Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a nearly $11.5 billion two-year transportation budget, asserting it displays the state’s commitment to building the best transportation system possible.
However, the spending plan continues a significant increase in state spending, budget documents show.
House Bill 54 allocates $5.9 billion in fiscal 2026 and nearly $5.6 billion in fiscal 2027. The $5.9 billion in fiscal 2026 represents a 2.9% increase over the $5.7 billion in fiscal 2025, which was a 14.8% increase over the fiscal 2024 total of nearly $5 billion.
The governor did not veto any items in the spending plan, which will take effect on July 1.
“Transportation is vital to our state’s economy,” DeWine said in a statement. “It connects Ohioans to jobs, education, healthcare, and entertainment. This budget reaffirms our commitment to providing our great state with a transportation system that is safe, reliable, and prepared for the future.”
Ohio Department of Transportation appropriations comprise the bulk (81.2%) of the budget. The $4.8 billion allocated to ODOT in fiscal 2026 is a 2.6% increase over fiscal 2025, which was an 18.7% increase over fiscal 2024.
According to an analysis from the Legislative Budget Office of the Legislative Service Commission, in addition to ODOT, 17.4% of the measure provides appropriations to distribute gasoline excise tax revenues to local governments, 1.1% goes for Ohio Public Works Commission-administered transportation-related programs and 0.3% goes to the Department of Development.
“Ohio makes things and moves things,” Lt. Governor Jim Tressel said in a release. “The transportation budget that the governor signed ... will ensure that we can deliver on the projects that get people and products where they need to go safely.”
The bulk (89.2% or more than $8.3 billion) of ODOT’s appropriation over the biennium is for highway construction and maintenance. Nearly half of the funding (46.8%) is from federal highway aid, while 40.8% is from the state motor fuel tax.
The measure nixes the authority of a county or township to operate a traffic camera program, which allows police departments to mail tickets to motorists who are caught on camera violating traffic laws.
“My constituents that travel through those townships [using traffic cameras] are tired of getting tickets in the mail,” WCMH-TV quoted state Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, who introduced the provision, as saying. “It has nothing to do with public safety, it’s all about revenue.”
The station, citing information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reported that 24 Ohio municipalities operate traffic cameras. However, according to the organization, the number is estimated as jurisdictions might start or stop using traffic cameras without much fanfare.
It also authorizes the Ohio Department of Public Safety director to enter into agreements with private toll collectors in other states to enforce toll collections.
According to an analysis of the bill, it also mandates that Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles customers show proof of their U.S. citizenship during a transaction unless they have previously presented proof to the agency to be offered voter registration. According to Cleveland.com, the idea stemmed from a report Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued in May 2024.
“House Bill 54 is still about planes, trains and automobiles,” state Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, chair of the House Transportation Committee, said in a statement.
The measure’s appropriations for ODOT include roughly $348 million for debt service, $238.9 million for administration, $184.1 million for planning and research and $133.5 million for public transit. It also includes $32.6 million for rail.
The bill requires ODOT to create a Division of Advanced Air Mobility to support “public safety and national security objectives.” The division should create a state-based AAM air traffic management system that integrates with the existing Federal Aviation Administration air traffic management system.
