To amend section 5501.03 of the Revised Code to authorize the Director of Transportation to enter into an agreement or contract with any entity to establish a traveler information program to provide real-time traffic conditions and travel time information at no cost to the traveler.

Section 1. That section 5501.03 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 5501.03.  (A) The department of transportation shall:

(1) Exercise and perform such other duties, powers, and functions as are conferred by law on the director, the department, the assistant directors, the deputy directors, or on the divisions of the department;

(2) Coordinate and develop, in cooperation with local, regional, state, and federal planning agencies and authorities, comprehensive and balanced state policy and planning to meet present and future needs for adequate transportation facilities in this state, including recommendations for adequate funding of the implementation of such planning;

(3) Coordinate its activities with those of other appropriate state departments, public agencies, and authorities, and enter into any contracts with such departments, agencies, and authorities as may be necessary to carry out its duties, powers, and functions;

(4) Cooperate with and assist the public utilities commission in the commission's administration of sections 4907.47 to 4907.476 of the Revised Code, particularly with respect to the federal highway administration;

(5) Cooperate with and assist the Ohio power siting board in the board's administration of Chapter 4906. of the Revised Code;

(6) Give particular consideration to the development of policy and planning for public transportation facilities, and to the coordination of associated activities relating thereto, as prescribed under divisions (A)(2) and (3) of this section;

(7) Conduct, in cooperation with the Ohio legislative service commission, any studies or comparisons of state traffic laws and local traffic ordinances with model laws and ordinances that may be required to meet program standards adopted by the United States department of transportation pursuant to the "Highway Safety Act of 1966," 80 Stat. 731, U.S.C.A. 401;

(8) Prepare, print, distribute, and advertise books, maps, pamphlets, and other information that, in the judgment of the director, will inform the public and other governmental departments, agencies, and authorities as to the duties, powers, and functions of the department;

(9) In its research and development program, consider technologies for improving roadways, including construction techniques and materials to prolong project life, being used or developed by other states that have geographic, geologic, or climatic features similar to this state's, and collaborate with those states in that development.

(B) Nothing contained in division (A)(1) of this section shall be held to in any manner affect, limit, restrict, or otherwise interfere with the exercise of powers relating to transportation facilities by appropriate agencies of the federal government, or by counties, municipal corporations, or other political subdivisions or special districts in this state authorized by law to exercise such powers.

(C) The department may use all appropriate sources of revenue to assist in the development and implementation of rail service as defined by division (C) of section 4981.01 of the Revised Code.

(D) The director of transportation may enter into contracts with public agencies including political subdivisions, other state agencies, boards, commissions, regional transit authorities, county transit boards, and port authorities, to administer the design, qualification of bidders, competitive bid letting, construction inspection, and acceptance of any projects administered by the department, provided the administration of such projects is performed in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations with oversight by the department.

(E) The director may enter into cooperative or contractual agreements with any individual, organization, or business related to the creation or promotion of a traveler information program. The traveler information program shall provide real-time traffic conditions and travel time information to travelers by telephone, text message, internet, or other similar means at no cost to the traveler. The director may contract with a program manager for the traveler information program. The program manager shall be responsible for all costs associated with the development and operation of the traveler information program. The compensation due to a program manager or vendor under any of these agreements may include deferred compensation in an amount determined by the director. Excess revenue shall be remitted to the department for deposit into the highway operating fund.

(F) Any materials or data submitted to, made available to, or received by the director of transportation, to the extent that the materials or data consist of trade secrets, as defined in section 1333.61 of the Revised Code, or commercial or financial information, are confidential and are not public records for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 2.  That existing section 5501.03 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.