Patton Helps Lead Transportation Budget through General Assembly, Heads to Governor

State Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville), who served as chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Transportation, helped lead House Bill 74 through the General Assembly. Earlier this week, Patton supported and the Ohio House overwhelmingly concurred with Senate amendments to advance the bipartisan legislation.

House Bill 74 serves as the 2022-2023 Transportation Budget that appropriates approximately $4.33 billion in FY 2022 and $4.04 billion in FY 2023. Patton notes that the legislation is a $6 billion jobs package.

“I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to bring jobs, infrastructure, and development to our communities across Ohio,” said Patton. “This is an economic investment for our state, which will continue to serve as a transportation hub for the nation.” 

The bill includes the following:

• $6.5 billion to the Ohio Department of Transportation, which supports infrastructure, highways, roads, bridge construction and maintenance, and public transportation;
• $1.4 billion to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), including $50 million in each fiscal year to the Ohio State Highway Patrol;
• $119 million to the Public Works Commission (PWC) Local Transportation Improvement Program;
• $30 million to the Development Services Agency (DSA) Roadwork Development Grant Program;
• FY 2022 appropriations for ODOT include about $333 million in stimulus funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by Congress in December 2020;
• $126 million of this funding will be provided to local governments to cover lost revenue from pandemic travel restrictions; and
• ODOT will dedicate approximately $60 million in FY 2022 and 2023 to major new projects through the Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC).

Along with supporting the bill, Patton pushed for several other provisions including:

• Clarifying electric vehicles are excluded from E-Check;
• Clarifying rule on the prohibition against a retail seller charging additional fees;
• Restoring pertinent language on remedial driving courses being taught in person or online; and
• Adding an appropriation for the Ohio State Highway Patrol and peace officer training at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Patton acknowledges that Ohio is a leader in the Midwest on transportation as it is located within a day’s drive of 60 percent of the American and Canadian populations and has the nation’s fourth-largest interstate system and its second-largest inventory of bridges. 

House Bill 74 now heads to the governor for further action.