Ohio House recently passed two pieces of legislation aimed at ensuring the upkeep of highways and bridges across the state: the state transportation budget and the Ohio Turnpike plan.

The transportation budget allocated $7.1 billion for the next two fiscal years. The funds are primarily directed toward the Ohio Department of Transportation ($5.6 billion), the Ohio Department of Public Safety ($1.3 billion), and a combined $136.8 million for the Public Works Commission and Development Services Agency. These agencies are responsible for highway construction and maintenance, local project funding, and public safety assurance.

“I’m proud of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee for the swift manner in which they considered the transportation budget bill,” said an official statement. The committee took into account factors such as gas tax growth, federal funding outlooks, rising construction costs, and provisions of the Turnpike plan.

The Ohio Turnpike is considered a valuable asset to the state as it facilitates easy travel within Ohio—especially beneficial for residents in Medina County—and generates revenue from external sources. By leveraging this roadway, it can fund its own construction and maintenance while also supporting other infrastructure projects in Ohio.

The plan approved by the House uses Turnpike revenues to issue $1.5 billion in bonds. With matching funds from federal and local governments, this will provide $3 billion for necessary road and bridge projects statewide. A provision included in the bill requires a nexus or connection to the Turnpike for related funds usage, keeping most resources in northern Ohio. Additionally, $70 million is directed towards accelerating replacement of base pavement on the Turnpike.

“The House Finance and Appropriations Committee did an excellent job of looking closely at these transportation bills,” according to another statement from officials involved in passing these bills with bipartisan support.

Because of their work on these measures, “Ohio’s transportation system will be well taken care of for years to come” providing jobs for tens of thousands when implemented effectively through continued deliberative processes similar to those used during these legislative considerations.