Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 54 on Monday, approving Ohio’s $11 billion two-year transportation budget. The funding, effective in July, will support critical infrastructure projects across the state.

“Transportation is vital to our state’s economy,” DeWine said in a statement. “This budget reaffirms our commitment to a safe, reliable, and future-ready transportation system.”

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel emphasized the budget’s role in keeping Ohio’s transportation network efficient.

“Ohio makes things and moves things,” he said. “This budget ensures we deliver projects that keep people and goods moving safely.”

More than 90% of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) funding will go toward maintaining and improving existing roads, bridges and infrastructure. The budget increases funding for the Highway Safety Improvement Program from $185 million to $191 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, reinforcing Ohio’s commitment to road safety, according to the agency.

The budget also allocates $150 million to develop truck parking facilities on state-owned land. From 2015 to 2019, fatigued driving contributed to over 460 truck crashes in Ohio, resulting in six deaths and multiple injuries, according to ODOT.

Additionally, five fatalities occurred due to crashes involving illegally parked trucks on road shoulders.

Source: Ohio Department of Transportation, 10tv.com