Transportation budget invests in highways, public transit
Mar. 5—COLUMBUS — Characterizing it as a jobs bill, the Ohio House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Thursday an $8 billion, two-year transportation and public safety budget that promises $100 million a year for major new highway construction.
"You will never be asked to vote this year in this General Assembly for a bigger jobs bill than you'll be able to vote for today," said state Rep. Tom Patton (R., Strongsville), chairman of the House Finance Committee's transportation subcommittee.
"We're putting $7 billion worth of work into roads and bridges in Ohio," he said. "Think about that."
The budget includes roughly $1 billion more for operations of the Department of Public Safety.
House Bill 74, sponsored by state Rep. Scott Oelslager (R., North Canton):
—Does not include a provision sought by the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority that would have made it easier for Lucas County to join the authority as part of a longer-term plan to shift from property-tax subsidy to a sales tax, as is used by most other major Ohio transit authorities. — Provides nearly $194 million over two years for public transit, using a mixture of state and federal funds. The chamber resisted Democratic efforts to expand on that.
—Provides an extra $50 million to support operations of the Ohio State Highway Patrol after provisions sought by the governor to hike vehicle registration and title fees for that purpose were removed.
—Does not include Mr. DeWine's proposed language to make distracted driving due to hand-held electronic devices such as cell phones a primary offense so that police would not first need another reason to make a traffic stop.
—Does not contain significant increases in motor fuel taxes or vehicle fees.
The bill passed 87-8 with state Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D., Toledo) casting the sole negative vote from northwest Ohio. Among other things, she objected to the removal of the TARTA language.
State Rep. Mike Skindell (D., Lakewood) praised the budget's increased support of 34 rural and 27 urban transit systems, but he said more is needed.
"The problem is, as we know, public transit funding here in the state of Ohio has been significantly under-funded for a couple of decades now," he said.
He cited a 2015 transit needs study by ODOT that found that, while Ohio has the 14th highest public transit ridership in the nation, it ranks 45th in per capita funding.
Debate now shifts to the Senate. The transportation budget — separate from the broader two-year state budget — must be signed into law before April 1 if the state wants to start spending the money beginning with the next fiscal year July 1.
First Published March 4, 2021, 3:50pm
