Fix Our Roads Ohio (FOR Ohio) aims to provide long term, investment in Ohio’s transportation infrastructure by educating policymakers and citizens.
In fiscal year 2020, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will spend $1.7 billion on its capital program, a 29 percent drop from 2014, and fiscal year 2020/21’s budget allocates practically nothing for major new construction projects.
This sharp decrease is attributed to the expiration of Ohio’s Turnpike Bond program on June 30, the end this fiscal year 2019.
ODOT has also delayed nearly 20 bridge and paving projects.
A total of 1,653 bridges as structurally deficient, according to the FHWA National Bridge Inventory, and 30 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, according to the national transportation research group TRIP.
“The facts are overwhelming and disturbing,” Dean Ringle, County Engineers Association of Ohio executive director, said. “Without decisive action by state policymakers, this problem will become a crisis that will cripple our economy. Reduced roadway construction will trigger worker layoffs. Businesses dependent upon trucking will be hurt by inadequate roads and bad bridges. Delays and congestion cost money, and that affects everyone.”
The coalition is comprised of businesses, local governments, transportation agencies, and regional planning councils.