[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6293394,"mediaKeyId","2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042","parentId",2523339,"title","Ohio 811 warns HB 54 abandonment language could cause disruptions; urges industry coalition process","audioSeconds",358,"startMs",4842000,"endMs",5200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042&start=4842&end=5200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042/thumbnail_4842000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6293394/Ohio/Ohio-811-warns-HB-54-abandonment-language-could-cause-disruptions-urges-industry-coalition-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293394-2f54dfcfa05b329524795a23fcd351d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136294&Signature=KkDhvlKWAkbTi0wqpaLqvUmwlCsClp4n76dlTiAHcMywdjM8VmvJs4my7nlx3ZuCR7~x6qeZKnQisghAC13iF1JslRhmQuhMOQxGoPblHpAr7DCuqp3sSPlMKLp7k~~EyZhB0cx4am-3WaMY~ygS2srkQpU7gvw9IdR-JfCnyqslmHrzGhlNMRVYDm--~zHsW5pAlOqu~p9Z9VyzLV1buBHOUlfjmRiqb0Be0R23gAPjcpfAE7GKUK40oLT582Em5YHoVnVUxW9vb3LUItqapqStX9KqC5PjMjsHxiWMb8luMReKO3gkR4ntuZaPQx0vfdkjbUH0hSq6KJinoBY0dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ohio Legislature","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","Roger Lipscomb, president and executive director of Ohio 811, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 26 that provisions in House Bill 54 dealing with abandoned telecommunications and utility structures could be counterproductive and urged the committee to adopt a stakeholder‑developed, day‑forward approach.

Lipscomb said the bill’s current wording — aimed at relieving congestion in crowded rights‑of‑way by removing abandoned facilities — could create significant community disruption and substantially increase costs if implemented retroactively. He said many buried facilities have been placed over more than a century and records for their locations have often been lost: “To seek out and remove these types of facilities would be a near insurmountable task and extremely cost prohibitive.”

Lipscomb described the Ohio Underground Damage Prevention Coalition (OUDPC), a multi‑stakeholder group initiated in 2011, and an abandoned‑line subcommittee formed in late 2023 that is developing practice‑based, forward‑looking solutions. He said those solutions emphasize better day‑forward recordkeeping and construction standards so future abandoned facilities are recorded and do not create the same problems for excavators and communities.

Why it matters: Lipscomb said retroactive removal requirements could delay new installations and impose unfunded costs that would be passed to consumers, and that a misplaced focus on wholesale historical removal risks greater public‑safety impacts than it solves. He urged lawmakers to allow the OUDPC’s stakeholder process to finish recommendations and to craft statutory language that avoids unintended consequences.

Next steps: Lipcomb encouraged stakeholders to participate in the OUDPC’s abandoned‑line subcommittee and asked the committee to consider OUDPC‑developed proposals rather than adopting strict removal mandates in HB 54.

Sources and context: Testimony was delivered as interested‑party testimony during the HB 54 informal hearing; committee members did not take a vote on the provision during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ohio Senate Transportation Committee -2-26-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ohio 811 told the Senate Transportation Committee that HB 54 language addressing abandoned utilities could cause community disruption and unexpected costs, and urged a stakeholder coalition to complete recommendations instead of retroactive removal mandates.","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Ohio","taxId",37401,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293400,"Ohio Turnpike outlines $463.8M 2025 budget, $319M capital plan and new toll collection results",1379,3463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042&start=3463&end=4842","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042/thumbnail_3463000.jpg","/articles/6293400/Ohio/Ohio-Turnpike-outlines-4638M-2025-budget-319M-capital-plan-and-new-toll-collection-results","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293400-40ab34632da7977fcd6c2227adfb7414/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136294&Signature=VJpdS8mTSDnTZDiTHKSnrSZBlVzGhp2Q5w0UniaeL5gcpdtNIgdG71hBL6ebebZWPf24t4wtUxEFb5i~NJma5JwCxpeunA1PQ5Ah3eVcPhjbXM8Nzwrp441AVzGk0MUwA6q2mVWedsJZI88zPskAlFluhli0CkfbnxJV2X97fq1maOs0-2pg4HUholugviulzkOFYsL5GQbffPi9nHvLHrfjO3yl6osorIwZwsyeZget3E1FppkzDosk1vHg1scGTPo12xwUmX9iou8K32TJNbJo~CQpKP0WjNKsydGRQmIxnuunuwIk-BdnGOJjTOEtqLEvKZhQ71fFYW5WidGDCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Matta, chief engineer and deputy executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, presented the commission’s 2025 operating and capital budgets to the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 26 and described recent operational changes and collection results.

Matta said the turnpike’s 2025 revenue budget is approximately $463.8 million. The commission does not receive federal gas tax or General Revenue Fund appropriations; about 90% of revenue derives from tolls. Matta said the commission receives 5¢ per gallon from fuel sales at turnpike service plazas and that amounted to roughly $3.1 million in 2024.

Capital and debt: The commission approved a $319 million capital budget for 2025 focused on pavements, bridges and safety. Matta said the commission plans to invest more than $2 billion in capital improvements over the next 10 years and that debt service and operating priorities are governed by senior and junior lien master trust agreements.

Tolls and collection changes: The turnpike launched a new toll collection system on April 10, 2024, enabling EZPass customers to travel from Indiana to Pennsylvania without stopping at a toll gate. Matta said EZPass users receive roughly a 33% savings compared with cash payments. He also reported that when collections resumed after an initial adjustment period the commission sent about 60,000 invoices to collections and issued roughly 3,600 holds to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for customers who did not pay unpaid toll invoices.

Service plazas and EV charging: The turnpike operates 14 service plazas that generated significant local economic activity; eight of the plazas already offer electric vehicle charging and the commission aims to have EV chargers at all 14 plazas through public‑private partnerships.

Pavement materials and maintenance: In response to a committee question, Matta said the commission’s geotechnical analysis and life‑cycle cost modeling have generally supported using asphalt for certain lane projects; asphalt repairs can be faster to perform in active traffic lanes, reducing closure time compared with concrete repairs. He said previous bidding showed asphalt alternatives were financially favorable in many projects.

Next steps: Matta asked the committee to note the commission’s fiscal position, confirmed capital commitments for 2025, and said staff would engage further on pavement lifecycle comparisons at the chair’s request.","The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission briefed the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 26 about its 2025 operating and capital budgets, toll revenues, new toll collection technology, service‑plaza amenities and collection efforts for unpaid tolls.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293405,"Ohio Rail Development Commission cites federal grants, grade crossing program to reduce crashes",2308,1155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042&start=1155&end=3463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042/thumbnail_1155000.jpg","/articles/6293405/Ohio/Ohio-Rail-Development-Commission-cites-federal-grants-grade-crossing-program-to-reduce-crashes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293405-db48959e8488c67172d8649a1034217c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136294&Signature=hQHA68vDLYIRJraCH~fy5LMzBuLDw4HtV~S7ZxdN10VJGr1seIDdWuk7GJ8dFhwMnIJ7rqvb~Mynm7~IgKAah0aLAlD0EHt0Crl6I-Nc9Hkwac4KoDNLNf9bWrkkWw6VzK7pNANcBn66auA3hdWwyLdJcsVPDMcfTYeTq6MOP0qXflkV18ecKBsqUihCgxwQHIuqjNRpSm9xoozuiRZCM9G-j1RX~kLfXpsOAmlCWhJhIMBnzNAiF8qK-NjPV8ryWmGdEHJ3PJ~wzAl0GFsAB62VMHUL6BLVWhsZIdJb8uBRRet9vOsOGMnSE8UCIUKblLwwRw0oTLEExlMLBMwNMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Matt Dietrich, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, told the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 26 that rail moves large volumes of freight across Ohio, supports thousands of jobs and that state and federal grants are accelerating construction on grade separations and safety projects.

Dietrich said Ohio ranks fourth in the United States by size of rail network, with active rail lines present in 86 of 88 counties and more than 5,000 miles of active track. He described Ohio’s network as dense and noted about 56% of railroad mileage is owned by two Class I railroads and roughly 89% of mileage is privately owned. He emphasized rail’s role in taking trucks off the road, saying an average rail car equals three to four trucks.

Safety and crossings: Dietrich told the committee there are about 5,600 at‑grade rail crossings in Ohio. About 62% have lights and gates, 9% have flashing lights, and the remainder are passive crossings. He said Ohio averages 63 to 70 rail crossing crashes per year on a ten‑year rolling average; 2024 saw 77 crashes. He described efforts to install active warning devices and other crossing improvements, and said the commission responds to crash sites to evaluate further physical improvements.

Grade Crossing Elimination and federal grants: Dietrich outlined the state’s Grade Crossing Elimination program — a multiyear effort to fund grade separations and other capital work — and said the program’s presence in the budget helped Ohio secure federal construction awards. He said the commission recently received $81 million in federal funding for four projects — North Ridgeville, Hudson, Circleville and Delaware County — and that the state program’s earlier planning funds positioned Ohio to win construction grants rather than only planning funds.

Program results and leverage: Dietrich said the commission has approved loans and grants to about 101 projects since 2019, created more than 1,900 jobs, retained about 4,200 jobs and supported an additional 16,000 jobs. He said federal discretionary grant awards brought approximately $87 million to Ohio projects and that federal funds leveraged state and private investments at a substantial ratio.

Limitations and role: Dietrich told senators the commission’s role is capital and safety at crossings and encouraging high‑level planning for passenger corridors; the commission does not hold regulatory authority for incident command or derailment response. He urged legislators and constituents to report crossing safety concerns to the commission: “If any of you or your constituents have a rail grade crossing safety concern, give us a call. Just call us.”

Passenger corridors and planning: Dietrich said the state applied under the IIJA corridor identification program for two passenger corridors (Columbus–Cleveland and Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit) and noted the Midwest Connect applicant (Fort Wayne) is pursuing a proposed Chicago–Columbus–Pittsburgh connection; the commission’s role on passenger rail is planning rather than construction in most cases.

Next steps and requests: Dietrich asked lawmakers to continue support for the commission’s temporary law language that enables continuation of Grade Crossing Elimination work into the next biennium and briefed members on additional planned studies and candidate locations for separation or other safety work.","The Ohio Rail Development Commission told the Senate Transportation Committee that rail is critical to Ohio’s economy, described the state’s Grade Crossing Elimination program and recent federal grant wins, and said commission funds and partnerships have accelerated construction funding for several grade separation projects.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293410,"OPWC requests slight LTIP appropriation increase; senators press for rural weighting",993,78000,1071000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042&start=78&end=1071","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523339-0bed104d85de63405afc9a8a6d2f2042/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6293410/Ohio/OPWC-requests-slight-LTIP-appropriation-increase-senators-press-for-rural-weighting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293410-cbf73b371639196d3a69732506b88af0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136294&Signature=R-f56kUtAZUjJs5gdMVpcy3T68xmgJLH~-lgHFBeUWxFc5TN5PDr7O2qvbG79iX5z4MQwKkS7NT4dS3GMCllcuk~HZwIzXMnFYHxyEmK5PrAtxFaSv8CWpacRDN~Gsfc1U2ZFnMvDw06pOcDgpLdog1AS7xZRxb6xMm3PlkFDkCB~NETc-ncYf~CuJzsiqkm7xRbRoom-E9EgpMG-Rsu1rM2RQBmE2C9hg7vVkGVzRjbLOM988Z0tHiGOIgbMh41Kp-cGv5HeX14EXmqz4DN2MM19FrZMPQujwpMk4uIxVfRE4qhJlKZY0FbKNlSVk0ReVct3pYcVc~oYtqmG6KZfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ohio Public Works Commission asked the Senate Transportation Committee on Feb. 26 to allow a modest increase in appropriations for the Local Transportation Improvement Program, the agency’s director said, while rural senators urged legislative changes to help counties with many bridges and roads but low population.

Linda Bailiff, director of the Ohio Public Works Commission, told the committee the transportation portion of HB 54 contains funding for the LTIP, “funded by 1¢ of the 28¢ motor vehicle tax levy distributed under Ohio Revised Code §5735.05.” She said LTIP supports about 300 road and bridge projects on a biennial basis and that the commission administers LTIP together with the state capital improvement program as a combined infrastructure program.

Bailiff said projected fuel tax receipts and recent higher-than-expected revenue and interest earnings left the commission with a slight surplus that could be applied to the upcoming biennium. She also described the commission’s operating cost allocation: “Our total operating, administrative maintenance and equipment is prorated between our various programs of which 20% is assigned to LTIP,” and said administrative costs represent about one-half of one percent of the commission’s capital funds.

Why it matters: Senators from less-populated, infrastructure‑heavy districts said the current per-capita allocation method disadvantages counties with many bridges and complex topography. Senator Chavez and Senator Schafer described counties with relatively low population but high numbers of bridges and roads that need repair and said the per-capita model makes it difficult for those local governments to compete for funds.

Bailiff answered that the commission is constrained by statute and by how the 19 district integrating committees interpret scoring criteria. She noted two statutory set‑asides: a five‑year rolling requirement that a statutory percentage of LTIP go to counties, townships and villages, and a 10% set‑aside from the state capital improvement program for a small government program that gives “villages and rural townships less than 5,000 in population” a second chance if they are not funded at the district level.

Senators asked whether changing the per‑capita calculation or the district scoring thresholds would require legislation. Bailiff said it would: “Since it’s a per capita arrangement, the only set‑aside in statute… So yes, we are bound by statute and that’s what we have.” Senators asked Bailiff to draft possible amendment language to give rural and Appalachian counties a more level playing field; Bailiff agreed to bring proposals to the committee within the next week for informal review.

Committee action and next steps: The committee reviewed and approved the minutes from Feb. 19 before hearing testimony. Senators asked the Ohio Public Works Commission to draft potential legislative language or a scoring proposal aimed at improving LTIP competitiveness for rural, Appalachian counties; Bailiff agreed to present ideas to the committee chair for distribution to members.

Sources and context: Testimony and questions occurred during an informal hearing on HB 54 and were delivered in committee; committee members repeatedly emphasized that any change to allocation or scoring would require statutory amendment.","The Ohio Public Works Commission sought a modest increase to the local transportation improvement program (LTIP) line in House Bill 54, citing higher-than-expected revenue and a small surplus; rural senators pressed for changes to scoring and allocation to address disproportionate bridge and road needs in low‑population counties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ohio 811 warns HB 54 abandonment language could cause disruptions; urges industry coalition process

Ohio Turnpike outlines $463.8M 2025 budget, $319M capital plan and new toll collection results

Ohio Rail Development Commission cites federal grants, grade crossing program to reduce crashes

OPWC requests slight LTIP appropriation increase; senators press for rural weighting