Coalition to Address Ohio’s Critical Infrastructure Issues

The OMA is supporting a coalition – Fix Our Roads (FOR) Ohio – to put a spotlight on Ohio’s deteriorating infrastructure and lack of remedial funding. The coalition is comprised of business groups, local governments, regional planning councils and transportation-oriented organizations.

According to FOR Ohio’s news release: “The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is scheduled to spend $1.7 billion on its capital program in FY 2020, down from a high of $2.4 billion in FY 2014. This decrease is due in large part to the expiration of Ohio’s Turnpike Bond program at the end of this fiscal year (June 30, 2019), and represents a 29 percent decrease in capital spending from FY 2014. …

“According to a recent report by TRIP, a national transportation research group, 30 percent of Ohio’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. The FHWA National Bridge Inventory, which compiles data for bridges spanning more than 20 feet, rates 1,653 of Ohio’s bridges as structurally deficient, meaning there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports, or other major components.”

The coalition plans to work with the DeWine administration and new General Assembly to advance potential options including phasing in increases to Ohio’s Motor Fuel User Fee (gas tax), levying an annual fee on electric-powered vehicles, studying future funding alternatives in light of evolving technology, and identifying a dedicated funding source to better support public transit. 1/16/2019