Richardson Supports Passage of Transportation Budget

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives passed the state’s biennium transportation budget Wednesday with the help of State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), who is a member of the House Finance Committee, which oversaw the creation of the budget.

This historic $12.6 billion budget is the largest highway infrastructure investment in Ohio’s history.

“Today’s vote to pass the State’s transportation budget signals our commitment to not only maintaining our existing infrastructure but expanding it,” Richardson said. “This investment will improve access for residents of Union and Marion counties to career opportunities, while providing a safe and reliable route of travel.”

Travel will be expanded through the $1 billion investment to create the Rural Highway Fund to focus on small communities economic and job growth by creating reliable routes that will reduce commute times and expand capacity of Ohio’s rural roadways.

Across Ohio $2.2 billion will be used to improve road surfaces, $717 million for bridges and $360 million for safety upgrades. The transportation budget will also reduce the registration fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles from $200 to $100 annually.  

“With these state funds we will not only be increasing safety and access, but also helping to provide work for local contractors and small businesses across the state,” Richardson added.

The House has also added railroad and public safety additions to the legislation to address the recent train derailment in East Palestine.  The budget will require train operators to be notified of wayside detector defects on their route and for those detectors to be inspected or replaced, along with requiring a two-person crew to operate a train on Ohio’s rail lines.

The budget will now head to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.