Lake County Times

The Ohio House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 54, the State Transportation Budget, as announced by State Representative Jamie Callender. The budget, amounting to $11.4 billion over two years, is funded mainly through state gas tax revenue and federal highway aid. It is one of four major budget bills in Ohio and supports infrastructure development and maintenance managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).

House Bill 54 allocates funds for highways across Ohio, including $393 million for new construction and $4.1 billion for maintenance on the state's 49,861 miles of highways. An additional $382 million is directed toward roadway safety improvements. The bill also includes a provision to join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact to expand regional rail services.

The Workforce Mobility Partnership Program (WMPP), established under House Bill 23 in 2023, receives $30 million over the biennium to help transit authorities connect workers with employment opportunities. Teresa Simons from AWT Foundation highlighted that reliable transportation removes employment barriers and strengthens local workforces.

Jim Dvorak from Geauga County Board emphasized that supporting workforce mobility ensures access to jobs and community resources. Ben Capelle of Laketran praised Representative Callender's advocacy for ODOT's Workforce Mobility program.

Additionally, the bill introduces the Ohio Airport Improvement Program under ODOT’s Office of Aviation. This initiative will use aviation fuel revenues to improve publicly owned airports statewide, expecting about $4.65 million annually.

Representative Callender stated that these investments show a commitment to providing access to quality jobs and amenities throughout Ohio.

House Bill 54 will proceed to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. The transportation budget must be finalized by early April for funding availability at the start of fiscal year 2026.