^Agreed.  The amount of comments from "guests" should have been limited.  They blurred the discussion and usually didn't add much.  Questions from the moderator should have been more pointed and directed at individuals.  What did she have, 4 questions during the entire hour? 

 

This should have been a conference call setup IMO so that the contributors could more directly discuss specific issues and respond directly to facts and "facts".

That sucks.  I was hoping some good coverage from the news on this but not likely if it was unstructured & a waste.  Who was the moderator?  I am 100% of the opinion that if more people know more of the FACTS about this, there would be a big change in public opinion.

^KJP and the guy from ODOT were doing their best to put the facts our there and I thought they did a VERY good job.  The guy from the Heritage Institute kept repeating 3 or 4 "statistics" about ridership, subsidies, and European rail.

You don't think Ohio can afford $17m/year project? You are a pessimist! The $400M is a total red herring. Completely irrelevant to this discussion other than in an abstract federal deficit teeth gnashing way. I don't know how much of the $900M Ohio would have to pay for highway widening, but probably an order of magnitude more than $17m/year.

 

Let's put it this way -- Ohio has to come with an average of $471 million PER YEAR in extra highway M&O (maintenance & operation) costs over the next decade. Yet Ohio keeps adding more pavement, bigger bridges and added highway infrastructure it must maintain -- with no consideration how it can afford to pay their M&O costs, especially in light of reduced gasoline tax revenues from this:

 

http://toledoblade.com/article/20101221/BUSINESS02/12200394/-1/BUSINESS05

 

This is the hypocrisy of the opposition.

 

You nailed it.

That sucks. I was hoping some good coverage from the news on this but not likely if it was unstructured & a waste. Who was the moderator? I am 100% of the opinion that if more people know more of the FACTS about this, there would be a big change in public opinion.

 

But that change would be more than a day late and a few hundred million dollars short.

Facts?  The only relevant facts are:

 

1. The train will have a top speed of 39 mph

2. It will cost Ohio taxpayers $400M per year

3. Average ridership will be 4 people per train, all of them homeless or unemployed

4. Tickets from Cleveland to Columbus will each cost $3000

5. If we don't build the train, we get to spend the money instead on beer, free agent right handed sluggers or anything else we want.

 

Did I miss anything?

Of course you did.  Each rider must take the train from either Cleveland to Cincinnati or Cincinnati to Cleveland.... it is not intended for any other service.  It will also take the train 15 hours to get there.  And, oh yeah, if we build it, then all residents of Ohio who desire to travel between those two cities MUST ride it.

Wow, and I thought I was cynical!

 

^KJP and the guy from ODOT were doing their best to put the facts our there and I thought they did a VERY good job.  The guy from the Heritage Institute kept repeating 3 or 4 "statistics" about ridership, subsidies, and European rail.

 

That's because they were the only stats he "knew." And he kept dodging my calling him out for the hypocrisy of only targeting rail subsidies but not road subsidies. Not surprising since his position is untenable. I understand if you personally don't like the 3C project, but to dislike all rail because it requires some form of government promotion is hypocrisy in its purest form.

Whether or not we can afford to build either one of them is an entirely different question. If Ohio had the cash lying around, we could build one, or the other, or both, depending on how much cash we had. But if we don't have the cash laying around, we might not be able to build either one.

 

You don't think Ohio can afford $17m/year project?  You are a pessimist!  The $400M is a total red herring.  Completely irrelevant to this discussion other than in an abstract federal deficit teeth gnashing way.  I don't know how much of the $900M Ohio would have to pay for highway widening, but probably an order of magnitude more than $17m/year.

 

And yet here we're about to spend $2 billion for two miles of a downtown highway in Columbus. Oh, that's without yearly maintenance costs included.

A photo of the Christmas gift the State of Maine got from Ohio's lost 3C $$$$$.

 

This is some of the construction going on to extend the Downeaster Corridor (Boston-Portland) to Brunswick, Maine.  Note the construction jobs created and the "Made in the USA" steel rails.....

 

(Photos courtesy of the Downeaster Photo Page on Facebook)

Illinois, UP, Amtrak sign HrSR accord    

Thursday, December 23, 2010 

 

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and Union Pacific Wednesday reached final agreement on proceeding with $1.1 billion in improvements for higher-speed rail (HrSR) between St. Louis and Chicago, primarily on UP right-of-way.

 

The pact comes as Illinois has affirmed a commitment to higher-speed passenger rail in the face of HrSR being spurned by other states, including Ohio and neighboring Wisconsin.

 

FRA spokesman Warren Flatau said the pact allows federal funds for the project to be released.

 

Read more at: http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/illinois-up-amtrak-sign-hrsr-accord.html

 

I don't think Europe is affording much of anything these days.  The handsome spending you refer to is precisly what has gotten Europe into the deep trouble it is currently in.  Wouldn't surprise me if freight rail spending gets the ax as part of the austerity measures being implemented.

 

Au contrare. Europe is cutting public expenditures, but rail is not where the cuts are being made. Unlike America, they recognize the long-term economic payback from such investments. To eliminate them is to eliminate their chances to recover economically.

 

EDIT -- for more details, see:

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2010/10/20-crossrail-northern-electrification-survive-budget.html

 

And lots more here, in the most recent pages of:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7449.0.html

 

And another example. Seems the Spanish understand the importance of good transportation to their future. Perhaps their past, and more importantly their awareness of it, reminds them of it...

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7449.msg533679.html#new

That sucks.  I was hoping some good coverage from the news on this but not likely if it was unstructured & a waste.  Who was the moderator?  I am 100% of the opinion that if more people know more of the FACTS about this, there would be a big change in public opinion.

 

 

BINGO! You said it! And because the public is kept numb and dumb on the issue, by a news media that refuses to do their job, they'll remain numb and dumb to the issue. So instead of a public that alters their opinions to fit the facts, we have one that sees facts altered to fit their opinions. OR, facts not presented at all.

3C rail better bet than Lake Erie bridge

Monday, December 27, 2010  02:51 AM

Letter to The Columbus Dispatch

 

 

I take issue with Richard Rogovin’s Dec. 17 letter “Article glossed over cost of rail project” criticizing the framing of Ohio’s forfeited 3C rail funding. Rogovin suggests The Dispatch weigh the political implications of its articles to avoid providing one side, in this case the Democrats, future political ammunition. However, he goes on to say the article should have been headlined “Ohio forfeits millions and saves billions,” which would provide future ammunition for Republicans.

 

In his estimation, a double-standard is fine, as long as it benefits the group he supports. Further, his assertion that not pursuing 3C is an economic net-plus for Ohio is untrue and not based on any empirical source.

 

Full letter to the editor at: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2010/12/27/3c-rail-better-bet-than-lake-erie-bridge.html?sid=101

Special interests are likely reason for Gov.-elect Kasich's aversion to 3C rail

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Letters to the Editor

 

Gov.-elect John Kasich's opposition to 3C rail is responsible for the recent reallocation of Ohio's $400 million to other states. His opposition was based on the belief that the train wouldn't travel fast enough, wouldn't have enough ridership and would require a state subsidy without providing significant benefits.

 

Although Kasich would like the public to believe that he rejected the project because it represented wasteful spending, upon inspection, it appears his motive might be less altruistic. The gas and oil, automotive and general contracting industries were all top contributors to Kasich's campaign, and all have a vested interest in the expansion of highways. Further, his recently appointed transportation director, Jerry Wray, was a lobbyist for the asphalt industry and previous transportation director under former Gov. George Voinovich, where his activities raised ethical questions.

 

Full letter at: http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2010/12/special_interests_are_likely_r.html

No surprise here.

To upgrad the line from Chicago to NYC would not need state funding, for instance.

 

What about upgrading the exact same line, but only from Cleveland to Toledo?  Could Kucinich and Kaptur do that w/o Kasich's say so?   

 

I'm fairly certain the Federal government can upgrade any interstate rail line (or segment thereof) it wants to.  Keep in mind that the 3C would not have left Ohio.  It was an intrastate network.  That said, it was supposed to (eventually) tie into a national network.  But the point I think you are missing is that this latest round of Federal funding for inter-city rail (and mostly intrastate) was given on the contingency that the State accepting the money would subsidize the line's operation for 20 years (or something like that).  That is what gave Kasich the opportunity to kill the project, basically promising that he was going to not honor the pledge Ohio made when we applied for and were awarded the funds.

 

In light of recent events, is there any possibility that ORDC might pursue upgrades to Ohio's existing Amtrak service?  For instance, if Ohioans could take a train from Cleveland to Chicago, one that leaves and arrives at reasonable times... that sounds like a significant victory for rail and big embarassment for Kasich.  It also sounds somewhat doable, given that the service already exists albeit at grossly un-reasonable times. 

 

And what about increasing speeds on the Cleveland-Toledo portion?  If we demonstrate that HSR between Ohio cities can be a reality, would that not defuse a lot of the 3C opposition? 

No surprise here.

and a little late

Cosign to the two previous posts. :sleep:

Good thoughts, but unlikely to happen because Amtrak isn't going to make any improvements to exising service toand through Ohio unless the state chips in on the cost....and that's not likely under the incoming administration.

 

A significant portion of the opposition to the 3C came from Central Ohio, which hasn't seen train service for over 40 years and (thus) no visible trains for advocates to point to as an example.  Improving service along he existing Ohio Amtrak routes might help somewhat, but I doubt it would be enough to sway the political opponents in the Statehouse and the Governor-elect's office.

To upgrad the line from Chicago to NYC would not need state funding, for instance.

 

What about upgrading the exact same line, but only from Cleveland to Toledo? Could Kucinich and Kaptur do that w/o Kasich's say so?

 

I'm fairly certain the Federal government can upgrade any interstate rail line (or segment thereof) it wants to. Keep in mind that the 3C would not have left Ohio. It was an intrastate network. That said, it was supposed to (eventually) tie into a national network. But the point I think you are missing is that this latest round of Federal funding for inter-city rail (and mostly intrastate) was given on the contingency that the State accepting the money would subsidize the line's operation for 20 years (or something like that). That is what gave Kasich the opportunity to kill the project, basically promising that he was going to not honor the pledge Ohio made when we applied for and were awarded the funds.

 

In light of recent events, is there any possibility that ORDC might pursue upgrades to Ohio's existing Amtrak service? For instance, if Ohioans could take a train from Cleveland to Chicago, one that leaves and arrives at reasonable times... that sounds like a significant victory for rail and big embarassment for Kasich. It also sounds somewhat doable, given that the service already exists albeit at grossly un-reasonable times.

 

And what about increasing speeds on the Cleveland-Toledo portion? If we demonstrate that HSR between Ohio cities can be a reality, would that not defuse a lot of the 3C opposition?

 

In a word, no. The first time someone at ORDC has the temerity to buck Kasich on the issue, they will be out of a job. The state will not be involved and Amtrak won't be doing much here, either.

The biggest improvements to performance of the Capitol and Lateshore in the near future will come from federal investment in fixing the bottleneck in Northwest Indiana, where multiple freight and passenger routes to and from Chicago converge. It's a bad choke point that causes many delays, and the funds already have been committed for it.

Rail plan would have been positive, even for non-users

4:21 PM Monday, December 27, 2010

LTE / Dayton Daily News

 

While there have already been letters written in support of the proposed 3C passenger rail, there is one point I want to make clear to fellow Ohioans: Even if you do not think you’ll ever use the proposed service, you should still be concerned about its demise.

 

The $400 million has not been distributed to other states.

 

We are talking about your money designated for your state. It’s not surprising that governors of other states were frothing at the mouth for these funds.

 

Full letter to the editor at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/rail-plan-would-have-been-positive-even-for-non-users-1039452.html

Ahhh...how convenient that all this comes out after the money is gone. And it is no surprise to see the supporters of Kasich's campaign being who they were and the correlation between that and his position. Just follow the money trail to the special interests. What a joke!

One unintended (or maybe intended) result of Kasich's very foolish act is to further drive a wedge between Northern (esp Cleveland) and Southern Ohio.  We all know the Cleveland -- left and Cincy/Columbus right thing isn't clean, but this act kind of manifests that Cleveland seems to, culturally, have more in common with Chicago and the major cities of the East..  Sometimes it seems that the only passion this whole state has in common is Ohio State football...

 

The 3-Cs killing sickened me -- aside from the obvious benefits of 3-C much cited, we need the psychologically connective tissue of rail... but as a Clevelander I'm hopeful as the UO train experts have noted that we can move forward as a midwest hub satellite.  And as a quick aside, I think public transit-wise, the Cleveland vs Cincy/C-Bus divide appears to be growing ... even Cincy's modest streetcar plan (which I'm hopeful for) appears in jeopardy by foolishness, notably the ridiculous shotgun marriage of the NAACP and the usual transit bashers from the right... let's hope they're defeated...

 

Currently transit-wise are, relatively speaking, salad days for Greater Cleveland -- we, of course, have the State's only rapid rail and it's being upgraded, esp with new TOD/TOD-like projects, upgraded cars, ROW and stations... We've got the Health Line and, despite it's flaws, is worthy as a new type of transit that continues to draw interest, riders and new development... We also have a unique, working near-60 mile passenger railroad (CVSR) which is growing exponentially, popularity-wise and hopefully soon will soon will be connected to downtown... The Blue Line Rapid is moving forward with a TOD expansion plan (including, perhaps, to N. Randall and/or Chagrin Highlands ... and transit Chief Joe Calabrese is actually behind this!... and even the West Shore Commuter rail is chugging along (sorry for the metaphor) towards completion to further supplement our transit network...

 

I inventory these transit accomplish not to chest thump but only to show, despite my extreme frustration with Cleveland transit-wise at times, we're a transit beacon for this state (at least, we should be) and, I can only wish, hope can be used as a platform to finally get 3-C done and serve as an example for transit connection to 3-C stops ... in the other 2 Cs, that is, ... but if not, Cleveland needs to suck up this terrible setback, and move on to enhance its rail connectivity with the rest of Amtrak and to cities and states that we have more in common with... No, Ohio is one state and not 2 ... technically, that is.  But, as they say, perception is reality and for that?  John Kasich, take a bow.

 

 

^ Well said!  And with that, I had a thought today... I just wonder that as/if other nearby states---or states in general go forward---or continue to make working models of rail and reap all the related benefits while Ohio continues to be left in the smoke---that somehow, someway this would knock in Kasich's/anti-railers heads...and that by embarrassment alone, as we become the laughing stock as a state with the most population but with no/little rail options.....that such would give this state a serious wake up call and kick in the tail. For goodness sakes...Campaigns promoting casinos barked at how all the other states had casinos except Ohio, and how much we're losing bla..bla..bla...  So maybe the same logic will surface when the realities hit in how much of a fruitful thing we are bypassing as rail bypasses us.... and stimulates goodness in other places.

At the end of the day, unless Canada or Kentucky and Virginia (and many of the Virginia lines head into Ohio anyway) start spending massive amounts of money, any serious rail system in the eastern third of the country has to cross Ohio. Now, ideally we would be building up our own internal lines to find the national investments, but it looks like not for a while. What is interesting is that the NE has continued to shrink in relative size to the rest of the country, while the mid-Atlantic (MD to SC) continues to grow. In twenty years, it may be more important to establish fast connections to Washington, one of the metros in NC, and perhaps Atlanta - than to NYC, Philly, or Boston. In any battle, eventually the Chicago interests will have to lean on Ohio to get them quickly to the east coast.

I consider this a positive for future rail service. Too often, I heard others say if this was such a great travel corridor, why are the airlines and bus companies (which already have heavily developed and publicly subsidized infrastructure in place) not serving it better? This answers the airlines' lack of service. Now what about decent bus service?

 

U.S. More nonstop Cincinnati-Cleveland flights coming

Dec 29, 2010 4:17 PM ET

By The Associated Press

 

CINCINNATI (AP) — The new year will bring more nonstop air service between two of Ohio's largest cities

 

Officials at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport said Wednesday that Continental Airlines will launch new service to Cleveland starting Jan. 4. The airport says Continental's entry will increase the number of daily direct roundtrips between Cincinnati and Cleveland Hopkins airport from two to five           

 

In a statement, a Continental executive says the new service has been scheduled with business travelers in mind.           

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-29/more-nonstop-cincinnati-cleveland-flights-coming.html

Even if they use smaller jets, they will chew through jet fuel like crazy on such a short hop. And how long will such service lasts when those fuel purchase costs increase?

 

I also find it interesting that Continental did this literally on the heels of the 3C project being stopped. They had to have been watching this happen.  So, your point about this being an attractive travel corridor is well-taken.

"U.S. More nonstop Cincinnati-Cleveland flights coming"

 

Well I should hope they'd be non-stop from Cleveland to Cincy!  :-o

"U.S. More nonstop Cincinnati-Cleveland flights coming"

 

Well I should hope they'd be non-stop from Cleveland to Cincy! :-o

 

I've seen Cincy to Cleveland flights via Atlanta before.  And of course, they're cheaper than the direct flights.

 

Sort of like how my rail option from Cincy to Cleveland is via Chicago, yeah? ;)

Folks, DO NOT POST PRIVATE MESSAGES OUT IN PUBLIC, NO MATTER WHAT.  They are PRIVATE Messages for a reason.  ANYONE that does that WILL be suspended for a YEAR followed by a subsequent PERMANANT BAN when off parole if violated again.  I like to think of myself as a nice person but do not cross that line. 

Folks, DO NOT POST PRIVATE MESSAGES OUT IN PUBLIC, NO MATTER WHAT. They are PRIVATE Messages for a reason. ANYONE that does that WILL be suspended for a YEAR followed by a subsequent PERMANANT BAN when off parole if violated again. I like to think of myself as a nice person but do not cross that line.

 

Woah what happend. I missed it. DARN. lol. Im just kidding

Just don't miss what I say ;).

Folks, DO NOT POST PRIVATE MESSAGES OUT IN PUBLIC, NO MATTER WHAT.  They are PRIVATE Messages for a reason.  ANYONE that does that WILL be suspended for a YEAR followed by a subsequent PERMANANT BAN when off parole if violated again.  I like to think of myself as a nice person but do not cross that line. 

 

Woah what happend. I missed it. DARN. lol. Im just kidding

(Ricki Lake talk show guest persona) Oooooooh Ricki, what had happened was.......

And the dawn breaks over the Columbus Dispatch......did their reporters not hear what 3C advocates were telling them? Are they suddenly waking up to the fact that the horse they backed (Kasich) in the gubernatorial election killed this project without any thought to the development, jobs and tax revenues this would have generated?

 

Killing train kills private projects

Developers canceling plans for investments near stations on 3C route Kasich scrapped

Saturday, January 1, 2011  02:49 AM

By Alan Johnson

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

When the 3C passenger rail line pushed by Gov. Ted Strickland was derailed, supporters say the estimated 16,700 jobs and $3 billion in potential investments went off track as well. Developers said they are not likely to build projects in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati now that the $400 million in federal funding has been given to other states.

 

The federal money was redirected after Gov.-elect John Kasich called the rail plan a publicly funded boondoggle and rejected it. Wisconsin's new governor also rejected a similar plan in that state, returning $800 million, which was then sent to other states.

 

When the rail line was on track, Cleveland developer Forest City Enterprises contemplated projects in Springfield and Riverside, a Dayton suburb that is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Wright-Patterson-Riverside Station development was projected to create $180 million of taxable property on 44 acres.

 

Full story at: http://dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/01/01/copy/killing-train-kills-private-projects.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Then you get the incoming guv's spokesman saying, essentially, "We didn't want those jobs, anyway."

 

This mean's Kasich is open to major hypocrisy alerts as soon as he offers some tax breaks or any other kinds of subsidy to any business he tries to attract to Ohio.

Im speechless about the dispatch article...  Finally they report about the actual project, not some crap hearsay from self-professed rail experts who also work for the opposition.  I hope that reporter doesnt get fired for 'going rogue', they need some decent writers over there.

I'd rather the Dispatch just close their doors for being a lackluster, provincial "news"paper. They were very biased against the project just as they are against the inner city.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/01/a_train_that_ohioans_were_luck.html

 

Pee Dee editorial weighs in specifically larkin

And Larkin's transportation credentials are.....?

And Larkin's transportation credentials are.....?

 

Why, whatEVER do you mean??? Larkin is a GREAT regurgitator of non-factual, anti-rail talking points!

Larkin made some points that need to be addressed as we plan Ohio's next attempt at rail expansion. There aren't enough pro-rail people out there for an "us & them" approach to work.  3C didn't even win over all the pro-rail people, and some of Larkin's points were often regurgitated by pro-rail people.  3C startup service may not have been Ohio's best possible rail plan.  That sort of startup service may not ever be Ohio's best possible rail plan.  It is not anti-rail to say so.

 

The 3C debate is over.  We have a chance now to control the terms of the next debate, or at least try to.  What rail plan will we be talking about when Kasich comes up for reelection?  I hope it's not the same one, and I hope we're not still trading talking points with 3C detractors four years from now.

Whatever new passenger rail plan is developed for Ohio, the 3C will have to be its centerpiece.  It is inescapable that it's home to over 60% of the state's population and the 3C Quick Start research showed heavy ridership from that population base.

 

But a plan involving several corridors connected to the 3C would have to be developed. The difficulty is that it will be at least 4 years before any of that planning can begin, because Kasich and his "highwaymen" aren't going to allow even a minimal planning effort to be conducted by either ODOT or the ORDC.

 

Kasich didn't just stop the 3C project, he effectively stopped all passenger rail planning as well.  So, when many other states are not only expanding existing conventional-speed service but 110-MPH hour-plus service as well, Ohio will (at best) be ramping up to just begin some kind of service.

 

 

By the end of Kasich's first and hopefully only term, the world will be at or near the worst energy crisis in history. While that certainly provides motivation for investing in more transit, trains, bikes, walkable compact cities and alternative energy, we may not have the economic strength to invest in those things.

 

We will constantly see energy-induced recession-recovery stages as fossil fuel supplies wane and/or become more expensive, and as the economy restructures to compensate for it. Kenneth Deffeyes, professor emeritus at Princeton University, calls this the Queuing Theory of oil prices. Each energy crisis will lay waste to the next-most vulnerable sectors of our economy, and those which don't adapt will be eliminated. The economy will recover, causing energy demand to briefly recover, the price goes up again and the economy takes another hit.

 

In the next 1-3 years, during this next upslope of the economic rollercoaster, we must use this time to adapt as best we can before we take the next energy hit. There are a number of urban and metropolitan regional rail projects we can be working on, as well as some bus projects too, since using bus in low- to medium-density corridors is also pretty energy efficient although not as attractive as rail. Perhaps the state or local governments introduce an interim 3C bus service since its obvious by Greyhound's schedules they aren't interested in serving short- to medium-distance travel corridors like 3C. After we develop urban and metropolitan rail projects, we hunker down for the next energy-induced recession and plan for our next investment for the next upslope. Perhaps then we connect the dots between the Ohio's largest metro areas.

It will be very interesting to see what happens if gas heads north of 4 dollars again. The best thing that could happen to passenger rail in Ohio would be for a gas rise that forces capitulation from the current administration. With every dime rise over the next couple years, the heat on Kasich can only grow.

And to further emphasize my point, please see this article I wrote two years ago....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,2706.msg535059.html#msg535059

 

We need to take what measures we can to adapt our transportation system during the economic upslopes. Those regions which adapt the most will best endure this multi-decade shift away from oil dependency.

The question is: what Ohio entity will be willing and ready to step up to meet the above-described crisis with a passenger rail project for Ohio? 

Statewide? Nothing right now.

 

Urban and regional rail projects? Plenty. Greater Cleveland RTA is willing to provide services beyond Cuyahoga County lines. Consider that Akron Metro RTA owns more route-miles of track (51) than Greater Cleveland RTA. County leaders in SW Ohio were advancing a Cincinnati-Dayton regional rail project as part of the I-75 corridor planning until 3C and the stimulus came along. And I think Columbus' North Corridor makes more sense as a commuter rail service, combined with a route to the east to Port Columbus and Newark.

 

This is the Florida model of intercity rail development. Build the constituencies for passenger rail in the metros (Tri-Rail in Miami-West Palm, Sun Rail in Orlando), then link to other metros.

Statewide? Nothing right now.

 

Urban and regional rail projects? Plenty. Greater Cleveland RTA is willing to provide services beyond Cuyahoga County lines. Consider that Akron Metro RTA owns more route-miles of track (51) than Greater Cleveland RTA. County leaders in SW Ohio were advancing a Cincinnati-Dayton regional rail project as part of the I-75 corridor planning until 3C and the stimulus came along. And I think Columbus' North Corridor makes more sense as a commuter rail service, combined with a route to the east to Port Columbus and Newark.

 

This is the Florida model of intercity rail development. Build the constituencies for passenger rail in the metros (Tri-Rail in Miami-West Palm, Sun Rail in Orlando), then link to other metros.

 

I think this is the way to go.