Passenger Rail One Step Closer In Ohio?

[irishbobcat]

Passenger Rail One Step Closer In Ohio?
By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio - Mar 18th, 2009 at 5:15 am EDT 

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Categories: Environment and Conservation, Public Infrastructure / Transportation, News


The Senate Highways & Transportation Committee approved its version of what had been the governor's $7.6 billion, two-year transportation budget late last night.

The measure authorizes ODOT and the ORDC to apply for a share of at least $8 billion in federal passenger rail funding, but it specifies the General Assembly would have to authorize expenditure of any money received.

The House version of the bill allows the money to be released upon a vote of the seven-member Controlling Board.

Whether this change in ultimate funding approval will hold up the bill remains to seen.

Some of the 65 other admendments to the House bill certainly will create issues with its' ultimate passage with Senate Democrats claiming that the changes effectively "gutted the bill".

One major issue is that Senate Republicans rewrite would completely remove the Department of Public Safety and commensurate fee increase proposals from the bill.

The change declared legislative intent to make public safety appropriations in the state's main operating budget for the next two fiscal years starting July 1.

Another change by Senate Republicans was on primary seat belt enforcement.

The removal of this provision will cause Ohio to lose a one-time, $26.7 million federal highway safety grant.

The full Senate is expected to approve the measure today which will begin the potentially contentious process of conference committee negotiations with the Democratic House.