Pizzulli, Stephens Support House Transportation Budget

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) and Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) today voted in support of House Bill 54 – the House’s version of the State Transportation Budget. The bill allocates funding for Ohio’s extensive transportation system, prioritizing efforts that keep Ohio moving forward. 

House Bill 54 is the primary mechanism to fund transportation infrastructure development and maintenance for FY 2026-2027. Passed on the floor with unanimous support, House Bill 54 includes provisions that aim to preserve Ohio’s vital infrastructure, promote economic development, and boost public safety. 

Pizzulli and Stephens highlighted a measure that will direct $2 million to require the Ohio Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study for an I-73 corridor primarily along current U.S. Route 23, stretching from Toledo to Chesapeake, Ohio by December 31, 2026.

“One of the biggest barriers to economic development in Appalachia is access to good paying jobs,” said Pizzulli. “An interstate from Columbus to southern Ohio will incentivize job creators to invest in the southern Appalachian region.”

“An interstate from Toledo to southern Ohio will directly spur economic development through job creation,” said Stephens. “This is forward-thinking policy that will be transformative for southern Ohio and the greater Appalachia region.”

House Bill 54 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.