Ohio would pursue federal funding to establish passenger rail along major cities, and motorists wouldn't have to worry about cameras catching them speeding in highway construction zones, under a two-year transportation budget deal reached by state lawmakers Monday.

A story from the AP says, a conference committee voted to pass the nearly $10 billion spending plan late Monday, said Dave Isaacs, a House spokesman.

It is expected to pass the House and Senate Tuesday and be signed by Gov. Ted Strickland. The bill contains both state and federal dollars, including nearly $800 million in federal stimulus money that would go to roads, bridges, ports and rail projects across Ohio.

The deal also would enable unemployed Ohioans who have exhausted state and emergency federal benefits to begin receiving up to 20 weeks of extended federal benefits. Lawmakers agreed to include the additional benefits in the transportation bill as a means of delivering them more quickly to the jobless.

If $250 million in federal money is granted to the state to establish passenger rail between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, the state Controlling Board, an arm of the Legislature that authorizes certain types of state spending, would have to give approval before construction begins.

Republicans were successful in getting Democrats to rid the bill of two policies that they opposed. Democrats had wanted a pilot project putting speed cameras in highway construction zones, and a change in law to enable authorities to pull over motorists who aren't wearing their seat belts. Current law only enables law enforcement to cite motorists for failing to wear their seat belts if they've already been pulled over for another offense.

Elements of the transportation budget deal reached by House and Senate negotiators Monday:

_Allows the state to compete for federal funding to establish passenger rail service between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

_Enables Ohio workers to qualify for extended federal unemployment benefits

_Eliminates a proposed increase in license plate fees.

_Takes out a program establishing a pilot initiative to put speed cameras in highway construction zones

_Spends nearly $800 million in federal stimulus money on road, bridge, port and rail projects.

_Raises speed limit for trucks from 55 mph to 65 mph on interstate highways.

Republicans also persuaded Democrats to get rid of several proposed fees, including an increase in license plate registration fees.