SanduskyRegister.com Viewpoints Article

REGISTER VIEWPOINT: Fast track

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:57 AM EST

 

At the very least, it can do no harm for Sandusky City Commissioners to vote in support of an effort to secure federal funding to make northern Ohio part of a high-speed regional passenger rail network.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/01/23/viewpoints/register_viewpoints/576086.txt

Dammit news media. Ohio Hub isn't a group; it's a plan. The groups pushing it, among others, are the Ohio Rail Development Commission (a state agency that would carry out implementation of the Ohio Hub plan) and All Aboard Ohio (a public advocacy association that anyone can join to help spread the word about the need for the Ohio Hub plan).

 

Simple stuff. I hope that helped clarify it for people here.

^All that pesky fact-checking costs money.  The bottom line is all the news media cares about anymore.

Naw. It's just assumption-making and laziness. Those are the two worst enemies of good news reporting.

After reading Strickland's comments in the Columbus Dispatch concerning the state's financial problems, I think he's going to push for ways to better the state. I would not give up on rail or anything else right now. In fact, I think the situation calls for just the opposite...that rail and better transit is one way to help lift Ohio out its doldrums.

 

OK, I agree with this, even though I say "goodbye ohio rail initiative....."  I think this is a good idea to help Ohio in the future but I just don't know if the powers that be and other Ohioans will see it that way.

Mayor hoping new president a friend of high-speed rail

Heather Rutz - Jan. 30th, 2008

LIMA — As city officials met the incoming Ohio Rail Development Commission chairwoman Wednesday, they were also looking at a larger change in leadership.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=48626

 

This is sad, but somewhat funny:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAtbcgrIJ4g

Robert Crandall, former CEO of American Airlines, spoke at the National Corridors Initiative's meeting in St. Louis last week.  Among his comments were a call for high-speed rail:

 

"As I suspect all of you know, landings and takeoffs at Laguardia airport are limited and airspace in and around New York is very crowded. Nonetheless, a substantial number of flights still leave Laguardia bound for Washington d. C. And Boston, both places to which railroad track already runs.

 

If I were the King of Spain – that is, if I could do whatever I wanted to do – I’d prohibit flights to either Boston or Washington from Laguardia while simultaneously upgrading the rail system – tracks, equipment, power and whatever else is needed – to assure maximum running speed and minimum elapsed time. By doing so, we would better use the railroad asset and would free airplanes, airspace and airport facilities for flights to places that cannot be conveniently reached by rail. Once that was accomplished, I’d move in the same direction in and around Chicago, thus relieving the pressure on O’Hare and on the west coast, thus relieving pressure at Los Angeles and San Francisco.

 

While we’re on the subject, I should also mention that I am mystified as to why most European cities can operate high speed trains from their airports to their city centers while we can’t, and equally mystified as to why the Europeans are so much better at linking airports and local rail systems than we are."

 

His entire speech can be seen at http://www.nationalcorridors.org/conferencearchive/conf0108-02.shtml

 

That's what I've been saying . . . the difference . . . he used to run AMR. If I was to come up with piece of corporate welfare that would change the country for the better, it would be to make it profitable for the airline companies to become intermodal transportation companies, sort of like Virgin in England.

Important Meeting Held in Toledo!!!

 

TMACOG Passenger Rail Committee

 

Summary of January 28, 2008 Meeting

 

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to advance a PEIS of the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit corridor as outlined in the Ohio Hub Plan.  Although 30 invitees RSVP’d, over 50 people attended the meeting at TMACOG’s conference room.  This was a very good audience, both in numbers and who they represented.

 

Attendees included:

 

• Congressional staff from the offices of Senator Sherrod Brown and

   Senator George Voinovich, Senator Carl Levin (Michigan), Congresswoman Marcy

   Kaptur and Congressman John Dingell (Michigan  15th District)

• Bob Kuehne, Michigan DOT Rail Division

• Mayor Mark G. Worrell of Monroe, MI,

• Susy Heintz Avery, Director of Government Relations for the Detroit Metro Airports

• Rob Greenlese / representing the Toledo/Lucas County Port Authority

• County commissioners from Lucas and Monroe (Michigan) counties,

• Lorain County Commissioner Betty Blair (Representing the proposed West Shore

  Corridor commuter rail project).

• Officials from several other governmental agencies including, ODOT, TMACOG,

  SEMCOG and the MPO for the Sandusky area,

• Chamber of Commerce officials from several cities including Toledo, Sandusky, and

  Claudia Berry, Senior Government Relations Director of the Detroit Regional

  Chamber.

• Bill Hutchison, President of All Aboard Ohio and several local AAO members

• Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers

• Planning, transportation & economic development officials from Monroe, Wood,

  Sandusky & Lucas Counties

• Derrick James, Amtrak Government Relations.

 

There was a presentation on the Ohio Hub, By Don Damron and Stu Nicholson, both as a backgrounder for those not familiar with the plan (about half of the audience) and to specifically speak to how we might be able to advance the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit Corridor into a PEIS.  The presentation included economic impact study results and other information specific to the Toledo / Southeast Michigan area.

 

The discussion focused on urging Cong. Kaptur to support a Congressional earmark for the PEIS funding.

 

Overall the reaction was very positive, with a lot of note-taking and some comment / questions from Congressional staff.  Also worth noting is that several attendees came with resolutions supporting both the Ohio Hub in general and advancing the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit Corridor specifically.  Those included resolutions from the Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Sandusky City Council and Chamber of Commerce and the Monroe County (Michigan) Planning Commission.

 

Everyone seemed to get it that even though passenger rail service in the 3-C Corridor is mandated legislatively, there is nothing precluding breaking out individual corridors from the Ohio Hub Plan and advancing them into further planning stages.  Don Damron told the attendees about Congressman Tim Ryan’s efforts at pursuing an earmark for a Pittsburgh-Youngstown-Cleveland corridor and that (thus far) we have no Congressional sponsor for an earmark request to advance the 3-C Corridor.

 

One message that seemed to resonate strongly with the audience was by drawing a reference to the recent political buzz phrase of “economic stimulus” and connecting it to the need to develop and undertake major infrastructure projects like the Ohio Hub.   

 

A further point made was that although earmarks are considered politically controversial in some circles, the lack of an over-arching federal rail development program makes the pursuit of earmarks necessary and critical to keep projects like the Ohio Hub moving forward.  In other words, you have to make use of what’s available.

 

Ohio, unlike several other states (California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Illinois, et al) does not yet have a funding-ready passenger rail plan in place. Another reason, why we need to depend on earmark requests to get Ohio to that point so we are ready when some kind of federal program is passed and enacted.

 

Key comments made during the question & answer period that followed (some major highlights):

 

• Suzy Heintz Avery of the Wayne County Airport Authority (Detroit Metro & Willow Run Airports) stated that not only is the Authority very interested and supportive of the Ohio Hub plan to possibly serve Detroit Metro Airport, they already have plans for a monorail to connect the air terminals with a station stop.

 

• Claudia Berry of the Detroit Regional Chamber says they are also interested in anything that connects Detroit to Ohio and points East, a point echoed strongly by MDOT’s Bob Kuehne who said “What Michigan is really interested in is being better connected to New York, Boston, Washington and other East Coast markets.”

 

• A string of officials from the Monroe County Planning Department, including their Director, Royce Maniko, stated that Monroe County and the City of Monroe are not only supportive of the Ohio Hub, but are currently working with their local transit authority to have an intermodal passenger station developed. 

 

• Mayor Mark Worrell of  Monroe asked about the impact of higher speed trains that would run through residential areas in Monroe.  These are exactly the kind of issues that would be addressed in a PEIS to help determine possible solutions.  Royce said the Mayor is also very supportive of passenger rail and sees it as a significant development tool for his city.

 

• A representative of the Sandusky Chamber of Commerce announced that both the Chamber and the Sandusky City Council have passed resolutions of support of the Ohio Hub.  She further asked if this meant that the current Sandusky train station would be the stop also for Ohio Hub trains.  That is highly likely unless the City itself would prefer another location.  It was also pointed out that the advent of greatly improved passenger service would also create significant redevelopment opportunities on the land around the current station.

 

• Lorain County Commissioner Betty Blair says her county and cities support the Ohio Hub and the West Shore Corridor plans and have a passenger-ready station at Lorain (West Shore) and an existing station at Elyria (which is on the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit Hub Corridor) that is currently undergoing renovations and improvements.

 

• Toledo’s Chamber of Commerce representative also presented a resolution of support for both the Ohio Hub and the earmark effort for the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit Corridor.

 

• Senator Voinovich’s staffer asked why “my boss” should support the Ohio Hub if it would wind up competing with Amtrak for passengers.  Before the ORDC staffers could answer, both All Aboard Ohio President Bill Hutchison and Rob Greenlese (recently retired from the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority) both stated that since Amtrak long-distance trains serve Ohio largely late at night or very early mornings, there would be little competition for passengers since Ohio Hub trains would run largely during daylight and early evening hours.  (Several observers noticed this staffer rather furiously writing notes on almost everything being said.)

 

• Congressman John Dingell’s aide, Joshua Myers, stated that since both of the proposed Ohio Hub routes between Detroit and Toledo run through the heart of his district (15th) he said the Congressman would be very supportive of any funding effort to advance it.  On a personal note, Myers stated that he would much prefer to make the commute between his home in Monroe and the Congressman’s Dearborn office by train.

 

• Tiffany Honore’, a planner with SEMCOG, stated that the MPO is supportive of the Ohio Hub, but that’s its funding priority right at the moment is a proposed commuter rail corridor between Ann Arbor & Detroit.  This is fine, since the introduction of any new rail service creates a “buzz” for more.

 

The impression is that this audience:

 

• Strongly supports the Ohio Hub as a general plan.

• Supports the concept of breaking out individual corridors to advance them further

into the environmental impact stages.

• Will support an earmark effort once an application is made with Cong, Kaptur’s office.

• Is very interested in the development possibilities around station stops.

 

There will be another meeting in March to discuss interim actions to start rail passenger service. This could include rescheduling existing trains, extensions of existing trains or new services, or any combination of the above.

 

The turnout showed all that there is a huge interest in passenger trains, not only from the usual supporters, but from a wide array of community, state and federal officials.

A couple of Additional items:

 

a) TMACOG is the only MPO in Ohio that has a standing rail passenger service committee. No other MPO has one, although other MPO's such as MORPC (Columbus), OKI (Cincinnati) , MVRPC (Dayton Area), Eastgate COG (Youngstown Area) and NOACA (have adopted and passed resolutions of support for the Ohio Hub. This is still a situation that should change, especially given the need to support important rail projects.

 

b) The PEIS might be broken into more easily supportable chunks. It appears Rep. Ryan of Youngstown will press for the Cleveland-Youngstow n-Pittsburgh portion. Likewise, it is thought that Rep. Kaptur will lead the effort for Cleveland-Toledo- Detroit. Ironically, there is NO champion for the 3-C Corridor as yet. This is a problem which we will have to address by sending out calls to email or call Reps on that route.

 

Again, everyone was blown away by the turnout, which was standing-room only!!!

 

 

I hope Voinovich's staffer made note of the the SRO crowd!

Senator Voinovich’s staffer asked why “my boss” should support the Ohio Hub if it would wind up competing with Amtrak for passengers.  Before the ORDC staffers could answer, both All Aboard Ohio President Bill Hutchison and Rob Greenlese (recently retired from the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority) both stated that since Amtrak long-distance trains serve Ohio largely late at night or very early mornings, there would be little competition for passengers since Ohio Hub trains would run largely during daylight and early evening hours.  (Several observers noticed this staffer rather furiously writing notes on almost everything being said.)

 

It's really quite sad that Voinovich's staffer is so uninformed...

 

You just have to wonder how ill-informed they are on other matters. The guy could have asked some questions or at least studied an Amtrak timetable before the meeting.

 

Still, this is what we have. Now we have to continue to send emails to get Voinovich to support the next Amtrak request.

February 11, 2008 – Vol.12 No. 47

Green Energy News

 

HIGH SPEED RAIL ADVANCES GLOBALLY, CRAWLS IN THE U.S.

 

Somewhere deep in the pages of President Bush’s proposed 2009, $3.1 trillion budget is a 40 percent cut in Amtrak funding. A cut so deep that the quasi-government interstate passenger rail service could screech to a halt. The lame duck’s plan is to give Amtrak $800 million.

 

read more at:

 

http://www.green-energy-news.com/arch/nrgs2008/20080012.html

Please, all Ohioans sign the Ohio Hub Plan e-petition (and spread it around to any and all other supportive Ohioans you can think of):

 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/OhioHubPlan/

 

Here's what you'll be signing:

 

 

 

In recognition that the current state of transportation in the state of Ohio requires bold action and strategic investment in Ohio's rail infrastructure and that fuel prices, congestion, and overall lack of mobility have degraded Ohio's competitiveness over recent years, we the undersigned urge Ohio's political leadership to pursue the development of the Ohio Hub Plan as pursued by the Ohio Rail Development Commission. We recognize the ability of rail development to provide economic development opportunities through increased capacity for passenger as well as freight movement. Over the Ohio Hub Plan's 30-year life, the benefit/cost analysis estimate nearly $9 billion in user benefits and resource savings with $4.9 billion in costs including capital, maintenance, and operating expenses, producing a 1.8 benefit/cost ratio.

 

More specifically, the Ohio Hub Plan will:

- Create 16,700 permanent jobs which is equivalent to more than 500,000 person years of work;

- Raise the region’s income by over $1 billion over the life of the project;

- Increase the average annual household income in the region by at least $90;

- Generate more than $3 billion in development activity near stations;

- Increase land values and create the potential for communities to develop new retail, office and residential developments near the passenger rail stations;

- Create an annual $80 million impact on state tourism by generating 320,000 new overnight trips;

- Increase Cleveland Hopkins Airport traffic by 5% and create a $0.5 to $1 billion economic benefit;

- Create a potential benefit for freight rail operations in the range of $3 to $6 billion; and

- Generate an annual fuel savings of approximately 9.4 million gallons of fuel.

 

Results of this petition will be made known to Ohio's Congressional Delegations, the Ohio General Assembly, and the Governor of the State of Ohio. All signatures will be collected up until All Aboard Ohio's Legislative Summit on April 30, 2008.

 

James Cummings:

Proposal 'giant step backward' for rail

By James Cummings

Dayton Daily News

Staff Writer

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

 

It's probably going to be a tough year for getting federal funds to keep buses and trains running, and hopes of expanding transportation options that get people out of their cars in Ohio look pretty dim right now.

 

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, rail service advocates All Aboard Ohio, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the American Public Transportation Association and other groups all put a priority on "multimodal" transportation that includes alternatives to the one-person-one-car patterns that overburden Ohio's highways. But the 2009 federal budget proposal President Bush recently sent to Congress calls for substantial cuts to public transportation and rail funding.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/oh/story/opinions/columns/2008/02/12/ddn021308cummings.html

Not dim at all. What's dim was Bush's plan, because it will never see the light of day, except for when it was taken out with the rest of the trash.

Someone needs to explain that rail would pay for itself many times over and strengthen our cities and state.  It's not just moving people and stuff, it's the economy...stupid.

Patience.  Just 11 more months and Bush's ass'll be out of there.  Hopefully the new White House occupant will have a last name other than McCain.  If not, God help us.

“Ride the Fastest Train in the World”

 

Thursday, March 27, 2008

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

at the Toledo Club

235 14th Street, Toledo, Ohio

Reservations are required.

$20 fee for lunch and presentation.

Please register by Monday, March 24, 2008.

 

The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) and the

Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in partnership with the Indiana High Speed Rail

Association and the Economic Mission of the Embassy of France in the United States

Cordially invite you to “Ride the Fastest Train in the World”

A luncheon program featuring video and presentation by Charles R. Wochele,

Vice President of Business Development, Alstom Transport

(equipment manufacturers of the French T.G.V. High Speed Train)

 

For more information or to register:

Diane Reamer-Evans, staff to the TMACOG Passenger Rail Committee

[email protected] or 419.241.9155 ext 117

TOLEDO-LUCAS COUNTY

PORT AUTHORITY

Doesn't mention the Ohio Hub by name, but it is interesting that at least one of two candidates for a seat in the Ohio House sees passenger rail as a major issue on his platform.

 

82nd District candidates push rails, jobs

Sharrock, Swartz want Democrat district nod

By JOHN JARVIS

The Marion Star

 

MARION - Marion, Wyandot and Crawford counties' future could be riding the rails, says one candidate, while the other says the challenge of creating jobs requires further study.

 

read more at:

 

http://www.marionstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/NEWS01/802270324

 

Joint release issued just this morning from Amtrak and the Ohio Rail Development Commission..... and it's very good news!

 

GOV. STRICKLAND ASKS AMTRAK TO REVIEW 3-C CORRIDOR FOR POSSIBLE PASSENGER SERVICE

Ohio joins several other states in wanting new service to be studied

 

COLUMBUS and CHICAGO – Saying his administration is “committed to providing Ohio’s urban areas with the tools they need to create jobs and attract investments to make their communities vibrant centers of commerce,” Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has written a letter to Amtrak President & CEO Alex Kummant asking the nation’s passenger rail corporation to identify what is needed to initiate rail passenger service in the “3-C” (Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati) corridor.

 

Governor Strickland asked that the analysis be done in two parts: Cleveland to Columbus and Columbus to Cincinnati (via Springfield and Dayton).  The Governor called the 3-C the “backbone of the Ohio Hub, the state’s long-term vision for passenger rail in Ohio.”

 

The work will be performed by Amtrak and funded by the state of Ohio.  Amtrak will also work with the major freight railroads, which own the track, to determine the capital needs for rail improvements to the corridor that would not only enable passenger service, but increase capacity for greater freight movement.

 

“State-supported routes are the fastest growing part of our business,” said Kummant.  “We have carried out several studies in the Midwest and elsewhere in the last few years, with Illinois doubling the size of its state rail program since 2006 and California continuing to rack-up growth that has contributed to five straight years of record Amtrak ridership.”

 

“This is a significant step forward in Ohio’s efforts to create new and better transportation options for Ohioans.  Moving people and freight by rail is becoming even more important with ever-rising fuel costs and the impact on everything from people’s personal budgets to doing business in Ohio,” says Ohio Rail Development Commission Executive Director Matt Dietrich.

 

“We’ve already had preliminary discussions with Amtrak and look forward to doing this analysis of the 3-C Corridor.”

 

Also encouraged at the news is All Aboard Ohio Executive Director Andrew Bremer, lauding the governor for “taking this first step and showing leadership in recognizing the potential of rail development in Ohio.  Many other states have already seen remarkable benefits from the implementation of passenger rail services with Amtrak from Maine all the way to California.”

 

“We are also pleased that the governor wants to include the freight rail owners and operators in these discussions with Amtrak.” says Bremer. “Timely, reliable, and successful passenger rail service depends on the cooperation of all parties involved.”

 

Cleveland is currently served by two daily Amtrak trains, the Lake Shore Limited and the Capitol Limited, operating between Chicago and the East Coast, while Cincinnati is served three days weekly in each direction by the Cardinal between Chicago and New York City, via Indianapolis and Washington.

 

Dayton and Columbus have not been served by Amtrak trains since the 1979 discontinuance of the National Limited.  The 3-C corridor was never served by Amtrak and lost its passenger trains before Amtrak service began in 1971.

 

The recently completed Ohio Hub Plan and two related economic impact studies will give this Amtrak study a major leg up, since the plan shows the 3-C Corridor can generate both significant ridership and commercial development around train stations.

 

        “This is a good way to get passenger trains up and running as we continue to pursue the long-term vision for passenger and freight rail in the state,” says Dietrich.

About ORDC

 

The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation.  ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and expansion of passenger and freight rail service, railroad grade crossing safety and rail travel & tourism issues. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail.

About Amtrak

 

Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Very promicing!

Great news.  I like that they're being smart and thinking about added capacity rather than fighting it out with freight trains for space.  That's what happens in DC with the commuter rail lines...guess who gets priority when two trains need the same rails.  Hint: not people. 

Thanks, Noozer. All Aboard Ohio's press release will be out shortly.

Wow great news! 

YAY!  I am happy!  Has it ever gotten this far before? 

What's the downside of having the 3C corridor connect Dayton and Akron as well?

I don't think there would be a downside!!!!

What's the downside of having the 3C corridor connect Dayton and Akron as well?

 

the cincinnati to cleveland trip would take longer

YAY!  I am happy!  Has it ever gotten this far before? 

 

Yes, several times. In 1985, Amtrak was prepared to operate 3-C Corridor trains for a start-up cost of just $10 million (stations, minor track improvements, etc) and $1.2 million in annual operating costs. Gov. Celeste didn't put it in his budget and the general assembly didn't add it despite legislation introduced to do so. There were several attempts in the late 1980s to get state money included, and each year the amount of start-up and operating costs went up -- way up.

 

Then, in 1995, as a result of the Access Ohio plan, the new Ohio Rail Development Commission requested $60 million from the state controlling board. The amount would be split roughly evenly for running two daily round trips in both the 3-C Corridor and part of the CAC (Cleveland-Akron-Canton) Corridor. The 3-C Corridor would have had its southern terminus in Sharonville to avoid having to build a third or fourth main track to get to downtown Cincinnati. The CAC Corridor would have had its southern terminus at Tallmadge Avenue in Akron to avoid having to build a bridge over the CSX mainline for the commuter trains to reach downtown Akron.

 

We will likely run into similar, costly issues with 3-C Corridor, which is why this needs to be as much about improving the fluidity of congested freight railroads as it is about passenger trains. And if our freight railroads are so congested so as to prevent a passenger train from getting through in a timely way, then how prepared are our freight railroads to handle the projected growth in freight traffic or even be able to afford adding the new capacity? Fact is, they aren't. And the "Freight Rail Bottom Line Report" by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials underscores this sobering fact.

The biggest change from then to now is the per barrel price of oil and pump price of gasoline back in 1985 and what it hit just today... $106 per barrel and rapidly approaching at your neighborhood pump... $4.00 a gallon.  This will help drive the political pressure to get ttrains on the 3-C and elsewhmere in Ohio.

What's the downside of having the 3C corridor connect Dayton and Akron as well?

 

the cincinnati to cleveland trip would take longer

 

Past studies have shown that the longer routing via Akron would cause ridership from Cleveland to drop farther than the increased ridership from Akron would make up for. So you're getting less ridership and revenue for a route that's longer, involving more start-up costs and more day-to-day operating costs.

 

Running through Dayton is not an issue. That's where the 3-C Corridor mainline is routed and thus where the highest quality tracks are located. It would more difficult and expensive to rebuild backwater rail lines to avoid going through Dayton, and which won't save you much travel time.

Perhaps it's way to early to ask, but can somebody please tell me they'll route passenger rail through DAY, CMH, CLE, and [don't see it happening on the initial route] CVG. 

Current on-Line poll on the Ohio New Network:

 

ONN Poll

Would you use a rail system between Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati?  

 

74% Yes

26% No

 

Poll can be accessed at:

http://10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/index.html

 

Perhaps it's way to early to ask, but can somebody please tell me they'll route passenger rail through DAY, CMH, CLE, and [don't see it happening on the initial route] CVG. 

 

Because the freight railroad tracks through the Mill Creek valley into downtown Cincinnati are horribly congested with freight traffic. To address that will likely require a third main track and, for a portion of it, a fourth main track. Perhaps the 3-C trains could be short-turned at a station in Sharonville. But there may also be freight congestion issues in Middletown, near Moraine south of Dayton, and on the joint CSX trackage through downtown Dayton.

^All of the above is what the study called for by the Governor would answer.

Gotcha...it is a bit early to say whether routing would hit the airports or not. 

 

it will be interesting to see if there would be any resistance from the airlines on such routing.  Common sense says no; experience with ideologues says yes. 

 

 

No airports are next to the railway except one -- Cleveland Hopkins. The long-term parking deck at Hopkins is 300-500 feet from the likely 3-C routing. That 300-500 feet represents the width of State Route 237. The only way that 3-C trains wouldn't travel past Hopkins is if they took the West Shore Corridor west from Cleveland to Lorain, through Vermilion to Bellevue then south from there to Columbus. I don't see that happening anymore than a routing through Akron.

Light rail would seem to serve a greater purpose connecting to airports than high speed rail.  This is fantastic news...it is great that we have a govenor willing to put this on the front page.

Light rail would seem to serve a greater purpose connecting to airports than high speed rail.  [snip]

 

depends on how long it takes to get via that light rail to the center city and how frequent the HSR link is. 

Light rail would seem to serve a greater purpose connecting to airports than high speed rail.  This is fantastic news...it is great that we have a govenor willing to put this on the front page.

 

to what airport?  To the business traveler you want the quickest ride from airport to CBD.  I don't think light rail is a good use for that.  St. Louis is a perfect example of how a system does not work.  Philly's Regional Rail is an example of how the system does work from airport to CBD.

Light rail would seem to serve a greater purpose connecting to airports than high speed rail.  This is fantastic news...it is great that we have a govenor willing to put this on the front page.

 

That might be true for connecting airports to their corresponding CBD, but I think the point of connecting Hopkins to the Ohio Hub would be to allow passengers from other parts of Ohio to fly out of Hopkins without driving there.

^Exactly.  It could also replace short haul flights such as Cleveland-Cincinnati, and ultimately the Ohio Hub  could also replace Cleveland-Detroit flights.  This would free up runway slots for the more lucrative long-haul market for the airlines. 

 

 

How long is the analysis expected to take?  I would think a lot of the preliminary engineering work would have been done as part of the Ohio Hub studies.  Does Amtrak also look into station locations as part of their analysis?  Cleveland and Cincinnati already have station locations, but Columbus, for example, does not have station at all to speak of.

^Exactly.  It could also replace short haul flights such as Cleveland-Cincinnati, and ultimately the Ohio Hub  could also replace Cleveland-Detroit flights.  This would free up runway slots for the more lucrative long-haul market for the airlines.

 

Agreed, but this does not mean the stop has to be at the airport itself.  I don't really think you would have HSR making that short of a trip either (from CVG to Union Terminal for example).

How long is the analysis expected to take?  I would think a lot of the preliminary engineering work would have been done as part of the Ohio Hub studies.  Does Amtrak also look into station locations as part of their analysis?  Cleveland and Cincinnati already have station locations, but Columbus, for example, does not have station at all to speak of.

 

 

Typically, an analysis of a corridor like the 3-C, which is 258 miles long, would take between 12 and 18 months.  Part of the corridor (Cleveland-Columbus) was studied by ODOT & Amtrak in 2000 as a 2-C alternative to the construction that (at the time) was just getting underway to widen I-71.  Though the numbers are no longer valid, that study could still provide a foundation for this new effort. 

 

The work would include a complete cost analysis of track & signal needs, grade crossing improvements (much of which have actually been done on the 2-C and are currently underway between Columbus & Cincy), equipment needs (4 trainsets) and stations.  The big challenges are how to handle rail choke points at places like Berea, Greenwich, Downtown Columbus and Cincinnati (Queensgate Yard).

 

Stations will ikely be left up to the communities (Columbus, Springfield, Dayton) that don't already have them. The study could also recommend possible suburban stops as well.

 

There has been no "preliminary engineering" done yet on the Ohio Hub, that stage is yet to come and would precede actuall construction of the Hub itself.  But some of the information gathered during the Hub study can be valuable in getting this 3-C effort going.  At the very least, it bears out the point that it is the strongest-performing rail corridor in the state.

 

 

I had dinner this evening with someone who is friends with Continental Airlines' regional vice president here in Cleveland. He said Continental likes the idea of having intercity passenger trains serving Hopkins Airport for the reasons stated earlier -- it provides a more cost-effective way to bring travelers from around Ohio to Continental's hub at Hopkins, as well as to distribute Continental customers to major destinations in Ohio (Columbus, Cedar Point/Sandusky, Toledo, Youngstown/Warren, etc). There are few thing less efficient than a commercial flight that travels less than 150 miles.

 

Here's a graphic I produced for the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers (today's All Aboard Ohio) in 2004......

 

It wouldnt make a lot of sense for the 3C rail to diverge toward Akron-Canton. What that route needs is a separate light rail line, which has been proposed before (and has had a lot of support in the cities) but the NIMBYS (silver lake, im looking at you) dont want any mass transit.