What Happened: The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) launched a public awareness campaign aimed at educating and surveying the public on the need for new transportation funding sources in light of flagging gas tax revenues.
Why it Matters: According to the campaign website, gas tax revenues are projected to decline $1.5 billion by 2050 as the fuel efficient and electric vehicle market expands. Meanwhile, the cost to maintain and improve transportation infrastructure in Ohio continues to rise. According to ODOT construction costs in the state increased 15 percent from 2021. The department listed raising the gas tax (Ohio enacted a fuel tax increase in 2019), increasing registration fees, and implementing a mileage-based user fee as potential solutions it is studying.
What’s Next: Information gathered from ODOT’s survey will be compiled into a formal evaluation of various alternative funding options by the campaign’s 18-member external advisory committee and then presented to state lawmakers later this year.
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