I think this belongs here rather in the politics thread.  However, if the mods would prefer to move it, I understand.  These are excerpts from the following page of the incoming Strickland-Fisher administration's "transition" website:

 

http://govelect.ohio.gov/Vision/RevitalizingOurCitiesandTowns/tabid/63/Default.aspx

 

These are only a few of the things listed at that page, but they are things specific to transportation and urban development.  Personally, I like that the incoming administration is talking about transportation in a more holistic manner and promoting the idea of intermodal connections:   

 

• Making Ohio a Gateway to International Commerce and a Hub for the Nation’s Freight

 

A Strickland-Fisher Administration will harness Ohio’s strengths and partner with private industry to create the Ohio Gateway – an integrated network of multi-modal facilities that seamlessly links Ohio’s citizens, businesses, railways, highways and port facilities into the most advanced and efficient transportation system in America. Ohio’s location, industrial base and network of distribution and logistics assets uniquely position our state to become a premiere gateway to international commerce and a hub for the nation’s freight. Sixty three percent of the U.S. manufacturing base and major population centers of the Northeast, Midwest and Canada lie within 600 miles of Ohio. Furthermore, the state ranks 4th in the nation in the value of freight exported, third in imports and is home to a number of major air and seaports.

 

To reach its full economic potential, Ohio must create the conditions necessary to attract the distribution and logistics industries to move the nation’s goods using our ports, rails and roads. The explosive growth that is forecast to occur in freight shipments across Ohio cannot be accommodated by our current infrastructure alone. To be successful, we must also link our many air and water ports, expand our rail network, link local communities to major rail lines, and create seamless connections to port facilities and transportation hubs in nearby states and countries. Development of the Ohio Gateway requires a bold approach to transportation planning that is closely tied to the state’s economic development objectives. By improving our rail system, modernizing our ports and building regional partnerships, we will establish Ohio as home base to the nation’s distribution and logistics industries that could potentially create 40,000 new jobs in the eight years of a Strickland-Fisher Administration.

 

I am on record supporting the Ohio Hub, a rail system that will serve intercity corridors with integrated air, highway and transit. Investment in rail infrastructure will strengthen our state’s assets as a premiere gateway to international comers, a hub for the nation’s freight and lay the groundwork for passenger service. A Strickland-Fisher Administration will strongly support efforts to move ahead on freight rail expansion in Ohio, working for passage of pending legislation to provide federal matching funds for rail projects. We will also double funding for Ohio Rail Development Commission grants for local rail spurs and intermodal facility construction projects at an annual cost to GRF of $2 million.

 

• Incentivizing Smart Growth and Making “Fix-It-First” a Priority for State Investments

 

A Strickland-Fisher Administration will embrace “Fix-It-First” and “Smart Growth” principles as strategies to redevelop our urban areas. Ohio should not be using taxpayer dollars to promote unchecked sprawl or to encourage the abandonment of cities. Fix-It-First policies will allow us to, where appropriate, focus our spending on the repair of existing roads, bridges, rails, and other infrastructure. And when new infrastructure is needed, Smart Growth policies will allow Ohio to direct investment toward those areas specifically designated by local jurisdictions for growth.

 

•Leading by Example

 

We will assure that investments in state facilities and new leases are made with a priority on locations that are close to transit routes and in core urban areas. We will focus state resources on reusing vacant and abandoned buildings in urban cores, bringing daytime, pedestrian traffic back to our urban centers and spurring strong urban retail markets.

 

• Supporting the Ohio Main Streets Program and Historic Preservation Tax Credits

 

As a symbol of a community’s heritage, the health of its historic downtown district provides a visible indication of an area’s economic vitality, in turn affecting its ability to recruit new businesses and residents. In Ohio, the nonprofit Heritage Ohio operates the Ohio Main Street Program, promoting historic preservation and economic development of traditional downtown business districts. Communities selected for official “Main Street” designation undertake a rigorous program of consultation and planning and seek private investments and federal grants to redevelop downtowns into vital centers of community activity and commerce. Since the program’s inception in 1998, Ohio’s thirty-two Main Street communities have helped stimulate civic pride and economic activity, producing over $300 million in reinvestment and more than 1,800 full-time jobs.

 

A Strickland-Fisher Administration will commit $3 million annually to the Ohio Main Street program and participating communities. Funding will be provided by reallocating resources within the Ohio Department of Development.

 

Additionally, the Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill to provide for a State Historic Preservation Tax Credit. This is a good first step for attracting investments and supporting the redevelopment of existing communities. We will support efforts in the General Assembly to move this bill forward.

 

What will be interesting to watch is who will be appointed as the new Director at ODOT, and then how well ODOT will coordinate it's efforts with the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).  Transportation and economic development are inextricably tied to one another and can be a very positive force: something that's been missing for the last 16 years.

 

This is good news to hear from the incoming Governor.

Great find gildone.  I heard about this site on NPR this morning and was planning on checking it out.  They're saying lots of things I want to hear.  Now it's up to the people to make sure they know that these are priorities that can't wait!

 

Noozer, I am also very curious about who's coming and who's going in these departments.

Heard a few names being thrown around, but nothing firm just yet.

 

To me, the most critical quality in a new ODOT Director will be someone who can think and act intermodally and change the culture at ODOT from one of just highways to one that advances and coordinate all modes.

 

But that also may a take a change in the Ohio Constitution to change the way the gas tac revenues are allowed to be spent.

But not all state gasoline tax dollars are created equal. In fact, some that are already paid to the Ohio Department of Transportation do not come from users of Ohio's roadways. As you noted, under the Ohio Constitution, non-highway transportation projects and other costs are forbidden from receiving funding generated by state gasoline taxes.

 

The same legal prohibition exists in Oregon, yet that state uses gas taxes (dubbed "the Lawnmower Gas Tax") to pay for rail passenger service. How? A small amount of gas taxes are paid by operators of non-roadway vehicles/machinery (ie: landscaping equipment, off-road vehicles, farm equipment, sporting events etc.). Gas station owners/managers cannot differentiate how their gas is ultimately burned, and thus cannot differentiate the filing of gas tax payments.

 

But the state can make an estimate based on market analyses how much fuel is consumed by these non-highway users. In Oregon, the state estimates that about $7.2 million per year in fuel taxes are paid by non-roadway vehicles/equipment operators and allocates that revenue to rail passenger service.

 

In Ohio, a similar, thorough analysis would determine how much revenue is paid by non-roadway vehicles/equipment operators. A rough estimate suggests that this annual amount may be about $25 million.

 

This estimate of mine was derived from Ohio's population being 3.15 times greater than Oregon's in 2006 (per Census), and that Ohio's fuel tax (both gasoline is diesel) is 28 cents per gallon. Oregon's gasoline tax is 24.9 cents per gallon and its diesel fuel tax is 24.3 cents per gallon (per GasBuddy.com).

 

The goal of this revenue stream should be to diversify the state's transportation system by offering more choices for travelers and shippers. That can be accomplished by increasing state support for cost-effective, energy-efficient rail freight and passenger services. In a recent ODOT survey, more Ohioans wanted expanded travel choices than more lanes added to highways. And it was by a wide margin.

 

The beauty of this is that the legislature probably doesn't need to act in order to change how this gas tax money is spent. ODOT would likely have to get a ruling from the Ohio Attorney General to confirm the legality and, if Ohio comes to the same policy conclusion as Oregon did, ODOT would have to do a market analysis of how much gas taxes are paid by non-highway users.

 

It would then be up to ODOT to decide how to spend it -- for more of the same, or for a refreshing new approach to give Ohioans a choice in how to travel. That's what Ohioans want!

Might want to bend a receptive ear in the Ohio General Assembly or suggest that to the Strickland transition team.  That would be a significant resource for rail and transit projects around the state.

I'm told one person on the transition team has been so informed.

 

If others reading this have contacts on the transition team and want to share this information with them, please be my guest.

Another receptive ear might be State Rep. Larry Flowers (Canal Winchester), who will be House Majority Leader. Yes, he's a Republican, but he also is very pro-transit and I know from talking with him that he favors the Ohio Hub Plan and is not happy with the priorities that ODOT has taken up over the years.

 

I would bet he would lend a willing ear to something like a "lawnmower tax", especially since it would not involve a "new" tax, but just redirecting a portion of one that exists.

 

If the Strickland administration is also receptive, then you have just created bi-artisan support for what could be a significant change in how we fund transportation projects in this state.

Larry Flowers is my Rep. and a good guy. I think this would be something he could sink his teeth into. I'll get in touch with him soon.

So when I cut my grass, I'm subsidizing highways?  I never thought of it that way!  Same goes for my snow blower...

 

Well, I have an electric lawnmower now, so I guess I don't anymore.  My next mower will be one of those old-fashioned Reel mowers so I won't use any fossil fuels at all but I'm digressing...

 

Anyway, I hope Strickland embraces new ideas like this and moves forward on his priorities.  Who knows what "political realities" will get in the way though once he's in office. 

 

 

 

thank god I don't have any grass!

Did you ever buy gas at an Ohio gas station and use it for purposes other than driving a vehicle (car, motorcycle, van, truck, bus etc) on the roads? If so, you still paid for Ohio roads even though you may not have used any of them.

Want to make your thoughts on transportation known?  Here's a way to reach the incoming Governor's administration with ideas like a "lawnmower" tax.

 

Incoming governor opens informational Web site

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Mark Niquette

 

 

Gov.-elect Ted Strickland has launched a new Web site for those seeking information related to the transition to his new administration, including news, details about jobs, volunteer opportunities and contact information.

 

The Web address is: http://govelect.ohio.gov.

 

"This Web site is the onestop information source for those interested in the transition process," Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said in a statement. He is helping lead Strickland’s transition team.

 

"We invite Ohioans from across the state to offer not only their skills and service but also their ideas and suggestions on how best to turn around Ohio."

 

Coleman said the Web site will give Ohioans the opportunity to submit comments or policy suggestions, upload resumes and apply for positions in the new administration.

 

The official Strickland-Lee Fisher transition office was to open yesterday Downtown in the Riffe Center.

http://dispatch.com/news/news.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/21/20061121-D4-05.html