Ohio DOT Adopts New State Maritime Plan

With the adoption of an official maritime plan, the state of Ohio plans to leverage its waterways for economic development.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) adopted the Ohio Maritime Plan on December 18. Its missions are to provide a clear understanding of the system’s use and to articulate waterborne freight mobility needs, issues and opportunities as goods move through ports to other modes and supply chain destinations, according to the website for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The plan is designed to influence better-informed policy and investment decisions around the state.

“The Ohio Maritime Plan will guide partnerships between ODOT and public ports, private owners and operators and stakeholders to advance strategic action and investment in Ohio’s waterways and economy,” ODOT freight and maritime manager Randy Lane said. “By improving ports and freight mobility across the system, we’re positioning Ohio as a vital hub for commerce and jobs.”

The plan applies to both the Ohio River and its tributaries and to Lake Erie. It begins with creating an inventory of owners and operators along the state’s maritime transportation system and identifying their roles and responsibilities as well as opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

That information will guide the prioritization and implementation of policies and projects all designed to lead to increased reliability, efficiency and resiliency of the system, Lane said.

Along the way, the state expects to get a better understanding of partner capital and operational needs for maintaining and growing Ohio’s maritime transportation system, to identify potential resources to assist those partners with planning and implementation and to inform ODOT of maritime transportation system priorities and opportunities for collaboration. It will also serve as a resource for educating both citizens and decisionmakers about the importance of the system.

The plan “supports and strengthens port infrastructure and operations, boosting efficiency and competitiveness,” ultimately benefitting the barge and towboat industry, Lane said.

It includes profiles of the three port statistical areas along Ohio’s portion of the Ohio River, along with information about Lake Erie ports and some specific strategies for bolstering economic development.

Ohio River Commission

One of the groups likely to play a leading role in implementing the plan is the newly formed Ohio River Commission. The commission was created by the Ohio General Assembly, and the steering committee began meeting in August, said Eric Thomas, who has served as a steering committee member. Thomas also is executive director of the Cincinnati Ohio River Business Association (CORBA). The commission’s goal is to promote economic development, marine cargo terminal operations and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries.

The commission’s first executive director, Taylor Abbott, began work January 5.

Abbott addressed a virtual meeting of CORBA’s regional maritime committee on January 7.

He discussed the importance of expanding available Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, including the potential for adding onto the currently available Central Ohio River Information System (CORIS), a centralized source of information on ports, terminals, river gauges and marine traffic developed by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) and CORBA to boost river commerce and logistics.

“We’re looking at expanding our network, of course, because we want to touch on every inch of our river, from East Liverpool to Cincinnati,” he said.

Abbott said the commission wants to identify any bottlenecks in maritime transportation, develop and expand ports and terminals and other infrastructure and to identify other opportunities in the region.

“We’re not just talking about the energy sector or the maritime sector, but we’re also looking at tourism development and recreation opportunities,” he said.

Abbott plans to visit Ohio counties, port authorities and regional development districts, introducing himself and getting to know those officials as soon as possible. He said some of his first priorities will be identifying opportunities, setting short-term goals and coming up with long-term strategies, guided by both the new Ohio Maritime Plan and Transport Ohio, the state’s multimodal freight plan.

“We have a huge asset in the Ohio River, and that’s something that I’ve been very passionate about,” Abbott said. “My family has lived on the Ohio River and worked on it for more than 200 years.”

Abbott added that as the former Monroe County, Ohio, treasurer, he also has experience redeveloping former industrial sites, helping to secure $12 million in funding for brownfield remediation for various projects. Ohio has 70 such sites that can benefit from cleanup and redevelopment and would be attractive for businesses to locate close to waterway infrastructure and natural gas resources, he said.

Abbott also sits on the board of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen, and he spoke about a successful collaboration with Mountwest Maritime Academy to offer Coast Guard-approved maritime training in the region, including simulator training. Grant funding already received will make it possible for the Inland Rivers Maritime Academy to begin offering pilothouse training in 2027, he said, and he believes there is potential to add deckhand training as well, helping to secure the industry’s workforce for the future.

“It’s an exciting time,” Abbott concluded. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”