The public also subsidizes small airports so that numerous flights by "general aviation" do not get in the way of commercial flights at major airports.  Our tax money is used so that hobbyists can entertain themselves learning to fly.

Rail plan touted as fueling economy

Report says '3C' proposal will add jobs, boost business

Tuesday, September 21, 2010  02:53 AM

By James Nash

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

A lot is riding on Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to connect Ohio's largest cities by passenger rail, a nonprofit group said yesterday.

 

Not only would "3C" service provide a new transportation option for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans, it also would put money in the pockets of average Ohioans, the Ohio Public Interest Research Group said.

 

Including Ohio in a national network of rail projects would boost the state's economy, creating 16,700 permanent jobs; stimulate more than $3 billion in development near rail stations in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati; and increase annual average household income by $90, the PIRG report said.

 

Full story at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/21/rail-plan-touted-as-fueling-economy.html?sid=101

 

And it's not just the lack of rail that's immobilized us. It's fewer trains, buses and planes....

 

1979

 

2009

It's funny seeing that.... there wasn't even a 3-C train route in 1979. Was there ever a passenger train route (aside from interurbans) Connecting the 3-Cs the way today's plan will?

It's funny seeing that.... there wasn't even a 3-C train route in 1979. Was there ever a passenger train route (aside from interurbans) Connecting the 3-Cs the way today's plan will?

 

The last 3C passenger train ran in 1971.

Yes, very much so. Most Ohio (and national) passenger rail routes were ended the day Amtrak started on May 1, 1971. The private railroads were allowed by the federal government to drop all of their passenger rail services by joining and committing start-up funding to Amtrak. Most did.

 

Here is another grouping of maps:

 

 

 

That 1950s map is awesome. I can't tell you how great it would be if I could take a train from Cincinnati to Niles, Ohio to visit my parents. Can't do it today. To take a train there, I'd have to go to Chicago first, and then it would only get me as close as Alliance.

A 1925 map would be sick because it would also have all the interurbans, plus many railroad branch lines and more frequent trains on the mainlines. But even in 1950, Niles was served by 14 daily trains east/west on the Erie Railroad (most were Cleveland - Pittsburgh trains but six were between Hoboken NJ and Chicago, with some trains routed through Pittsburgh to Washington DC and to Detroit) and another eight trains on the Pennsylvania Railroad (all but one round trip was on its secondary routing between Cleveland - Pittsburgh via Youngstown, with some trains routed through to Philadelphia and New York, plus another train from Pittsburgh through Youngstown to Canton, Wooster, Columbus, Xenia and Cincinnati).

 

BTW, some folks (including one GOP lawmaker!) have been asking me for a direct link to the Ohio PIRG report. To intercept future requests, I'm making this more available....

 

Ohio PIRG passenger rail economic impact report:

http://www.ohiopirg.org/home/reports/report-archives/more-reports/more-reports/connecting-the-midwest-how-a-faster-passenger-rail-network-could-speed-travel-and-boost-the-economy

The other thing these maps show is the degree to which selling this on the basis of a single train running from Cleveland to Cincinnati is probably a poor decision. I think we'd be better off selling this is as CC+CC (i.e. Cbus to Cleveland and Cbus to Cincinnati). I'm not sure the demand is there for a single seat that stretches the entire route. If it is reasonably reliable I think that greater frequency between Cbus on the other cities w/ a layover for those needing to go north or south of Cbus might work better.

This is the 2000 travel demand in the 3C Corridor (# of trips per year between metros, Source USDOT):

 

Cleveland-Columbus: 1,800,126

Cincinnati-Columbus: 1,310,511

Cincinnati-Cleveland:   640,136

  ________

Total all 3C Corridor:  3,750,772

 

That total makes 3C the busiest travel corridor in the entire Midwest -- by far. The next closest is Chicago-Detroit at 1,614,286 trips.

Another factor in why a 3C wasn't a huge priority previously in the century is Columbus wasn't as large or important of a city compared to Cinci and Cleveland.  Its only been the last 30-40 years where it has caught up in size with the other 2.  By that time, the ODOT mantra was roads, roads, roads.

 

Adding to Dmerkow's thoughts, I think that this should be a huge selling point in Columbus since they aren't concerned about the length of an end to end trip.  They are the beneficiaries of a choice whether to go to Cinci, Dayton, or Cleveland for a weekend or a day trip.

Ohio GOP leaders stunned when party symbol declares trains are the only way to travel!

 

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/templates/zoom.pbs&Site=TO&Date=20100921&Category=NEWS16&ArtNo=9200418&Ref=AR

 

(EDIT: photo taken at Toledo Amtrak station as train is unloaded)

 

 

 

Thats AWESOME!! :clap: :clap: :clap:  Guess we know who the clowns are now..

On Monday there were press events in MO, IL, WI, MI and OH to release the new report Connecting the Midwest. Here are a few of the press clips:

 

 

Rail Plan touted as fueling economy

Columbus Dispatch

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/21/copy/rail-plan-touted-as-fueling-economy.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

 

Study: High Speed Rail Would create jobs; boost Midwest

Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/study-high-speed-rail-would-create-jobs-boost-midwest.html

 

 

Report: High Speed Rail Would Boost St. Louis Economy

St. Louis Globe Democrat

http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/sep/21/report-high-speed-rail-would-boost-st-louis-econom/

 

 

New Study Shows Interest for high speed rail in Wisconsin

WEAU-TV

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/103397029.html

Not sure if these were posted before....

 

Southwest Cleveland 3C Station Tour

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

3C Receives $400 million Stimulus Investment

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

This is a 55-minute OEC 3C video:

On Monday there were press events in MO, IL, WI, MI and OH to release the new report Connecting the Midwest. Here are a few of the press clips:

 

 

Rail Plan touted as fueling economy

Columbus Dispatch

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/21/copy/rail-plan-touted-as-fueling-economy.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

 

Study: High Speed Rail Would create jobs; boost Midwest

Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/study-high-speed-rail-would-create-jobs-boost-midwest.html

 

 

Report: High Speed Rail Would Boost St. Louis Economy

St. Louis Globe Democrat

http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/sep/21/report-high-speed-rail-would-boost-st-louis-econom/

 

 

New Study Shows Interest for high speed rail in Wisconsin

WEAU-TV

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/103397029.html

 

This is good news!

 

 

Advertising on the exteriors of 3C passenger trains has been among the revenue generators mentioned to help close the gap between what the farebox covers and the remaining annual operating costs.  It's not as "out there" as some critics might think....  it's being done in New York....  Boston's MTA does it as well.

 

MTA commits to “novel” advertising    

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 

 

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), seeking to maximize revenue, has announced that it will employ “novel” forms of advertising on New York City Transit and the Long Island Rail Road.

 

Beginning this week, the inside and outside of a train serving the 42nd Street Shuttle in Midtown Manhattan (the S train) will befully wrapped with advertisements promoting TBS’ exclusive coverage of Major League Baseball's 2010 postseason division series and league championship series. MTA acknowledges that subway car wraps have become increasingly popular with advertisers, but notes this campaign will be the first to make use of moving images through video screens.

 

 

Full story at: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/mta-commits-to-novel-advertising.html

I think the idea of using the train as an advertising platform to offset operating expenses is a pipe dream.  It makes some sense on buses and streetcars because they move fairly slowly through dense areas with lots of cars and pedestrians around.  Except for brief stops at stations, trains don't.  They run quickly through open country, or through mostly industrial or grade-separated areas in cities.  There's little value in that to advertisers, plus the fact that completely wrapped vehicles are darker inside due to the windows being partially obstructed.  This will be unacceptable to long-distance train riders.  Also, ads inside the train are probably also of dubious value, since there's much less turnover in passengers compared to buses, streetcars, or subways.  With no standees, and due to the long travel times, people will be either staring out the window, working on their laptop, or reading a book, not reading the poster next to the door while strap hanging. 

 

It's no surprise that the MTA and LIRR are doing this, like what you see in buses, the Chicago L, the London Tube, Copenhagen's S-Tog trains, or any number of rapid transit systems.  However, it's not common on long distance trains (I've never heard of an ad-wrapped train before), and even most commuter trains are fairly ad-free.  A more valuable move would be to educate those who are crying over "train subsidy" that it pales in comparison to the subsidies for roads and highways, rather than trying to scrounge up unrealistic sources of revenue. 

I think the idea of using the train as an advertising platform to offset operating expenses is a pipe dream. It makes some sense on buses and streetcars because they move fairly slowly through dense areas with lots of cars and pedestrians around. Except for brief stops at stations, trains don't. They run quickly through open country, or through mostly industrial or grade-separated areas in cities. There's little value in that to advertisers, plus the fact that completely wrapped vehicles are darker inside due to the windows being partially obstructed. This will be unacceptable to long-distance train riders. Also, ads inside the train are probably also of dubious value, since there's much less turnover in passengers compared to buses, streetcars, or subways. With no standees, and due to the long travel times, people will be either staring out the window, working on their laptop, or reading a book, not reading the poster next to the door while strap hanging.

 

It's no surprise that the MTA and LIRR are doing this, like what you see in buses, the Chicago L, the London Tube, Copenhagen's S-Tog trains, or any number of rapid transit systems. However, it's not common on long distance trains (I've never heard of an ad-wrapped train before), and even most commuter trains are fairly ad-free. A more valuable move would be to educate those who are crying over "train subsidy" that it pales in comparison to the subsidies for roads and highways, rather than trying to scrounge up unrealistic sources of revenue.

 

On the contrary, Amtrak has already done this on the Acela and a few cars on shorter haul corridors.  The revenues may not be enough to cover the operating cost gap, but they would not be insignificant.  And it's a way to answer those critics by showing that revenues don't have to come entirely from the fares.

 

There's a lot of "educating" going on about the subsidies that support highways and airports, but we are also dealing with some critics to whom the phrase "My mind's made up. Don't confuse me with the facts." applies.

Here some examples. And while I realize the "iPod train" is a streetcar, the image is big enough that if shared elsewhere it helps Apple to increase brand recognition and place the product with likely users (train riders):

 

 

 

This is on Amtrak's San Jose-Bay Area-Sacramento "Capitol Corridor" that started in 1991 at an average speed of 38 mph and today carries 1.4 million riders per year:

 

 

 

Enter this train through "The Body Exhibit":

 

 

 

Sometimes advertising is shown on board the train such as via video displays like these on Amtrak's Cascades services between Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver:

 

 

 

Or these information displays on Germany's InterCity Express high-speed trains:

 

 

 

Or they may be simpler ads like this:

 

 

 

Or they can be ads with station information widgets for a smart phone app.

 

Or they can be sponsorships of railcars, such as what the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad does......

 

Here's the Omnova Solutions car, which was purchased and upgraded thanks to their donation:

 

 

 

Or the KeyBank car:

 

 

 

Or the Steris car, was was completely refurbished into a handicap accessible car thanks to the donation by this Cleveland-area health care equipment company:

 

 

 

Please note the accessible lifts on both sides of the Steris car, all thanks to that company (and the CVSR crews who rebuilt this in CVSR's own shops):

 

 

 

Please note all of CVSR's railcars, their sponsors or other benefactors:

 

http://www.cvsr.com/roster.aspx

 

There's no reason why any of this can't be done with 3C. Indeed, it should.

Is it possible for the entire line to receive sponorship/naming rights like Euclid Corridor did with the "Healthline?"  I believe $25 million was paid just for the Cleveland inner-city BRT.  Plus as another bonus, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals take a special liking in making sure the line is functioning properly and maintained.

 

Maybe even sponsorship could be sold in streches of the railline?? 

 

Example:

Cincy to Dayton could be the Procter and Gamble

Dayton to Columbus could be Nationwide

Columbus to Cleveland could be Progressive or Sherwin-Williams or Key Bank

Sure. Anything's possible with imagination and follow-through.

The Transport Politic has a piece on the unfortunate trend of Republican Party's opposition to rail- http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/09/22/republican-wave-could-spell-trouble-for-high-speed-rail-projects-from-coast-to-coast/

Which is all the more surprising and unfortunate considering it represents a total about-face from this policy plank in the 2000 Republican Platform:

 

Our national railroad network is a crucial component of our public transportation system. Railroads helped build our country, and our national passenger railroad network remains a precious resource that can play a key role in transportation and economic growth. Republicans support a healthy intercity passenger rail system, and where economically viable, the development of a national high-speed passenger railroad system as an instrument of economic development, and enhanced mobility. We also support a multi-modal approach to our transportation needs.

 

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25849

Which is all the more surprising and unfortunate considering it represents a total about-face from this policy plank in the 2000 Republican Platform:

 

Our national railroad network is a crucial component of our public transportation system. Railroads helped build our country, and our national passenger railroad network remains a precious resource that can play a key role in transportation and economic growth. Republicans support a healthy intercity passenger rail system, and where economically viable, the development of a national high-speed passenger railroad system as an instrument of economic development, and enhanced mobility. We also support a multi-modal approach to our transportation needs.

 

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25849

 

damn politics...

Which is all the more surprising and unfortunate considering it represents a total about-face from this policy plank in the 2000 Republican Platform:

 

Our national railroad network is a crucial component of our public transportation system. Railroads helped build our country, and our national passenger railroad network remains a precious resource that can play a key role in transportation and economic growth. Republicans support a healthy intercity passenger rail system, and where economically viable, the development of a national high-speed passenger railroad system as an instrument of economic development, and enhanced mobility. We also support a multi-modal approach to our transportation needs.

 

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25849

 

What is really amazing is what has happened over the past decade:

 

*September 11th

*Increased instability in the Middle East

*Oil Prices increasing to over $100

*Gasoline going to over $4.00 a gallon

*Mexico's oil production decreasing

 

Now, more than in 2000 the case for rail is stronger

I also forgot, the bankruptcy of many major airlines

This is the 2000 travel demand in the 3C Corridor (# of trips per year between metros, Source USDOT):

 

Cleveland-Columbus: 1,800,126

Cincinnati-Columbus: 1,310,511

Cincinnati-Cleveland:    640,136

                                        ________

Total all 3C Corridor:   3,750,772

 

That total makes 3C the busiest travel corridor in the entire Midwest -- by far. The next closest is Chicago-Detroit at 1,614,286 trips.

 

The 3C Corridor is projected to carry 478,000 riders in its first year, a pretty good showing. That's 17.9% of all riders, I believe.

Lawmaker criticizes GOP over proposed train plan

Colin McEwen

September 21, 2010

By Marc Kovac | R-C Capital Bureau

 

COLUMBUS -- A Democratic state lawmaker criticized Republicans in the Ohio Senate Monday for playing politics with a plan to establish passenger rail service between the state's largest cities.

 

Rep. Bob Hagan, from Youngstown, said many of the same GOP lawmakers who now are opposing the so-called 3C effort voted in favor of a resolution four years ago that urged federal support for passenger rail service in the state.

 

"I do think that it's absolutely ridiculous for them to phrase their opposition as if they're looking at trying to be fiscally responsible when just four years ago ... they were the ones who introduced it ...," Hagan said, adding later, "They're killing it for political purposes and political purposes only."

 

Full story at: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4898019

The last hurrah for one of the most fair-minded, inquisitive transportation journalists in Ohio. He will be difficult to replace...

 

Obama's rail plan riding on key governor races

By MATT LEINGANG, The Associated Press

Updated 1:40 PM Thursday, September 23, 2010

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Barack Obama's plan for high-speed passenger rail has a lot riding on the outcome of some key gubernatorial races in November.

 

Republican candidates in Ohio and Wisconsin have promised to cancel rail projects that are getting millions from the federal stimulus package, mocking the plans as boondoggles or complaining the trains would leave the states with too much of a financial burden for future operations.

 

Florida Republican nominee Rick Scott is also making threats. Scott is opposed to any rail plan that would have to be subsidized indefinitely, spokeswoman Bettina Inclan said. She didn't comment on whether Scott would return $1.3 billion in stimulus money for high-speed trains connecting Tampa and Orlando.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/obamas-rail-plan-riding-on-key-governor-races-938798.html

Obama's rail plan riding on key governor races

By MATT LEINGANG, The Associated Press

Updated 1:40 PM Thursday, September 23, 2010

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — President Barack Obama's plan for high-speed passenger rail has a lot riding on the outcome of some key gubernatorial races in November.

 

Republican candidates in Ohio and Wisconsin have promised to cancel rail projects that are getting millions from the federal stimulus package, mocking the plans as boondoggles or complaining the trains would leave the states with too much of a financial burden for future operations.

 

Florida Republican nominee Rick Scott is also making threats. Scott is opposed to any rail plan that would have to be subsidized indefinitely, spokeswoman Bettina Inclan said. She didn't comment on whether Scott would return $1.3 billion in stimulus money for high-speed trains connecting Tampa and Orlando.

 

Full story at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/obamas-rail-plan-riding-on-key-governor-races-938798.html

Why isn't there a plan to link Chi-Indy-Day-Col-Pitt or Cin-Lex-Nash-ATL or Chi-Toledo-Cleve?

 

Cin-Day-Col does seem kinda weird as phase 1.  Obama should have built a real high speed rail network in the Midwest/Great Lakes/South since Cali and back East are light years ahead of the game.

 

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

Why isn't there a plan to link Chi-Indy-Day-Col-Pitt or Cin-Lex-Nash-ATL or Chi-Toledo-Cleve?

 

Cin-Day-Col does seem kinda weird as phase 1.  Obama should have built a real high speed rail network in the Midwest/Great Lakes/South since Cali and back East are light years ahead of the game.

 

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

Are you familiar with rail at all?

 

Chi-Tol-Cle is already linked.  Amtrak goes through Chicago to Cleveland twice a day.  The 3-C would connect into this network.

 

Chi-Indy-Cincy get three trains a week too.  http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732511&cid=1237437856440

 

I'm actually taking the train from Cleveland to Washington DC on Oct 29th. $61 each way.

 

Here are all the existing Ohio lines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd like to see

 

Detroit>Toledo>Lima>Dayton>Cincy>Lexington>Knoxville>Chattanooga>ATL,

as well as

StL>Louisville>Cin>Col>Pitt>Harrisburg>Phila>NYC.

 

Oh, and a daily Cardinal!!!

Why isn't there a plan to link Chi-Indy-Day-Col-Pitt or Cin-Lex-Nash-ATL or Chi-Toledo-Cleve?

 

Cin-Day-Col does seem kinda weird as phase 1. Obama should have built a real high speed rail network in the Midwest/Great Lakes/South since Cali and back East are light years ahead of the game.

 

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

All the other corridors, or individual segments of those corridors you mentioned have had planning started to varying degrees. But all rail corridor development is initiated and driven by states as the first federal capital investment program for passenger rail in the 180-year history of railroading in America wasn't created by Congress until 2008 and funded in 2009. So federally funded services wholly or mostly within a single state are more likely to be advanced by that state.

 

Scrabble, California and the East Coast developed, expanded and improved their existing passenger rail services to create a culture favorable to taking the step to high-speed rail. Too bad you see only the outcome and not the decades-long process it took for them to get there.

 

As for whether Ohio is doing things right or wrong, I urge you to see how other states and nations have advanced or are advancing to high-speed rail. I give you a hint: the answer is through evolution, not creationism.

 

Ohio is 0-4 (1977, 1982, 1985, 1992) in attempts in creating a high-speed rail service from scratch. Now let's try doing it the way places that have high-speed rail have done it. They built high-speed rail to alleviate congestion on their popular conventional-speed rail systems, not for lack of having one.

 

Please see these new presentations from All Aboard Ohio:

 

CORRIDOR COMPARISONS - 936K

http://freepdfhosting.com/be8194bebc.pdf

 

3C MYTHBUSTERS - 605K

http://freepdfhosting.com/2138c66658.pdf

 

If you ever get the chance, ask Kasich: "Since no state or nation has ever developed high-speed rail without first building a foundation of conventional rail services, what do YOU plan to do to keep Ohio, this nation's ninth-most densely populated state, from being left behind by the $200 billion per year renaissance in global railway development???"

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

Dear Kasich campaign: (1) what is "wrong" about the current plan?; and (more importantly) (2) how can we do it "right" in a way that you and your party will actually vote in favor of rail development?

answers:

1) it was put forth by the Dems.  We just say No.

2) we can "right" it by widening I-71 to 5 lanes (each direction) in rural areas and make it look like I-75/85 (in Atlanta) in urban areas. 

^No giving hints...

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

Dear Kasich campaign: (1) what is "wrong" about the current plan?; and (more importantly) (2) how can we do it "right" in a way that you and your party will actually vote in favor of rail development?

this is what they might say:

prove there is demand, involve the people in locating the stations, make it fast and make it affordable.

 

it's better not to do it than to do it wrong

make it fast and make it affordable.

 

Yeah!  Better yet, make it free and make it go faster than an airplane!  And don't spend any of my tax money to do so!  And if you can't do that, well don't do it at all!

Rail, and public transit in general, is like technology in a sense...it's only as valuable as the number of people who have it.  Like the telephone...having a telephone is useless if no one else has one.  Who are you going to call?  The first person needs to get a phone - that may have 0 value - in order to make telephones valuable.  So the point is, you have to start somewhere...they didn't just pass out free telephones to every household at first.

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

Dear Kasich campaign: (1) what is "wrong" about the current plan?; and (more importantly) (2) how can we do it "right" in a way that you and your party will actually vote in favor of rail development?

this is what they might say:

prove there is demand, involve the people in locating the stations, make it fast and make it affordable.

 

it's better not to do it than to do it wrong

 

OK.  That makes sense.  The service must be bettered and the cost must be lowered.  So it is similar to Kasich's goal of reducing the deficit and cutting revenue... errr... taxes (sorry, I forgot to look at my 'hand' notes)

Oh well, better not to do 3C than to do it wrong.

 

Dear Kasich campaign: (1) what is "wrong" about the current plan?; and (more importantly) (2) how can we do it "right" in a way that you and your party will actually vote in favor of rail development?

this is what they might say:

prove there is demand, involve the people in locating the stations, make it fast and make it affordable.

 

it's better not to do it than to do it wrong

 

That sounds like something a politician would say.

 

How fast?  How affordable?  Where do the curves meet?  What is ideal given our budget constraints and speed desires?

 

this is what they might say:

prove there is demand,

 

Done. AECOM, one of the world's largest and most respected transportation engineering firms whose ridership estimates are accurate to within 4 percent of actual, showed that this 3C plan will be the nation's 12th-busiest passenger rail service in its first year.

 

involve the people in locating the stations,

 

Done and doing. Public input meetings, online surveys and TTY phone surveys regarding station site locations were held during the preliminary engineering phase of 3C. Additional public input will be held in the coming months to refine those sites, assuming Kasich doesn't kill the planning work first.

 

make it fast and make it affordable.

 

3C will be the third-fastest new-start passenger rail service begun in the US in the last 30 years, with 60 mph average speeds from suburban Cleveland or Cincinnati to downtown Columbus. Its fares, based on existing Midwest rail fares, will be up to one-half the cost of cramped bus travel, one-fifth the cost of unproductive driving and one-tenth the cost of fading short-distance air travel.

 

it's better not to do it than to do it wrong

 

All of the new-start train services begun in the past 30 years have seen their speeds increase, frequency of departures increase, reliability increase or all of the above. ALL have seen their ridership increase, in many cases dramatically (See: http://freepdfhosting.com/4808eafeb0.pdf).

 

Think of 3C as moldable clay that never hardens.

Don't be a show-off, KJP.  He served you a meatball right down the middle of the plate.  Hitting it out of the park is not that impressive ;)

Ohio releases faster passenger train schedule

Friday, September 24, 2010  11:33 AM

Associated Press

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A new analysis says trains running on Ohio's passenger rail project are capable of completing the entire Cleveland-to-Cincinnati route in just over 5 hours, about 90 minutes faster than a previous estimate.

 

State transportation officials say the new schedule is based a more detailed computer study of trains on the 255-mile route and would make the service more competitive with driving.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/24/passenger-rail.html?sid=101

Note1: The above is from detailed operational analysis by Woodside Consulting -- comprised primarily of former freight railroad executives who use methodologies embraced by the freight rail industry!

 

Note2: Since there will likely be more trips originating from suburban stations to Columbus than traveling the length of 3C, these travel markets will likely have even higher average speeds of about 60 mph:

 

SW Cleveland/Puritas RTA - Downtown Columbus: 2 hours, 5 minutes for 129 miles (61 mph)

 

Note1: The above is from detailed operational analysis by Woodside Consulting -- comprised primarily of former freight railroad executives who use methodologies embraced by the freight rail industry!

 

Note2: Since there will likely be more trips originating from suburban stations to Columbus than traveling the length of 3C, these travel markets will likely have even higher average speeds of about 60 mph:

 

SW Cleveland/Puritas RTA - Downtown Columbus: 2 hours, 5 minutes for 129 miles (61 mph)

 

 

 

At 2 hours 5 min I would take that EVERY time I go to Columbus to visit my mom, which is about twice a month. Why exactly do the republicans think that isn't feasible?

I wonder what Kasich has to say about the new study.  Still not fast enough?  It's a shame he won't be able to refer to it as the 39 mph train to nowhere anymore.

FOR 3C TRAINS, LIFE BEGINS AT 50 (MPH)

HIGHER SPEEDS FOR 3C

PASSENGER TRAINS ARE THE

FRUIT OF MORE ENGINEERING WORK

All Aboard Ohio welcomes green-light of 100% federally funded

work to advance greater cost-effectiveness of 3C rail project

 

 

CONTACT:

Ken Prendergast, All Aboard Ohio Executive Director

[email protected]  (216) 288-4883

 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

COLUMBUS – Today ODOT-ORDC released findings from more detailed rail traffic simulation modeling which shows the initial speeds for Cleveland – Columbus – Dayton – Cincinnati (3C) trains will be much higher than a baseline of speed data issued previously by Amtrak. The more detailed operational modeling, which is the result of the next step in a rail project's development process, came as Ohio got approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to proceed with final engineering work on the 3C project.

 

The operational analysis was conducted by Woodside Consulting, comprised primarily of former freight railroad executives who use methodologies embraced by the freight rail industry. The analysis found that if capital improvements were focused on adding tracks and signals at rail traffic choke points, they would improve the flow of freight traffic and thereby speed-up freight and passenger trains.

 

The net result is that 3C train service will offer an end-to-end average speed of 50 mph – 90 minutes faster than earlier, preliminary estimates. Even more impressive is that in intermediate segments where there is more travel, higher average speeds of about 60 mph are likely. For example, between the Southwest Cleveland suburban stop and Downtown Columbus, a travel time of 2 hours, 5 minutes for 129 miles is proposed. That’s an average speed of 61 mph.

 

Some talking points:

 

++ A 50-mph end-to-end average speed would make 3C the third-fastest new-start train service since 1980. SOURCE: Amtrak National Timetables, 1980-2010 (See: http://freepdfhosting.com/4808eafeb0.pdf).

 

++ All Aboard Ohio supports additional refinement of these estimates with additional engineering and negotiations by ODOT-ORDC with the track-owning freight railroads which have supported this 3C project development process. SOURCE: See letters from CSX http://freepdfhosting.com/7632f70686.pdf and NS http://freepdfhosting.com/94d20429b0.pdf

 

++ Low fares and productive travel, not average speed, remain the top priorities for Ohio travelers. 3C passengers will be able to work, surf the Web, text, talk, meet, prepare, recover, eat, drink or relax in spacious surroundings. Taking the train will be one-tenth the cost of flying, one-fifth the direct cost of driving and up to one-half the cost of taking the bus. This doesn't include massive highway and aviation subsidies (See: http://freepdfhosting.com/f0044349e5.pdf).

 

++ 3C is the Midwest's busiest travel market between metro areas (3.75 million trips per year), with Chicago-Detroit a distant second at 1.6 million. SOURCE: USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2000 (See: http://freepdfhosting.com/f23fb49f46.pdf).

 

++ Ohio is 0-4 (1977, 1982, 1985, 1992) in its attempts at going from 0 mph to high-speed rail. Now Ohio is following the evolutionary lead of others that have successful passenger rail development programs. No high-speed rail service was ever built without a conventional-speed precedent.

 

++ Ohio is losing its young people to regions with quality rail and transit, vibrant urban centers and other essentials. Nationally, despite Generation Y being a larger segment of the population than the Baby Boom generation, motorists aged 21 to 30 now account for just 14% of miles driven, down from 21% in 1995. SOURCE: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1523/generation-y-giving-cars-a-pass/

 

++ Economic benefits from 3C Corridor, required by state law to be Ohio's first route, will greatly exceed its costs. SOURCE: http://www.ohiopirg.org/newsroom/more-news/more-news/-new-report-high-speed-rail-part-of-the-solution

 

All Aboard Ohio President Bill Hutchison concluded by asking 3C’s opponents:

 

"Since no state or nation has ever developed high-speed rail without first building a foundation of conventional rail services, what will YOU do to keep Ohio, this nation's ninth-most densely populated state, from being left behind by the $200 billion per year renaissance in global railway development?"

 

END