Beginning this August, the Ohio Department of Transportation will conduct a decades-out assessment of statewide and regional demographics, economic growth opportunities, and current transportation systems and capacities, to identify future passenger and freight travel needs.
Granted $10 million in the recent transportation budget pitched by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the study has already locked in a consulting team and will eye how to address rapid economic growth statewide. It will divide its efforts into three areas, stretching its assessments to periods 10, 20 and 30 years out from now, beginning with a stress test of existing and future conditions of safety, congestion, condition, reliability and resilience, as well as potential changes to population and economic development.
“Companies looking to relocate to or expand in Ohio recognize the importance of Ohio’s integrated transportation infrastructure in allowing them to reach customers and suppliers quickly and efficiently,” Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik said. “As we continue to pave the way for even more economic growth across the state, we must stay ahead of the game in meeting the transportation needs of today and tomorrow.”
As part of this investigation, the Department of Transportation will collaborate with the state’s Department of Development and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. Cambridge Systematics will lead the study, aiming for a completion date sometime in late 2024.
“Our state’s economic engine is in high gear, and we want to ensure that our transportation system is fully aligned with that growth,” DeWine said. “This study will show us where we need to be making investments to keep us moving forward.”