Ohioans would have to pay triple the current $5 for vehicle titles and abide by new traffic and seat-belt laws under a new version of the state transportation budget headed toward approval.
The two-year, $7.5 billion budget also clears the way for toll roads in addition to the Ohio Turnpike. And it commits the state to move forward on developing passenger rail service connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, with a possible link to Toledo.
The budget increases the title fees for cars, trucks, watercraft and RVs from $5 to $15, which is expected to generate almost $26 million a year statewide. It would be the first increase in title fees in 16 years.
Although the budget, which went before the House Finance Committee yesterday, deals largely with dollars and cents, it would affect how Ohioans drive in at least four ways:
• Drivers would have to switch lanes or slow down while approaching tow trucks and other "yellow light" service vehicles on the side of the road.
• Drivers would have to activate their headlights when the windshield wipers are on.
• Although using seat belts is already required, the law would change to allow police to cite unbuckled drivers even if they committed no other violations. Currently, law officers can cite for seat belts only if the driver is pulled over for something else.
• Drivers who don't slow down in construction zones could get tickets issued by automated systems that photograph their license plates.
The transportation budget nudges the Ohio Department of Transportation away from highways and toward rail and more environmentally focused projects.
The budget provides $15 million for "green" transit, $4.4 million for grants to projects that reduce diesel emissions and $600,000 for a program to electrify truck stops to reduce emissions from idling trucks.
The Ohio Turnpike Authority would get permission to explore energy-generating ideas such as wind turbines and natural-gas extraction along the 241-mile tollway.
More controversial, ODOT would receive funding to continue work on passenger rail service linking Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, which the transit agency hopes to start by the end of next year.
"The department is moving in a very strong way toward a green-energy, renewable-energy focus as well as toward multimodal transportation, that I believe will serve Ohio very well," said state Rep. Peter Ujvagi, D-Toledo, the chairman of the transportation subcommittee of the House Finance Committee.
The rail element of the budget did not sit as well with some state representatives. Until Amtrak completes a study of potential ridership and revenue this summer, state officials don't know how much the train system would cost.
"I'm not saying that I'm opposed to passenger rail, but show me the numbers," said Rep. Cheryl L. Grossman, R-Grove City.
The transportation budget is scheduled for a vote by the House Finance Committee next week and could be voted on by the full House soon after.
