Ohio House Passes Transportation Budget

COLUMBUS – Representative Jamie Callender (R – Concord) voted to pass the State’s biennium transportation budget following a month of hearings and deliberations. The State’s transportation budget allocates funds for the Department of Transportation’s infrastructure maintenance and improvement plans over the next two years as well as makes other permanent law changes. This $12.6 billion budget is the largest highway infrastructure investment in Ohio’s history. 

The transportation budget as passed by the House includes $15 million for the creation of the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program. This program will allow regional transit authorities to work together to provide services for workforces between regional centers to support employments needs.

It also includes a $1 billion investment to create the Rural Highway Fund to focus on small communities economic and job growth by creating reliable routes that will reduce commute times and expand capacity of Ohio’s rural roadways. Lake County will be eligible for this funding.

“Today’s vote to pass the State’s transportation budget signals our commitment to not only maintaining our existing infrastructure but expanding it,” Callender said. “This investment will improve access for residents of Lake County to career opportunities and the world class amenities are right on our doorstep.”

Among the other highlights are $2.2 billion to be used to improve road surfaces, $717 million for bridges and $360 million for safety upgrades. The transportation budget will also reduce the registration fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles from $200 to $100 annually.  

The budget will now head to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.