If you'd like a ray of sunshine in this, know that I produced these maps at the request of ODOT's 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force. It is clear that they are trying to motivate stakeholders to rectify that disgustingly blank 2008 map.

This is more Northeast Ohio stuff, but since it's multi-modal, this might be the best place to post this......

 

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT:        Missy S. Toms, 216.621.0082 or [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:      August 27, 2008

 

Cleveland Plus: Turning the Corner in Infrastructure and Transportation

 

Panel of Speakers at The City Club of Cleveland

 

CLEVELAND, OH—Executives from our community’s major logistics systems and a government official will discuss the billions of dollars of investment occurring in our region and how that investment will not only change the way we travel but also position the region for business and economic growth at noon on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at The City Club of Cleveland. Deb Janik, senior VP, real estate and business development, at the Greater Cleveland Partnership and vice president at Cleveland Development Advisors, will serve as moderator.

 

From our international airport, to our highways, waterways and public transit, Greater Cleveland is one of the most logistically friendly regions in the nation.

 

Panelists are:

 

·        Ricky D. Smith, director of the Department of Port Control, City of Cleveland

·        Bonita G. Teeuwen, deputy director of District 12 of the Ohio Department of Transportation

·        Adam Wasserman, president of Cleveland-Cuyahoga Co. Port Authority

 

“Cleveland Plus: Turning the Corner” is a four-part series, in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Partnership, that focuses on physical and economic development projects that are helping the Cleveland Plus economy “turn the corner” toward sustainable, long-term prosperity. The final program in the series is Transforming the Region's Economy (12/17).

 

Tickets for this City Club Special Program are $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Lunch is included. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance of the event. They can be purchased by calling The City Club at 216.621.0082 or visiting the website at www.cityclub.org.

 

Established in 1912 to encourage new ideas and a free exchange of thought, The City Club of Cleveland is the oldest continuous free speech forum in the country, renowned for its tradition of debate and discussion. The City Club’s mission is to inform, educate and inspire citizens by presenting significant ideas and providing opportunities for dialogue in a collegial setting.

If someone asks you what is an interconnected, "intermodal" transportation system, show them the video at this link. Of course, if it was truly intermodal, Massachusetts would have built a rail line with the Big Dig to link North Station with South Station. But this is much better than what exists in much of the USA....

 

http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/video/backbay.wmv

INTERMODAL

Transportation leaders gather for summit, freight conference

By Duane Ramsey

Senior Business Writer

[email protected]

 

Transportation officials and industry leaders from Ohio, several other states and Canada met in Toledo for the 2008 Transportation Summit and Ohio Conference on Freight at the SeaGate Convention Centre.

 

The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) presented the event as a lead-in to the Ohio Conference on Freight Sept. 15 to 17. It included numerous workshops with local, regional and national speakers, a reception and dinner with national keynote speaker Mortimer Downey.

 

There is a lack of national vision or commitment to transportation, said Downey, a former U.S. deputy secretary of transportation who managed the department's strategic-planning process for eight years. We are far from sustaining the system we have let alone the needs of the future, and it's causing a lot of concern. This is a federal concern, and time is the critical element. They have to do something quickly.

 

.......

 

 

http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=8691

Below is information regarding the proposed ODOT TRAC scoring methods.  The TRAC is the entity that ranks/scores major transportation projects that is undertaken by ODOT.

 

ODOT Seeks Comments on TRAC Process

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking comments on revisions to its Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) scoring process.  The main proposed changes are to the scoring criteria and weights in the areas of Community Economic Growth and Development Factors and Local Match. 

 

Read the proposal: http://www.morpc.org/trans/funding_ProposedTRACscoring.pdf

 

Background

 

The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) is the entity which ranks and selects all Major/New Program projects in the state of Ohio, which request funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) whether from state or federal sources.  The Major/New Program includes projects that request more than $5 million from ODOT funds, and which add capacity or support economic development.  The TRAC is composed of nine members from throughout the state.  Six members are appointed by the Governor, and one member each by the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, and the president of the Ohio Senate.  The TRAC is chaired by the ODOT Director.  Each member has a five-year term.  The TRAC director produces a biennial forecast of funds available for Major/New capacity projects.  Until recently, this has been projected at $300 million per year.  For the last several years no new projects have been added to the Major/New Program because of funding shortages brought on by construction inflation and declining motor fuel tax revenues and other reasons. 

 

http://www.morpc.org/transportation/funding/funding.asp

 

 

 

^ This is an important way in which the general public (us) can have an impact on how transportation projects get prioritized in Ohio.  Please do not take the above post lightly.

 

Thanks to tt342998 for posting it.

State announces $100M road, rail, air investment

Beacon Journal, November 21, 2008

 

COLUMBUS: The state has announced details for spending $100 million on Ohio railways, roads, waterways and airports.

 

The spending is part of the state's $1.57 billion stimulus package approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ted Strickland earlier this year.

 

The goal is to better link Ohio's transportation routes to spur economic development and create jobs.

 

 

........

Hopefully, no more Noise Walls are included under the roads package!

 

What a waste of resources.

That was an AP story picked up by media around Ohio. They all say exactly the same thing and provide no details.

It is entirely for economic development projects and not for highway enhancements like noise walls.

^Are they saying what the rail project(s) will be?

It all depends on who applies for the $$$.  The requests can come from private businesses wanting to build new facilities or expand one, as long as infrastructure is a need.  Most of those requests will likely be for rail spurs leading up to those facilities, or creating sidings to store waiting freight cars. 

 

Requests can also come from local governments or economic development organizations in partnership with businesses.

I wonder if the station at Elyria would be eligible?

No.  These $$$ are strictly for freight & logistics projects.  Ohio has a request in for the next Stimulus II bill for the Elyria Station.

It all depends on who applies for the $$$.  The requests can come from private businesses wanting to build new facilities or expand one, as long as infrastructure is a need.  Most of those requests will likely be for rail spurs leading up to those facilities, or creating sidings to store waiting freight cars. 

 

Requests can also come from local governments or economic development organizations in partnership with businesses.

 

Wouldn't that be cool if W&LE was encouraged to build the Ravenna Connection as an interchange track? Of course, that assumes they can get trackage rights on the two miles of NS between Ravenna and a restored connection with the Akron Cluster at Brady Lake. Just musing......

Not a bad idea, but it would have to be tied to a specific economic development project that creates jobs.  That's part of the criteria of the program.

For those who asked about this stimulus program, here's the skinny.......

 

http://jobstimulus.ohio.gov/LogisticsDistribution.htm

I came across a Write of Way column of mine in Sun Newspapers from earlier this year that I may not have posted. Here it is:

 

WRITE OF WAY

Ken Prendergast

Sun Newspapers

May 8, 2008

 

We all want clean air and more good-paying manufacturing jobs. But until we clean our air, we won't see many new manufacturing plants.

 

Purdue University researchers said in April that Cuyahoga County ranks fourth-worst among more than 3,141 U.S. counties for carbon dioxide emissions. Surrounding counties aren’t much better.

 

This is unhealthy news for Northeast Ohioans, not just from a medical perspective but from an economic one, too.

 

In an April article "The Future of Automotive Site Location Competitions" in Trade & Industry Development magazine, authors Jeannette Goldsmith and Bryan Mitchell said automaking strongholds like Cuyahoga County probably won’t be getting more car factories.

 

The authors said car-makers are look ing for large tracts of land with accessible utilities, rail lines, interstate highways, a quality labor force and good air quality. Cuyahoga and its surrounding counties have all those attributes except the last.

 

Goldsmith and Mitchell said the Environmental Protection Agency’s air permit process typically takes a year in a clean-air county, but can take 24-30 months in a dirty-air county like Cuyahoga.

 

"The ability to obtain an air permit in a timely fashion is probably the most restrictive factor in the site selection process, and consequently an early screening factor," Goldsmith and Mitchell wrote.

 

Honda and Toyota recently looked for places to build assembly plants. Company officials refused to consider counties that didn’t meet EPA air quality standards. Both plants ended up in rural Indiana.

 

Other industries seeking to build new plants are staying away from here, including firms wanting to make clean-energy products. The irony isn’t funny for Greater Cleveland.

 

And it's not just Cuyahoga County that's gotten bad marks for bad air. The American Lung Association in its State of the Air 2008 report says Lorain and Medina counties are as polluted as Cuyahoga when it comes to gas eous ozone. Geauga, Lake and Summit counties fared worse.

 

Up to 95 percent of ozone pollution comes from vehicles, the EPA says. It’s another sad irony: too many polluting cars are driving automakers and other manufacturers to clean-air counties.

 

Let's not forget the medical consequences. The American Lung Association says half of all residents in Cuyahoga County and surroundùing areas suffer physical ailments that put them at risk from dirty air. That includes asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

 

So far, Northeast Ohio's governmental and corporate response is to apply cosmetic Band-Aids when it should be applying tourniquets.

 

We've been testing tailpipe emissions, improving traffic signals and adding more lanes to roads to keep traffic moving. It's not working.

 

Instead, we should be redesigning neighborhoods that allow us to walk, bike, take transit and drive short distances to accomplish day-to-day needs. Not only will smarter land use patterns clean our air, they'll help us save on fuel costs.

 

Portland, Ore., once a blue-collar lumber mill town, has rebuilt its city around walking, biking and transit. The EPA recently declared the city met its air-quality standards. It's no secret how to clear the air.

 

But sometimes summoning the political and corporate will is the toughest step. Or perhaps local governments and real estate developers don’t know there is an alternative to the 1950s highways uber alles approach.

 

They need to know and to act, for the sake of the region's health.

I am hearing that the recommendations of the Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force are due to be rleased this week.  Stay tuned.

Yes. A big vote among task force members is due Wednesday on whether there should be an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would allow fuel taxes from motor vehicles to be used for things other than highways, including transit and rail. There are multiple options on how to do the fuel taxes, including as cents per gallon, or a sales tax on fuel based on a percentage of the total sale price. The highway types are advocating a limit on the amount of gas taxes (ie: cents per gallon) which can be used only for specific types of transit projects (typically those involving pavement). But the highwaymen admit that would still require a constitutional amendment.

Having seen the Task Force in action first-hand, I can tell you that the "highwaymen" are in the minority as far as representation on this panel.  Among the majority of members, there is a strong recognition that the way we've funded and developed transportation in Ohio is fundamentally flawed and out of balance with the realities we face today.

 

I look for rail, transit and bike/ped to play very high in their recommendations.  Highways will still be significant, to be sure, but based more on a "fix-it-first" basis rather than the kind of wholesale capacity-building we've seen for decades.

Having seen the Task Force in action first-hand, I can tell you that the "highwaymen" are in the minority as far as representation on this panel. Among the majority of members, there is a strong recognition that the way we've funded and developed transportation in Ohio is fundamentally flawed and out of balance with the realities we face today.

 

I look for rail, transit and bike/ped to play very high in their recommendations. Highways will still be significant, to be sure, but based more on a "fix-it-first" basis rather than the kind of wholesale capacity-building we've seen for decades.

 

Let's flipping HOPE so.

the "highwaymen" are in the minority as far as representation on this panel.  Among the majority of members, there is a strong recognition that the way we've funded and developed transportation in Ohio is fundamentally flawed and out of balance with the realities we face today.

 

"Like desperadoes waiting for a train"

They are in the minority, yet they've worked their political power very skillfully for many years. Even if they vote for the consitutional prohibition, watch for them to campaign against it either directly, or through their cronies in the Buckeye Policy Institute and other front organizations. Watch for organizations with deceptive names like "Citizens for Responsible Transportation" or "Ohioans for a Greener Future" get started up and be funded by the highwaymen. They truly have no shame.

That's the usual M-O, but keep in mind that these highway guys include some of the very heavy construction (road-building) companies that would build new rail lines, light rail, streetcar lines etc.  And they are clear on the point that this represents a significant and long-term source of future business.

 

Highway construction activity was down already, with little prospect of new construction to increase capacity. Given the public desire for more and better options to more roads, they would be making a huge political error in not supporting the Task Force recommendations.

 

Not to say your warning isn't valid.  But if that's the tactic they take, they are only cutting their own legs out from under themselves.

I hear ya. Just trying to be vigilant.

 

Remember what Ronnie Ray Gun said? "Trust, but verify."

Yes. A big vote among task force members is due Wednesday on whether there should be an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would allow fuel taxes from motor vehicles to be used for things other than highways, including transit and rail. ...

Ohio should fund the "State Highway Patrol" from fuel tax receipts.  Then general fund receipts (sales tax and income tax) could be used for any transportation that we wish.

The Ohio Highway Patrol was funded by gas taxes until earlier this decade when the highwaymen wanted more money to build more highways, wider roads, sound walls, interchanges, etc. So they got the legislature to increase the gas tax by six cents per gallon and got the OHP funded out the license/registration fees, violations/fines and the state general fund.

 

The annual budget of the OHP isn't cheap -- it's risen to more than $300 million in 2009 yet faces a shortfall due in part to fuel costs.

Transportation planning, funding criteria get new focus

System to shift from congestion to environment

Monday, December 8, 2008 3:04 AM

By James Nash

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

It might take years for Ohioans to notice the difference, but state transportation planners are getting ready to use greener, less highway-centric criteria to evaluate which projects should get funding.

 

Ohio isn't getting out of the highway business. State transportation planners are, however, downgrading traditional factors that emphasize road capacity and congestion in favor of measurements of economic benefit and environmental factors.

 

The new rating scheme won't affect projects already on the books, such as the rebuilding of the I-70/71 interchange in Columbus.

 

.......

 

 

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/08/TRANSPORT.ART_ART_12-08-08_B3_99C5RQD.html?sid=101

(Quotes)"The list was created by ODOT staff in response to questions over whether the threshold should be raised to $10 million in order for something to be considered a major new project."

 

This is the key issue: With so much talk over so-called "shovel-ready" projects, it raised the question whether that phrase meant projects for which actual construction could begin in 60 to 120 days....or....if the funds need to be obligated to a project within that time frame so engineering and construction can begin on a new project.

 

My understanding is that many state DOT's have raised this question, because (as originally defined by Congress) there would be so few "shovel ready" new projects that the bulk of the stimuls funds would have gone toward (figuratively) "filling potholes"... which doesn't do much to stimulate the economy.

 

By adjusting the definition, states can seek funding for a broader array of road, rail and transit projects that really can stimulate the economy by creating an immediate infusion of construction jobs.

This is the key issue: With so much talk over so-called "shovel-ready" projects, it raised the question whether that phrase meant projects for which actual construction could begin in 60 to 120 days....or....if the funds need to be obligated to a project within that time frame so engineering and construction can begin on a new project.

 

Interesting...in the meetings/discussions I have been a part of, the direction has been to have projects "shovel-ready" or able to begin construction by the 60-120 day time period.  I don't dispute the idea that using the funds for broader array of road, transit, rail projects would go a longer way in stimulating the economy, but it seems that the direction of the stimulus funding is geared towards creating (or recreating) jobs only and as quickly as possible.  The projects I have seen considered for the possible stimulus funding have either already been through the NEPA process and to a certain degree some or all design work or would not require a great deal of effort getting through those stages to meet the given deadline.  Honestly, I'm not sure there is enough definition yet to the stimulus funding to determine what type of projects may come out of it.

Sorry if this is posted elsewhere, I didn't see it.

 

Ohio transportation priorities: more options for shippers and travelers, panel says

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/01/task_force_delivers_gov_strick.html#more

 

 

Final Report is at...

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/groups/tft/Documents/21stCenturyTransportationPrioritiesTaskForceReport-Web.pdf

Well worth reading.  Passenger rail and transit play a big role in this report.  Both the Amtrak 3-C start-up and implementation of the Ohio Hub are among the reccommendations.

^I've been skimming over it for the last few minutes when no one is looking (darn supervisor expects me to actually do some work while I'm in the office) and I like the following paragraphs.

During its public meetings and in other conversations, the Task Force heard from many Ohioans about the need

for expanded and better public transit, including intercity and intra-city passenger rail service. Task Force

members heard from the business traveler who wanted to be able to hop on a train so she can work on her way

to an important meeting. They heard from the senior citizen whose independence was being jeopardized

because bus service was limited, and from the father who couldn’t find a job near a transit line and was have

difficulty providing for his family. And they heard from a woman in Northwest Ohio who compared living in a city

without decent public transit to “living on parole or house arrest except the only thing you have to do wrong is

not have a car.”

 

These and many other Ohioans need public transit. They want more transportation choices – alternatives to their

cars and to short flights. And they are worried because too often they have few, if any, travel options.

 

For Ohio, the problem is clear. Transit systems’ ridership is rising. So are costs. Transit systems need operating

support now more than ever. But state support for transit is decreasing, in large part because transit doesn’t

have a dedicated, predictable funding source.

 

Other than roads and highways, transit is Ohio’s biggest transportation need. Yet relative to highways, transit,

particularly buses, has small capital needs. At least in the near term, transit’s most acute need is for operating

support to pay for gas, drivers and maintenance. Yet, in these recessionary times, when Ohioans most need

affordable, reliable public transit, many transit systems are being forced to cut back on service.

 

The creation of a dedicated source of funding for public transit, including intercity and intra-city passenger rail,

has the opportunity to reshape Ohio’s landscape – both economically and physically. This is why public transit

has dominated Ohio’s transportation conversation in recent years.

 

Therefore, the Task Force recommends establishing a dedicated funding source for transit by directing a portion

of the new special motor fuel tax to operating support for the state’s transit systems. Initial funding for that

support should be on the order of $75 million for the first year but would increase over six years to represent a

state share of 25 percent of public transit’s operating expenses and 50 percent of the non-federal match for

capital expenses, which would be drawn from the $400 million of revenue remaining after payment of debt

service. And for this purpose, the Task Force repeats and expands on what it said in its discussion of

Recommendation L, where it called for the state of Ohio to:

 

 Through a voter referendum that amends the state constitution – levy a new special motor fuel tax using

the revenue from that special tax to secure bonds, and making both the proceeds of the bonds and the

increased revenue available to all transportation modes.

 

 Target a specific percentage of the proceeds of the bonds and the increased revenue to support public

transit, including both intercity and intra-city passenger rail.

 

An enhanced public transportation network will allow Ohio to reduce various service costs and enhance state

revenues by connecting workers with jobs, and jobs with workers; connecting customers with retail

establishments; connecting students to schools; connecting residents with medical facilities; and allowing our

communities to develop in more efficient and sustainable ways. And a dedicated funding source for transit will

allow transit systems to plan for the future based on a reliable budget. Without an adequate, reliable funding

source, transit systems cannot strategically invest, expand and serve their customers.

^I just gave it a cursory read.  I think the task force did a very good job.  The report is comprehensive and appropriately blunt.

From http://www.allaboardohio.org/cms/index.php...

 

All Aboard Ohio supports state transportation task force recommendations

 

All Aboard Ohio, the only statewide citizens association whose mission is to advocate for improved passenger rail and transit services, welcomes and supports the recommendations of the Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force. The task force recommended to Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly that they should develop a more multi-modal transportation system that puts much greater emphasis on railroads and public transportation than it has in the past.

 

All Aboard Ohio was a member of the task force through its Northeast Ohio Director Kenneth Sislak. The task force brought together many diverse interests, including those representing public transportation, freight railroads, economic development, environmental issues, labor, biking, aviation, waterways and, of course, highways.

 

"The recommendations issued today (Jan. 6) are the kinds of policies and projects which we believe would create jobs in Ohio in a responsible, sustainable way that respects the challenges of the 21st century," said All Aboard Ohios Interim Executive Director Ken Prendergast. "We are facing very difficult economic, energy and environmental questions. Our fragile economy and environment cannot afford to ignore these questions or respond to them inadequately. Bold answers are needed and All Aboard Ohio believes this report offers them."

 

One of the most important sections of the report, All Aboard Ohio believes, is in Recommendation M (see Page 54), which would "Establish a dedicated and adequate source of funding for public transit, including buses, light rail, streetcars, trolleys, intercity and intra-city passenger rail."

 

The text in Recommendation M also refers to the previous section, for Recommendation L, where it called for the state of Ohio to:

 

> Through a voter referendum that amends the state constitution levy a new special motor fuel tax using the revenue from that special tax to secure bonds, and making both the proceeds of the bonds and the increased revenue available to all transportation modes.

 

> Target a specific percentage of the proceeds of the bonds and the increased revenue to support public transit, including both intercity and intra-city passenger rail.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

 

Please let your state senators and representatives in Columbus know how you feel about this report and what they should do with its recommendations.

 

Call their offices or write a short letter in your own words that has the basic message: "I support dedicated state funding for passenger trains and public transit at dollar amounts recommended in the transportation task forces report. That includes dedicating new gas taxes to the development and operation of passenger trains and public transit." Thank you for any positive communications you can make with your state legislators to support trains and transit.

This is big news. Too bad you can't get it in Columbus. No story in today's Columbus Dispatch about the Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force report. The Dispatch does not have a "transportation" reporter. It has a "commuting" reporter. As if central Ohioans travel only to and from work. Don't blame the reporter. She understands the big picture. But her editors don't.

This is how the "big news" got reported on-line in at least four major Ohio daily papers...with an AP story that was (at best) dismissive.

 

Panel urges 13-cent increase in Ohio gas tax

Wednesday,  January 7, 2009 8:38 AM

 

CLEVELAND (AP) - A state task force is recommending that Ohio's 28 cents per gallon fuel tax be increased by 13 cents to raise more money for the state's transportation needs.

 

The panel also is calling for a state constitutional amendment to allow gas tax revenue to pay for waterway and transit system improvements, in addition to the highway and bridge construction the money now goes toward.

 

And, the 62-member task force made up of government and business officials says the state should consider hiking vehicle registration and driver's license fees by $1 each to raise even more transportation revenue.

 

A spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland says the governor appreciates the panel's work but doesn't think a tax increase is the best idea in the middle of a recession.

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/07/copy/gas.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

A much more detailed (and better) version of the story from the P-D:

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/01/ohio_transportation_panel_urge.html

 

Ohio Transportation Panel Urges New Fuel Tax

The Plain Dealer; Wednesday, January 7, 2009

by Karen Farkas and Reginald Fields

 

Ohio needs to increase the fuel tax to pay for transportation improvements or else it will face a crisis as roads deteriorate and rail and transit can't meet the public's needs, a statewide transportation panel has concluded.

 

The group of public officials and private businesspeople issued a wide-ranging report Tuesday that looks at 21st century transportation priorities in the state. The panel said the state has a good system of interstates, rail lines and public transit systems, but those entities act independently and need to be integrated.

 

Additionally, Ohio's network of roads, rail, waterways and transit systems is aging, and its waterways are underused, the report said.

 

Task force members recommend that a fuel tax be approved by voters as a constitutional amendment to allow the money to go for all transportation needs. An additional 13 cents fuel tax would provide at least $800 million annually in new revenue, the report said.

 

 

......

No where else to put this...

 

ODOT planner approaches 40 years of freeway duties

Official has helped pave the way for some of the largest projects in state history

By David Patch, Toledo Blade, January 5, 2009

 

Forty years after helping make sure Toledo's freeway system was built as designed, Mike Ligibel is now in charge of plans to bring portions of that work up to date.

 

As an engineering intern with what was then the Ohio Department of Highways during the late 1960s, Mr. Ligibel found himself assigned to an array of tasks, from ensuring earthwork was correct to rechecking design calculations and finalizing plan documents.

 

 

......

Road map for Ohio

A task force intelligently addresses the state's transportation needs. Too bad the governor fails to embrace its leadership

Beacon Journal (Akron) : Editorial

January 9, 2009

 

Seven months ago, Ted Strickland issued a broad and difficult challenge to a task force on Ohio's transportation needs. In many ways, the governor's charge reflected the approach necessary to guide Ohio forward on many fronts. Find consensus. Think boldly. Plan comprehensively, envisioning the state as a whole, all of its parts working together.

 

The 62 members of the 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force, made up of business, construction, environmental and local government interests, embraced those ideas. Its final report, issued this week, took to heart Strickland's urging to ''envision and champion the optimum transportation system for Ohio's future and recommend the resources and financial tools needed to build and sustain it.''

 

Ohio, historically a transportation crossroad for the nation, is itself at a crossroad, the task force found. The state's aging transportation system, heavily dominated by roadways, is not well-connected or environmentally friendly.

 

......

 

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/37321439.html

The reckoning for ODOT?

Submitted by David Beach  |  Last edited January 19, 2009 - 9:41am

http://www.gcbl.org/blog/david-beach/the-reckoning-for-odot

 

Our state’s transportation system is about to hit a wall of problems. The maintenance bill for a massive amount of aging roads and bridges is coming due. The major transportation funding source, the gas tax, is less reliable as motorists shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles. And everything from concerns about climate change to the growing market demand for affordable transportation choices and walkable neighborhoods is making people ask whether the current transportation system — characterized by dependence on the automobile and the promotion of steadily increasing demand for greater mobility through sprawling suburbs — can be sustained.

 

How can we avoid the crash? It won’t be easy. The current system is perpetuated by entrenched bureaucracies like ODOT, automobile-centric policies at all levels of government, and powerful interests like highway contractors and the auto industry.

 

During the past year, however, I saw hints that even agencies like ODOT are being forced to realize that the current system is not sustainable. I saw this while serving on a big <a href="http://www.dot.state.oh.us/groups/tft/Pages/default.aspx"> state task force </a> that was charged by the Governor to set new transportation priorities for the 21st century.

 

It was an all-the-usual-suspects-at-the-table kind of task force — everyone from the highway contractors and the trucking industry to advocates of transit and urban revitalization. And the <a href="http://www.dot.state.oh.us/groups/tft/Pages/default.aspx"> final task force report,</a> which was released earlier this month, includes a mixed bag of recommendations.

 

On the positive side, the report calls for:

 

*Developing a more multi-modal transportation system that offers greater choices.

 

*Developing a statewide transportation plan that will align transportation investments with state strategies for economic development and reinvestment in existing communities. This will include state grants to integrate transportation and land-use plans with emphasis on increasing market share for transit, walking and bicycling, as well as for rail and waterborne freight. (The integration of land use and transportation is critical, as the density of land uses determines what transportation modes are practical.)

 

*Providing state incentives to promote regional collaboration.

 

*Improving public transit service and providing dedicated state funding for local transit systems and passenger rail.

 

*Starting passenger rail service in the 3-C corridor (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati).

 

*Funding “complete streets” pilot projects to demonstrate street designs that accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as motorists. (While good to see, this recommendation should have been stronger. “Complete streets” should simply become a basic policy.)

 

*Reducing the carbon footprint of transportation. The task force report says, “There are several ways the transportation sector can directly reduce carbon emissions. These include actions designed to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), expand the use of alternative fuels, promote energy-efficient practices and facilitate the application of smart technologies. Ohio can reduce carbon emissions further by directly linking transportation investment decisions to sustainable land use practices that are transit supportive, which have the affect of reducing VMT.” (The fact that ODOT is acknowledging the need to respond to climate change is a victory indeed. The next step will be to commit to a specific goal for carbon reduction and develop a strategy for meeting the goal.)

 

*Adding flexible new revenue sources that can support all modes of transportation, unlike the current state gas tax which is restricted to roads.

 

*If these recommendations were really implemented, Ohio’s transportation system could begin to move in a more sustainable direction.

 

However, on the negative side, the task force report also talks a lot about adding capacity to highways to reduce traffic congestion and handle much greater volumes of truck freight. Moreover, the current gas tax would remain in place to continue funneling most transportation funds exclusively to road projects and perpetuating the status quo.

 

The report also lacks specifics in many areas. For instance, while it contains nice language about creating a more multi-modal transportation system, it never defines what success would be like. What is the target for percent of trips made by transit or bike? How much can driving be reduced by programs for urban revitalization and compact land use? How much freight can be shifted from trucks to rail? And what is the strategy for producing the desired results?

 

ODOT staff members say that such targets and strategies will be developed as planning continues in the coming months. Thus, it will be important for reform advocates to remain engaged in the process.

 

Meanwhile, media coverage of the task force has focused on recommendations for raising additional revenue and the politics (extremely difficult) of increasing the state gas tax. Indeed, it’s tempting to be cynical about the task force and view it merely as a vehicle for justifying an ODOT bailout.

 

If that ends up being the only result, then the task force will have been a waste of a lot of people’s time. But if the recommended policy and planning reforms are put into practice, then it will have been worthwhile.

 

Imagine if ODOT actually made it a priority to reduce carbon emissions from transportation by 80%. Such a priority would force many other positive changes, from cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars to reduction of vehicle miles traveled. Now is the time to keep up the pressure on ODOT and the Governor to adopt such changes — and develop a truly sustainable transportation system for the 21st century.

Seriously.  Let's either make gas tax a percentage of the price of gas, or index it to inflation.

"Imagine if ODOT actually made it a priority to reduce carbon emissions from transportation by 80%. Such a priority would force many other positive changes, from cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars to reduction of vehicle miles traveled. Now is the time to keep up the pressure on ODOT and the Governor to adopt such changes — and develop a truly sustainable transportation system for the 21st century."

 

It is not in ODOT's authority to reduce carbon emissions by 80%; there is essentially no new road funding for ODOT 2 years from now. Serious reductions in emissions will only come from 1) fleet-level emission reduction strategies (cleaner vehicles/fuel); 2) land-use reform which was not seriously addressed in the task force report; and 3) road-building moratorium. But a road-building moratorium won't do much in and of itself.

^ and:  4) investing in mass transit and intercity rail.  Land use reform is a huge one and I'm glad you mentioned it.

New ODOT Director Named

 

From the Office of Governor Ted Strickland:

January 22, 2009

 

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today appointed Jolene Molitoris as the next director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, upon the retirement of current ODOT Director James Beasley on January 30th.

 

“Jim has made lasting impacts during his time at the Ohio Department of Transportation,” Governor Strickland said. “He has led ODOT in a way that ensured integrity and ethics in the agency, instilled fiscal accountability and restraint, and modernized ODOT to think beyond just the highway system.”

 

Under Director Beasley’s leadership, ODOT revised its mission to include all modes of travel: highway, rail, waterway, transit, aviation, bicycle and pedestrian. Director Beasley also worked to cut non-essential spending in the agency and find new efficiencies, saving the department $180 million in one year.

 

Assistant Director Molitoris will be the first woman to lead this multi-modal agency.

 

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Molitoris as the first woman to head the Federal Railroad Administration, where she led agency-wide changes to make significant improvements in safety and customer service. The changes resulted in the seven safest years in U.S. railroad history.

 

“From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her leadership in the transportation industry,” Strickland said. “Our continued investment in infrastructure is critical if we want to put Ohioans back to work and stimulate our state’s economic recovery. As ODOT director, Jolene will continue Jim’s dedication to building Ohio’s transportation system for the 21st Century and beyond.”

 

“Building on the achievements of Director Beasley, ODOT will strive to integrate all modes of transportation in this state, giving Ohioans real choices and connecting the investment of state dollars to the creation of new jobs and economic development,” said Ms. Molitoris, in a news release issued by the Governor’s Office. “As director, I look forward to working closely with our public and private partners to truly transform transportation and move Ohio into a prosperous new world.”

 

An announcement will be made soon on plans to congratulate Director Beasley and Ms. Molitoris at ODOT’s Central Office.

 

Whats the intel on this dude?

Sounds like we got a rail person, so I'm tentatively overjoyed.

I got your intel right here. And she's not a dude, MTS...

 

http://209.51.133.155/cms/index.php/news_releases/more/all_aboard_ohio_cheers_molitoris_earning_odot_helm/

 

Jan 22, 2009: All Aboard Ohio cheers Molitoris' earning ODOT helm

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Jan 22, 2009

Contact:

Ken Prendergast

All Aboard Ohio Interim Executive Director

(216) 288-4883

[email protected]

 

All Aboard Ohio, a nonprofit association which advocates improvements to passenger trains and public transit, applauded Gov. Ted Strickland’s choice of Jolene Molitoris as the next director of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Ms. Molitoris will take ODOT’s helm following the retirement of James Beasley Jan. 30.

 

“Mr. Beasley’s efforts to lead the reform of ODOT into a multi-modal transportation department rather than one dominated by highways has been a welcome change from past directors,” said All Aboard Ohio’s Interim Executive Director Ken Prendergast. “We expect that will continue under Ms. Molitoris’ leadership. We thank Gov. Strickland for making this excellent choice.”

 

Ms. Molitoris was head of the Federal Railroad Administration under President Bill Clinton. She then went into consulting and was an active member of All Aboard Ohio’s Board of Directors. Afterwards she was appointed by Gov. Strickland for the #2 post at ODOT in early 2008.

 

Also last year, Ms. Molitoris was appointed by the governor as chair of the Ohio Rail Development Commission where her leadership resulted in ORDC working with Amtrak to develop a plan for a “starter service” in the Cleveland - Columbus - Dayton - Cincinnati (3-C) Corridor. The nine-month implementation planning work for several daily round trips operating at 79 mph officially commenced Jan. 1, 2009.

 

“All Aboard Ohio and Jolene Molitoris share a passion for getting passenger train service up and running in the 3-C Corridor and we want to see it happen by the end of 2010,” Prendergast said. “We also believe in creating dedicated funding sources within ODOT for trains and transit. That was a major recommendation announced earlier this month by the governor’s 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force. We look forward to working with Ms. Molitoris on making a more multi-modal transportation system in Ohio a reality.”

 

“From her work in Washington and Ohio, Jolene is nationally recognized for her leadership in the transportation industry,” said Gov. Strickland in a written statement. “Our continued investment in infrastructure is critical if we want to put Ohioans back to work and stimulate our state’s economic recovery. As ODOT director, Jolene will continue Jim’s dedication to building Ohio’s transportation system for the 21st Century and beyond.”

 

“Building on the achievements of Director Beasley, ODOT will strive to integrate all modes of transportation in this state, giving Ohioans real choices and connecting the investment of state dollars to the creation of new jobs and economic development,” said Ms. Molitoris, in a news release issued by the Governor’s Office. “As director, I look forward to working closely with our public and private partners to truly transform transportation and move Ohio into a prosperous new world.”

 

###

That is certainly exciting news!