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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - More than 21,000 jobs will be created as federal economic stimulus dollars flow into Ohio to fully or partially fund 149 transportation-related projects in nearly all of the state's counties, Gov. Ted Strickland said Thursday.
Strickland announced a list of priority projects, from roadways to port improvements, that he said likely never would have been funded without the help of $774 million in federal stimulus money.
However, the federal money currently is tied up in the state's two-year $7.5 billion transportation budget proposal, which is stuck in negotiations between the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate. A number of thorny issues remain, including a disagreement over who will get eventual authority to approve a passenger rail project along major cities.
A full list of priority transportation projects and other information about the state’s transportation infrastructure investments can be viewed HERE.
"I am very concerned," said Strickland, a Democrat. "But we are continuing to work, at least on our side, in good faith to try to come to a resolution of the serious remaining challenges that we face."
Strickland said the money would create an estimated 21,257 jobs and go to the following projects:
- $603.5 million for 113 road projects.
- $34.5 million for five improvement projects along the state's waterways, including at the Port of Toledo.
- $68.9 million for 22 railroad projects, mostly for freight rail.
- $50.9 million for improving connections for shipments by air, rail and truck at places such as Franklin County's Rickenbacker Airport.
- $16.2 million will for additional planning and engineering as needs become known.
"These projects will move Ohio toward a more multi-modal system of transportation that links Ohio's businesses, highways, railways, transit and ports into an advanced and efficient network for moving goods and people," Strickland said.
Additional highlights of Ohio’s transportation infrastructure stimulus investments are available HERE.
The job estimates are based on a federal model that takes into account historical data for how many jobs have been created when the government spends a certain amount of money on infrastructure projects.
Strickland said the stimulus funds are being targeted broadly to benefit all Ohioans. But there also will be region-specific projects targeting particular areas in the state.
Decisions on the spending of another $161 million has been left to regional planning groups in Cleveland, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Canton.
The full list of prioritized projects is available HERE.
