Once again the Lake Township trustees have gone on record opposing a proposal floated by Gov. John Kasich to lease the Ohio Turnpike to a private entity.

The trustees Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution against the leasing of the toll road, saying it could detrimentally affect township businesses in the I-280/turnpike corridor which benefit from the turnpike toll collection system.

The resolution contends a private operator of the turnpike may raise tolls to the point vehicular traffic will seek alternate routes away from the businesses.

Richard Welling, a trustee who sponsored the resolution, said he’s talked with managers of some of the truckstops near the turnpike exit in the township who’ve expressed concern about the possible leasing.

In the spring, the trustees also approved a resolution opposing the sale or lease of the turnpike after receiving a letter from Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown, who has been very vocal in his opposition to the proposal.

Brown has been arguing that northern Ohioans would bear the brunt of higher tolls. He points to the State of Indiana, which has leased its turnpike. The result, Brown argues, has been poor road conditions and tolls nearly doubling just four years into the lease agreement.

Ohio’s recently passed biennium budget includes a provision that designates the director of the transportation department as the authorized representative of the Ohio Turnpike Commission to work with the director of the Office of Budget and Management regarding turnpike-related outsourcing contracts.

Lake Township’s police and fire chiefs have said the leasing or sale of the turnpike could stress the township’s emergency services.

During a visit last month to northwest Ohio, Gov. Kasich called the turnpike an under utilized asset and proceeds from a lease could be used to upgrade the state’s other roads and bridges.

In other business, the trustees have heard from the Ohio Department of Transportation on their request last month to have a speed zone study conducted on Fostoria Road, between State Route 51 and State Route 579.

That section of Fostoria Road is under the jurisdiction of the Ottawa County Engineer, according to a letter to the trustees from Michael Stormer, a district planning engineer for ODOT.

He said a speed zone study request should be sent to Ottawa County. The trustees had forwarded their original request to the Wood County Engineer.

Welling said he was requested by a Fostoria Road resident to have the speed limit lowered to 35 mph from 55.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed