iOhio Gov. John Kasich and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Jerry Wray have pledged that change is coming to Ohio’s highways as the administration unveiled its transportation budget.
In testimony before the Ohio House Finance Committee last week, Director Wray stated “Governor Kasich is committed to embracing this future with new investments and forward-looking policies to ensure that Ohio maintains its leadership position with smart mobility and other emerging technologies – ready to benefit from the business investments and jobs that follow.” Wray continued, “By being one of the first – and best positioned – states to embrace new technologies for drones, autonomous and connected vehicles, smart roads and smart mobility. Ohio can also be among the first to benefit.”
Among the policy initiatives rolled out are:
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Traffic management techniques to control traffic flow during peak hours
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Authorize ODOT to convert the shoulder into an additional lane during rush hour
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Installation of high-capacity fiber optic cable along the Smart Mobility Corridor to link to sensors and real-time data with researchers
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Funding for two additional smart projects: I-270 around Columbus and I-90 in Northern Ohio, joining the Ohio Turnpike as research hubs for autonomous vehicle testing
The statement came on the heels of the recently announced partnership between The Ohio State University, the state of Ohio and JobsOhio to invest $45 million in the Transportation Research Center.
