Ohio has a new Republican governor, and the state has a transportation funding problem. Can a new group of advocates convince the state's political leadership to approve a new gas tax?
"Ohio legislators and the incoming DeWine administration will start off the new year staring down a huge transportation-budget problem," reports Jim Segel. "The state has run out of money for major new road-construction projects."
"State revenue for road and bridge construction is trending in the wrong direction, and the prospect of significant delays in major projects has prompted the formation of a coalition that will push policymakers to find new transportation money, particularly through an increase in the state gasoline tax," adds Segel.
The aforementioned coalition, Fix Our Roads Ohio (FOR Ohio), includes local governments, local chambers of commerce, contractors, county engineers, and truckers in an effort to advocate a new governor and new state legislators for a gas-tax increase to address the infrastructure funding gap in the state.
According to Segel, "projects like improvements to the Interstate 270/Interstate 71/Route 23 area on the South Side, improvements to Interstate 70 ramps at I-270 and at Brice Road on the Far East Side, the I-71 interchange with Routes 36/37, and reconstruction of I-70 and I-71 Downtown" are on the shelf while the state fails to address its transportation funding deficit.
FULL STORY: Money for major Ohio road projects is gone; gas-tax hike proposed
Colorado Still Short Cash and Ideas to Fix its Roads
Colorado's roads and highways are in poor repair—the state of transportation was even called a 'quiet crisis' ten years ago. The problems persist, as does the state's lack of funding to fix the problem.
Two Bridges Across the Ohio River in Cincinnati Closed on the Same Day
Two of the transportation connections between Ohio and Kentucky in the Cincinnati metropolitan area were closed on the same day, leaving one side of the Ohio River cut off from the other.
For Transportation, Real Reform Can Only Happen at the State and Local Levels
Without buy-in for new ways of thinking at the state level, the presidential election is not likely to change much about the ways the United States plans and funds transportation infrastructure.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service