Shameful, Outrageous Politics in Ohio Today

For a more detailed explanation read here: PRESS RELEASE

At a staff meeting for the Ohio TRAC (Transportation Review Advisory Council) today, staff members recommended that funding for the Cincinnati Streetcar Project be withheld due to "fiscal balance" issues.

The decision was made to withhold these funds despite the fact that the Cincinnati Streetcar Project was rated as the highest ranking project in all of Ohio as reviewed by TRAC just months ago. This is the same Streetcar project that TRAC unanimously voted to support 8-0 just last year. Under obvious dictator like tactics by Gov. Kasich, the money will not be used to reduce the state deficit, but will instead be reallocated to much lower ranking road, highway, or bridge projects around the state.

Just yesterday, according to a press release from All Aboard Ohio's Ken Prendergast, a proposed amendment to ODOT’s biennial budget request would change the laws in Ohio to prevent any state or federal funds from being given to the Cincinnati Streetcar project. "The Ohio Senate Transportation Committee is expected to approve today an omnibus amendment which includes provision SC-0257-1. A summary of that provision says it “prohibits state or federal funds appropriated by the state from being used for the Cincinnati streetcar project.”

All this happening to a project expected to return huge dividends in economic development to a city struggling to make ends meet year after year. Investments like these are what help cities climb out of holes, yet our Gov. is taking away funding and channeling it instead to road and highway projects that have absolutely no value in giving this city or the entire state what it really needs.

This is an absolute abomination happening in our state right now and I fully believe that Ohio and Cincinnati citizens deserve better than this. Regardless of where you stand on the Streetcar Project, this sort of abuse of power and political wrangling should not be allowed to go unchecked!

Please write the people below today and express your anger towards their shameful behavior.

ODOT Director Jerry Wray:
Jerry Wray, Director
Ohio Department of Transportation
1980 West Broad Street
Columbus Ohio, 43223
Phone: (614) 466-2336

Gov. John Kasich: (614) 466-3555 or http://governor.ohio.gov/ShareYourIdeas.aspx
Governor John Kasich
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Oh 43215-6117

TRAC: TRAC@dot.state.oh.us