Rep. Troy says Bipartisan Passage of $11.5B Transportation Budget Creates New Jobs, Infrastructure Projects, and Economic Possibilities for Ohioans

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Daniel Troy (D-Willowick) Wednesday helped pass the bipartisan Ohio Transportation Budget (House Bill 54) through the Ohio House of Representatives. The budget’s appropriation of $11.5B is a significant investment into the future of Ohio jobs, connecting the workforce to the worksite, and the bill will improve roads, bridges, and transit systems across Ohio.

“This transportation budget bill, which we must enact every two years, especially emphasizes needed road repairs and safety upgrades in our state. It also makes historic investments in public transit that will improve our state’s workforce efforts. I was proud to be a member of the House Transportation Committee that helped develop the final product that went before the full House,” Rep. Troy commented. 

Some provisions fought for by Rep. Troy and included in House Bill (HB) 54:

• Provides $8B in statewide highway construction and maintenance projects over the Biennium;
• Makes progress toward meeting the state’s significant public transportation needs by appropriating nearly $200M for public transit, including$30M to continue the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program;
• Authorizes the continued distribution of gas tax revenue to cities, counties, and townships across Ohio to support local road maintenance; 
   
• Allows motor vehicle owners the option of signing a statement attesting to their vehicle’s compliance rather than going through the unpopular E-Check test;
• Protects construction workers on the highway by establishing the Road Safety Pilot Program to assess speed compliance in construction zones.
• Adopts the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, which creates the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission and earmarks $25K in each fiscal year to pay for the costs associated with joining the compact;
• Continues funding commitments to the Brent Spence Bridge that crosses the Ohio River at Cincinnati;

HB 54 passed the House by a 97-0 vote. It now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.