Ohioans to Speak Out on Creating
More Ohio Jobs through Transportation

New study reveals historic ‘Bang for the Buck’ in
terms of business growth, middle-class jobs

COLUMBUS (Monday, October 18, 2010) - With a new national economic report showing that the "bang for the buck" realized by investments in transportation is at an all-time high, the Ohio Department of Transportation will be asking communities across the state, "How can Ohio’s transportation dollars create even more jobs, support additional business growth and move Ohio’s economy forward faster?"

Starting next week, ODOT will hold the first in a series of interactive public workshops across the state to give residents a chance to speak out about policy issues that impact transportation investment in Ohio.

The workshops are part of the department’s first-of-its-kind ‘GO Ohio’ Transportation Futures Plan that will look at state investments in all modes of travel and shipping - highway, air, rail, transit, water, pedestrian and bicycle - and align those transportation choices more comprehensively with job creation, economic development and quality of life.

"The timing for this effort couldn’t be better with a report out of Washington showing that infrastructure investments can and will raise economic growth and productivity," said ODOT Director Jolene M. Molitoris. "Low construction costs mean we can do more than ever before with our resources and at the same time create more good-paying Ohio jobs."

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently unveiled a new analysis of the economic effects of transportation infrastructure investment. In addition to highlighting significant national savings on construction costs, the report suggests that 90 percent of the jobs created by infrastructure spending are middle-class jobs in sectors of the economy suffering from high levels of unemployment.

"Transportation has always been a driver of jobs and economic development for Ohioans," added Director Molitoris, who noted that more than 360,000 jobs in Ohio are linked to exports and the ability to move goods quickly and efficiently.

With $34 billion in annual exports, Ohio ranks 7th in the nation in the value of goods exported to international markets. Ohio boasts the 4th largest interstate highway system and ranks 4th nationally in tonnage of goods moved through its waterways. Ohio recently jumped to 3rd in the nation in active freight rail mileage, edging out California.

To help transportation drive additional business growth and move Ohio’s economy forward faster, ODOT’s GO Ohio effort centers around four investment strategies aimed at shaping future funding decisions.

Those strategies assure that any future transportation investment will: increase state competitiveness; connect transportation system investment to targeted industries; understand the impact of government land use and transportation policies; and embrace environmental stewardship to advance a green economy.

Attendees at the workshops will "vote" on policy issues, using hand- held technology, that impact transportation investment. All public workshops are scheduled from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with registration at 5:30 p.m.

You can RSVP with an email to Go.Ohio@dot.state.oh.us to help the state better plan for the workshops, although an RSVP is not required to attend. More information can be found at www.go.ohio.gov.

For more information contact: Scott Varner, ODOT Central Office Communications, at 614-644-8640
or your Local ODOT District Communications

Read the U.S. Treasury’s Economic Analysis Of Infrastructure Investment at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/infrastructure_investment_report.pdf