Cuyahoga County Planning Commission Weblog

In a Plain Dealer op-ed, Ken Prendergast of All Aboard Ohio advocates for greater investments in Ohio's rail services, saying that "policymakers need to provide transportation choices to keep citizens fully engaged in Ohio's economy."

Members of Ohio's Transportation Review Advisory Council unanimously voted to accept Ohio Department of Transportation staff recommendations for major transportation projects. The approved list delays many projects, including pushing back the start of work on the second new Innerbelt Bridge to 2023. ODOT officials said that the schedule is based on policy, but Cleveland leaders replied that the agency should prioritize the Innerbelt Bridge project. A Plain Dealer editorial said that the state and federal governments must identify new funding sources, while a Columbus Dispatch editorial said that cities need to accept the delays.

FirstEnergy announced that it will close six older coal-fired power plants this year, including the Lake Shore Power Plant in Cleveland and the Eastlake Plant in Lake County. The company attributed the decision to new federal mercury pollution standards. Most of the plants that will be closed have been operated as peaking plants.

A Plain Dealer editorial said the closures represented "a punch in the gut for communities already battling sour unemployment numbers," while an editorial in Toledo's Blade said that "no single policy is responsible for the closures." an Akron Beacon Journal editorial provided some perspective. The Natural Resources Defense Council called it "good news for human health and a clean energy economy."

Update: The Atlantic Cities considered how the decision may affect the City of Eastlake.

The Plain Dealer's Brent Larkin says that a proposed federal tax credit program presents an opportunity for Ohio cities to address abandoned housing problems.

For the next 25 years, profits from Ohio's liquor operations will support the new JobsOhio development agency. JobsOhio will pay $1.4 billion for the rights. The state will use $150 million of the purchase price to fund the Clean Ohio program for three years.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch says that JobsOhio's "emphasis on loans could signal an expansion of Ohio's development toolbox." An Akron Beacon Journal editorial takes a wait and see approach, and Joe Koncelik has questions about the Clean Ohio plans.

In its biannual report on bicycling and walking in the United States, the Alliance for Biking & Walking examined a variety of factors, including activity levels, safety, policy issues, education, and advocacy. It looked at how states and major cities compare on those factors, and said that "many states and cities are making progress toward promoting safe access for bicyclists and pedestrians, but much more remains to be done."

Citing a "looming transportation financial crisis facing" the state, Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray revealed the agency's funding recommendations (PDF) to the Transportation Review Advisory Council. The recommendations call for major projects across the state to be eliminated or substantially delayed, including the second new Innerbelt Bridge in Cleveland. Originally scheduled to be built between 2014 and 2016, work on the bridge would not start before 2023. The West Shoreway project was not on the funding list. The announcement angered Cleveland leaders. A Plain Dealer editorial said the delay was unacceptable, while an Akron Beacon Journal editorial suggested raising the gas tax. Governor Kasich may use the news to promote the privatization of the Ohio Turnpike.

Update: the Plain Dealer published more information about the possible West Shoreway funding delay.

Update 2: the Statehouse News Bureau reported on ODOT's funding issues, and Greater Ohio's Gene Krebs renewed his call for a "discussion about how to move people and goods in the most cost effective and safe manner."

Update 3: Governor Kasich defended the agency. An editorial in the Blade urged state leaders to consider raising the gas tax. Participants on WCPN's Sound of Ideas discussed the issues.

The Ohio EPA issued a draft of its 2012 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. It says that the water quality of the state's lakes, rivers, and streams has improved slightly since 2010, and that the largest problems are from farm fertilizer and urban runoff. The agency is accepting public comments through February 6.

As Ohio shale drilling continues to generate headlines, participants on Wednesday's Sound of Ideas program discussed fracking in Ohio. Recent events could lead to policy changes.

Because its funding was transferred to the governor's JobsOhio program, the Clean Ohio program is no longer accepting applications. State leaders have not identified a replacement source of funding for the popular program. An editorial in Youngstown's Vindicator says that officials shouldn't allow the program to end.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that neglecting the Clean Ohio program "would amount to another blow to cities."

Policy Matters Ohio reported that Ohio housing foreclosure filings decreased slightly in 2010, but remained at historically high levels. Bill Callahan looked at the 2011 totals for Cuyahoga County, and noted that last year was the county's sixth consecutive year with over 10,000 foreclosure filings.

The opening date of the Cleveland casino will be pushed back from late March to May or June. The state Casino Control Commission needs more time to conduct required background checks. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial concludes that the Commission "is providing the necessary counterweight by insisting on transparency and accountability."

The U.S. EPA issued its annual analysis of data from the national Toxics Release Inventory. After several years of decreases, U.S. toxic chemical releases increased by 16% from 2009 to 2010. Releases in Ohio grew by 2.3%. Cuyahoga County's largest emitters were the ArcelorMittal and Charter Steel facilities.

The Ohio EPA's proposed new rules for existing construction and demolition debris landfills would institute scheduled leachate monitoring. If contamination levels exceed standards, the rules would require groundwater testing and possible cleanup action. The EPA will hold a public hearing (PDF) on January 3 in Columbus.

The Ohio Department of Taxation changed its policies, declaring that properties in the Wetlands Reserve Program no longer qualify as agricultural land for tax purposes. Property owners with land in conservation easements may see higher tax bills.

The Ohio Department of Development awarded $14.9 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits for 13 rehabilitation projects. Eight of the projects are in Northeast Ohio, and four are in Cleveland. The Victory Building at Euclid Avenue and East 71st Street received a $4.38 million credit, the Park and Southworth Buildings on Public Square received a $1.98 million credit, the Rialto Theater on West 25th Street received a $484,108 credit, and the Gifford House on Prospect Avenue received a $108,914 credit. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial supports the tax credit program.

Last week, the U.S. EPA issued the first national standards for mercury and other toxic air emissions from power plants. Under the new rules, which will become effective in 2014 and 2015, operators will have to install pollution controls or shut down older coal-fired power plants. The regulations could impact several local power plants, including FirstEnergy's Lake Shore Power Plant in Cleveland and Eastlake Power Plant in Lake County, and Genon's Avon Lake Generating Station in Lorain County.

The U.S. Census Bureau released state population estimates that cover the period between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011. They are the first estimates published since the official 2010 Census results. The 0.92% increase in U.S. population was the lowest annual growth rate since the mid-1940s. Ohio's 0.07% growth rate was among the lowest in the nation.

In addition to studying a proposed lease of the Ohio Turnpike, consultants will also consider the possibility of placing it under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The Ohio House of Representatives recently approved changes to the Local Government Innovation Fund, a $45 million grant and loan program that will support local government collaborations. The state will hold an outreach session at Tri-C's Corporate College East on January 17.

Update: the Local Government Innovation Fund application (PDF) is now available.

Update 2: the Akron Beacon Journal described the program.

State officials awarded more than $27.5 million in Clean Ohio Fund grants for 15 brownfield cleanup initiatives, including two local projects. Cuyahoga County received $2 million for demolition and remediation of Cleveland State University's Viking Hall and Wolfe's Music Store building. The university now plans to build a health and life sciences building on the site. The City of Cleveland received $2.99 million for infrastructure, demolition, and remediation in the Miceli Dairy expansion. The project broke ground in October.

Update: Cleveland Councilman Jeff Johnson wants to save the Wolfe's Music Store building.

The Kasich administration selected KMPG to lead a team of consultants that will offer recommendations on a range of options for using the Ohio Turnpike to help finance other transportation projects. Their work must be completed by July 1.

Update: Richard Hodges, the new executive director of the Ohio Turnpike, supports exploring its lease. A Plain Dealer editorial says that the study "must provide genuine answers, not just political cover."

Governor Kasich proposed a new Great Lakes Compact implementation bill. It would set lower limits on water withdrawals from Lake Erie and its tributaries than the legislation he vetoed in July. The bill may be formally introduced in December or January.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that the proposed legislation is stronger than the vetoed bill.

Update 2: Tom Henry offered some analysis.

A new report from Environment Ohio ranked Ohio as having the second-highest level of airborne mercury pollution released by power plants, trailing only Texas. Using data from the federal Toxics Release Inventory, it said that power plants in Ohio emitted 4,218 pounds of mercury pollution in 2010.

In a Plain Dealer op-ed, Gary Suhadolnik and Jacqueline Thomas "consider the long-term implications and hidden costs" of privatizing the Ohio Turnpike. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial expresses concern about the possibilities.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that the Kasich "administration needs to step back and take a deep breath before it moves any closer to monetizing -- leasing -- the Ohio Turnpike."

The Federal Highway Administration indicated that it would reinstate funding for studying the proposed privatization of the Ohio Turnpike. Attendees at a recent public meeting in Northwest Ohio opposed its privatization. Governor Kasich said that if the Turnpike is privatized, at least 50% of the proceeds from a lease or bond would be used in northern Ohio. Democratic politicians were unimpressed.

Update: State Representative Matt Lundy laid out his objections at a public meeting in Sheffield Village.

Update 2: the FHA formally approved the funding request.

The Federal Highway Administration withdrew $1.5 million in funding that Ohio officials intended to use to study the privatization of the Ohio Turnpike. ODOT Director Jerry Wray attributed the decision to political pressure, a claim disputed by federal officials.

Update: a group of Republican U.S. Representatives from Ohio asked the federal agency to reconsider its decision.

The Kasich administration narrowed the list of firms seeking to advise on the proposed lease of the Ohio Turnpike. The five finalists are expected to make presentations in November.

Update: Democratic U.S. Representatives objected to the use of public money. In a letter, they said that "federal taxpayer funds should not be serving to facilitate a particular policy initiative to privatize a public asset."

The Ohio Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Merrill v. Ohio, the Lake Erie property lines case. The court reversed a lower court decision, and said that public's land "extends to the natural shoreline, which is the line at which the water usually stands when free from disturbing causes." Environmental groups and property owners both claimed victory.

Update: the Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, and Blade published editorials on the decision. Ken Kilbert of the University of Toledo analyzed the ruling.

The Ohio Department of Development's Office of Policy Research and Strategic Planning prepared demographic profiles of the state's African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic-American (PDFs) populations.

A bill introduced by State Senator Kris Jordan would eliminate Ohio's renewable portfolio standard. It would strike a provision of a 2008 law that requires utilities to generate 25% of their power from renewable and advanced technology sources by 2025. Environmental groups oppose the legislation.

Update: local officials said that the bill imperils the planned Lake Erie wind farm, and Joe Koncelik said that it would be bad for Ohio. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial said that Senator Jordan "is thinking small about Ohio's future."

State officials are evaluating the 14 proposals from consultants who hope to advise the Kasich administration on the proposed lease of the Ohio Turnpike. They will announce (PDF) the list of finalists on September 23.

As anticipated, Team NEO was selected to coordinate economic development activities for the JobsOhio program in 18 Northeast Ohio counties. Team NEO will expand its staff to manage the additional work, and added 13 new trustees, doubling the size of its board. The Ohio Third Frontier Commission gave $4.1 million to Team NEO for 2012. Mark Kvamme, JobsOhio's chief investment officer, visited Independence to explain the changes to local officials. Channel 3's Tom Beres interviewed Mark Kvamme.

The Ohio Department of Development's new Brownfield Action Plan Pilot Program "will provide technical assistance to brownfield-impacted communities to create a plan for redevelopment." Communities interested in participating must submit a letter of interest by October 14.

Update: Diane Alecusan of the Department of Development described the program.

The Kasich administration described its plans for the JobsOhio program in a report to the General Assembly. The proposed restructuring would eliminate 211 jobs at the Ohio Department of Development, which would be renamed as the Development Services Agency. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that "the speed and freedom of JobsOhio must be balanced by transparency and accountability." Meanwhile, the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of JobsOhio, saying it was outside the court's jurisdiction.

Update: the report to the General Assembly (PDF) is available online.

The Kasich Administration is moving forward on its plans to lease the Ohio Turnpike. It formally began the process by issuing a request for a consultant to assist in the "development and evaluation of options for leveraging the Ohio Turnpike."

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial questions the concept, and a Plain Dealer editorial urges state leaders to act with caution.

Update 2: 14 consulting teams submitted letters of interest to the state. The concept remains controversial.

The U.S. EPA announced $4.5 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants for 11 projects in Ohio. The awardees include the Cleveland Metroparks and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (PDF). Work is underway on a project at Huntington Beach, one of the projects funded last year.

The Ohio General Assembly may attempt to override Governor Kasich's veto of the Great Lakes Compact implementation bill.

(via Great Lakes Echo)

Update: PolitiFact Ohio evaluated Tim Grendell's claims about Lake Erie. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that lawmakers should listen to the "wide range of knowledgeable voices calling for improved legislation" instead of pursuing an override.

An Akron Beacon Journal editorial urges state leaders to find replacement revenue sources for the Clean Ohio program.

The Ohio Department of Development awarded more than $23.8 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits to 13 projects, including three in Cleveland. The Middough Building received $4.8 million, the University Towers Apartments received $2 million, and the Joseph & Feiss Warehouse received $995,334.

Update: Crain's Cleveland Business says that the award could revive the Joseph & Feiss renovation project.

The U.S. Census Bureau released Census 2010 Summary File 1 data for Ohio. It includes detailed tables on "age, sex, households, families, relationship to householder, housing units, detailed race and Hispanic or Latino origin groups, and group quarters," and showed a 51% increase in same-sex partner households in Ohio between 2000 and 2010. Demographic profiles of Cuyahoga County communities are now available.

At an event in Toledo, Governor Kasich promoted the idea of leasing the Ohio Turnpike. He predicted that it would generate "billions of dollars to improve highways, bridges, and waterways."

Team NEO submitted a proposal to be one of six regional economic development offices under the JobsOhio program. If accepted, Team NEO would coordinate job attraction and retention efforts over an 18-county Northeast Ohio area. Meanwhile, opponents of JobsOhio asked the Ohio Supreme Court to block funding for the organization until their lawsuit challenging its constitutionality is concluded.

Update: the Cincinnati Enquirer reported on the program.

Using data from the federal Toxics Release Inventory, the Natural Resources Defense Council calculated the amount of toxic air pollution generated by power plants. The electric sector in Ohio emitted 44.5 million pounds of pollutants in 2009, more than any other state.

Walk Score updated its rankings of walkable cities, last released in 2008. The City of Cleveland was ranked the 17th most walkable of the 50 largest cities in the United States. The most walkable neighborhoods in Cleveland were downtown, University Circle, and Ohio City. In Ohio, the most walkable cities included Lakewood and Cleveland Heights, while Broadview Heights and Solon were among the least walkable.

Gail Hesse of Columbus was selected as the new executive director of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. She will begin on August 15.

Under pressure by officials from inside and outside Ohio, Governor Kasich vetoed the Great Lakes Compact implementation bill passed by the General Assembly. In a statement (PDF), he said that portions of the bill "must be improved." It was his first veto as governor. Editorials in the Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal supported his decision, while Tom Henry found the entire episode embarrassing. The bill's sponsors said they would seek to override the veto.

Update: participants on Tuesday's Sound of Ideas program discussed the legislation.

Update 2: Brent Larkin said that "although Kasich's veto will not be overridden, this isn't the end of it."

Preservation Ohio released its annual list of Ohio's Most Endangered Historic Sites. The 13 sites include the previously-revealed Columbia Building and Stanley Block in downtown Cleveland, as well as the Warner & Swasey Observatory in East Cleveland.

Update: demolition of the Columbia Building is underway.

Governor Kasich appointed (PDF) eight executives to the board of directors of the new JobsOhio development corporation. One seat remains unfilled. Mark Kvamme will serve as its interim chief investment officer. The board met for the first time on Monday.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that "JobsOhio's transparency is as important to its success as its development programs. "

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, a new report from the National Wildlife Federation, looks at state implementation of the Great Lakes Compact. It focuses on three areas: water diversions, conservation and efficiency, and water withdrawal permitting. The Plain Dealer again urges Governor Kasich to veto the Ohio bill.

Update: the Detroit News, Morning Journal, and Kristy Meyer of the Ohio Environmental Council also call for a veto. New York officials dislike the bill, too.

A new report from Good Jobs First concludes that property tax incentives fueled urban sprawl in the Cleveland and Cincinnati metropolitan areas. It looks at 63 business relocations in the eight-county Cleveland metropolitan area, and says that "by dispersing jobs away from the two urban cores, the relocations contributed to disparities in wealth and opportunity among localities in the regions. They moved jobs away from areas with higher rates of poverty and people of color to more affluent and less racially diverse areas. And by moving mostly to locations that are not served by public transportation, they denied job opportunities to carless workers and denied thousands more any choice about how to get to work."

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the study "adds an important voice to other studies and initiatives, all grounded in the realization that shifting jobs within a region does virtually nothing to advance competitiveness in a global economy." A News-Herald editorial concludes that "Northeast Ohio is better off if community leaders work together to attract new businesses to the region instead of compete against each other for businesses that are already here."

Using water quality and public notification data, the Natural Resources Defense Council ranked the water quality of beaches in 30 coastal states. The 21st annual Testing the Waters (PDF) report scored Ohio (PDF) as having the second-highest percentage of monitoring samples that exceeded national health standards, a poorer performance than last year. Villa Angela beach in Cleveland was included in the report's list of top 10 repeat offenders. Some Great Lakes beach and health professionals have issues with the report's methodology.

A new report from Ohio's Policy Research & Strategic Planning Office (PDF) compares state data from the 2010 Census with figures from previous decennial censuses.

The two-year state budget signed by Governor Kasich includes an extension and expansion of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, the new Innovation Fund intended to support local government restructuring efforts, and the option to pursue a lease of the Ohio Turnpike.

Update: the National Trust for Historic Preservation has more information about the tax credit renewal, and the Blade has more on the possible lease of the turnpike.

Governor Kasich appointed Mayor Jerry Hruby of Brecksville to the Ohio Turnpike Commission. Mayor Hruby supports the privatization of the Turnpike. An editorial in Youngstown's Vindicator calls the proposed lease a bad idea.

By a vote of 25-8, the Ohio Senate passed a Great Lakes Compact implementation bill. The Ohio House approved the legislation last week. Its protections are the weakest of any Great Lakes state.

Update: editorials in the Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal editorial encourage Governor Kasich to veto the bill. The Ohio Environmental Council and Andy Buchsbaum of the National Wildlife Federation are also critical of the bill. Governor Kasich is expected to sign the bill in the next two weeks.

Update 2: Great Lakes Echo analyzed the situation, while a Detroit Free Press editorial objects to the bill and a Plain Dealer editorial says it could lead to an increase in toxic blue-green algae.

A new study from the Union of Concerned Scientists identified Ohio as one of ten states likely to see significant increases in respiratory problems from rising ozone levels associated with global warming. Meanwhile, Jeff Opperman of the Nature Conservancy expanded upon his earlier premise that ranked Cleveland as the city least vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rust Wire's Kate Giammarise interviewed Al Douglas of the Ontario Centre for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Resources about its effects on the Great Lakes.

In a party-line vote, the Ohio House passed the Republican-backed Great Lakes Compact implementation bill. The Ohio Senate is now considering the legislation, and former Governor Bob Taft testified against it in a committee hearing.

Update: George Voinovich and Sam Speck also oppose the bill. Editorials in the Plain Dealer, Blade, Akron Beacon Journal, Repository, Dayton Daily News, and Morning Journal urge Ohio senators to vote no.

Democratic lawmakers introduced alternative bills for implementing the Great Lakes Compact in Ohio. The legislation sets lower limits on the amount of water that can be extracted from Lake Erie than the bills introduced last month by Republican legislators. Environmental groups support the lower limits and business groups back the higher limits (PDF). An editorial in Toledo's Blade says that the Republican-backed bills "would threaten surface and ground water affecting Lake Erie."

Meanwhile, an Akron Beacon Journal editorial calls for bipartisan congressional support of full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Update: the Blade published more information about the fast-tracked Republican bill. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial encourages a bipartisan approach.

Governor Kasich said that he and legislative leaders intend to appoint a commission that will study governmental consolidations. The budget bill approved by the Ohio House included $250,000 to encourage collaborations, but the Ohio Senate did not include the funding in its bill. In a Plain Dealer op-ed, Tom Bier calls for Cuyahoga County communities to adopt a new principle of shared responsibility.

Update: the Plain Dealer's Joe Frolik says that collaborations and consolidations should be an important issue in municipal elections.

The Ohio Department of Transportation did not apply for federal reimbursement for $1.4 million spent on planning studies for the canceled 3C Corridor passenger rail line. The U.S. Department of Transportation withdrew $385 million of its $400 million grant for the project in December when it became clear that Governor Kasich would not support its construction.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray advocated for leasing the Ohio Turnpike, an idea opposed by NOACA leaders. State Representative Mike Dovilla of Berea was recently appointed as a non-voting member of the Ohio Turnpike Commission.

Update: Jerry Wray also spoke at NOACA's annual summit on June 10 (part 1, part 2, part 3).

Update 2: Jerry Wray promoted the idea to AMATS leaders, as well. Gary Suhadolnik, the former executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, presented his objections to the proposal in a Plain Dealer op-ed.

The budget bills passed by the Ohio House and Senate include an extension of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. Proponents of the program want the $25 million annual ceiling to be increased. A new study from Cleveland State University (PDF) says that the "program is producing a multitude of benefits across the state of Ohio."

A short paper from the Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club urges Ohio governments to adopt a fix-it-first approach to infrastructure investments. It says that repairs of distressed roads and bridges should be prioritized ahead of new construction.

The Ohio Department of Development awarded $25.6 million in the second round of the Ohio New Markets Tax Credits, including $2 million to the Cleveland New Markets Investment Fund II. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded $300,033 in Coastal Management Assistance Grants, including $13,545 for Rocky River sub-watershed protection and restoration plans and $21,000 for the Tinkers Creek Watershed Community Engagement Project.

Kent State University's Center for Public Administration and Public Policy compiled an inventory of more than 240 intergovernmental collaboration projects in 16 Northeast Ohio counties, and published a list of 105 initiatives. The most popular areas for partnerships were in public safety, public works, and economic development.

Meanwhile, in a Plain Dealer op-ed, Brad Whitehead and Joe Roman describe a regional approach to economic competitiveness. Ohio's proposed budget bill would provide funds to encourage government collaborations. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the final budget should include the incentives, while a Plain Dealer editorial says that the budget asks too much of local governments.

Update: the Plain Dealer has more information about the Kent State study.

Repair Priorities is a new report from Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense. It says that despite decades of underfunding road repair projects, most states continue to inadequately fund road repair, spending a disproportionate amount on constructing new roads. It adds that "while Ohio has invested heavily in repair and maintenance in recent years, insufficient investment over the long-term has led to a backlog of roads and bridges in 'poor' and 'deficient' condition requiring $194 million annually in major rehabilitation costs over the next twenty years."

Environmental advocates in other Great Lakes states are worried about the proposed Lake Erie water withdrawal limits recently introduced in the Ohio General Assembly. The proposed limits provide less protection than those established by other states.

Update: the proposal is also receiving criticism within Ohio.

Update 2: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the legislation "fails to meet the compact's spirit and letter," and Gary Wilson of the Biodiversity Project cites it as an example of the region's failure to protect the Great Lakes.

Update 3: a Plain Dealer editorial strongly opposes the bills.

A new Greater Ohio analysis of Ohio's sales tax patterns and policies concludes that "Ohio's county-based sales tax structure is misaligned with regional shopping trends." It recommends strategies for modernizing the state's taxation system. A short report issued (PDF) by Advance Northeast Ohio puts forward a case for increasing local government collaborations as a method of increasing efficiency.

Update: Crain's Cleveland Business and WKSU reported on the Advance Northeast Ohio report. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that communities need more financial support for collaboration initiatives.

In its second Dangerous by Design report, Transportation for America highlights pedestrian safety issues and recommends actions to create safer walking environments. The report examines pedestrian fatality statistics, maps individual pedestrian deaths, and ranks the 52 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The five-county Cleveland metropolitan area was the nation's second-safest. Meanwhile, the League of American Bicyclists issued its fourth annual Bicycle Friendly State rankings. Ohio was ranked 37th-friendliest.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology issued an analysis of the Greater Cleveland economy (PDF). It examines regional strengths and weaknesses, and offers a variety of suggestions. CNT published similar reports for Cincinnati and Columbus.

Update: the Plain Dealer highlighted several of the report's recommendations.

The U.S. Census Bureau released 2010 Census demographic profiles for Ohio and several other states. They provide information at state, county, and city levels. The profiles show that Ohio's population aged over the last decade, while the West and South had younger populations. The number of single-parent households in Ohio increased, and the rate of home ownership decreased. The profile data is available through the Census Bureau's American Factfinder.

Two Republican lawmakers introduced legislation that would implement the Great Lakes Compact in Ohio. The enabling legislation includes limits on water withdrawals from Lake Erie. Industry groups support the bill, but environmental advocates say that it provides insufficient protection.

Marc Lefkowitz wrote about the Healthy Communities Active Transportation Conference & Workshop held earlier this week and the state of local bike planning. Cleveland Bicycle Week 2011 starts on Monday. Meanwhile, a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Rockefeller Foundation says that most states lack adequate information to accurately evaluate the performance of their transportation networks. Ohio's scores were in the middle.

Update: ODOT posted the presentations from the HCAT conference.

Draft changes to the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council project scoring criteria (PDF) would de-emphasize the creation of an integrated multimodal transportation network in favor of prioritizing economic development potential.

Update: the Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club doesn't support the changes.

The Foundation Center reports that grants for economic development activities in Ohio grew by 152% between 2005 and 2008. The largest contributions over that period were made by the Knight Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation.

The two-year budget approved by the Ohio House on Thursday would indefinitely extend the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, capping the annual allocation at $25 million. The Greater Cleveland Partnership supports the provision.

A Summit County Court of Common Pleas judge issued an injunction against a company seeking to drill a natural gas well in Munroe Falls. The driller has not applied for municipal approval of roads and other construction associated with the well, and asserts that the only permits required are those from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the "ruling reflects is an effort to find a middle ground before it is too late." Other Northeast Ohio communities are searching for ways to regulate drilling.

A new paper by Alan Mallach and Jennifer Vey of the Brookings Institution describes how outdated state laws create barriers to the redevelopment of abandoned properties. They suggest policy changes that would give municipalities more tools for repurposing distressed land and buildings.

The Ohio EPA is offering a set of four proposed water quality rule packages for public comment. Three of the four packages were released in 2008. Both environmental and industry groups have issues with portions of the rules. The deadline for comments is June 6.

Dan Moulthrop and Luke Frazier of the Civic Commons spoke with Cuyahoga County Deputy Chief of Staff Nathan Kelly about the County's recently-announced $100 million economic development fund. The Foundation Center's Cynthia Bailie talked to Christine Amer Mayer of Akron's GAR Foundation about the foundation's involvement in economic development. With the State of Ohio poised to spend $1.4 billion on economic development this year, USA Today compared Ohio's approach with those of other states.

State legislation scheduled to be introduced this spring would allow Ohio townships or counties to merge. It would not affect potential mergers involving cities or villages.

Funding for the Clean Ohio program will expire in 2012 if the program is not renewed. Joe Koncelik considered the future of the Clean Ohio brownfields fund.

The Ohio EPA introduced its new brownfield inventory database. The web-based system is intended to aid in the identification and redevelopment (PDF) of brownfield sites and includes information about cleanup status, infrastructure improvements, historical land uses, and other subjects. Meanwhile, the state's Office of Strategic Research published its 2011 Ohio County Profiles. The document features demographic information gathered from more than 50 sources.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray met with northwest Ohio leaders and spoke about the proposed privatization of the Ohio Turnpike.

Greater Ohio's response to Governor Kasich's proposed 2012-2013 state budget says that "budget cuts MUST be combined with strategic and targeted investments" and suggests policy and legislative changes (PDF) for modernizing local government.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council approved $70 million for new transportation projects (PDF), making several changes to the draft recommendations it approved in December. In addition to the controversial withdrawal of $51.8 million from the Cincinnati streetcar project, the TRAC rejected the $7.1 million it earlier recommended for the Clifton Boulevard Transportation Enhancement Program in Cleveland and Lakewood. Local projects that were funded include the Pearl Road widening project in Strongsville and the planned widening of I-271 in southern Cuyahoga County.

Uncertainty about state policies could delay planned casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Governor Kasich has not finalized casino taxes and fees, and developer Rock Gaming says that his indecision is making it difficult for them to obtain financing.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that Governor "Kasich is being an uncharacteristic drag on private investment," while an Akron Beacon Journal editorial concludes that he is "pursuing the evaluation that should have been conducted in the first place." On Wednesday, Governor Kasich indicated that he may ask casino developers for additional up-front payments.

Update 2: Governor Kasich said that Ohio "got a bad deal" and that casino developers were "crying wolf". State officials selected two firms as advisors on gambling-related issues.

The second annual County Health Rankings from the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked the health of counties by state. In Ohio, Cuyahoga County again ranked well in health factors and lower in health outcomes. Both rankings were improvements over last year's scores. Geauga and Medina counties appeared near the top of both lists.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial and PBS's The Rundown weblog reflected on the report.

A new report from Transportation for America says that 11.5% of the 599,996 bridges in the United States are rated as structurally deficient by the Federal Highway Administration. The FHWA estimates that it would take $70.9 billion to eliminate the current backlog of needed repairs. In Ohio, 9.8% of the state's 27,963 bridges are rated as structurally deficient.

The Ohio Senate passed the two-year, $6.8 billion transportation budget, and Governor Kasich signed the bill. It includes a provision for public-private partnerships.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch has more information about the public-private partnerships.

Controversies over natural gas drilling in Ohio could become more prominent this year, as energy companies show more interest in eastern Ohio's shale deposits and state leaders propose drilling in state parks. Ohio environmental groups have called for a moratorium on fracking until the extraction method's risks can be studied more thoroughly.

Update: Thursday's Sound of Ideas program was devoted to the subject.

Streetsblog's Angie Schmitt says that the plans for the West Shoreway redesign in Cleveland have changed so much since their inception that the designs now more closely resemble a highway than the boulevard that was originally proposed. She says Cleveland and other Ohio cities face "a state with a set of policies that actively undermines cities."

Governor Kasich shifted Mark Kvamme from the Ohio Department of Development into a newly-created role as director of job creation. Jim Leftwich, formerly head of the Dayton Development Coalition, will replace him as director of the Ohio Department of Development. Kvamme is a California resident, and his eligibility to hold a position in the Governor's cabinet was facing a legal challenge.

Governor Kasich's proposed fiscal year 2012-2013 budget includes higher than anticipated cuts to the state's local government fund. Cuyahoga County leaders are promoting cost-saving regionalism initiatives.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that the budget will force local governments to collaborate.

The Ohio House of Representatives approved a two-year state transportation budget. The $7 billion budget includes $4.2 billion for road maintenance and construction, and a tax exemption for for petroleum marketers. Meanwhile, a new report by Robert Puentes of the Brookings Institution recommends strategies to states for remaking their transportation systems.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the Ohio Senate should consider proposals that were omitted in the House version of the bill.

The U.S. Census Bureau today published the first set of detailed Census 2010 demographics for Ohio, redistricting data that covers population, race, Hispanic origin, and housing occupancy. Between 2000 and 2010, the population of Cuyahoga County fell by 113,856 to 1,280,122, a decrease of 8.2%. The City of Cleveland's population declined by 17.1% to 396,815, and most of its inner-ring suburbs also lost population. The populations of Cleveland Heights and Euclid each fell below 50,000, putting their status as entitlement communities into question. Lakewood's population remained over 50,000. We have posted population figures for Cuyahoga County communities and will provide other tables soon.

The eight-county Cleveland-Akron CSA's population declined by only 2.2%, as Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, and Portage counties gained population. The City of Columbus grew by 10.6%, but all of Ohio's other major cities saw population decreases. The Census Bureau will release additional data in the coming months.

Update: area newspapers reported on the release, including the Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, News-Herald, Morning Journal, Chronicle-Telegram, Record-Courier, and the Medina County Gazette. In addition to posting the Cuyahoga County population figures, we posted data and maps on the county's racial distribution, Latino population, and housing occupancy.

Update 2: Ohio's Office of Policy Research and Strategic Planning compiled population data for every county, city, village, and township (PDF) in the state.

Update 3: the Plain Dealer published a corrected population change map.

For several months, Governor Kasich has talked about the possibility of leasing the Ohio Turnpike, and in February said he wants at least $3 billion for the toll road. A recent NOACA staff analysis (PDF) of the idea concluded that "leasing the Ohio Turnpike appears to have few positive merits and quite a few likely negative outcomes."

Congressman LaTourette spoke with the News-Herald about the future of high-speed rail in Ohio.

Lake County Chief Deputy Engineer Bruce Landeg asserts that security implications make high-speed rail unfeasible. In a News-Herald op-ed, he says that "rail is for freight and people are for cars" and the "status quo in transportation system choices is the best and the fiscally responsible choice".

After making several changes to the House version of the bill, the Ohio Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation that will privatize the Ohio Department of Development and create the JobOhio development corporation. Governor Kasich is expected to sign the bill on Friday (PDF).

Update: Governor Kasich signed the bill on Friday. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial said that the "Senate amendments were steps in the right direction," but called for more transparency and accountability.

President Obama's proposed 2012 budget could have a number of local impacts.

• As anticipated, it calls for reducing funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to $350 million. House Republicans proposed reducing 2011 funding to $225 million.
• Municipalities would be affected by a proposed 7.5% reduction in Community Development Block Grant funding.
• Unlike many programs that would experience cuts, federal investment in transportation would rise. Ohio would receive a one-year 74% increase in highway planning and construction dollars.

Update: Great Lakes advocates are urging Congress to restore funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. A Plain Dealer editorial says that the Great Lakes congressional delegation "must join together, in a bipartisan manner, to preserve" the program.

Ken Kilbert of the University of Toledo summarized Merrill v. Ohio, the Lake Erie shorelines case recently heard by the Ohio Supreme Court.

After 15 years of increases, Ohio's foreclosure rate declined in 2010. There were 85,483 new foreclosure filings in 2010, down from the record-high 89,053 filings in 2009, a 4% decrease. Some of the drop can be attributed to the robo-signing moratorium. Filings in Cuyahoga County fell by 9.5% over the same period, but the county had 12,825 filings, the most of any Ohio county. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the "task to drive down the risk of foreclosure in Ohio is no less urgent than it has been the past decade."

A bipartisan group of northern Ohio Congress members met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to talk about the possibility of building a high-speed rail line along Lake Erie. It could connect Cleveland and Toledo with Chicago, Detroit, and Buffalo, as well as Youngstown and Pittsburgh.

Ohio Department of Transportation leaders announced that the agency will rescind a large portion of the funding it pledged for public transportation, reducing the three-year, $150 program to $80 million. RTA will lose the $2.2 million in funding it received in January, and will not be able to initiate planned new services.

ODOT Director Jerry Wray added that Ohio will not be participating in the proposed new $53 billion federal high-speed rail initiative. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said that the state's absence will not harm the program.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial said that the decision to cut public transit funding is a mistake. A Blade editorial said that it "may cost the state tax revenue from business activity in the long run."

By a vote of 59-37, the Ohio House of Representatives passed legislation that would replace the Ohio Department of Development with Governor Kasich's proposed JobsOhio development corporation. The bill now moves to the Ohio Senate.

Update: editorials in the Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal urge the Senate to improve the legislation.

Update 2: columnist Thomas Suddes questioned the proposal's constitutionality.

In an op-ed in Toledo's Blade, Jennifer Bradley of the Brookings Institution said that "Ohio must recognize the power of its economic engines: the metropolitan areas that house most of its people and generate an even greater portion of its gross domestic product."

(via Economic News from Ohio's Regions)

Brownfields news:

• A bill introduced in the Ohio House would provide a tax incentive for the cleanup of contaminated properties.
• The Ohio EPA posted presentations from the 2011 Ohio Brownfield Conference.
• Ohio's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund awarded $600,000 in stimulus funding, including $200,000 to Midtown Cleveland for asbestos remediation at the Agora Theater.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Merrill v. Ohio, the Lake Erie property lines case. Tony Yankel of the Ohio Lakefront Group recently urged new Attorney General DeWine to withdraw from the lawsuit.

Update: multiple media outlets reported on the oral arguments. The Ohio Channel has video of the arguments.

The Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Department of Development are launching two loan programs, the Brownfield Loan Program and the Alternative Stormwater Infrastructure Loan Program.

Update: Joe Koncelik described the brownfield loan program.

The newly-established Cuyahoga County Economic Development Commission will meet for the first time on January 25. Seven of its nine seats have been filled. At the state level, Governor Kasich revealed more details about his plans to privatize the Ohio Department of Development and create the JobsOhio development corporation.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal says that Governor Kasich should be alert to the hazards of privatization. The Cincinnati Enquirer interviewed Mark Kvamme, director of the Ohio Department of Development.

Update 2: legislation introduced in the Ohio House to create JobsOhio would allow the development corporation to operate in private. An amendment would give the Ohio inspector general the ability to investigate the corporation.

New Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray named the agency's 12 new district deputy directors. The District 12 Deputy Director is Myron Pakush.

Local officials and developers are encouraging Ohio legislators to renew the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. The Ohio Department of Development's Urban Development Division is currently accepting applications for its sixth round, but will award credits only if the program is reauthorized.

Under new director Scott Nally, the Ohio EPA is expected to focus on quick approval of pollution permits.

California venture capitalist Mark Kvamme will lead the Ohio Department of Development for John Kasich. The Governor-elect intends to dismantle the department, replacing it with the privatized JobsOhio development corporation. Kasich said he hopes it will be a "four- or five-month job".

Update: the Columbus Dispatch published more details. The Greater Cleveland Partnership supports the privatization of the department, while the Akron Beacon Journal is more cautious.

The Ohio EPA issued its first statewide air toxics monitoring study (PDF). The report utilized data (PDF) from 34 monitoring sites in 16 counties, including several sites in Cuyahoga County. It identified elevated cancer risks in seven counties, but not in Cuyahoga County.

The Ohio EPA published draft rules for construction and demolition debris landfills. The revised rules are intended to reduce the landfills' environmental impacts (PDF) by preventing leachate problems. Landfill operators oppose the changes. The rules are open to public comment through April 1.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources finalized its update of the Coastal Erosion Area maps. They include projections for recession rates over the next 30 years. In addition, ODNR's Office of Coastal Management is accepting applications for two lakefront land acquisition programs, the Great Lakes Areas of Concern Land Acquisition Grant program and the Coastal & Estuarine Land Conservation Program.

Ohio homebuilders oppose changes to the state's building code. The changes, based on International Code Council models, would require more energy-efficient construction. Neighboring states have adopted or are considering the changes, but in Ohio, they have remained in committees for two years.

Update: Builder Magazine also reported on the subject.

Passenger rail advocates estimate that canceling the planned 3C Corridor line will eliminate about 16,700 jobs and $3 billion in spinoff developments. The Plain Dealer's Brent Larkin, a consistent critic of the plans, said that subsidies for the line would have "blown such a gigantic hole in the state budget it would have adversely impacted state spending for schools, children, the poor, the aged and the ill."

Governor-elect Kasich selected David Mustine to lead the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Scott Nally to head the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Mustine is a former old and gas executive, and the Governor-elect is seeking to expand oil and gas drilling. Nally previously worked at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and at Perdue Farms.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch offers more details.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission awarded a $120,000 grant to Heidelberg University's National Center for Water Quality Research to monitor water quality of four Lake Erie tributaries, including the Cuyahoga River. Cleveland State University received a $34,983 grant to continue its support of the Ohio Balanced Growth Program's Best Local Land Use Practices guidance.

The U.S. Census Bureau released national and state population totals, the first data from the 2010 Census. As of April 1, 2010, the population of the United States was 308,745,538, an increase of 9.7% since 2000. Ohio's population was 11,536,504, an increase of 1.6%. Because Ohio's population grew more slowly than other states, especially those in the South and West, the state will lose two congressional seats.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial says that the changes will require Ohio's congressional delegation to "work together more closely than ever, without regard to partisan or geographic divides, on issues that have a major impact on the state's economy and competitiveness."

The Ohio Great Lakes Compact Advisory Board issued its final report (PDF, 9.8 MB) on Wednesday. The Ohio General Assembly is expected to consider the report's recommendations in 2011. The Ohio Environmental Council called it (PDF) "a critical first step toward preserving one of Ohio's greatest natural resources."

The U.S. EPA released its annual analysis of data from the Toxics Release Inventory. Nationwide, releases of toxic chemicals fell by 12% to 3.37 billion pounds from 2008 to 2009. Releases in Ohio fell from 224 million pounds in 2008 to 159 million pounds in 2009, a decrease of over 29%. Cuyahoga County's top polluter in 2009 was the Charter Steel mill in Cuyahoga Heights. The ArcelorMittal steel plant in Cleveland was idled for much of the year.

Update: businesses in Ohio continued to emit more toxic air pollutants than those of any other state. Officials attribute the decreases to pollution control equipment, the recession, and new processes.

Ohio EPA officials say that it will take several years to determine nitrogen dioxide levels and whether the state meets new federal standards. The U.S. EPA strengthened its standards in January.

Draft recommendations (PDF) from the Ohio Transportation Review Advisory Council call for $167.6 million in new construction, planning, and engineering for transportation projects across the state. The list is open to public comment through February 11.

An editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal chides the Ohio Senate for failing to pass foreclosure prevention legislation, and a second editorial urges Congress to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The U.S. Department of Transportation redirected $1.195 billion in passenger rail funding from Ohio and Wisconsin to projects in 14 states, with the largest awards going to California and Florida. Ohio lost $385 million of the $400 million grant it received in January to support the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line because Governor-elect Kasich pledged to cancel the program.

Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown expressed their disappointment, while Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that the decision will "ensure American taxpayers get a good return on their Recovery Act dollars," and Ohio rail advocates said that the action was premature.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that Governor-elect Kasich acted too hastily.

Jerry Wray will serve as director of the Ohio Department of Transportation under Governor-elect Kasich. Wray led the department from 1991 to 1999 during the Voinovich and Taft administrations, and more recently was a vice president at an asphalt industry lobbying association. He said that the department may reconsider its pledge to fund public transit.

Smart Growth America looked at Ohio's brownfield redevelopment initiatives and their potential to spur economic development. The Ohio EPA declared (PDF) that the City of Cleveland has finished cleanup of a 0.75-acre brownfield site at Euclid Avenue and East 55th Street.

A study by the U.S. General Accounting Office identified Ohio and Greater Cleveland as being among the areas that have experienced the most bank walkaways. It recommends that federal agencies should require mortgage servicers "to notify borrowers and communities when foreclosures are halted and to obtain updated valuations for selected properties before initiating foreclosure." Sherrod Brown said that the practice exacerbates neighborhood blight.

Update: a Plain Dealer editorial called the report "a welcome first step, but still just a beginning."

John Kasich formally asked Ted Strickland to cancel planning studies for the 3C Corridor passenger rail line, but Governor Strickland declined the request. Governor-elect Kasich wants to use the state's $400 million in federal rail funding for other purposes, but U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood replied that the funds must be used for passenger rail or they will go to another state.

Update: passenger rail advocates and opponents discussed the issues on WCPN's Sound of Ideas, while an Akron Beacon Journal editorial addressed the attitudes of the governor-elect and other critics.

In his first press conference after the election, John Kasich said, "Passenger rail is not in Ohio's future." He later said that Governor Strickland should halt planning studies for the 3C Corridor. Streetsblog's Angie Schmitt wrote an open letter to Governor-elect Kasich, asking him to reconsider his stance against the 3C Corridor and to support a robust multimodal transportation network. Many of the 120 attendees at the Ohio Department of Transportation's public meeting in Cleveland also want the state to better support transportation choice.

The Ohio Great Lakes Compact Advisory Board published its draft recommendations for implementing (PDF, 17.3 MB) the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will hold an open house at the Bay Village Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on November 19, and will submit the final recommendations by December 15. The Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club has issues with the recommendations.

Attendees at a public meeting in Columbus told Ohio Department of Transportation officials that the agency should devote more resources to public transit and alternative transportation. It was the first in a series of workshops that ODOT is holding at various locations. A Cleveland meeting will be held on November 3 at the downtown Crowne Plaza Hotel. Officials with ODOT District 12 have also been meeting with local transportation activists.

Update: the Plain Dealer provided more information about the Cleveland meeting, and ODOT posted its presentation (PDF).

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Ohio Department of Transportation's revised timetable for the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line was produced without a detailed analysis or input from freight railroads. Meanwhile, Amtrak ridership in Ohio grew by 14% over the last year, which ODOT says "shows that the demand for transportation choice is on the rise."

In the first round of the Ohio New Markets Tax Credit program, the Ohio Department of Development made $10 million in credits available to four Ohio entities. About half of the credits were awarded to two Cuyahoga County recipients, one affiliated with KeyBank and the other associated with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. The credits may be used to support the Allen Theatre renovations and the Evergreen Cooperatives, among other initiatives.

Under the terms of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and 14 states, the old General Motors will commit $773 million for the environmental cleanup of 89 former manufacturing sites. Five plant properties in Ohio will share $39 million: $25.8 million will go to the facility in Moraine, $7.3 million to Elyria, $3 million to Mansfield, $2.6 million to Toledo, and $746,000 to Parma.

Through a program called 21st Century Transit Partnerships for Ohio's Next Generation, the Ohio Department of Transportation will provide $150 million over the next three years to public transit agencies in Ohio. RTA will receive $5.4 million each year, for a total of $16.2 million.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch has more information.

Shaping the State, a new report from Greater Ohio, compares demographic trends in Ohio and the nation from 2000 to 2008. It concludes that "demographic changes in Ohio reveal a state that is falling behind other states in some areas, but demonstrates strong potential in several others."

The Ohio Department of Transportation's revised timetable for the planned 3C Corridor has done little to persuade Republican critics of the passenger rail line. Ohio is one of several states where Republicans could block or delay federal plans to expand the nation's passenger rail system. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood presented his reasons for supporting high-speed rail.

The National Resources Inventory, conducted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, shows that every state lost farmland between 1982 and 2007. Ohio had the second-highest amount of prime agricultural land converted to developed land, losing 585,100 acres from 1982 to 2007.

(via Kaid Benfield)

AIA Ohio's 2010 awards included a merit award to Robert Maschke Architects for the bus shelters at the Gordon Arts District in Cleveland. Dru McKeown was dismayed by the declaration, and said that while the structures are handsome, they fail to function as shelters.

In one of its occasional rescissions, Congress required states to return transportation funds to the Federal Highway Administration. Ohio was one of 30 states to make a disproportionally large cut in funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. While Ohio was required to return 5.8% of its annual apportionment, it cut 33% from its Transportation Enhancement Program.

Ohio Republican legislators wrote Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, asking him to take legal action to stop state spending on plans for the 3C Corridor passenger rail line.

Both parties in Merrill v. Ohio, the Lake Erie property lines case, have submitted written arguments to the Ohio Supreme Court. Attorney General Cordray filed his brief in July, and the Ohio Lakefront Group submitted theirs earlier this week. Supporters of each side also have filed amicus briefs with the Court. On Thursday, the litigants discussed the case on WCPN's Sound of Ideas program.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission issued a revised schedule for the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line. It estimates that a trip between Cleveland and Cincinnati would take roughly five hours, about 90 minutes less than earlier projections. The state also received permission from the Federal Railroad Administration to spend its first $15 million in stimulus funds.

Update: the new figures project an average speed of over 50 mph, up from the older 39 mph prediction.

The Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology continues to advance its BUILT in Ohio initiative, and recently convened stakeholders in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus to discuss smart growth policies.

An Akron Beacon Journal supports further study of the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line between Cleveland and Cincinnati. It says that the line's critics "point to the many questions, but they resist pursuing answers."

Estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday show that the poverty rate in the United States was 14.3% in 2009, up from 13.2% in 2008, while median household income remained flat. Minority populations were disproportionately affected. In Ohio, the poverty rate decreased from 13.7% to 13.3%, a change within the survey's margin of error. Median household income in Ohio fell from $49,811 to $46,318, below the national median of $49,945. The Census Bureau will release more detailed figures later this month.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial concludes that the numbers make a "compelling case for both short-term measures that provide relief and longer-term measures that will reduce poverty."

Update 2: WCPN's Sound of Ideas explored suburban poverty in Northeast Ohio.

Columbus blogger Jeff Johnson considered the future of intercity transportation in Ohio and drew connections between the potential loss of the Continental hub in Cleveland and the merits of investing in passenger rail.

In the third round of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $970 million in grants. Allocations in Ohio totaled $52 million, including $6.8 million to the City of Cleveland, $2.6 million to Cuyahoga County, $1 million to the City of East Cleveland, and $1 million to the City of Euclid.

A new study by the Boston-based Clean Air Task Force quantified the health problems (PDF) caused by fine particle pollution from the nation's coal-burning power plants. It ranked Ohio as having the second-highest number of adverse health impacts, trailing only Pennsylvania. For metropolitan areas, the Cleveland MSA ranked eighth-highest. Power companies and the coal industry dispute the group's findings.

Update: the Statehouse News Bureau's Jo Ingles spoke with Nolan Moser of the Ohio Environmental Council about the study.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture expanded its emerald ash borer quarantine to cover all 88 Ohio counties. While restrictions on the transportation of firewood are no longer in place, state officials urge Ohioans to continue exercising caution (PDF) when moving hardwoods. A federal quarantine (PDF) of Ohio remains in effect.

A Columbus Dispatch editorial questioned the wisdom of investing in the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line, while James Nemastil dismissed its critics in a Plain Dealer op-ed.

The Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration issued its final report. It features a series of recommendations (PDF) designed to to encourage governmental cooperation and consolidation, but does not call for requiring increases in local government efficiency. Greater Ohio said that the report is "a step in the right direction," an Akron Beacon Journal editorial called it "a modest agenda," and Jennifer Bradley of the Brookings Institution said that state leaders need to act more aggressively. Two members of the commission, Lake County Commissioner Dan Troy and attorney Tim Downing, discussed the report on Thursday's Sound of Ideas program.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch has more information.

Ohio Department of Transportation leaders envision increasing the top speed of the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line from 79 mph to 110 mph, but the freight railroads are unenthusiastic about the idea. Rail suppliers back the planned line, while Republican state legislators continue to oppose it. In early August, Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich said he would cancel the plans if elected and Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Yvette McGee Brown voiced her support for passenger rail. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood downplayed the dispute.

A coalition of 20 Northeast Ohio stakeholders submitted an application for a regional planning grant from the federal Sustainable Communities Initiative. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Transportation filed $259 million in grant requests through the federal TIGER II program, including a request for $12.3 million to develop a statewide electric vehicle readiness plan. None of ODOT's 12 projects are specific to Cuyahoga County.

Citing reduced demand and proposed federal regulations, FirstEnergy announced plans to reduce operations at four of its smaller coal-fired power plants in Ohio. The changes include plans (PDF) to temporarily idle the Lake Shore Plant in Cleveland and to operate the Eastlake Plant only during the summer and winter.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded $8.29 million in Clean Ohio Trails Fund grants (PDF), including $468,000 to the Cleveland Metroparks for the West Creek Greenway, $350,000 to the City of Euclid for a Lake Erie waterfront trail and $88,524 to ParkWorks for the Lake Link Trail in Cleveland. ODNR also awarded $1.87 million in grants from its Recreational Trails Program, which includes $150,000 (PDF) for the trail in Euclid.

Update: the News-Herald has more information about Euclid's plans.

The Natural Resources Defense Council published its 20th annual Testing the Waters report today. The survey of water quality at U.S. beaches ranked Ohio's (PDF) beaches 27th of the 30 states in the survey, an improvement over last year's rank of 29, but still among the nation's worst. Urban runoff and combined sewer overflows contribute to the pollution problems.

The Ohio Department of Development awarded $600,000 in federal stimulus funds for brownfield redevelopment. The Famicos Foundation received $100,000 of the funds to help with asbestos remediation at a building on East Boulevard in Cleveland.

As urban agriculture grows in popularity, leaders in Cleveland and other Midwestern cities are considering its role in urban revitalization. An Ohio State University researcher is studying insect populations at community gardens to help inform future land use decisions. Lead contamination can also be an issue in urban soils, but several low-cost techniques can reduce its danger.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission is advancing the second phase of the Ohio Hub Plan. The Commission hired AECOM of Los Angeles to assess potential high-speed passenger rail routes from Cleveland to Detroit and from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, as well as upgrades to the planned 3C Corridor. Sherrod Brown and Policy Matters Ohio recently touted the 3C Corridor as an investment that will promote economic development and create jobs. Earlier this year, the Rail Development Commission released the Ohio Statewide Rail Plan.

The Premcor Refining Group of San Antonio reached a settlement with the State of Ohio. The company agreed to clean up leaking underground storage tanks at 55 former Clark gas station sites in 26 counties and to pay $4 million in penalties. Nine of the locations (PDF) are in Cuyahoga County.

This week's issue of Scene looks at the arguments for and against Ohio's planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line. WKSU also looked at the debate.

Huntington National Bank announced plans to invest $100 million in affordable housing developments across Ohio over the next 30 months. The funds are expected to leverage an additional $150 million.

In the fourth round of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, 13 projects were awarded $28.3 million in tax credits. Three Cuyahoga County properties were among the recipients: the Union Building in Cleveland, the former Berea Congregational United Church of Christ, and the Schofield Building in downtown Cleveland. It will be converted to a 140-room boutique hotel and 24 luxury apartments. While the program has been praised, this could be its final round. It's up for renewal, and could end if a new funding source is not identified.

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could impact the Lake Erie property lines case currently before the Ohio Supreme Court. The high court ruled that a Florida beach restoration program does not violate the rights of waterfront property owners. The Ohio Environmental Law Center considered whether the decision has implications for the Ohio case, while lakefront property owners asserted that the ruling is not relevant.

Update: WKSU's Jeff St.Clair spoke with property law professor Ben Barros about the case.

Ohio lawmakers approved casino authorization legislation early Friday morning. The bill includes a provision that will permit the Cleveland casino to open in phases and another that grants a property tax exemption to the planned Medical Mart in Cleveland.

Update: Governor Strickland signed the bill.

Greater Ohio has begun to gather feedback on a proposal for a statewide quarter-percent sales tax increase to fund public transit.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geological Survey published a series of detailed maps of Ohio's glacial deposits.

The Plain Dealer has more details about the Ohio Department of Transportation's plans to grind rumble stripes along the edge lines of state routes.

A new paper by Alan Mallach of the Brookings Institution looks at the "challenges facing America's distressed older cities," examines the "role and influence of federal policy on these cities" and "offers a set of specific recommendations for how the federal government can help." A second paper by Alan Mallach and Lavea Brachman focuses on Ohio and suggests changes in state policy.

Two state legislators from Greater Cleveland intend to introduce legislation that would make it easier for communities to collaborate on municipal services. The changes would allow the City of South Euclid to contract with the City of Cleveland for trash collection. Cleveland may be able provide the service at a lower cost than a private company.

About 62% of Cleveland households mailed back their 2010 Census forms, and the statewide return rate was 76%. Both figures were slightly below 2000 levels. The national response rate was 72%. Census takers will start visiting nonrespondents on May 1.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission recently adopted a complete streets policy. Plans for roadway projects that receive funding through the Columbus-area MPO now must consider all potential users. NOACA does not yet have a similar policy.

The state Controlling Board voted to accept federal funding for the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line. The 4-3 party-line vote will allow the state to proceed with $25 million in engineering and environmental studies. The Columbus Dispatch liveblogged the meeting. Republican support likely will be needed for future expenditures.

The Strickland administration is seeking approval from the state controlling board of $25 million in planning work for the 3C Corridor passenger rail line. Ohio Department of Transportation officials now say that a supermajority vote is not needed, which would sidestep Republican opposition to the plans.

Update: the maneuver has political risks.

On Wednesday, Governor Strickland signed Substitute House Bill 313, the county land bank bill. A 2009 law established the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, and the new legislation will allow up to 41 additional counties to create and operate land banks. It will take effect in 90 days.

The planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line will require subsidies, but estimates of the costs vary. Critics of the line have focused on its projected 39 mph average speed, and Republicans on the state controlling board may block the plans. Former Ohio Rail Development Commission director James Seney is dismayed.

The Ohio Department of Transportation installed its first three Greater Cleveland traffic cameras as part of its introduction of Intelligent Transportation System technologies. The webcams are available at Buckeye Traffic.

Last week, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill that will revise the state's oil and gas drilling laws. Citizen activists were unsatisfied by the lack of consumer protections in the law, which did not return local control over drilling. The legislature also approved a bill that will allow more than 30 counties to establish land banks like the one in Cuyahoga County. Governor Strickland is expected to sign both bills.

Update: a Chagrin Solon Sun editorial says that the changes in the drilling law "don't go far enough in protecting residents from potential disasters."

In its written comments (PDF) to the U.S. EPA, the Ohio EPA objected to a federal proposal to tighten ozone standards, saying that the agency prefers the standards set by the Bush administration in 2008. Business groups were pleased and environmental organizations were disappointed.

Update: the Plain Dealer has additional details, and an editorial says that lowering ozone levels is an unrealistic goal.

The Ohio Department of Transportation issued its response to Ohio Senate President Bill Harris' questions about the planned 3C Corridor in a 21-page document (PDF). It presents reasoning in favor of the planned passenger rail line, and the Ohio Environmental Council backs the proposal (PDF). Senator Harris remains skeptical about the value of the line.

In the second episode of the Metro Matters podcast, Diana Lind of Next American City interviewed Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution. Much of their conversation was about steps that Ohio and the Great Lakes region can take to succeed economically.

Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People has begun writing about predatory lending and the foreclosure crisis at its new weblog.

The Ohio EPA will appeal the recent court decision which found that the state's pollution rules for small businesses violated the federal Clean Air Act.

In his two newest columns, Steve Hoffman of the Akron Beacon Journal looked at policy recommendations from the Restoring Prosperity report released by Greater Ohio and the Brookings Institution. He first discussed school district consolidation and the reactions of political leaders. In the second piece, he looked at the costs of local government fragmentation and the prospects for reorganizing local government. Greater Ohio officials and state legislators also recently discussed the report at the Columbus Metropolitan Club.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris expressed her support for the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line. Her agency is still preparing a response to Ohio Senate President Bill Harris' questions about the project.

Update: video of the talk is now available.

The Ohio Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of Merrill v. Ohio, the Lake Erie property lines case. The date for oral arguments has not been set.

Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution and Lavea Brachman of Greater Ohio, the organizations which jointly released the new Restoring Prosperity agenda, wrote about positioning Ohio's economy for future growth. They said that "Ohio is in a paradoxical moment: The present is painful, but the future could be promising. And in another paradox, its manufacturing heritage is part of the reason why."

On Monday, Greater Ohio and the Brookings Institution unveiled the latest report in their Restoring Prosperity initiative. Titled "Transforming Ohio's Communities for the Next Economy", the report and executive summary (PDFs) lay out a policy agenda aimed at reinvigorating the state. It makes 39 short, medium, and long-term policy recommendations in three main areas: building on assets in Ohio's metropolitan areas, reforming state and local governments, and engaging and aligning with the federal government. One of its more discussed recommendations calls for consolidating Ohio school districts. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial said that the report "belongs at the center of this campaign year", and a Morning Journal editorial said that its "recommendations deserve careful consideration and study."

Update: the Plain Dealer was also encouraged by the report.

Ohio Senate President Bill Harris is skeptical about the value of the 3C Corridor and recently sent Governor Strickland a seven-page letter with questions about the planned passenger rail line. Republicans on the state controlling board may try to block the plans. Michael Douglas of the Akron Beacon Journal encourages Ohioans to think "less about today and more about what they will need in a decade and beyond."

A new report from the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranked health outcomes and health factors in the United States by county for each state. In Ohio, Geauga and Medina counties were among the state's healthiest. Cuyahoga County ranked highly in clinical care, but poorly in morbidity, social and economic factors, and physical environment.

Update: the report was the subject of a Sound of Ideas program on WCPN.

The 79 mph top speed of the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line continues to attract criticism. The line also faces potential conflicts with increasing freight rail traffic. Columnists Brent Larkin of the Plain Dealer, Joe Hallett of the Columbus Dispatch and Brian Tucker of Crain's Cleveland Business are opposed to the project. A Plain Dealer editorial said that the concept needs to change, while a Mansfield News Journal editorial said that the "project may be worth the financial risk." Governor Strickland called the critics "cheerleaders for failure."

Update: columnist Thomas Suddes and an Akron Beacon Journal editorial considered the longer-term implications.

An Akron Beacon Journal editorial on Ohio mercury rules concludes that "the state EPA must do all that it can to curb the presence of mercury. It runs into trouble when it sets standards and then must admit the tools aren't available to get there."

A U.S. District Court judge ruled that an Ohio pollution exemption for small businesses was in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. A 2006 state law allowed establishments that emitted fewer than 10 tons of air pollutants per year to use less than the best-available emission-reduction technology, but the state never received U.S. EPA approval to change the standards.

Update: Joe Koncelik shared his reactions.

Participants on Tuesday's Sound of Ideas program discussed the planned 3C Corridor passenger rail line and the Cleveland Design Competition awards.

The announcement that Ohio was awarded $400 million for the planned 3C Corridor generated a wide variety of reactions, from the enthusiastic to the skeptical. Ohio newspapers also had a broad range of responses. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial was generally positive, the Columbus Dispatch said that investments in passenger rail are a poor use of federal dollars, and the Canton Repository laid out its hopes for the project.

Yesterday, the Obama administration announced the recipients of $8 billion in stimulus grants for high-speed rail projects across the United States. Ohio was awarded $400 million for the planned 3C Corridor between Cleveland and Cincinnati. State officials are excited, although several questions and concerns remain. Their goal is to begin operating the line in 2012. Video of Governor Strickland's press conference is available from the Ohio Channel.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency used federal stimulus funds to approve more than $53 million in tax credits. Three projects in Cuyahoga County were among the recipients: Emerald Alliance V on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Independence Place at the Prospect Avenue YWCA in Cleveland, and the Library Court senior housing development on Chagrin Boulevard in Shaker Heights.

The Compact with Ohio Cities Task Force, a 29-member group chaired by Ohio Representative Mike Foley, unveiled a report that recommends state policy changes (PDF) to foster smart growth and redevelopment. The task force's primary conclusion was that "the existing paradigm of single-jurisdictional planning is not only antiquated, but also harmful to every community in Ohio." Its list of recommendations includes restructuring tax incentive programs and allowing municipalities to jointly establish transportation innovation authorities.

The U.S. EPA proposed tougher new standards for ground-level ozone that would replace standards set by the Bush administration in March 2008. The proposal calls for new standards between 60 and 70 parts per billion, down from the 75 parts per billion standard adopted in 2008. Northeast Ohio, which last year attained compliance with the 1997 standard (80 ppb), would not meet the new standard. Much of the rest of the state would also be in noncompliance, and the major metropolitan areas may have difficulty reaching the lower levels.

Greater Ohio will relaunch the ReBuild Ohio program. The organization will "work to refocus ReBuild Ohio's efforts to address Ohio's growing vacant and abandoned property problem through state-level reforms". Participants discuss related issues at the ReBuild Ohio Vacant Property Forum.

Although it obtained federal dollars to preserve transit service, Lorain County Transit may reduce its number of routes from 12 to two. Officials in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties have begun to discuss the potential for a partnership between RTA and Lorain County Transit. Meanwhile, a coalition of organizations unveiled the Save Transit Now, Move Ohio Forward! campaign to advocate for public transportation.

Update: the Columbus Government Examiner has more details about the campaign's objectives. A Morning Journal editorial says that a Cuyahoga County-Lorain County public transit partnership is "worth talking about".

Today's News-Herald has a brief update on the activities of the Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration.

The U.S. Census Bureau released 2009 state population estimates today. Ohio's population grew by an estimated 189,505 between 2000 and July 2009, an increase of 1.7%. It was one of the nation's smaller growth rates. At the national scale, population growth slowed in the South and West over the last year. The recession has reduced domestic and international migration.

A draft of the Ohio 2010 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report found that water quality of the state's rivers and streams has improved since the last report was completed in 2008. Some of the improvement may be due to a change in methodologies. The report is open for public comment until March 31. Panelists on the most recent NEOtropolis show discussed the importance of watersheds and the Great Lakes Compact.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch has more details.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's trustees rejected a proposed 2010 budget and associated service reductions. The board passed a three-month budget, and the proposed cuts will be discussed at public hearings in January. A statewide coalition is organizing a campaign to advocate for increasing investments in public transit.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission approved six Balanced Growth Strategy grants for local watershed plans, including two in the Lake Erie watershed.

The Ohio House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 313, which would permit 28 more Ohio counties to establish land banks. The bill now moves to the Ohio Senate as Senate Bill 188.

A bill under consideration in the Ohio Senate would revise Ohio's oil and gas drilling laws. It would change the minimum setback from 100 to 150 feet, but does not include enough changes to satisfy Northeast Ohio legislators and residents. They hope to include stronger protections in an Ohio House bill.

Update: this week's issue of Scene has more details. It was also the subject of a discussion on WCPN's Sound of Ideas.

The Ohio Department of Development awarded $23.7 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits to 12 projects across the state. The only recipient in Cuyahoga County was the Cowell & Hubbard Building in downtown Cleveland. The Playhouse Square Foundation purchased the building in 2007.

The U.S. EPA released its annual analysis of Toxics Release Inventory data. In 2008, pollution releases at the national level fell by 6% from 2007 levels. Ohio reduced its releases of toxic air pollutants by 22%, but remained the nation's top emitter of toxic airborne compounds. Toxic releases in Cuyahoga County fell from 12.2 million tons in 2007 to 9.9 million tons in 2008. The ArcelorMittal steel mill in Cleveland was the County's top polluter.

Census Bureau officials anticipate resistance from certain sectors to completing the 2010 Census. Ohio government and nonprofit groups have formed complete count committees.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology launched the BUILT in Ohio program, a partnership with Governor Strickland's office and the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. It's intended "to help Ohio's cities target emerging sources of federal investment and leverage them towards a new pattern of urban growth."

Differing interpretations of Ohio's brownfield remediation tax incentive statute nearly caused major problems for the Taylor Chair Company of Bedford.

On Monday, Governor Strickland announced that 25 Ohio energy projects will receive more than $13 million in federal stimulus grants. Seven of the wind and solar projects are in Cuyahoga County.

Update: Middleburg Heights leaders continue to discuss the proposed wind turbine at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

The Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration will hold a meeting and public hearing on Friday morning in the Cleveland Public Library's Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium. The Commission is gathering input (PDF) on intergovernmental cooperation. Testimony should be submitted in advance.

WCPN looked at how the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Ohio EPA have invested their federal stimulus dollars.

A new report from Policy Matters Ohio examined the distribution patterns of transportation projects funded by federal stimulus dollars. One of its findings is that 63% of the funds distributed by the state's metropolitan planning organizations went to suburban and exurban projects. The report recommends reviewing decision-making processes to ensure that MPOs do not encourage urban sprawl.

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is compiling a list of projects (PDF) for potential funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. It includes funding for the removal of two dams on the Cuyahoga River.

On November 10, Clean Fuels Ohio and the Levin College Forum will host a discussion about the future of transportation in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources awarded $6.25 million in grants from the Clean Ohio Trails Fund to 25 projects, including three in Cuyahoga County. Bedford Heights received $374,726 for the Richmond Road All-Purpose Trail, Cuyahoga Heights received $500,000 for the Cuyahoga Heights Multi-Use Trail, and the West Creek Preservation Committee received $103,125 for the O'Malley-Henninger Greenway.

Bipartisan legislation introduced in both houses of the Ohio General Assembly would authorize 28 more counties to organize a county land bank. The current statute, adopted earlier this year, applies only to Cuyahoga County.

Update: the Dayton Daily News offers additional information.

While Congress passed an one-month extension of SAFETEA-LU, the 2005 transportation law, it did not remove the $8.7 billion rescission included in the old bill. The cuts have hit alternative transportation projects especially hard, and Ohio is among the states canceling funding for transportation enhancements, CMAQ, and trails projects.

Local leaders and Census Bureau officials have begun efforts to build awareness of the 2010 Census.

The Indiana Department of Transportation applied for $2.8 billion in federal stimulus funds to plan, build, and launch high-speed rail service between Chicago and Cleveland.

Although an Amtrak study said that the proposed 3-C Corridor could begin service in 2011 if it receives funding, it may not start operating until the end of 2012.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said he intends to join in the appeal of the Lake Erie property lines case to the Ohio Supreme Court. A Plain Dealer editorial strongly supported his choice, and an editorial in Toledo's Blade is even more unequivocal about the decision and need to appeal. An earlier Akron Beacon Journal editorial made similar points.

Update: Cordray filed the appeal, saying that the "ruling by the appeals court undermines the attorney general's authority and duty to represent the people of Ohio."

Last week, the Ohio Department of Transportation submitted its application for $563.8 million in federal stimulus funds for the proposed 3-C Corridor passenger rail line. About 40 states were expected to submit $106 billion in applications for the available $8 billion.

Community Research Partners analyzed IRS migration data to identify the destinations of people moving from Ohio and the originations of people moving to Ohio. The report looked at migration between Ohio and the rest of the U.S., within the state, and within metropolitan areas. From 2007 to 2008, Ohio experienced a net loss of 35,692 residents through domestic migration.

Greater Ohio, building on input provided at June's Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit, has prepared a draft of its Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Policy Platform and is gathering comments and suggestions. The document will serve as a model for platforms for other Ohio cities.

This week's Scene explored the suburban conflicts resulting from Ohio's deregulation of natural gas wells. Some Ohio legislators want to change the 2004 state law.

Additional 2008 American Community Survey data released by the Census Bureau includes information about income, poverty (PDF), and food stamp receipts. The poverty rate rose in Ohio and the Midwest, while in Northeast Ohio, the number of people with incomes near the poverty line increased. An analysis by the Brookings Institution predicts that poverty rates will remain elevated for years.

The Ohio Division of the Federal Highway Administration conducted a Review of Ohio Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning and Safety Efforts (PDF) at the Ohio Department of Transportation and the state's metropolitan planning organizations. It included a set of recommendations to improve the conditions for bicycling and walking. Meanwhile, two Ohio Senators introduced a bill that would establish a safe lateral passing distance for motorists passing cyclists.

The U.S. Census Bureau released 2008 American Community Survey data on Monday. Social, housing, demographic, and economic data are available for areas with populations of 65,000 or more. It showed decreases in median household income across Ohio, especially in the state's major cities. For the first time, the ACS included data on health insurance coverage, and Northeast Ohio's big cities had a greater percentage of people without coverage than state and national averages.

Governor Strickland appointed Lisa Patt-McDaniel as director of the Ohio Department of Development. She has served as its interim director since May.

Amtrak yesterday released a draft of its feasibility report (PDF) on the proposed 3-C Corridor passenger rail line. It said that the service could be operating by 2011 with nearly 500,000 riders at a cost of $500 million. It would include six daily stops at two Cleveland stations, the lakefront Amtrak station and RTA's Puritas rapid station.

Update: most attendees at an ORDC meeting supported the proposal. Others want more information.

A draft of a study (PDF) by the Ohio EPA of 30 construction and demolition debris landfills found pollutants in their leachate. Each landfill had 3–29 pollutants at levels in excess of health or water quality standards. Five of the landfills surveyed are in Cuyahoga County.

David Jones of the News Herald summarized the history of the Lake Erie property lines case and considered how it may proceed.

In addition to upholding the lower court decision, the recent appeals court ruling in the Lake Erie shoreline case also said that the Ohio attorney general had no standing in the case. The Ohio Environmental Council called the decision a "gross misinterpretation of the [Ohio] Revised Code".

Ohio Rail Development Commission officials are quickly trying to fulfill requirements for federal funding of the proposed 3-C Corridor passenger rail line. They intend to apply for up to $450 million of the $8 billion in stimulus funds available for high-speed rail. The requests of Midwest states that would be served through the Chicago Hub Network are expected to be among $102 billion in requests from 40 states and Washington, D.C.

The Ohio Department of Development has been without a permanent director since Lee Fisher stepped down in February, and a Plain Dealer editorial says that appointing a director should be a priority. The paper had earlier raised the issue in May, when Lisa Patt-McDaniel was named as interim director. Meanwhile, Karen Kasler of the Statehouse News Bureau asked what the department should be doing and whether it should continue to exist.

The Ohio EPA proposed changes to the state's wetland mitigation rules in early 2006, but they remain unimplemented due to objections from developers. Between 2006 and 2008, more than 477 acres of wetlands and 106 miles of streams were filled in. Ohio EPA officials hope to reach a compromise in October.

Ohio Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner spoke at the City Club today. She said that (MP3, 52.1 MB) she would make rejuvenating the state's cities a priority if elected to the Senate.

The 2009 APA Ohio Statewide Planning Conference will be held from September 23 to 25 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls. The Cleveland Section's 21st annual Planning and Zoning Workshop will take place on November 13 at LaCentre in Westlake.

University of Toledo professor Ken Kilbert disagrees with the recent shoreline ruling by the Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals, while a lakefront property owner supports the decision.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission is conducting an online survey of potential users of the proposed 3-C Corridor passenger rail line. The ORDC will also hold a public meeting on September 16 at the Cleveland Airport Holiday Inn.

(via Greater Ohio)

The Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals yesterday upheld a 2007 lower court decision, and ruled that private property lines along Lake Erie extend to the water's edge, shifting as the water level changes. The ruling (PDF) pleased property owners and disappointed environmentalists, who are expected to file an appeal.

Last week, National Wildlife Federation President Larry Schweiger spoke at the Akron Roundtable about the consequences of global warming, and noted that its impacts are being felt around the world and in Ohio. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that "the challenge now involves the country and the international community acting quickly enough to avoid far more drastic consequences." Today, the National Wildlife Federation released a report titled More Extreme Heat Waves: Global Warming's Wake Up Call. It details the predicted human health impacts of global warming-induced heat waves.

Meanwhile, some climate scientists attribute shifts in Ohio rainfall patterns to climate change. Northeast Ohio has experienced an increase in the number of days per year with heavy storms. A report released by the the Union of Concerned Scientists last month presented scenarios about the future impacts of climate change in the Midwest.

Amtrak's study of the proposed 3-C Corridor will be released in mid-September. Information from the study will be used in Ohio's application for federal funding of the proposed passenger rail line.

Update: the Associated Press offers more details.

The U.S. EPA is developing national air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) . Area officials expect that Ohio cities will be able to comply with the new limits.

The Ohio EPA's new Environmental Insurance Program (PDF) will provide discounted environmental insurance for the risks encountered in brownfield remediation.

Cleveland leaders remain frustrated by the erosion of home rule powers in Ohio.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris spoke at the City Club today. She said that the (MP3, 51.1 MB) Innerbelt Bridge project is "the highest and most pressing transportation issue in the state."

Update: she also said that the decision to eliminate Innerbelt ramps at Prospect and Carnegie avenues may not be final. Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Innerbelt project. The public comment period is open until August 31.

For the second consecutive year, the Natural Resources Defense Council's annual Testing the Waters report ranked the water quality at Ohio's beaches as the second-worst in the nation. Bacteria levels at the state's Lake Erie beaches exceeded acceptable levels approximately 19% of the time in 2008. There were 783 health advisory days at Ohio beaches last year, up from 657 in 2007.

Governor Strickland and seven other Midwest governors signed a memorandum of understanding for the Chicago Hub High-Speed Rail Corridor. The eight states will support each other's applications for federal funding of high-speed passenger rail. The Chicago Hub plans include Ohio's 3-C Corridor.

Ohio officials submitted applications for federal funding of the proposed 3-C Corridor passenger rail line. They indicated that income from the state's highway advertising program would help pay for its operation. 40 states and the District of Columbia submitted proposals. Meanwhile, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved $4 billion for high-speed rail construction, which would be in addition to the $8 billion in federal stimulus funds.

As support grows for the proposed 3-C Corridor, communities along the proposed route between Cleveland and Cincinnati are lobbying to be selected as stops. The communities competing for stations on the passenger rail line include Grafton, Wellington, Crestline, Gallion, Middletown, and Hamilton.

An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the new Compact with Ohio Cities Task Force could generate recommendations to refocus and simplify state incentive programs to encourage reinvestment in urban areas instead of urban sprawl.

A New York Times analysis of state spending of federal transportation stimulus dollars "offered vivid evidence that metropolitan areas are losing the struggle for stimulus money" to rural areas. The article used the funding for the Innerbelt Bridge project in Cleveland as an example. A recent report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (PDF) reached a similar conclusion, leading mayors to register complaints with the White House.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch also published an article on the subject.

It appears likely that funding for the Ohio Urban University Program will be cut from the Ohio budget, which will lead to a loss of research programs at Cleveland State's Levin College.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is promoting a fix-it-first philosophy for infrastructure investments, but a new report from Smart Growth America identified Ohio as one of only five states to allocate over half of its federal stimulus road budget to new construction.

The Brookings Institution posted the text of Bruce Katz's remarks at the recent Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit.

A Plain Dealer editorial says that Mayor Jackson "is right to be skeptical" about the the Ohio Department of Transportation's promises to replace diverted federal transportation stimulus dollars. The projects funded by the shifted funds are not in the Cleveland area, which the editorial says "reveals the depth of the state's neglect of its urban economic engines in favor of spreading political peanut butter for votes."

Of the $220 million in federal stimulus funds awarded to Cleveland transportation projects, the Ohio Department of Transportation has diverted $135 million to projects elsewhere in the state. While ODOT has pledged to replace the shifted funds with other state and federal highway dollars, Mayor Jackson is worried that the State will be unable to fulfill its commitment. On Tuesday, he outlined his concerns in a letter to Governor Strickland.

Update: an ODOT spokesperson said that the agency remains committed to the projects.

The Plain Dealer published another editorial about funding for the Ohio Urban University Program, and again urged Ohio legislators to keep the program alive.

At the request of federal transportation officials, the Ohio Department of Transportation reassigned $57 million in federal stimulus funds from highway planning and design work to shorter-term construction projects, including the $20 million that had been designated for the Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland. ODOT officials said that the planning projects will be supported with non-stimulus funds. In April, ODOT redirected $115 million of the $200 million in stimulus funds initially assigned to the Innerbelt Bridge project.

A Plain Dealer analysis of the recent Ohio Supreme Court decision on municipal residency requirements described the ruling as "the whack of a gavel pounding another nail -- perhaps the final one -- into home rule's coffin."

A Cincinnati Enquirer editorial says that the foreclosure reform measure passed by the Ohio House last month deserves fair consideration by the Ohio Senate.

(via ReBuild Ohio)

In a 5-2 ruling on Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld a 2006 state law that eliminated residency requirements for local governments in the state. In his majority opinion, Justice Pfeifer cited Section 34 of the Ohio Constitution, which says that the General Assembly may enact laws for the general welfare of employees. The City of Cleveland and 137 other Ohio cities and villages had instituted residency rules for employees. Other states have also banned residency requirements.

Members of Cleveland's safety forces celebrated the ruling, but City officials were not pleased. Mayor Jackson said he was disappointed, but would abide by the decision. Cleveland City Council called the ruling flawed and was critical of state legislators who supported the law. A Plain Dealer editorial said that the decision was "horrendous" and that it "undermines home rule" and "sets a pernicious precedent." Local real estate experts do not expect to see a rapid exit of City employees, but a gradual migration is possible.

Over 400 people attended the Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit on Monday. Keynote speaker Bruce Katz of the Brookings Institution made suggestions for improving Ohio's competitiveness through government reform, and urged state leaders to target investments in urban areas instead of spreading them around "like peanut butter."

Governor Strickland and ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris were in Washington, D.C. yesterday to promote Ohio's high-speed rail plans. They're seeking $400 million in federal funds for the planned 3-C Corridor.

Update: the Columbus Dispatch offers more details.

The Brookings Institution published "Addressing Ohio's Foreclosure Crisis: Taking the Next Steps," a paper by Alan Mallach. Greater Ohio issued a draft of the paper in April.

In a 4-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned two lower courts, ruling that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has exclusive jurisdiction in the state on tree removal matters in utility easements and that the lower courts lacked the jurisdiction to decide the case. A Brooklyn couple had contested FirstEnergy's right to cut down a tree on their property.

The Ohio EPA awarded nine 319 grants, including a $329,208 grant to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to restore an unnamed tributary of Tinkers Creek (PDF) in Hudson and a $249,984 grant to Metro Parks, Serving Summit County to restore sections of Furnace Run (PDF) in Richfield. Meanwhile, the Ohio Lake Erie Commission gave a $15,000 grant to the GreenCityBlueLake Institute for a land use planning project, and gave a $14,900 grant to the Chagrin River Watershed Partners to develop a clean water web portal.

The Ohio Department of Development will begin accepting applications for round three of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program on July 1.

Update: the Plain Dealer has more details.

A Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit will be held at Cleveland State on June 8. The event is part of the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative of the Brookings Institution and Greater Ohio. The Brookings Institution's Bruce Katz will be the keynote speaker.

A Plain Dealer editorial encourages the Ohio Senate to quickly pass House Bill 3, the foreclosure reform bill.

ODNR's Office of Coastal Management awarded more than $1 million in Coastal Management Assistance Grants to 10 organizations and government entities (PDF). The grants include $50,000 to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for its Walworth Run Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study and $68,250 to the Cleveland Metroparks to develop a shoreline management plan for Huntington Reservation.

Update: West Life has more details.

Ohio bicycling advocates are promoting a proposed new bike safety bill. One local cyclist is a staunch advocate of vehicular cycling, and disagrees with plans to build more bike lanes and paths. Other cyclists, like Ian Sacs at Planetizen, believe his arguments are flawed.

The Ohio House passed House Bill 3 yesterday by a vote of 54 to 43. The foreclosure reform legislation now goes to the Ohio Senate, which is not expected to immediately consider the bill because members are concentrating on the state budget.

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial supports the legislation.

A Plain Dealer editorial supports the Ohio law that reinstated public hearing requirements for port authorities.

New age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin population estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau show that Ohio's population remained virtually unchanged but continued to grow more diverse. Nationally, minority populations grew again, but more slowly than previously anticipated. The growth rates of Hispanic and Asian populations have started to decline, reflecting the recent drop in immigration levels.

Update: the Plain Dealer posted the figures for Greater Cleveland.

An Ohio House committee approved foreclosure reform legislation yesterday. Among the items in House Bill 3 is a six-month foreclosure moratorium. A provision that would have allowed judges to modify mortgage terms was removed from the bill. Representative Foley of Cleveland, the bill's sponsor, spoke with WTAM about it. The entire House may vote on the legislation next week.

Last week, the U.S. EPA announced $111.9 million in grants, of which $5.6 million will be for projects in Ohio. Cuyahoga County received a $1 million grant to conduct brownfields assessments at about 35 sites. The grants were "bolstered by funds" from the federal stimulus bill.

By a vote of 52-42, the Ohio House passed a bill that would give more rights to renters living in foreclosed properties. The bill now heads to the state Senate, and a Plain Dealer editorial urges the Senate to pass it.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture is looking at ways to expand its farmland preservation program to include smaller farms.

Amtrak proposed a route for 3-C Corridor as part of the study it is conducting for the Ohio Rail Development Commission. The route includes stops in downtown Cleveland and near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, but does not go through Akron or Elyria. The passenger rail study should be completed in August.

In a Plain Dealer op-ed, University of Dayton professor Michael Gorman says that Ohio should invest in its freight rail infrastructure in addition to improving its passenger rail network: "Investing in our freight rail system would be smart spending that would stimulate jobs now, reduce oil consumption, extend the life of existing roadways and help the environment."

In a News-Herald column, Amanda Woodrum of Policy Matters Ohio makes a case for increasing state funding for Ohio's public transit systems. She says that "transportation spending should better reflect the positive role public transit can play in creating a more equitable, vibrant and sustainable Ohio."

The Ohio EPA yesterday announced plans to invest $1.1 billion in federal stimulus funds and low-interest state loans in water and sewer infrastructure projects. Approximately $46 million will go to projects in Northeast Ohio, including $5 million for two NEORSD sewer projects. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of the Interior unveiled plans for $750 million in stimulus funds, of which the Cuyahoga Valley National Park will receive about $7.8 million. The award will fund five projects in the Park. An Akron Beacon Journal editorial says that the dollars (PDF) will help address the Park's maintenance backlog. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced that it will reallocate $115 million of the $200 million in stimulus funds it recently assigned to the Innerbelt Bridge project in Cleveland to 52 other projects across the state. ODOT officials say that the funding will be replaced with other state and federal dollars.

Yesterday, President Obama unveiled his strategic plan for high-speed rail in the United States. It includes two connections to Cleveland as part of the Chicago Hub Network: the 3-Corridor that would link Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati, and a line between Cleveland and Chicago that would stop in Toledo. Governor Strickland said that Ohio will compete for federal stimulus dollars that have been allocated for high-speed rail.

Recent reports by Francisca Richter and Lisa Nelson of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland compared the way the foreclosure crisis has played out in Cleveland's North Collinwood neighborhood and the Pittsburgh borough of Braddock. Although the two areas look similar on paper, the foreclosure rate has been much higher in Collinwood. The difference may be attributable to the different regulatory environments of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Greater Ohio released a final draft of "Addressing Ohio's Foreclosure Crisis: Taking the next steps" (PDF), a new paper by Alan Mallach of the Brookings Institution. He identified seven objectives and 26 recommendations for state-level policy changes. The paper will be formally published by the Brookings Institution later this spring.

The proposed elimination of the Ohio Urban University Program would lead to layoffs at Cleveland State University. A Plain Dealer editorial again urges state lawmakers to save the program.

Recent Plain Dealer editorials support the foreclosure prevention legislation under discussion in the Ohio House, cheer for reinvestment along the rebuilt Euclid Avenue, and object to the dearth of funding for public transit in the new state transportation budget.

A bipartisan conference committee of state legislators crafted a compromise biennial transportation budget, and although a disagreement prevented a vote on Tuesday, the Ohio House and Senate both passed the bill yesterday. Governor Strickland signed the budget bill late last night. The final version kept $250 million for passenger rail along the 3-C Corridor.

The federal stimulus bill passed in February includes $3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The grants are available to fund projects that reduce energy use or improve energy efficiency. Ohio's share of the allocations is $84 million. Cuyahoga County will receive $5.8 million and the City of Cleveland will receive $4.5 million.

Ohio officials today announced that 149 transportation infrastructure projects in 87 Ohio counties will receive a total of $774 million in federal stimulus funds. The largest single investment was for the Innerbelt Bridge project in Cleveland, which will receive $200 million. The other major project in Cuyahoga County to be funded is the Opportunity Corridor, which is slated to receive $20 million.

Amanda Woodrum of Policy Matters Ohio is the author of Committing to Commuters, a new report about state of public transit in Ohio. In an Akron Beacon Journal op-ed, she wrote about the state's lack of investment in public transportation and the need for a dedicated funding source. An editorial in the paper agrees with her conclusions.

The Levin College Forum at CSU will host a discussion titled "Building our Future Beyond Foreclosure" on April 23. It will "highlight existing civic visions and plans for the Northeast Ohio region and the state." Panelists will include David Beach, Lavea Brachman, Andrew Jackson, Robert Jaquay, and Wendy Kellogg.

The U.S. EPA's annual publication of Toxics Release Inventory statistics reveal that Ohio businesses emitted 3.89% fewer toxins in 2007 than in 2006. Factories and power plants in Ohio continued to emit more air pollution than any other state. Nationwide, toxic releases declined by 5% in 2007. A provision in the recent appropriations bill reinstated stronger reporting requirements, reversing a 2006 Bush administration rule.

The Ohio Senate passed the two-year transportation budget bill, but removed some of Governor Strickland's proposals. Funding for the 3-C Corridor was retained. A compromise bill is expected to emerge from a joint Senate-House conference committee. The Governor's office says that another provision in the Senate bill threatens $96 million in federal stimulus funds.

Update: in an editorial, the Plain Dealer backs the commuter rail plans.

Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish is urging ODOT to assign $200 million in federal stimulus funds for repairs to the Innerbelt Bridge in Cleveland.

Policy Matters Ohio's annual foreclosure report says that the 85,782 new foreclosure filings in Ohio last year were a record high. Cuyahoga County had the most filings for the fourth consecutive year, but the number of filings in Cuyahoga County was 7.3% lower in 2008 than in 2007. The largest increases in foreclosure filings were in the state's rural counties.

As of yesterday, the State of Ohio had received over 20,000 proposals for investing federal stimulus dollars. The Akron Beacon Journal identified the suggestions for the Akron area. Several application deadlines have already passed, and the state encourages applicants to submit proposals as quickly as possible. In addition, the Ohio Senate unanimously approved spending $360 million of stimulus funds on brownfield remediation, trails, parks, and other items. The Ohio House is also expected to pass the bill. NOACA will receive nearly $44.2 million in stimulus funds, which will be divided proportionately among its five-county service area. The agency's RTIS will select the projects that will be funded.

Last week, the Ohio House passed a two-year transportation budget bill that would allocate $7.6 billion, plus $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds. It includes $250 million for the 3-C Corridor passenger rail proposal. The Ohio Senate is now debating the plan. GreenCityBlueLake describes it as "a once in a generation opportunity to rebuild our transportation system", while WKSU commentator Paul Gaston provides a historical perspective.

The Ohio Great Lakes Compact Advisory Board held its first meeting last Thursday. The 28-member board is scheduled to make recommendations to the governor and general assembly by June 2010.

A Plain Dealer editorial urges state leaders to restore proposed cuts to the Ohio Urban University Program, saying that "the research done by the Levin College and the others is a bargain."

Update: an Akron Beacon Journal editorial also says that the program deserves to be saved.

Heritage Ohio, a statewide historic preservation and downtown development organization, launched a redesigned website and Ohio Downtown Revitalization, a new weblog.

The Ohio House may pass a $7.5 billion state transportation budget this week. It includes funding for the 3-C Corridor, a proposed passenger rail line connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. The Ohio Senate does not have a vote scheduled.

(via Ohio Passenger Rail)

Republicans in the Ohio House want to wait until a study of the proposed 3-C Corridor is finished before pursuing the project. However, they lack the votes to delay it, and passenger rail supporters counter that waiting could hurt the state's chances of receiving federal stimulus funds.

Governor Strickland's proposed two-year budget suggests cutting $5 million from the Ohio Urban University Program, which would result in a $1.6 million reduction for the Levin College of Urban Affairs. Cleveland State University officials are lobbying the state to restore the funding or reduce the size of the cuts.

As of last Friday, Ohio officials had received nearly 7,500 proposals for federal stimulus funds, adding up to about $28 million in requests. The state expects to receive about $8 billion. By yesterday, the number of requests had topped 10,000. GreenCityBlueLake has suggestions for greening the stimulus investments. The list (XLS, 8.3 MB) is available at the state's stimulus website, and Cleveland.com also posted the database.

Ohio passenger rail advocates are urging the Ohio Department of Transportation to apply for federal funding of high-speed and intercity rail projects. ODOT must submit a strategic plan before April 18.

Update: WKSU has more information.

Foreclosure statistics released by the Ohio Supreme Court show that Ohio experienced a record high number of foreclosures in 2008. It was the 13th consecutive year with an increase. However, the rate of increase slowed to 3.1%, the smallest figure in the 13-year period.

Cuyahoga County's $420 million wish list for federal stimulus dollars includes gray and green infrastructure projects, green energy initiatives, and social service programs. The State of Ohio is accepting suggestions for stimulus projects at a special website.

Update: this week's Sun Newspapers have more details about the requests made by Euclid and Broadview Heights leaders.

Democrats in the Ohio House have proposed foreclosure prevention legislation that includes a six-month foreclosure moratorium and would allow judges to rewrite mortgage terms when homeowners owe more than property is worth, among other provisions. A Morning Journal editorial says that the moratorium "makes sense in the current economic crisis."

Update: WKSU has additional reactions.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2007 Census of Agriculture, the number of farms in the nation increased by 4% between 2002 and 2007, but the number of farms in Ohio fell by 2.5% over the same period. While Ohio now has fewer family farms, more of them are operated by women.

Channel 3 followed up yesterday's story about creating a sustainable transportation system with a report about transportation choices that individuals can make. The station also examined proposals for commuter rail in Ohio.

A draft recommendation by the Ohio EPA identifies 31 counties as nonattainment areas under federal ozone standards adopted last year. The list includes Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties. The Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing about the recommendation in Columbus on February 12. The Greater Cleveland counties also fail to meet older, less stringent standards.

Eleven Greater Cleveland cities made requests for federal stimulus dollars through a report compiled by the United States Conference of Mayors. The Plain Dealer lists their proposals. Ohio leaders have been actively lobbying for funding, and the state may receive $6.8 billion.

Persisting Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Ohio Mortgage Lending, a new report from the Housing Research & Advocacy Center, found that upper-income African Americans in the state were denied home mortgages more often than low-income whites. It also found that they were more likely to receive high-cost subprime loans.

The transportation portion of Governor Strickland's budget proposal includes tolls for new road construction, support for commuter rail, and new funding mechanisms for road improvements, among other items. Meanwhile, AMATS unveiled a draft of its Transportation Outlook (PDF) for Summit and Portage counties. It will be open for public comment (PDF) through February 27.

Yesterday's Sound of Ideas show was devoted to a discussion of residency requirements for municipal employees.

Ohio officials do not intend to join California and 13 other states in their effort to set strict new automobile emissions standards.

The Plain Dealer has more details about how Ronn Richard will help to coordinate the distribution of federal stimulus dollars.

Greater Ohio's Gene Krebs, a member of the Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force, feels that ODOT does not need an increased gas tax and instead requires "greater accountability and performance criteria on infrastructure investments".

The Ohio Department of Transportation has begun considering whether to replace the state's gas tax with a mileage tax.

Ohio Department of Transportation Director James Beasley will retire at the end of the month. He has held the post since February 2007. Governor Strickland appointed Jolene Molitoris as his successor. She is the current ODOT assistant director and the former head of the Federal Railroad Administration.

Update: passenger rail advocates hope that she will be supportive of commuter rail projects.

Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases about residency requirements for government employees. A 2006 Ohio law banned the residency requirements, and the Cities of Akron and Lima sued to block the law. The state law was upheld in local trial courts, but was overturned by appellate courts. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case last year, and the City of Cleveland joined Lima's defense as a friend of the court. 138 cities and villages in Ohio have residency laws.

David Beach shares his thoughts about the recommendations recently identified by ODOT's 21st Century Transportation Priorities