Cross Supports Transportation Budget with Local Funds Attached

COLUMBUS – State Representative Jon Cross (R-Kenton) supported the historic transportation budget that passed through the Ohio House Wednesday.

The budget will provide state funds to the 83rd House district.

The $12.6 billion budget is the largest commitment of highway infrastructure spending in Ohio’s history, with $1 billion set aside to create the new Rural Highway Fund. These state dollars will help small, local communities pay for projects that are focused on reducing commute times or adding capacity to Ohio’s rural roadways.

“I am proud to vote for the largest jobs bill in the history of Ohio,” Cross said. “I worked closely with my Finance Committee counterparts to help support the 83rd District in northwest Ohio to improve our very important transportation corridors for our supply chain and workforce.”

Locally, the budget will also include funding to pay for the $26.9 million Interstate 75, Hancock County Road 99 interchange reconstruction project in Findlay, while around the state $2.2 billion will be set aside for new pavement, $717 million for bridges and $360 million for safety upgrades.

The House has also added railroad and public safety additions to the legislation to address the recent train derailment in East Palestine. The transportation budget will require train operators to be notified of wayside detector defects on their route and for those detectors to be inspected or replaced, along with requiring a two-person crew to operate a train on Ohio’s rail lines.

The transportation budget will now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.