It seems like only yesterday we were discussing the positive impacts resulting from the 2019 state motorfuel tax increase and the opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Both provided meaningful support for Ohio’s transportation program and our industry by allowing projects to move forward and jobs to be created. Today, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that the transportation funding cycle is entering its next phase.
We know that inflation has significantly eroded the purchasing power of transportation revenues. The additional state funding generated in 2019 no longer stretches as far as it once did, while the costs of materials, equipment and labor continue to rise. At the same time, vehicle efficiency improvements and the growth of alternative-fuel vehicles present long-term challenges to the traditional user-fee model that has funded, in large part, transportation infrastructure for generations. All the while, new projects are being identified and the cost of maintaining what we already have continues to increase.
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has not been shy about discussing these realities. Director Pamela Boratyn has repeatedly stated that the Department is approaching a point where available revenues will struggle to keep pace with system preservation needs. Gov. DeWine has echoed these same sentiments.
As ODOT has explained, the first impacts will likely be felt in projects that expand capacity, improve mobility and support economic development. The first shot across the bow has already been received with the cancellation of the first meeting of the 2026 Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) Application Cycle due to an anticipated shortfall in funds. In two years’ time, the pressure will extend to include maintenance throughout the entirety of the highway transportation system.
Compounding this challenge is the uncertainty surrounding federal transportation funding. The current federal surface transportation authorization expires in 2026, and Congress is actively debating what comes next. Ohio’s transportation program depends heavily on these federal resources, making reauthorization one of the most important policy discussions facing our industry.
Simultaneously, Ohio will elect a new governor in 2026, with a new administration taking office in 2027. As we have discussed before, transitions in leadership create opportunities to educate policymakers regarding the importance of transportation investment. Candidates are already beginning to shape their priorities and policy agendas. The groundwork for future transportation decisions is being laid today.
This presents an important opportunity for OCA members.
The men and women who build Ohio’s highways, bridges and transportation infrastructure possess a perspective that policymakers need to hear. (See a related article on the TCC Fly-In on page 12.) You understand firsthand how transportation investments:
- improve safety,
- support economic development,
- create jobs and
- strengthen communities.
You also understand the consequences when investment fails to keep pace with need.
As discussions surrounding federal reauthorization and Ohio’s future transportation funding continue, I encourage each of you to engage in the process. State legislators have already left Columbus to hit the campaign trail in their quest for victory in the November elections. Federal legislators will make their exodus from D.C. later in July.
- Attend candidate events.
- Invite elected officials and candidates to your facilities and project sites.
- Share your experiences and explain why transportation investment matters – not only to our industry, but to every Ohioan who relies on a safe and efficient transportation system every day.
For our part, OCA will continue advocating for policies and funding that support a strong transportation program. We have already begun these educational discussions with both gubernatorial candidates. But our collective voice is always strongest when it includes the experiences and engagement of our membership.
The conversation is beginning. The decisions that follow will shape Ohio’s transportation future for years to come. The time to engage is now.