OH: Is Ohio finally on board for Amtrak expansion? State ‘strongly considering’ seeking federal money for new train service

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The state of Ohio is “strongly contemplating” making use of for federal {dollars} that might result in expanded passenger rail service all through the state, together with institution of a brand new route connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

In the meantime, officers in Northeast Ohio are undoubtedly planning to pursue funding that might set up Cleveland as an Amtrak mini-hub, with extra frequent service to Chicago, New York Metropolis, Washington, D.C. and different cities.

The supply of the funding for each potential expansions is a brand new federal inititiave, dubbed the Hall Identification and Growth Program, a part of $66 billion in extra cash for rail service included within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, handed by Congress in late 2021.

The Federal Railroad Administration late final month introduced the main points of this system, which features a March 20 deadline to use.

Amtrak has focused Ohio for enlargement, arguing that the state is among the most underserved by passenger rail.

However up till not too long ago, Gov. Mike DeWine has been lukewarm in his help for expanded rail service in Ohio, questioning the associated fee and potential ridership of any new service alongside what’s known as the 3C+D hall, linking Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

Dan Tierney, the governor’s spokesman, stated Friday that funding from the brand new federal program would assist Ohio decide solutions to these questions, even earlier than a agency state monetary dedication is required. Certainly, the primary two phases of the brand new Hall ID program embrace funding for learning any new and current routes.

“It’s going to assist us collect extra info to make an knowledgeable determination,” stated Tierney. “We’re strongly contemplating it.”

In the meantime, officers on the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Company, a Cleveland-based authorities group that oversees transportation planning for the area, are within the early phases of making ready an software.

If profitable, Grace Gallucci, govt director of NOACA, envisions radically expanded passenger rail service to and from Cleveland, together with trains that cease in Northern Ohio throughout daytime.

She additionally envisions new shorter routes that begin and finish in Cleveland, touring to Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and elsewhere.

“We’ve actually good ridership for service that solely comes in the course of the evening,” stated Gallucci. “If we had our personal originations and locations, and frequencies that included daytime service – our ridership would completely enhance exponentially.”

A hypothetical Amtrak schedule launched by the rail service in early 2021 included as many as 22 trains passing by Cleveland in any respect hours of the day and evening.

At the moment, there are two Amtrak routes that cease in Cleveland – the Lake Shore Restricted, which connects New York Metropolis and Boston to Chicago, and the Capitol Restricted, which connects Washington, D.C. to Chicago. Each eastbound and westbound trains on these routes cease in Cleveland at midnight, early-morning hours.

A 3rd route, the Cardinal, travels by southern Ohio, linking Chicago and New York through Cincinnati.

Columbus, in the meantime, is among the largest cities in america with none passenger rail service.

In early 2021, shortly after the election of President Joe Biden, Amtrak unveiled a dramatic enlargement plan, dubbed Amtrak Connects US, which incorporates dozens of proposed new and expanded routes all through america, together with a number of in Ohio.

Later that very same 12 months, in a convention name with reporters, Amtrak leaders stated they had been dedicated to increasing in Ohio. “Ohio is on the middle of the nation, it’s on the middle of the good historical past of railroading in america,” stated Amtrak CEO Invoice Flynn. “There’s an actual alternative right here. And it’s our purpose to get this achieved.”

However enlargement in Ohio has all the time been contingent on state curiosity.

Federal guidelines do enable different authorities organizations to use for enlargement funding, together with NOACA and its Columbus equal, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Fee. Even so, regional transportation leaders say state help is essential.

“We’re hopeful the state will transfer ahead with the mandatory subsequent steps for the Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus-Cleveland Hall (3C+D) route,” stated William Murdock, govt director of MORPC in Columbus. “MORPC and its companions all through Central Ohio have made restoring passenger rail service to the Columbus area and rural and Appalachia Ohio a excessive precedence. By way of our efforts, we consider Ohio has the most effective enterprise case for brand new passenger rail service within the nation because of the potential ridership and enterprise alternatives.”

It’s unclear if MORPC will apply for funding if the state doesn’t.

Columbus nearly had rail service greater than a decade in the past, when the state received federal funding for a Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati route. However DeWine’s predecessor, former Gov. John Kasich, famously returned $400 million in federal cash in 2010 as a result of he was against state help for passenger rail service.

Since then, nonetheless, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration have revised the principles of its packages, requiring much less buy-in from the states.

The brand new Hall ID program, for instance, consists of $500,000 in start-up examine cash within the first section. States (or different transportation organizations) would contribute 10% of funding within the second section, and 20% within the third.

Tierney, the governor’s spokesman, stated it made sense to review the problem additional. “It’s going to assist us collect additional info for the governor and lawmakers,” he stated.

Final month, in a dialog with reporters, DeWine stated he helps elevated passenger rail service in idea.

“In an ideal world, folks would like to have a passenger rail within the state of Ohio,” he stated. “I feel the query is, what’s the value going to be? And that’s one thing that we’re engaged on and attempting to, frankly, to grasp higher from the federal authorities, what that value goes to be.”

Different necessary issues, he stated, are prepare pace and projected ridership. “Fran and I’ve achieved plenty of touring on Amtrak through the years,” stated DeWine, referring to his spouse. “So we like trains. However the query is, you realize, can we afford it? And is it going to work?”

Cleveland.com/The Plain Seller reporter Jeremy Pelzer contributed to this story.

Learn extra:

Amtrak thinks it could lure Ohioans out of their automobiles and onto trains: Right here’s how

Amtrak from Cleveland to Chicago: A soothing journey regardless of middle-of-the-night departures, late trains

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