|
Ohio
Department of Transportation...
Transportation
Director Outlines the “State of ODOT”
COLUMBUS (Tuesday, May 29, 2012) – Ohio Department of Transportation
(ODOT) Director Jerry Wray today opened the state agency’s doors to the
public for an insider’s look at the “State of ODOT” and its current
short-term and long-term financial outlook.
“Our transportation system, and therefore our transportation
department, impacts everyone’s life, every day,” Wray said. “It impacts
our economy, our jobs, our safety and our quality of life. And it’s a
responsibility none of us take lightly.”
Noting that a tax increase is not an option, Wray used the opportunity
to demonstrate how ODOT is funded, the forces contributing to a massive
transportation budget hole, and what the state is doing to fix the
problem. Currently, state and federal motor fuel tax revenues have
leveled off – primarily as a result of a reduction in fuel consumption,
the prevalence of more fuel-efficient vehicles and the rising cost of
construction materials.
“We’re looking at every option to save money, generate new money and
reduce the cost of doing business,” Wray said.
In January, ODOT announced a $1.6 billion transportation funding
shortfall that, if left unchanged, would push back by decades some of
the state’s largest transportation projects. During the presentation,
ODOT Chief of Staff Greg Murphy highlighted many of the innovative and
alternative revenue-generating ideas the agency is pursuing to fill the
funding gap, including:
Improving agency efficiency and cutting costs
Converting certain non-interstate rest areas to service plazas
Selling advertising and sponsorship rights at interstate rest areas
Unlocking the revenue potential of the Ohio Turnpike
Seeking sponsorship and naming rights of certain state-owned assets
Exploring public-private partnerships that could expedite the
construction of certain projects
“When you add all of these up, we’re starting to see real savings, but
we know there’s more work to do,” Murphy said. “We will continue to
explore all of our options and work to close our funding gap.”
Next week, the state’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) is
scheduled to vote on a final list of major new transportation
construction projects throughout Ohio that ODOT could pursue.
|
|
|
|
