State Senator Mark Romanchuk | The Ohio Senate
State Senator Mark Romanchuk | The Ohio Senate
COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate has passed Senate Bill 155, sponsored by State Senator Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario). The bill aims to remove the requirement for the Department of Transportation to construct certain interstate interchanges.
The proposed project had faced criticism from hundreds of residents living around and near the planned construction site, initially approved as part of the State's Transportation Budget. Senator Romanchuk engaged with these residents, listened to their concerns, and re-evaluated the project, which involved constructing a major interchange off I-71 in Medina County.
Senate Bill 155 mandates that either the Director of Transportation or the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency conduct a study to develop a traffic congestion management plan.
"If the language was allowed to stay in the Ohio Revised Code, it will set the dangerous precedent that the General Assembly can legislate highway projects. This would have, undoubtedly, lead to the waste of public dollars," said Romanchuk.
The bill now proceeds to the Ohio House for consideration.
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