dailyloe.com – A long-discussed passenger rail plan for Ohio’s major cities is gaining momentum. Supporters are pushing for state funding and public buy-in for the project. The Ohio Rail Summit is currently happening in Columbus. The summit focuses on the proposed 3C&D passenger rail route.
The route would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. The project is still years away from completion according to advocates. All Aboard Ohio is one of the project’s biggest supporters. The effort is now reaching an important milestone.
The 3C&D project is wrapping up its second planning phase. This phase aimed to put people back on trains connecting Ohio’s largest cities. Nathan Halm is All Aboard Ohio’s chapter engagement coordinator. He stated the goal is to restore rail as a modern connection.
“The vision of this project would be to turn that back into a source of connection,” Halm said. He emphasized the connection is not just for historical reasons. The goal is for what can be here now and in the future. The plan is part of a federal program to develop passenger railways.
Phase 2 examined several key operational details. It looked at how many stations would be in the state. It also studied how often trains would run through the cities. The phase assessed how much rail would need upgrades and maintenance.
Federal dollars funded eighty percent of Phase 2 planning. The state of Ohio funded the remaining twenty percent. With Phase 2 nearing completion, attention is shifting. The focus is now on next year’s Ohio state budget.
Additional state funds are needed for the project to move forward. Nathan Halm outlined the advocacy goal for the coming period. “It is our goal to show the benefits of rail and all transportation options,” Halm said. He wants to show why this would benefit many Ohioans and visitors.
He aims to make the case to the state that the project is worthwhile. Halm said it is something the state cannot afford to pass up. Supporters point to the dramatic decline of passenger rail service. Cincinnati once had over one hundred passenger trains at Union Terminal.
Passenger rail service is far more limited in the city today. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari highlighted this stark contrast. He noted the glorious building in Cincinnati is only used six times weekly. He compared it to Cleveland, where you must be sleepless to see ‘The Cardinal’ train.[]
Source: WKRC
