COLUMBUS, Ohio — State Senator Larry Obhof (R-Medina) announced the Senate passage of the state transportation budget, House Bill 53. The bill invests more than $7 billion in construction, maintenance, and safety of the state’s roads, bridges, and highway system.
House Bill 53 provides funding for the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Public Safety, as well as many infrastructure projects throughout the state.
“By making these key investments, we will improve our infrastructure and support thousands of jobs all across Ohio,” Obhof said.
House Bill 53 also contains an extension of the Ohio Bridge Partnership Program. This program, which was originally established by the Senate in 2012, is a joint effort between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local governments to repair or replace aging bridges that are under local ownership and control. House Bill 53 adds additional funding to this program, which is already slated to repair or replace more than 200 bridges statewide.
The bill will now go to a conference committee, where the House and Senate will address differences between the House and Senate passed versions of the bill before sending it to the Governor for his consideration.