Yet the “think tanks” rail against trains as the hogs at the public trough.

 

Pun intended?

 

Yep.

That was great, KJP.

I concur, it's a shame the Enquirer did not run it.

Stay tuned......

 

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/23/23greenwire-house-to-vote-on-high-speed-rail-funding-natio-70452.html

 

House to Vote on High-Speed Rail Funding, National Infrastructure Bank

By JOSH VOORHEES of Greenwire

Published: July 23, 2009

 

The House is set today to vote on a fiscal 2010 transportation spending bill that would provide $4 billion for high-speed rail and lay the groundwork for the creation of a national infrastructure bank.

 

H.R. 3288 (pdf) would provide a total of $75.8 billion for the Transportation Department, an $8.6 billion jump from fiscal 2009.

 

The $4 billion for high-speed and intercity passenger rail is four times the total President Obama had sought for the upcoming fiscal year. The economic stimulus included $8 billion to jump-start a high-speed rail network, and the White House requested an additional $1 billion annually over the next five years.

 

 

.......

More about the $4 billion boost. But see bold text. Gee, think this is micro-managing? I'm so glad the GOPers believe in less government intrusion.

________________________

 

http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=9186

 

Funds for High-Speed Rail Face Cuts in GOP Amendments to Spending Bill

 

By Colby Itkowitz

Congressional Quarterly Today

 

NATION - House Republicans will seek to strip a major increase in high-speed passenger rail funding from the $123.1 billion fiscal 2010 Transportation-HUD spending bill, which lawmakers begin debating on Thursday.

 

A proposal by Tom Latham, R-Iowa, to cut $3 billion of the proposed $4 billion boost in high-speed rail funding from the bill is among 23 amendments that will be allowed for floor debate. Eighty-five amendments were filed with the committee.

 

Republicans were again rebuffed in their request to bring the bill to the floor without restrictions on amendments. They say the restrictions on spending bills depart from House tradition and unfairly limit debate. Democrats have argued that GOP stalling tactics have forced their hands.

 

.......

Fine... Let Amtrak charge $.01 per cocktail the next time they run a promotion. :)

 

The national infrastructure investment bank and the $4B for high-speed rail are the most promising aspects of the bill, but I'll reserve judgement until it emerges from the congressional sausage factory.

Thank you for your calls and e-mails! Now, on to the Senate......

 

http://thetransportpolitic.com

 

House Okays Additional $4 Billion for High-Speed Rail

 

July 24, 2009

 

Budget provision, if approved by Senate, will increase federal allocations for rail to $12 billion in this year alone.

 

Yesterday, the U.S. House passed its housing and transportation bill, which will provide funds for fiscal year 2010. Approved mostly by members of the majority Democratic party, the bill would allocate $4 billion to high-speed rail programs - if the Senate's version, likely to be considered after the August recess, includes the same provision. If a planned infrastructure bank is authorized by the Congress later this year, $2 billion of the included funds would be shifted there and could be devoted to non-rail projects, though that prospect appears unlikely at this time.

 

In the President's Budget, released earlier this year, Mr. Obama asked the Congress to devote $1 billion for the next five years for high-speed rail, in addition to the $8 billion already marked for the program under the stimulus bill. The House's decision to increase that number to $4 billion is a direct reaction to the huge response from states and the private sphere for stimulus-based federal rail grants. The FRA revealed that forty states had applied for more than $103 billion.

 

Iowa Congressman Tom Latham ® attempted to block the inclusion of so much money for rail, arguing that the government shouldn't embark on what he argued would be a $100 billion endeavor. Yet his amendment was put down by a vote of 136-284, with 40 Republicans voting against his measure - compared to the only 16 members of the GOP voting for the bill as a whole. This indicates strong bipartisan support in Congress for high-speed rail investment and bodes well for similar action in the more conservative Senate.

 

Two billion of the allocated dollars would be transferred to an infrastructure bank if that agency is established later in the year. The bank would extend low interest loans to valuable projects contributing to the well-being of the nation as a whole, including appropriate private investments. At this point, however, the infrastructure bank has yet to materialize and even if it does, it would likely focus at least initially on rail projects, since they've achieved prominence this year in the national discourse.

http://www.newsday.com/house-passes-increase-for-housing-high-speed-rail-1.1323240

 

House passes increase for housing, high-speed rail

Thursday, July 23, 2009 By The Associated Press  ANDREW TAYLOR (Associated Press Writer)

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-dominated House Thursday approved generous funding for housing subsidies for the poor and President Barack Obama's initiative to build high-speed railroads as it passed a $123.1 billion transportation and housing bill.

 

The measure, approved 256-168, provides a 13 percent increase in total funding for the programs it covers, including $4 billion for Obama's high-speed rail initiative, which was launched in February with an $8 billion infusion from the economic stimulus bill. Obama had only sought $1 billion in additional money for high-speed and other intercity rail lines.

 

.......

Ohio has 'strong' chance to win rail funding

But U.S. official says there's plenty of competition

Saturday,  July 25, 2009 3:12 AM

By Jonathan Riskind

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

http://dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/07/25/lahood25.ART_ART_07-25-09_A3_N2EJ09Q.html?sid=101

 

WASHINGTON -- Ohio should have a "strong application" to win federal stimulus money for high-speed rail, but it also faces strong competition nationally for funding, says Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

 

LaHood said in an interview yesterday that he has spoken extensively with Gov. Ted Strickland on at least two occasions about the state's desire to link Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton with a passenger line heading to Chicago as part of a Midwest rail corridor.

 

"We will give it good consideration," LaHood said of Ohio's application.

 

........

A better article IMHO...

 

http://in.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idINN2321826620090724?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=11584&sp=true

 

US House OKs money for rail, infrastructure bank

Fri Jul 24, 2009 6:07am IST 

By Andy Sullivan

 

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) - High-speed rail projects would receive a $2 billion boost under a bill passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday that also lays the groundwork for a national infrastructure bank.

 

By a vote of 256-168, the House approved $68.8 billion for transportation and housing projects for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, a 25 percent increase over 2009 funding levels.

 

..........

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/07/26/Wawire_0726.ART_ART_07-26-09_A6_KFEJ7G8.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

Sunday,  July 26, 2009 3:17 AM

 

Strickland will attend high-speed-rail summit

 

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will join other Midwestern governors Monday in Chicago to discuss their states' desires to form a high-speed rail corridor with the help of federal stimulus money.

 

Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said yesterday the aim of the "high-speed rail summit" is to sign a memorandum of understanding among Ohio and other Midwestern states to demonstrate their support for coordinating corridor plans and winning some of the $8 billion available nationally. Many states and regions will be competing.

 

Midwest governors OK pact for high-speed rail push

Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:43pm EDT 

 

CHICAGO, July 27 (Reuters) - The prospect of billions of dollars in federal money to spur high-speed rail has united eight U.S. Midwest governors who announced on Monday an agreement to work together to obtain that funding.

 

The governors, as well as Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, agreed to create a Midwest rail steering group to coordinate applications for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which allocates $8 billion nationwide for high-speed rail.

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2753262720090727

A press release from Gov. Strickland; cross-posted in the 3-C Corridor thread:

 

http://ohio.gov/news/2009/07/#072709

 

July 27, 2009 – Governor Strickland Signs Midwest Agreement to Promote Regional Passenger Rail and Ohio's 3C Corridor

 

Columbus, Ohio – Joined by the governors of seven other Midwest states, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate regional efforts to secure federal funding for development of the Chicago Hub High-Speed Rail Corridor, including Ohio's 3C Passenger Rail Plan, at the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit in Chicago.

 

"The agreement signed today demonstrates the importance of Ohio and the 3C Corridor to the Chicago Hub. It also commits the Midwest to work together to bring high-speed rail to our region," said Strickland.

 

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Governor Strickland, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Iowa Governor Chet Culver, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene M. Molitoris also participated in the event.

 

"A modern transportation system that includes passenger rail service enhances the quality of life for those in its proximity, revitalizes our cities and boosts the economic development and growth potential of a region," Strickland said. "I thank President Obama and the Congress for their visionary leadership and commitment to expanding passenger rail service in the United States."

 

Ohio's 3C Corridor will connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati as part of President Barack Obama's nationally-prioritized Chicago Hub Network — which connects with Toledo, Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago to the western United States.

 

"Ohio's central location makes our state the connection between the Chicago Hub to the west and the Northeast Corridor to the east," Strickland said. "I look forward to collaborating with my fellow governors and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to make the Midwest a regional leader in high-speed rail and move our state into the future."

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has made $8 billion in funds available for passenger rail service, and this MOU establishes a Midwest Rail Steering Committee to coordinate the region's efforts to secure resources.

 

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown also offered his support of the collaborative effort.

 

"You can't have a nationwide passenger rail system without Ohio," Brown said. "This agreement, coupled with new federal funds through the economic recovery package, will make the 3C corridor one step closer to becoming a reality. High-speed rail is critical to the long-term economic competiveness of our region. By connecting Ohio's largest cities with others cities in the Midwest, we can bring jobs and economic development to our state."

 

Restoring passenger rail service at conventional speed is Ohio's first step toward implementing a high speed rail network connecting Ohio to the Midwest and the rest of the country.

 

With ARRA funding, Ohio would have initial conventional-speed service running by 2011. Ohio is seeking at least $250 million and up to $400 million in ARRA resources for the 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan.

 

Applications for ARRA resources are due in October.

A press release from Gov. Strickland; cross-posted in the Ohio Hub/ORDC/Midwest thread:

 

http://ohio.gov/news/2009/07/#072709

 

July 27, 2009 – Governor Strickland Signs Midwest Agreement to Promote Regional Passenger Rail and Ohio's 3C Corridor

 

Columbus, Ohio – Joined by the governors of seven other Midwest states, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate regional efforts to secure federal funding for development of the Chicago Hub High-Speed Rail Corridor, including Ohio's 3C Passenger Rail Plan, at the Midwest High Speed Rail Summit in Chicago.

 

"The agreement signed today demonstrates the importance of Ohio and the 3C Corridor to the Chicago Hub. It also commits the Midwest to work together to bring high-speed rail to our region," said Strickland.

 

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Governor Strickland, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Iowa Governor Chet Culver, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jolene M. Molitoris also participated in the event.

 

"A modern transportation system that includes passenger rail service enhances the quality of life for those in its proximity, revitalizes our cities and boosts the economic development and growth potential of a region," Strickland said. "I thank President Obama and the Congress for their visionary leadership and commitment to expanding passenger rail service in the United States."

 

Ohio's 3C Corridor will connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati as part of President Barack Obama's nationally-prioritized Chicago Hub Network — which connects with Toledo, Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago to the western United States.

 

"Ohio's central location makes our state the connection between the Chicago Hub to the west and the Northeast Corridor to the east," Strickland said. "I look forward to collaborating with my fellow governors and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to make the Midwest a regional leader in high-speed rail and move our state into the future."

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has made $8 billion in funds available for passenger rail service, and this MOU establishes a Midwest Rail Steering Committee to coordinate the region's efforts to secure resources.

 

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown also offered his support of the collaborative effort.

 

"You can't have a nationwide passenger rail system without Ohio," Brown said. "This agreement, coupled with new federal funds through the economic recovery package, will make the 3C corridor one step closer to becoming a reality. High-speed rail is critical to the long-term economic competiveness of our region. By connecting Ohio's largest cities with others cities in the Midwest, we can bring jobs and economic development to our state."

 

Restoring passenger rail service at conventional speed is Ohio's first step toward implementing a high speed rail network connecting Ohio to the Midwest and the rest of the country.

 

With ARRA funding, Ohio would have initial conventional-speed service running by 2011. Ohio is seeking at least $250 million and up to $400 million in ARRA resources for the 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan.

 

Applications for ARRA resources are due in October.

Crescent-News.com

Rallying for rail line

Todd Helberg

July 26, 2009

By TODD HELBERG

[email protected]

 

A pending plan being pushed by state and local officials could bring a high-speed passenger rail stop to Defiance.

 

And, with federal stimulus dollars flowing in many directions from Washington, funding is available to at least get some initial work started.

 

Read more at:

http://www.crescent-news.com/news/article/4635747

: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090728/NEWS24/907280374

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article published July 28, 2009

 

Midwest states pitch high-speed rail system

Network to include Ohio's '3C Corridor'

BLADE STAFF

 

CHICAGO - Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland joined Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and six other Midwestern governors Monday in presenting a united front in seeking billions in federal funds to develop a regional high-speed passenger rail network with Chicago as its hub.

 

Read more at the URL above

What a brilliant piece of "journalism." Strickland flew to Chicago because Columbus doesn't have passenger trains to anywhere. Columbus is the most populous metropolitan area in the western hemisphere without passenger train service. What was Strickland supposed to do, Mr. Provance, hop the first freight train heading west?

Yes, hobo style. 

 

:-D

Hey, at least Amanda Wurst had a good response.

I e-mailed Jim Provance. He said he contacted Amanda in the hopes she would say something stronger like "It's hard for the governor to do that when Columbus is the largest metro area without passenger train service." I didn't care much for her comment. If I lived in Columbus and had to go northeast to Cleveland before going west to Chicago, I'd still fly. That's why it was important for her to generalize what Columbus lacks. Just my

Has there been any discussion of multi-state tax compact to provide local funding for these advancements? Obviously a lot of this is from money sent to the feds to be redistributed and many of these states traditionally did not get back from the feds all they put in, esp. in transport funding. However, I wonder if a small tax across this group of states might allow more secure funding than each state trying to figure it out alone. Since the success of this really requires a system that is actually relatively complete, making sure that we don't end up with trains to nowhere would seem especially important.

The existing multi-state compact is the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (of which Ohio is an original member).  All of the state DOT and/or Rail Commissions have been coordinating under this umbrella for years to create a well-functioning network of passenger rail routes.

 

More media coverage:

 

Midwest governors catch up with HSR rail advocates  

Railway Age Magazine

 

Eight governors from Midwest states announced a pact Monday to seek federal stimulus funds to establish a high speed rail network with Chicago as the hub. The Obama Administration in April identified such a network as one of 10 candidates eligible for a portion of $8 billion provided for high speed rail by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

 

Read more at:

 

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/midwest-governors-play-catchup-with-hsr-rail-advocates.html

Being the railroad buff that I am, what sort of trainsets would be used on the 3C? I know I'm getting ahead of myself but sometime in the future I'd love to see the Acela for Ohio.

Something like the Acela would be a nice long-term goal, but won't happen anytime soon. I'm not sure if they plan on ordering new rolling stock specifically for the 3C corridor or not. For conventional 79MPH service, I'm guessing they'd use the standard Amfleet coaches hauled by diesel locomotives, at least for starters. For 110MPH service, something like the Talgo trainsets used in the Northwest might be appropriate, but that's just speculation.

Take an informal vote for the streetcar at:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090728/NEWS0108/307240040/Mayor+++Yes++vote+would+kill+streetcars

 

Mallory: 'Yes' vote would kill streetcar

By Barry M. Horstman

[email protected]

 

In his bluntest assessment yet about a November ballot measure’s likely impact on Cincinnati’s proposed streetcar plan, Mayor Mark Mallory flatly said Tuesday that approval of the charter amendment would kill it and other future passenger-rail ideas critical to the city’s future.

 

Although the amendment’s passage would not be a conclusive defeat for the streetcar plan, its requirement of another public vote before the city proceeds with it or any other passenger-rail idea would, Mallory said, produce delays that could cost Cincinnati tens of millions of federal dollars, effectively scuttling the project’s $128 million first phase.

 

“If that measure passes, it’s the end of streetcars in Cincinnati, it will be the end of the conversation about light rail, it will be the end of the conversation about passenger rail between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland,” a combative Mallory said at a City Hall news conference. “It will effectively be the end of passenger rail in and out of the city of Cincinnati. … It would be a disaster for us in terms of mass transit.”

 

 

.........

We will likely see three to four car trains in a push-pull arrangement.  Amfleet cars will be hard to come by, since Amtrak decided that it needed to take all of it's spares and wreck-damaged cars and rehab them for use on their national system trains.  So that means states like Ohio will either have to buy new equipment or turn to the used equipment market (which is considerable).

 

But sooner or later, manufacturing capacity is going to have to ramped up for building news passenger rail cars.

Just to add to Noozer's comment about "used" rail cars. Please don't think that Ohio would be getting crappy rail cars. Look at what North Carolina did in rehabilitating used rail cars for its state-supported service (scroll to bottom of page) at:

 

http://www.bytrain.org/passenger/

You say "used", I say "recycled" and slap a big "green" sticker on it.  :laugh:

This was so impressive I had to hotlink from the North Carolina website that KJP posted...  They look a little dated from the outside, but inside looks comfy.

 

 

I don't think the outside looks all that dated at all. I like a little retro look. I would imagine the 3C would start with something like this although with single deck passenger cars.

Questions from a novice :)

 

1. Does the fact that the 3-C was not listed among the rail priorities of the midwest governors (I believe Chicago to Detroit and to St. Louis were listed in an article somewhere around here) adversely impact the 3-C proposal? Or am I misreading or overstating the role of the priorities expressed in the summit?

 

2. How would the 3-C corridor interface with existing Amtrak service? Specifically, would it lead to any likely increases in service or adjusted hours for trips between Cleveland and Chicago and/or Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I know this might be speculative at this point, but I'll take speculation from people in the know over my uninformed guesses anyday.

Questions from a novice :)

 

1. Does the fact that the 3-C was not listed among the rail priorities of the midwest governors (I believe Chicago to Detroit and to St. Louis were listed in an article somewhere around here) adversely impact the 3-C proposal? Or am I misreading or overstating the role of the priorities expressed in the summit?

 

2. How would the 3-C corridor interface with existing Amtrak service? Specifically, would it lead to any likely increases in service or adjusted hours for trips between Cleveland and Chicago and/or Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I know this might be speculative at this point, but I'll take speculation from people in the know over my uninformed guesses anyday.

 

1. The 3-C was proiminently mentioned in almost every story I saw about the agreement signed by the Midwest Governors.  I doubt Governor Strickland would have signed unless he got some assurances from the other Governors that they would support Ohio's stimulus application.  Ohio, afterall, offers the "rail bridge" between the Midwest and East Coast...otherwise the Midwest system becomes an isolated system.

 

2.I would think that 3 to 4 trips a day in the 3-C Corridor (to start) would generate many thousands more passengers into the Amtrak system would influence Amtrak to improve and expand service on the East-West routes that run through Ohio ( Lake Shore Ltd and Capital Ltd, as well as the Cardinal). 

Freight railroads weigh in on high speed passenger rail

 

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger told the the Midwest High-Speed Rail Summit in Chicago Tuesday that "striking the right balance between passenger and freight rail expansion is key to the success of high speed rail in America."

 

Read more at:

http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/freight-railroads-weigh-in-on-high-speed-passenger-rail.html

http://cahsr.blogspot.com:80/2009/07/will-new-york-times-provide-fair-hsr.html

 

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Will the New York Times Provide A Fair HSR Assessment?

 

The Economix Blog at the New York Times is launching a multi-part series on high speed rail, beginning with this post (http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/is-high-speed-rail-a-good-public-investment/#more-24061) by Harvard economist Edward Glaeser. As a general rule I tend to dismiss any analysis of passenger rail that thinks a Simpsons episode has any role to play in the assessment (but then I did live through the endless and ultimately self-defeating debate over the Seattle monorail project, so perhaps I'm biased). But Glaeser has a high-profile soapbox to make his assessment, and as he is promising a fair analysis, it's worth taking this seriously.

 

 

If the state wants service within two years, they probably will have to go on the secondhand market and acquire cars to rehab. Otherwise, we are talking 3 years or more for new cars.

 

Also, I hope Noozer is right that new service on the 3-C Corridor might prompt Amtrak to do something about its pathetic nighttime-only"service!

Can someone re-edit the above post to make it more readable.  I honestly can't tell what is the original column and what are the posters remarks.  Perhaps putting the comments in another color or in bold type?

The blogger's original words are in regular or bold regular type while the quotes are in red italics.

The difference is faint to the point of being tough to read. 

Progressive Railroading to boot up HSRupdates.com on Sept. 8

 

Next month, Progressive Railroading plans to launch HSRupdates.com, a new Web site devoted to high-speed rail.

 

To go live on Sept. 8, the site will feature a state-by-state listing of near- and long-term HSR plans, projects and proposals, including any work the states have completed to date, as well as rail department contact information for each state DOT.

 

 

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=21078

This came out last week and I totally missed it!

 

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/news/Pages/StatewideSupportfor3CPassengerRailPlanstrengthensOhio%E2%80%99sStimulusApplication.aspx

 

 

7/23/2009     

 

Statewide Support for 3C Passenger Rail Plan

Strengthens Ohio’s Stimulus Application

3CisME.ohio.gov offers latest news and public comment

 

COLUMBUS (July 23, 2009) - To strengthen the state’s push for federal stimulus funds to provide passenger rail service to more Ohioans, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are calling upon citizens across the state to proclaim, “3C is Me!”

 

ORDC and ODOT have launched 3CisME.ohio.gov, an online portal to find the latest news and share public comments on Ohio's 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan.

 

Ohio’s 3C Corridor will connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati as part of President Barack Obama’s nationally-prioritized Chicago Hub Network - which connects with Toledo, Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago to the west.

 

With funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Ohio’s “Quick Start” plan would have initial conventional-speed service running by 2011, utilizing the safest, most efficient and cost-effective route, and putting travel choice in reach of more than 60 percent of Ohio’s population.

 

Ohio faces intense competition in securing its share of $8 billion in stimulus funds made available for passenger rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Earlier this month, ORDC and ODOT took an important step in that competition by filing a "pre-application" with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) outlining Ohio's 3C "Quick Start" Plan.

 

As of July 17, the FRA had received 278 pre-applications, covering 40 states and the District of Columbia, seeking $102 billion in funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation will make its funding decisions this fall. Ohio is seeking at least $250 million and up to $400 million for the 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan.

 

As a part of the formal application for stimulus funding due by Oct. 1, ORDC and ODOT will use some of the public comments collected on the new 3CisME.ohio.gov. Some of the comments already recorded:

 

“I have lived in Ohio for 7 years, but due to the lack of having a reliable vehicle (and currently without a vehicle at all) I haven't had much opportunity to visit other areas of the state, but this rail service may very well change all of that!”

 

“The possibility of the 3C is easily the most exciting, positive thing going on in Ohio today. It will add enormously to the state's quality of life and will better connect me to my family and friends across the state.”

 

“Several times per year, I have to travel to Columbus for meetings and training. Whenever I go now, I lose at least 5 hours of productivity per trip. On the train, I could use a laptop to keep up with my e-mail, tend to paperwork, have telephone conferences, and sometimes even meetings with coworkers. These things can't be done in a car.”

 

Strong coalitions from every region of the state have expressed in support for Ohio’s passenger rail plans, ranging from city leaders, sports teams, students, contractors, environmental organizations, labor, developers, chambers of commerce, and private businesses.

 

A March 2009 Quinnipiac University Poll showed 64 percent of Ohioans statewide favored re-establishing passenger rail in the 3C Corridor, with particularly strong support among men and women under the age of 25.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

  For more information, contact Scott Varner, ODOT Central Office Communications, at (614) 644-8640

or Stu Nicholson, Ohio Rail Development Commission, at (614) 644-0513.

 

 

Additional information can be found at http://3CisME.ohio.gov

Please note: the website does not contain the typical ‘www’ prior to the address.

From the referenced Quinnipiac poll ... You can also see responses for likelihood of ridership, although those numbers don't vary a great deal from demographic to demographic. Questions 51 and 52 at http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1322.xml?ReleaseID=1276.

 

Party affiliation and geographic location seem to be the biggest indicators of support or opposition. Interestingly, the lowest support of any demographic group came from residents of central Ohio, who seem to have a great location for taking advantage of inner-state travel (although Cleveland and Cincinnati seem better positioned for travel elsewhere).

 

Governor Strickland is proposing passenger train service between Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

 

Total                   

Good Idea: 64%

Bad Idea: 29%

Don't Know: 7%

 

Republican

Good Idea: 56%

Bad Idea: 38%

Don't Know: 6%

 

Democrat

Good Idea: 75%

Bad Idea: 18%

Don't Know: 7%

 

Independent

Good Idea: 59%

Bad Idea: 33%

Don't Know: 8%

 

Men

Good Idea: 62%

Bad Idea: 33%

Don't Know: 5%

 

Women

Good Idea: 65%

Bad Idea: 26%

Don't Know: 9%

 

White Born Again Evangelical

Good Idea: 57%

Bad Idea: 37%

Don't Know: 7%

 

Central Ohio

Good Idea: 52%

Bad Idea: 41%

Don't Know: 7%

 

Northeast Ohio

Good Idea: 70%

Bad Idea: 23%

Don't Know: 8%

 

Northwest Ohio

Good Idea: 60%

Bad Idea: 32%

Don't Know: 7%

 

Southeast Ohio

Good Idea: 62%

Bad Idea: 32%

Don't Know: 6%

 

Southwest Ohio

Good Idea: 66%

Bad Idea: 31%

Don't Know: 3%

 

West Central Ohio

Good Idea: 65%

Bad Idea: 26%

Don't Know: 9%

 

Age 18-34

Good Idea: 73%

Bad Idea: 19%

Don't Know: 9%

 

Age 35-54

Good Idea: 62%

Bad Idea: 33%

Don't Know: 5%

 

Age 55 and Older

Good Idea: 61%

Bad Idea: 31%

Don't Know: 8%

 

Income of Less than $50,000

Good Idea: 66%

Bad Idea: 25%

Don't Know: 9%

 

Income of $50,000 - $100,000

Good Idea: 60%

Bad Idea: 35%

Don't Know: 5%

 

Income of More than $100,000

Good Idea: 65%

Bad Idea: 33%

Don't Know: 2%

 

No College Degree

Good Idea: 63%

Bad Idea: 30%

Don't Know: 8%

 

College Degree

Good Idea: 67%

Bad Idea: 28%

Don't Know: 5%

 

 

 

What stands out the most from this poll:

 

- Income and College degree doesn't seem to effect opinion

- Younger crowds likes it/wants it...older crowds not as much...(hmm, who is the future btw??...) 

- Northeast Ohio the most, Central Ohio the least (but they would be the "hub essentially??)

- Women like it more then men!

- Democrats always agree with Obama's stimulus money plan! j/k

- What the hell is a Born Again Evangelical??

 

White Born Again Evangelical

Good Idea: 57%

Bad Idea: 37%

Don't Know: 7%

 

How silly.

^^ Seriously!!???

 

Is that supposed to dictate the "Average" american.  Can someone explain this to me. 

 

I was also curious what the Jews think, and the Irish Catholics, and the Greek Orthodox, and the Word church...

I do like that logo though.  They should make t-shirts.

^^ Seriously!!???

 

Is that supposed to dictate the "Average" american. Can someone explain this to me.

 

I was also curious what the Jews think, and the Irish Catholics, and the Greek Orthodox, and the Word church...

 

They may be trying to bring the "rurals" into the conversation.

From the data you showed it looks like there is a lot of support across all demographics. Lets get this thing built!

I dislike one aspect of this poll - it's open to partisan bias by including the language with Governor Strickland's name in the question.  I would have rather seen it as "Ohio is proposing..."  and eliminate any political slant.  Maybe the Central Ohio and Republican numbers would be higher if it wasn't seen as a referendum on a Democrat's idea.

Click on the link to the poll and you'll see that the poll was actually on Strickland's job performance, including his various initiatives -- 3-C Corridor included.