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Comments on Access Ohio, ODOT's long-range transportation plan Aug. 19, 2004 ACCESS OHIO - Comments Dear Ohio Department of Transportation: Greater Ohio is a new statewide network of citizens promoting public policy that is more supportive of the redevelopment of existing communities, strengthens regional cooperation, improves quality of life and is more protective of Ohio's countryside and natural resources. On behalf of our steering committee and staff, we would like to take this opportunity to share our perspective on ACCESS OHIO. First of all, there is much for which ODOT should be commended. We are pleased with your emphasis on safety and system preservation. Nevertheless, there are several concerns we would like to share with you as you plan for the future. It seems ACCESS OHIO would be ODOT's opportunity to provide leadership on making Ohio's transportation system a more balanced system that anticipates a brighter future for Ohioans and their choices for mobility. Unfortunately, today's highways-dominated system not only encourages more traffic, more polluted air and more driving time, but it encourages the continuation of the automobile-centered economic development. This is a template for more of what Ohio needs least. We agree with the National Association of Home Builders: "Public policy dictates where development occurs." ACCESS OHIO focuses a great deal of attention on the symptoms of our transportation problems, but not enough on the root causes. Ohio's metropolitan regions are designed to require driving, at the expense of alternative transportation options such as transit, biking or walking. In addition, our state's transportation funding bias toward highways further ensures this outcome. In the Midwest today, only Ohio and West Virginia do not have dedicated sources of funds for non-highway transportation projects. In today's global economy, this is a tremendous embarrassment for our state - an embarrassment that also happens to make Ohio a less competitive place to live, work or visit. The best long-term strategy for ODOT to preserve and strengthen Ohio's current transportation system is to promote policies that will ease congestion, promote walkable communities, keeping motorists safer and commerce flowing. Here are some ways ODOT can help:
We realize that Ohio's transportation finances are severely restricted by Ohio constitutional changes that were voted on in 1947 and by unavoidable political realities. Nevertheless, ODOT's concern about the doubling of truck traffic on Ohio's Interstate system over the next 20 years deserves a more proactive solution. Perhaps a prudent policy direction for ODOT may be to provide incentives to get more of the applicable freight traffic on railroads or barges at key logistics intermodal hubs throughout the state. Other lost opportunities are abundant in ACCESS OHIO. Few public policy issues are likely to emerge more in the transportation field in coming years as air quality and tougher air quality standards. Yet, ACCESS OHIO gives the issue almost no attention. Neither E-Check or reformulated gasoline appear to be the solution for Ohio's mobile-source air quality challenges. ACCESS OHIO could focus much more attention where our future ought to be focused — on fixing our roadways first. Maintenance of the existing system should take priority over new construction. ODOT is seemingly adopting a "fix-it-first" approach out of financial necessity, but why not embrace this as an appropriate policy direction for the agency? Greater Ohio would also like to see ODOT promote a "complete the streets" initiative with local governments that would encourage more sidewalks to be built (where appropriate) as roadways are constructed. This could also be incorporated in cooperation with the Ohio School Facilities Commission. The OSFC enforces policies that freely encourage school boards to build newer schools on large undeveloped tracts of land where no infrastructure exists and all school children will be forced to ride buses and ride them longer distances. No sidewalks are required, perhaps because no one can safely walk to school in Ohio anymore. We fully understand that ODOT has a fairly limited ability to influence some of these policies. Greater Ohio supports the state's efforts to recover federal dollars lost to the "ethanol penalty" and in assuring Ohio gets at least 95 percent of its gas tax revenue back from the federal government's redistribution formula. But how ODOT spends that revenue is critically important. ACCESS OHIO, in its current form, is not the right blueprint for a greater Ohio. We hope we can have the opportunity to work with ODOT in the future to help shape a blueprint for the future that will make Ohio more competitive by creating a multimodal transportation system that will give Ohioans better choices for mobility. Greater Ohio will continue to more fully develop its own transportation policy agenda. We hope to work with ODOT on those transportation policies in the near future. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide any assistance or clarification regarding these comments. Sincerely, Gene Krebs |
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