Transportation budget aids Sandusky

SANDUSKY — Ohio's new transportation budget allows many people to renew their driver's licenses online rather than taking a trip to the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles office. It also provides helpful funding for public transit agencies, such as Sandusky Transit, and commits more than $5 billion on road improvements across Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the two-year, $8.3 billion transportation budget into law last week. The measure enjoyed bipartisan support, with the final version passing the Ohio Senate 32-0 and winning House approval by a 86-9 vote. "This budget ensures that we can continue to maintain and invest in Ohio's roadways," DeWine said. "Ohio's transportation system continues to be a critical part of our economy, moving materials and people safely across our state. This budget advances our commitment to investing in state and locally maintained roadways." The bill includes $318 million for highway safety, $2.6 billion for work on other state roads and $2.4 billion for local roads. It also spends $74 million on public transit. That particularly pleased Democratic lawmakers, who were upset when DeWine proposed cutting public transit funding from $70 million a year to $7 million. How the boost in public transit funding will play out for Sandusky Transit isn't completely known yet, as state lawmakers representing Sandusky were unable to obtain an exact figure on funding. But Tom Horsman, a Sandusky assistant planner, said the boost seems to be good news. "We are currently in the process of determining our proposed budget for Sandusky Transit for 2022 and will be submitting our grant request to ODOT at the end of April. We are happy that the General Assembly increased public transit funding in the state budget," Horsman told the Register Tuesday. "The increased funds from the last state budget helped fund a number of Sandusky Transit projects like adding the Orange Line to BGSU Firelands and increasing service on our Blue and Yellow lines. Sandusky Transit gets funding from the federal government, the state, and the city, and so the availability of more state funds is definitely good news," he said. "We'll have a better idea of our specific budget over the course of the next month, and ODOT will announce our grant awards sometime in July," he said. The transportation budget isn't just about spending money. It also has a provision to make life easier for Ohioans carrying out routine renewals of their drivers' licenses. Until now, online renewals were only available for members of the military and their dependents. They become available now for most Ohioans between ages 21 and 65, although there are exceptions, such as medical restrictions that would require appearing in person and drivers who have had their privileges suspended. You'll still have to go to a deputy registrar's office to obtain a license for the first time, to get a temporary instruction permit, and for certain other documents, such as a commercial driver's license. Here are some other interesting provisions in the transportation budget, House Bill 74, authored by state Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton. • The measure provides $8 million for the Ohio EPA to issue grants for electrical vehicle charging stations, making life easier for Ohioans with electric cars. • People learning to drive must complete 24 hours of classroom or online instruction before they begin behind-the-wheel training. • School zones can now be created around preschools operated by an educational service center, provided the preschool is on a street with a speed limit of 45 mph or more. • Bridges no longer have to be inspected every year but now must be inspected once every two years.