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What are the locations being looked at in the Arena District? I had always thought the location for the COTA Multimodal Transit Terminal (NW corner of Nationwide and High) was an ideal location since it could serve light rail, commuter rail, and intercity rail.

Actually, if the Pittsburgh-Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago route gets built, there is a good chance that there will be a passenger station serving Port Columbus. As part of the Ohio Hub study has there been location studies for a passenger station at CMH?

The project web site (www.315corridor.com) has a link to the master plan document (PDF file). The document focuses on six geographic areas to redevelop/enhance. The focus areas are located along the rail line that parallels SR 315. The master plan document has as one of its guiding principles an integrated multimodal transit system that includes light rail, campus buses, walkways, and bikepaths. The document highlights these six areas and shows conceptual renderings of the areas. Included in some of the conceptual renderings are station locations for "multimodal transportation hubs", which happen to be located along the RR line. There is even some discussion about the need to begin dialogue with RR operators so that a light rail line that can serve the corridor and surrounding communities can be realized. Since this is a master plan document, I would tend to believe this light rail line is not even on COTA's radar, but is any light rail plan on their radar?!?! However, I take it to be a positive that Columbus and its Corridor partners recognize that this initiative should include multimodal options. In my novice transit planner's opinion, I think this suggested light rail line should connect the 315 R/T corridor elements with downtown Columbus. The easiest way to do this would be to extend this line to City Center via a retrofitted Town Street bridge. Not only would this benefit the 315 R/T corridor initiative, but also breathe life into City Center and provide the proposed River South neighborhood with a valuable transit connection via light rail and streetcar.

The master plan document produced for the 315 R/T corridor indicates a key component to the success of the corridor is a multimodal transportation system. One of the components discussed and illustrated in the document is a light rail line with stops at Lane Ave, Goodale, and COSI. To the extent of which the light rail line has been discussed with RR operators and/or COTA, I am not sure, but an integrated multimodal transportation system with light rail is highlighted many times in the document.

I hope whatever redevelopment is made with City Center, that a transit element is considered. I imagine that the proposed Columbus Streetcar Route will have a stop near City Center, but I think a more interesting transit opportunity for City Center would be an extension of the light rail line shown in the 315 Research and Technology Corridor plan. Since a light rail line for the 315 R/T Corridor plan is shown to extend down to the COSI Point Area, why not explore the feasibility of extending this line to City Center? This would provide an added bonus to the 315 R/T Corridor with access to downtown Columbus (i.e. increase in ridership) and would also benefit City Center/River South redevelopment areas in the way of improved access/attractive transportation options.