Topic: ODOT Policy Discussion

[natininja]

I'm not saying it's a terrible idea. I think it should be explored, and like I said it would produce a lot of positive outcomes. Many or all of the "negative" outcomes may only be considered negative in that they make our current way of doing things unfeasible.

I saw on someone's blog recently that an urban lifestyle really doesn't cut down much on someone's carbon footprint, because most of one's carbon footprint comes from goods they consume, rather than their own transportation. (Makes sense.) It was from some Australian study. Here's a link to the blog:
http://www.humantransit.org/2010/03/does-highdensity-life-have-a-bigger-ecological-footprint-and-why.html

I think pretty much everyone on this site recognizes that the government subsidizes (at great cost) some pretty bad behavior, when it comes to transportation. Stepping away from that is good, but then we are confronted with the questions of "how far?", "at what pace?", and more generally "how?". I have a feeling academics, government officials, and lobbyists will be spending a lot of time on this issue in the coming years.

[KJP]

You're probably right.

I have a feeling peak oil is going to make a lot more decisions for us, as Mother Nature usually does. We just rent this space from her.

[taestell]

If gas taxes can only be used to fund roads... then roads should only be funded by gas taxes.  In other words, the tax needs to be raised so that roads require no additional subsidies from other sources.

Can't you use the same argument regarding other forms of transit?

If we are going to admit that gas taxes don't cover the cost of roads, let's admit that all forms of transportation are subsidized and come up with a better plan.  What about having equal amounts of funding for roads and mass transit.... and then everything else over that amount must be covered by other sources (gas taxes for roads, fares for transit).

[KJP]

Cross-posted from the Lorain County Transit thread.....

LEAP forms LCT coalition: Grassroots effort garnering support for public transportation funding
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

By KELLY METZ
kmetz@MorningJournal.com

LORAIN — Officials with Linking Employment Abilities and Potential in Lorain County are trying to start a Lorain County Transit coalition of community members, residents and citizens who are affected by the loss of Lorain County Transit, Deborah Nebel, of LEAP, said.

“To me, it’s trying to bring the situation to the grassroots level and building local interest to educate the public and educate public policy makers on the need to invest in public transportation,” said Nebel, director of public policy.

The first organizational meeting for the new coalition is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 603 Washington Ave., Lorain.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/04/13/news/mj2589804.prt

[KJP]

Redirected from the 3C dicussion.....

I have a better metric: If you spend $X on a given transportation project, what is the economic return on investment? What should be counted in that return?

We spend too much money on moving more vehicles around without having any idea on what the actual economic benefit of that is. If you recall from your economics 101, there is a diseconomies of scale, when something becomes so large that it is no longer efficient and further expansion creates more costs than benefits.

Where are we with our various transportatin systems in that regard?

Are they too small achieve economies scale and need expansion to be most efficient, right at the sweet spot of being the right size to yield the maximum benefit, or too large and bloated thereby needing to be scaled back?

[KJP]

While this is a Washington state lawsuit, it's worth watching to see what, if any impact it might have on Ohio....

Highways a la Mode
David Jackson
May 3, 2010 | 5:35 pm

If a state gas tax is dedicated to “highway purposes,” can you build light rail on Interstate lanes presumably funded with said tax?

We’ll find out in Washington state, where a prominent developer is suing the state over the question.

At issue is whether the Puget Sound regional transportation agency can build light rail on the HOV express lanes of the Interstate 90 floating bridge over Lake Washington (yes, it floats and it sank once) in order to connect the job rich Eastside (Microsoft, Expedia, etc.) with Seattle proper and its scads of commuters both traditional and reverse

READ MORE AT:
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-avenue/highways-la-mode

[KJP]

OHIO HOUSE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE

Tue., May. 11, 2010, 4:00 PM, Hearing Room 121

SB116  RAILROADS (BUEHRER S) To authorize the PUCO to hear complaints, regarding a railroad's failure to properly sustain certain areas near its tracks and to authorize forfeiture for noncompliance and to update certain provisions of law governing railroads.

            Second Hearing, Proponent Testimony


OHIO SENATE HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

Wed., May. 12, 2010, 3:30 PM, South Hearing Room

SB179  AMERICAN RECOVERY/REINVESTMENT FUNDS (GRENDELL T) To prohibit spending American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds on signs that identify the source of specific project funding and to declare an emergency.

            Second Hearing, All Testimony, POSSIBLE VOTE
___________________

BTW, regarding SB116, the freight railroads in Ohio rightfully don't like it. Gee, I thought the Republicans were supposed to be pro-business?

Perhaps Rep. Bob Hagan should add identical language to the bill that punishes highway contractors for leaving their equipment overnight at job sites and have unsightly work staging areas that are visible to passing motorists.

[Keith]

So Ohio hasn't had a problem with spending $18.5 million a year so there's a place for us to pull off the road and pee or nap, but isn't willing to spend $17 million on the 3C so that there's a way for me to avoid the road while peeing and napping enroute?

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/06/roadside_rest_areas_may_one_da.html
Ohio transportation officials working hard to find new revenue for roadside rest areas


Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer

For more than 50 years, almost as long as interstate highways have existed, motorists have stopped at roadside rest areas to eat, stretch their legs and use the bathroom.

But many cash-strapped state transportation departments, which operate and maintain the rest stops, are finding it increasingly hard to keep those areas open.

So Ohio, like some other states, is considering selling advertising in rest area buildings to generate revenue.

...
Ohio is keeping its 107 rest areas open, even though maintaining them costs $18.5 million a year, according to Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Varner
....

[Sherman Cahal]

I remember when the US 23 Lucasville rest area was outhouses up until 1995. Those were disgusting and there were three of them to choose from. It was a huge deal when those were flattened for a new indoor facility, and the signage had the word "MODERN" tacked on the top for about 10 years because it was such a huge change.

Ohio's rest areas are quite interesting. I've encountered them on many back roads -- like SR 140 and 93, and they have been a welcome relief for me. Some of the outhouses are decidedly more modern than others -- SR 93's north of Ironton has an indoor outhouse facility with vents. US 52's Sandy Spring's outhouse is primitive at best. They make me depend less on gas stations and McDonald's, especially in areas where there are none.

[unusualfire]

They could use the median in some area's for a rest stop area. I see it all the time on toll roads. Basically the businesses there pay for it.

[GCrites80s]

I like the old rest areas. I was disappointed when they turned one of the last awesome '30-'50s ones (which was on OH 28 between Cincinnati and Chillicothe) into a local park. There's still quite a few of the mid '80s non flush toilet ones around -- a couple on US50, one on 93 north of Ironton and one on 78 west of Woodsfield immediately come to mind. They're the ones with concrete buildings. You still get to use the sweet hand pump water fountains at 'em as well. I'm a total guy.

[noozer]

Part One of an interview with ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris.  Courtesy Columbus Underground

http://www.columbusunderground.com/odot-interview-with-jolene-molitoris-3c-corridor

The interview ranges from the 3C passenger rail plan to highways.

[KJP]

FYI.......

2010 Candidate Forum
August 4, 2010

TransportationMATTERS, the Ohio Association of Regional Councils (OARC), Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA),  and Women in Transportation (WTS, Columbus Chapter), The American Planning Association Ohio Chapter (APA OH) and The Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA) will host a 2010 Gubernatorial & U.S. Senate Candidate Event.

 August 4 at the Hilton Hotel at Easton in Columbus
10am to 4pm with registration beginning at 9am
$50 per person until July 15, $60 per person after July 15th

Candidates Lee Fisher, John Kasich and Rob Portman have  confirmed their attendance at the forum. Governor Ted Strickland is trying to rearrange his schedule to participate.  All have been invited to share their platforms related to Job Creation, Economic Development, Transportation and Infrastructure.
To Register go to: https://www.formstack.com/forms/?963522-JFAS864a0A
Register by July 15th before the price goes up to $60!
We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Easterday at beth@tripleestrategies.com
 

www.transportation-matters.org

[KJP]

Note the last line posted. If true fiscal conservatives don't scream like hell that this will bankrupt the state like they have about the $17 million for 3C trains, then their motivations (and the names of their puppet masters) will become much clearer...

Ohio seeks heavier freight trucks to spur exports
By MATT LEINGANG, The Associated Press
Updated 2:48 PM Thursday, August 19, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Ted Strickland's administration wants certain freight trucks to carry heavier loads on highways so that Ohio farmers and manufacturers can increase exports, a policy change unpopular with critics who say the added weight would further damage roads.

The plan, pushed by agriculture lobbyists to help spur corn and soybean exports, puts state transportation officials in a delicate position of balancing economic interests with the struggle to maintain Ohio's highways.

Overweight trucks carrying items such as construction equipment or other freight cause about $144 million in pavement damage to Ohio highways each year, according to a 2009 study by the state Department of Transportation. The trucking industry only partly covers that cost, paying about $97 million in taxes and overweight fees, leaving taxpayers to cover a $45 million shortfall.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-seeks-heavier-freight-trucks-to-spur-exports-869891.html?cxtype=rss_ohio-news

[noozer]

FYI.......

2010 Candidate Forum
August 4, 2010

TransportationMATTERS, the Ohio Association of Regional Councils (OARC), Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA),  and Women in Transportation (WTS, Columbus Chapter), The American Planning Association Ohio Chapter (APA OH) and The Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA) will host a 2010 Gubernatorial & U.S. Senate Candidate Event.

 August 4 at the Hilton Hotel at Easton in Columbus
10am to 4pm with registration beginning at 9am
$50 per person until July 15, $60 per person after July 15th

Candidates Lee Fisher, John Kasich and Rob Portman have  confirmed their attendance at the forum. Governor Ted Strickland is trying to rearrange his schedule to participate.  All have been invited to share their platforms related to Job Creation, Economic Development, Transportation and Infrastructure.
To Register go to: https://www.formstack.com/forms/?963522-JFAS864a0A
Register by July 15th before the price goes up to $60!
We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Easterday at beth@tripleestrategies.com
 

www.transportation-matters.org

Here's a chance for all of us to show up with a strong voice for passenger rail and make it clear that our votes depend on the answers these candidates give.

[KJP]

It says it was August 4. What happened?

[noozer]

To those who would say ODOT is not "walking the walk" when it comes to an intermodal transportation strategy, I would submit the following...there are several 3c-related and transit-related items...

ODOT seeks New Federal Funds for Transportation Projects of the Future
TIGER II Grant Requests include Electric Cars, Aerospace Runway and Ohio River Ports

COLUMBUS (Wednesday, August 25, 2010) - Electric cars, a new runway for landing futuristic aerospace equipment, and access to new jobs along the Ohio River - those are three of the 12 projects the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is hoping will receive funding through a new stream of federal transportation dollars.

ODOT is seeking a share of $600 million in new federal funds appropriated by the U.S. Department of Transportation for its TIGER II Discretionary Grants program. This new federal funding is similar to the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery - or “TIGER grants” - authorized under the Recovery Act.

“This money will go to the kinds of projects that will help spur lasting economic growth, reduce gridlock, provide safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices and create jobs,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood when he announced the program earlier this year.

“We selected projects based on their ability to create jobs, leverage new private sector investment, and further transform Ohio into a premier national and global logistics location,” said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. “We also selected projects that will give Ohio’s citizens and business multi-modal transportation choice to help Ohio retain the next generation of young professionals and job creators,” added Director Molitoris.

While no one state can receive more than 25 percent of program funds, ODOT is supporting several applications totaling more than $259 million in requests. Those applications are:

Electrifying Ohio's Transportation System - a $12.3 million request to develop an Ohio electrical vehicle infrastructure readiness plan with local governments, including deploying 106 plug-in electric vehicles and 118 charging stations.

NASA Plum Brook Station Intermodal Facility - a $60 million request to construct a 9,000 foot-long runway to support new aerospace testing at the NASA facility and attract sustainable, high-tech jobs to Erie County.

Leipsic/Putnam County Road Widening - an $11.3 million request to widen County Road 5 in Putnam County to provide better access to the Iron Highway Industrial Park, a 244-acre industrial site in Leipsic served by three rail providers.

Akron Main Street/Broadway Street Interchange - a $55 million joint request with the City of Akron to reconstruct this high-volume interchange and increase access to nearby businesses, improve safety and reduce congestion for local drivers.

Springfield State Route 794 Relocation - a $3.8 million request to realign SR 794 to accommodate job growth at the Ohio Air National Guard Base, a major military unit and vital component of the area’s economy.

Ohio Energy and Transit Opportunity Districts - a $1.2 million joint request with the Ohio Department of Development to assist local communities in planning activities near the state’s eight proposed 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail Stations.

City of Columbus Rail Station - a $20.2 million joint request with the City of Columbus to construct supporting infrastructure (pedestrian and bicycle facilities, parking facility, bus transit shelters, and lighting) for the city’s 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail station.

Springfield Downtown Intermodal Facility - a $16.4 million request to build an intermodal facility in downtown Springfield to serve local transit routes, bike trails, and regional rail service, including the city’s 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail station.

Cincinnati Streetcar - a $35 million request to assist with funding the City of Cincinnati’s historic streetcar project that would connect the city’s two largest employment centers with electric streetcars.

Future Phases of the Columbus I-70/I-71 Modernization - a $15 million request to assist with funding for the detailed design and construction plans for later phases of the reconstruction of the I-70/I-71 interchange through downtown Columbus.

South Point Intermodal River Port - a $16.2 million request to make improvements to the South Point intermodal facility along the Ohio River in Lawrence County, with dock improvements, new overhead bridge crane, supporting road infrastructure, and new railroad line connections.

Washington County Multi-Modal Freight Facility - a $12.5 million request to re-establish abandoned rail lines and connect this Ohio River port near Marietta to an active CSX freight rail line, thus eliminating the need to offload freight from barges to a truck for a one-mile trip to the rail line.

Additional TIGER II Grant requests have been submitted to the USDOT by several local municipalities and transportation partners. These 11 projects represent the state’s official submissions by ODOT.

Competition is expected to be intense for these limited federal funds, with all 50 states eligible for these grants. The U.S. DOT is expected to announce the projects that have been selected to receive these grants after mid-September.

###

Copies of the TIGER II applications can be found online at www.dot.state.oh.us
For more information contact: Scott Varner, ODOT Central Office Communications, at 614-644-8640
or your local ODOT District Public Information Office.

[CleveChiNola]

So is ODOT in northeast Ohio just worthless?

[noozer]

Not knowing what NE Ohio communities submitted anything, thats hard to say.

But I am aware that Lorain County submitted a TIGER II grant application for the next phase of the West Shore Corridor commuter rail project.... and the City of Cleveland has also reportedly submitted a grant application (TIGER II as well) for the design of a new Lake Front Intermodal Transportation Center at the site of the current GCRTA Waterfront station and the nearby Amtrak station. 

[audidave]

^^ Well Akron i seeking $55mil for an update on I-76, I'm guessing, which is a 50+yr old piece of highway.   Also the Plum Brook facility is looking for $60 mil which isn't too far from Cleveland..

[CleveChiNola]

Not knowing what NE Ohio communities submitted anything, thats hard to say.

But I am aware that Lorain County submitted a TIGER II grant application for the next phase of the West Shore Corridor commuter rail project.... and the City of Cleveland has also reportedly submitted a grant application (TIGER II as well) for the design of a new Lake Front Intermodal Transportation Center at the site of the current GCRTA Waterfront station and the nearby Amtrak station. 

So how does this work, does ODOT do it for the whole state, or ODOT does some of it, and local governments do others?

[noozer]

It's a mix of what ODOT has through the TRAC process (Transportation Review Advisory Council) and then what other communities seek on their own.

[KJP]

Akron Metro also may have submitted for Hudson-Akron-Goodyear commuter rail. SARTA may have submitted for a BRT from downtown Canton to the east side and possibly BRTs from downtown west to Massillon and north to Belden Village. Notices of these potential submissions were sent prior to the "soft deadline" July 26, but I don't know if full applications were sent prior to the USDOT's "hard deadline" last week.

I'd like to have an inventory of all these, as the number/amount of rail/transit submissions are a measure of demand for such funding.

[KJP]

Ohio has the same constitutional prohibition against using road taxes for anything other roads. Even though 8.5 percent of Ohio households have no car, less than 1 percent of ODOT funding goes to public transit -- including transit vehicles that use Ohio's roads. So is someone who is disabled and cannot drive being discriminated against? We have gone to great lengths to make facilities and vehicles ADA accessible, while cutting public funding for transit and thereby offering fewer and fewer transportation services to reach those facilities. So what does it matter if disabled persons can enter a facility if they cannot travel to it? Does this violate the spirit of ADA and the civil rights law?
_______________
 
Does our transportation funding
violate the Civil Rights Act?

Let’s start with a provocation: Washington State’s 18th Amendment violates the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964, perpetuating discrimination in the state’s transportation system.

Passed in the post-War era, the 18th Amendment is focused tightly on how Washington state will allocate it’s gas taxes. It states:

“All fees collected by the State of Washington as license fees for motor vehicles and all excise taxes collected by the State of Washington on the sale, distribution or use of motor vehicle fuel and all other state revenue intended to be used for highway purposes.”

READ MORE AT:
http://www.greatcity.org/2010/09/08/does-our-transportation-funding-violate-the-civil-rights-act/

[KJP]

I was just digging through old files trying to find something and came across this. It's not yet a year old but bears remembering (especially the 1979 vs 2009 comparison maps)....

http://freepdfhosting.com/b4e4b9f05c.pdf

[noozer]

Out with the new....in with the old....

Jerry Wray set to return as Ohio transportation director
 Written by
 KENT MALLETT
Advocate Reporter

 NEWARK - Jerry Wray of Newark, former
director of the Ohio Department of
Transportation, will return to his former
post next year.

Gov.-elect John Kasich will announce this
morning that Wray is his choice for ODOT
director, according to a source in the
governor-elect's office.

The announcement is scheduled for 10:30
a.m. today in the Licking County Common
Pleas courtroom in the Licking County
Courthouse

Full story at: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20101130/NEWS01/101130004/Jerry-Wray-set-to-return-as-Ohio-transportation-director?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[KJP]

From an old article once posted at http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1167557618243720.xml&coll=2 but the entire article can still be found online at the link below...

Gas-tax increase fuels ODOT building boom
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Ted Wendling and T.C. Brown
Plain Dealer Bureau

...Bill Burgett, a former Contractors Association president, discusses his introduction to politics and campaign giving in an autobiographical sketch on Kokosing's Web site:

"In 1989, my attention was turned to the political arena when then-Mayor George Voinovich . . . asked our help to get the construction industry involved in his race for the governor of Ohio. . . . These efforts have paid off in helping to develop a consistent flow of funds here in Ohio for our highway system."

...(Gov. Taft's ODOT Director) Proctor has long denied that a pay-to- play culture exists at ODOT, insisting through his spokesman that there was nothing unseemly about his decision to co-host an invitation-only "transportation summit" in August with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell and about 60 ODOT contractors.

....Roberts didn't realize it then, but the private-industry proponents were wired into the Taft administration and GOP politics.

Clark Street, president of the Contractors Association, had been an ODOT deputy director under fellow Republican Gov. James Rhodes. Jerry Wray, who had been Proctor's boss as ODOT director under Republican Gov. Voinovich, was a vice president at Flexible Pavements of Ohio, the asphalt industry association.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/ttc20061231a.pdf

[McCleveland]

oh dear jesus.

[CBC]

oh dear jesus.

What he said...
 
 
 

 

[Oldmanladyluck]

Incredible.  Just incredible. 

[Sherman Cahal]

Surprised?

You should come see how the asphalt industry is politically connected in Kentucky!

[CleveChiNola]

For northeast ohio, is it really going to be worse than what we already have?

[gottaplan]

What's everyone gasping at?  The fact that the ex director of ODOT got a cushy job as an asphalt lobbyist?  Before you gasp any further, hold your breath till you see what position the current director accepts, and all of Strickland's other ex-appointees...

[Hts121]

Thanks for posting that, KJP.  Very informative.... albeit hardly surprising.

Step your game up, gottaplan.  You're working twice as hard defending Kasich's cronyism over at cleveland.bomb

[KJP]

What's everyone gasping at?  The fact that the ex director of ODOT got a cushy job as an asphalt lobbyist?  Before you gasp any further, hold your breath till you see what position the current director accepts, and all of Strickland's other ex-appointees...

I'm pretty sure she's going to retire and spend time with her husband. She's pushing 70.

The point is, the status quo transportation system, where 97% of all transportation tax dollars is going to roads, is horribly failing this state. If we spent just 8.5% (the same number of households in Ohio without cars, NOT COUNTING where one car is shared among multiple wage earners, or where an elderly person lives, or where the car may not be reliably maintained, etc. etc.) of ODOT's budget on trains and transit, we would be spending $250 million per year!

Instead ODOT spent $50 million on transit and perhaps another $30 million on freight rail and grade crossings (also a highway benefit). At least that was better than the year before when ODOT spent only $10 million on transit. We will probably see the $10 million figure (at most) under Kasich/Wray.