If President Bush’s Transportation Budget passes, Ohio’s share of federal highway dollars could see a cut.

Saturday, February 16, 2002

If President Bush’s Transportation Budget passes, Ohio’s share of federal highway dollars could see a cut.

"If the Administration’s budget is approved, Ohio will lose approximately $230 million in federal dollars for highway projects, halting progress on projects critical to safety and community development," Congressman Ted Strickland said in a prepared statement.

Strickland cosponsored legislation Tuesday that would make up for a shortfall in Bush’s transportation budget for 2003, in an effort to save jobs and highway projects throughout the state.

"Inadequate highway infrastructure has stymied growth and frustrated businesses that want to capitalize on the highly skilled workforce in our region. I can think of few better investments in Ohio’s economic security than these highway projects," Strickland said.

House Resolution 3694, the bill Strickland is cosponsoring, will offset the reductions in highway spending proposed by the president for the fiscal year 2003 budget. The bill would require that spending on highways at least matches the levels authorized in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, the nation’s current surface transportation law. This would increase Ohio’s funding level to about $866 million.

TEA-21 was signed into law in 1998 and established funding levels for highway projects at $218 billion from fiscal year 1998 through fiscal year 2003. The President’s budget provides less money than was authorized under TEA-21 for the final year of the program.

"The guaranteed funding levels authorized under TEA-21 are supposed to be a floor, not a ceiling," Strickland said. "Highway projects provide an immediate investment in job creation and a long-term investment in Ohio’s economic growth and quality of life. I hope the Administration will take the opportunity to work with Congress and support this widely bipartisan effort."

Kathleen Fuller, the public information officer for District Nine of the Ohio Department of Transportation said the agency has taken a wait-and-see stance on future construction projects. She said that although funding is available for this year’s projects, future project development is still up in the air.