(2) Coordinate and develop, in cooperation with local, | 14 |
regional, state, and federal planning agencies and authorities, | 15 |
comprehensive and balanced state policy and planning to meet | 16 |
present and future needs for adequate transportation facilities in | 17 |
this state, including recommendations for adequate funding of the | 18 |
implementation of such planning; | 19 |
(8) Prepare, print, distribute, and advertise books, maps, | 41 |
pamphlets, and other information that, in the judgment of the | 42 |
director, will inform the public and other governmental | 43 |
departments, agencies, and authorities as to the duties, powers, | 44 |
and functions of the department; | 45 |
(9) In its research and development program, consider | 46 |
technologies for improving roadways, including construction | 47 |
techniques and materials to prolong project life, being used or | 48 |
developed by other states that have geographic, geologic, or | 49 |
climatic features similar to this state's, and collaborate with | 50 |
those states in that development. | 51 |
(B) Nothing contained in division (A)(1) of this section | 52 |
shall be held to in any manner affect, limit, restrict, or | 53 |
otherwise interfere with the exercise of powers relating to | 54 |
transportation facilities by appropriate agencies of the federal | 55 |
government, or by counties, municipal corporations, or other | 56 |
political subdivisions or special districts in this state | 57 |
authorized by law to exercise such powers. | 58 |
(D) The director of transportation may enter into contracts | 62 |
with public agencies including political subdivisions, other state | 63 |
agencies, boards, commissions, regional transit authorities, | 64 |
county transit boards, and port authorities, to administer the | 65 |
design, qualification of bidders, competitive bid letting, | 66 |
construction inspection, and acceptance of any projects | 67 |
administered by the department, provided the administration of | 68 |
such projects is performed in accordance with all applicable state | 69 |
and federal laws and regulations with oversight by the department. | 70 |
(E) The director may enter into cooperative or contractual | 71 |
agreements with any individual, organization, or business related | 72 |
to the creation or promotion of a traveler information program. | 73 |
The traveler information program shall provide real-time traffic | 74 |
conditions and travel time information to travelers by telephone, | 75 |
text message, internet, or other similar means at no cost to the | 76 |
traveler. The director may contract with a program manager for the | 77 |
traveler information program. The program manager shall be | 78 |
responsible for all costs associated with the development and | 79 |
operation of the traveler information program. The compensation | 80 |
due to a program manager or vendor under any of these agreements | 81 |
may include deferred compensation in an amount determined by the | 82 |
director. Excess revenue shall be remitted to the department for | 83 |
deposit into the highway operating fund. | 84 |
(F) Any materials or data submitted to, made available to, or | 85 |
received by the director of transportation, to the extent that the | 86 |
materials or data consist of trade secrets, as defined in section | 87 |
1333.61 of the Revised Code, or commercial or financial | 88 |
information, are confidential and are not public records for the | 89 |
purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code. | 90 |