Ohio Facts
Ohio’s Transportation System in Crisis
The 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force Report outlines the following snapshot of Ohio’s current standing along with the immediate pressures placed upon our constrained network. Additionally, the Ohio sections of American Society of Engineers (ASCE) recently released report cards grading Ohio's infrastructure. See 2009Ohio Infrastructure Report Card_ASCE for the full report and links to the reports cards, below.
“Baby Boomer” Infrastructure. State and local communities have performed ongoing maintenance on the roadway system. However, a large portion of Ohio’s roadway system was constructed during the late 1950’s through the mid 1970’s and is approaching an age where modernization and repair is required. For information on the status of Ohio's roadways and bridges, see Roads Report Card_ASCE and Bridges Report Card_ASCE
Also, about 16 percent of transit buses are past their useful lives. For information on transit needs, see 09 State Budget Alert for Transit
And Ohio’s River Lock system is aged – 15 percent of the system is more than 50 years old and 70 percent is between 30 and 50 years old. It costs about $500 million to totally rehabilitate a single lock.
Future Tsunami of Freight. National estimates predict a 67 percent rise in freight movement by 2020. Currently, 70 percent of freight moves by truck, 16 percent by train, 13 percent by water and 1 percent by air -- placing extreme demands on our existing infrastructure. To maintain trucking’s share of the load, roadway capacity will need to be significantly expanded. But focusing on highway expansion alone is an unsustainable pattern of transportation investment. Clearly, there must be strategic investment in the other modes of transportation to support this increase in freight while also getting people where they need to go. For information on railroad needs, see Railroads Report Card_ASCE
Continued and Improved Safety Program. Ohio’s safety record is exemplary compared to other states. Strategic investment in our highest priority safety and congestion locations has made this possible. Approximately 1,200 people died and 118,000 were injured on Ohio’s roadways in 2007. But with increasing construction costs eroding purchasing power (more than 40 percent loss since 2004), additional funds will be needed to maintain previous levels of real investment and provide system-wide safety solutions that sustain and improve upon this safety record.
Congestion and Reliability. Major manufacturers and their many suppliers count on a free-flowing transportation network to assure “just in time delivery.” Honda located here partially because of Ohio’s convenient access to various markets and its reliable workforce. Traffic tie-ups can keep its employees from arriving on time and jeopardize the company’s low-inventory strategy, which in turn threatens Honda’s and Ohio’s competitive edge.
Decreasing Revenues. Ohioans pay a state tax of 28 cents per gallon of gas to support the maintenance and construction of roads and bridges. They also pay 18.4 cents per gallon in federal motor fuel tax. The state tax is not indexed or adjusted to inflation and the state constitution prohibits the use of these funds for projects that are not highway related. High gas prices through the fall of 2008 caused the driving public to reduce driving and gas purchases, resulting in a 1.5 percent decline in state gas tax revenues.
Increasing Inflation. At the same time, robust economic activity in the developing world, particularly China and India, increased prices for construction materials to record levels. During the past four years, inflation has risen by almost 43 percent. While prices have recently settled into more predictable levels, we can expect these inflationary trends to resume as the economy recovers. Declining revenues coupled with increasing inflation are straining ODOT and local transportation budgets.
Lack of Funds for Non-Highway Transportation. Ohio has no dedicated state funding for transportation such as transit, aviation, rail, ports, bike or pedestrian facilities. These transportation modes must compete for limited funds within the State’s General Fund or local and private funds. This situation is reflected in the decline or absence of state funding for public transit, rail, aviation and marine facilities. State funding for transit has dropped from $43.3 million in 2001 to $16.4 million in 2008.
Inadequate Planning and Gaps among Modes. Ohio has gaping holes when attempting to move people or freight from highway to rail or air or other modes of travel. Transit riders wanting to connect between urban and rural transit systems are hard pressed to make these transfers. While investments like Rickenbacker Port Authority’s intermodal facility begin to address shortfalls in the freight network, a more integrated, well-planned system is critically needed to more efficiently get people and goods where they need to go, when they need to get there.
Need for Recognizing the Consequences of Not Advancing Technology. Ohio businesses need streamlined processes for doing business in Ohio. We are losing revenues to other states because our truck registration system does not offer an easy online system. UPS listens to the radio to locate congestion points in Ohio and sends the information to their drivers. In other states, they tap into systems that deliver real time information. Each additional minute of delay means additional cost to the consumer.
Confusing Decision-Making Structure. Private enterprise wanting to locate new businesses in Ohio, partner with the state to invest in infrastructure, or otherwise move projects forward quickly face a daunting task. Navigating Ohio’s various regulatory agencies and processes, while still working toward the state’s economic development goals – is difficult at best, confusing and inconsistent at worst.
Federal Funding Crisis. The Federal Highway Trust Fund is facing its most severe crisis since its inception. The depletion of the fund’s balances due to an over commitment of projected revenues has created a situation where it will be impossible to sustain the current level of funding provided to the states and transit agencies absent significant and positive action. With the federal surface transportation law expiring in the fall of 2009, Ohio and all states could face a significant reduction of federal funds. Ohio could lose much as $500 million annually – a 38 percent cut for total federal dollars allocated. For TransportationMATTERS federal reauthorization platform, see TM on Surface Transp Fed Reauthorization_May 09
Ohio’s Current Transportation System
- 264,756 lane miles of roadway
- 43,000 miles of interstate
- 43,412 bridges
- 4,526 miles of Class I railroad tracks
- 716 miles of navigable waterways
- 163 public use airports
- 60 transit systems
