Now all you need is google+ and you'll be good to go.

 

Baby steps.....

All Aboard Ohio Local Meetings

February 2013

 

CLEVELAND -- Feb. 9th/Saturday -- 10 a.m.; 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: ask your state legislators for $75 million Ohio Transportation Choices Fund (see: http://tinyurl.com/bb28jae), east-west Amtrak expansion, Red Line/HealthLine extension update, Cleveland-Pittsburgh Rail Summit May 17 in Youngstown.

 

COLUMBUS -- Feb. 9th/Saturday -- 10 a.m.; Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: ask your state legislators for $75 million Ohio Transportation Choices Fund (see: http://tinyurl.com/bb28jae), locally funded Indiana/Ohio feasibility study for Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago service, local transit initiatives.

 

TOLEDO -- Feb. 9th/Saturday -- 10 a.m.; Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: ask your state legislators for $75 million Ohio Transportation Choices Fund (see: http://tinyurl.com/bb28jae), planning for 2013 National Train Day, east-west Amtrak service issues and expansion.

 

YOUNGSTOWN -- Feb. 14th/Thursday -- 12 noon; V2 Wine Bar Trattoria, back room, 100 West Federal Street, Downtown Youngstown. RSVP to Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883 or reply to this e-mail.

PROPOSED AGENDA: rail development updates from around the region, announcement on May 17 Cleveland-Youngstown-Pittsburgh rail summit, east-west Amtrak service challenge/opportunity.

 

 

Join us Aug. 8 for “TOD on Tap” tour!

 

Register today for All Aboard Ohio’s “TOD on Tap“ — an educational bar hop by rail transit in Cleveland on Thursday, August 8th, from 5-9 p.m.

 

Come hear from developers and transit planners who are rebuilding an Ohio city by uniting higher-level transit transit services like rail and bus rapid transit with walkable, mixed use Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Space is limited, so please register early!

 

Itinerary & Speakers

 

5:00 p.m. — Shaker Square, Zanzibar Soul Fusion, 13225 Shaker Square (NE Corner); Speakers: Peter Rubin, President/CEO Coral Co., and Maribeth Feke, Director, Planning & Programming, Greater Cleveland RTA.

RIDE BLUE/WATERFRONT LINES (no transfer required)

6:30 p.m. — Flats East Bank, Aloft Hotel Riveria BC/Lago, 1111 West 10th Street; Speaker: Harley Cohen, Owner’s Rep, Harlan & Associates.

RIDE WATERFRONT/GREEN/RED LINES (transfer at Tower City Center)

8:30 p.m. — Uptown/UC, Constantino’s Market (balcony meeting area), 11473 Euclid Avenue; Speaker: Ari Maron, Partner, MRN Ltd.

Thanks to our sponsors Aloft Hotel, Constantino’s Markets, Coral Company, Lago restaurant, Ohio Environmental Council, Paran Management, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Zanzibar Soul Fusion restaurant.

 

Download the flyer HERE for information and to pay by check/mail.

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/07/03/join-us-aug-8-for-our-tod-on-tap-tour/

 

Register today for $45 per person (pay online):

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/07/03/join-us-aug-8-for-our-tod-on-tap-tour/

Please join us for two events coming up soon (and please share with your networks)!

 

TOD* on Tap -- Aug 8 -- An educational bar hop by rail transit to experience Cleveland's hottest neighborhoods built around transit (*Transit Oriented Development).

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/07/03/join-us-aug-8-for-our-tod-on-tap-tour/

 

Summer Meeting & Family Outing -- Aug 10 -- Ride aboard Ohio's busiest passenger railroad from Independence (Rockside Road) to Akron and return with lunch after the train ride.

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/07/05/summer-meeting-family-outing/

 

NOTE: if you prefer to pay by check, you can print hardcopy registration documents available at the above links.

I'm looking forward to what Peter Rubin has to say about Shaker Square and Intesa tonight (see prior post), as well as what Fairmount has to say about Flats East Bank Phase II, and what Ari Maron has to say about current and future phases of Uptown. If you want to hear what they have to say, it's not late to RSVP for this event! http://allaboardohio.org/2013/07/03/join-us-aug-8-for-our-tod-on-tap-tour/

 

 

BTW, here's some pictures from our TOD On Tap event....

 

GCRTA Director of Programming & Planning Maribeth Feke speaks at Zanzibar at Shaker Square

 

 

 

Coral Company President & CEO Peter Rubin speaks at Zanzibar at Shaker Square

 

 

 

The TOD On Tap tour bar hops on a crowded Waterfront Line train to Flats East Bank

 

 

 

Harley Cohen, owners rep for the Wolstein family, discusses the Flats East Bank development at Aloft with the Waterfront Line visible behind

 

 

 

MRN Ltd Partner Ari Maron provides an update of the Uptown project at Constantino's upstairs meeting area

 

Ohio Passenger Rail News - eEdition - Aug 2013

 

Please find the latest edition (900K download) at the link below:

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/08/22/ohio-passenger-rail-e-news-august-2013/

 

Inside this issue:

 

+ Status Report: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill

+ Highway Trust Fund

+ Update on Elyria Amtrak Station

+ Transit Oriented Development “TOD on Tap” Tour

+ Red Line/HeathLine Extension Study – Public Informational Meetings Scheduled for September 9-12, 2013

+ All Aboard Ohio Summer Meeting – Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Outing

 

Click this link:

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/08/22/ohio-passenger-rail-e-news-august-2013/

All Aboard Ohio's web-based LIBRARY is now active with many documents! Some light reading for your Labor Day weekend.....

 

http://allaboardohio.org/transportation-planning-library/

Help grow the campaign for trains & transit! If you give a little more on Sept 17 your generosity will be rewarded by a matching donation from the Columbus Foundation!

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/09/03/the-big-give-get-more-from-your-donation/

The Big Give starts in 24 hrs!

 

http://t.co/lB5DTEFWAm

 

Help All Aboard Ohio fight for planning funding for Columbus-Chicago passenger rail service and to educate Ohio's leaders!

 

If you donate tomorrow during The Big Give via the Columbus Foundation website, the foundation will match your donation. Please take this opportunity! Thanks

 

Ends at 11 am today...

"@AllAboardOhio: Two hours left in THE BIG GIVE! Help us get to $4,000! Were at $3,000 now. Search for "All Aboard Ohio" at http://t.co/5IFNnWiAdI Thank you!"

All Aboard Ohio OCTOBER 2013 EVENTS

 

Oct. 7th/Monday, 11 a.m. -- TOLEDO RAIL FORUM -- The Toledo Club, 235 14th Street, speaker: John Robert Smith, Co-Chairman, Transportation for America "Revitalizing Communities: The Power of Station Renovation"  Registration is $28 at http://passengerrailforum.eventbrite.com/

 

Oct. 12th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: GUEST SPEAKER MALCOLM KENTON, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS' Director Outreach & Engagement, also Amtrak stations campaign, Red Line/HealthLine extension update.

 

Oct. 12th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, local transit initiatives, recent trip reports.

 

Oct. 12th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: followup from Toledo Rail Forum, MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, TMACOG report, Amtrak service issues, etc.

 

Oct. 26th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- FALL MEETING & STREETCAR STROLL -- Symphony Hotel & Restaurant, 210 West 14th Street, Cincinnati. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: “Streetcar Stroll” guided tour of the streetcar construction, How Cincinnati got its streetcars back, Railroad Improvement & Safety Plan, Amtrak Cardinal/Hoosier update. Registration is $35 at http://allaboardohio.org/2013/09/26/fall-meeting-streetcar-stroll-oct-26/

 

END

PHOTOS: All Aboard Ohio Visits Cincinnati to View Streetcar Construction Progress

PHOTOS: All Aboard Ohio Visits Cincinnati to View Streetcar Construction Progress

 

Awesome! Thanks -- I will tweet this link which means it will also appear on our website's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.

KJP, can we have a report? Did you get to check out Washington Park and other non-streetcar stuff that's new?

KJP, can we have a report? Did you get to check out Washington Park and other non-streetcar stuff that's new?

 

I stayed the night at the Symphony Hotel and recommend it. I parked in the Washington Park garage and was impressed with doing this in a neighborhood and placing a park atop it. I thought it was well designed. The downside is that I didn't care for a group of about five youths throwing small rocks at me as I walked from the parking garage to the hotel Friday night. I suspect they wanted to start something, but I was happy to disappoint them.

 

The meeting was interesting, as we had a long but good presentation on what's needed for a daily Amtrak Cardinal service. Virginia DOT is addressing one of the biggest issues -- the poor track and short passing sidings on a stretch of track called the Buckingham Branch between Clifton Forge and Charlottesville. But another big issue is freight traffic congestion between Crawfordsville and Indianapolis which restrains expanding the Hoosier State to daily service as well. We'd like to see the Hoosier State extended to Cincinnati as a daily train and on a slightly different schedule, plus the Cardinal run daily as well. That would offer double-daily service between Cincinnati and Chicago. However most of the Cardinal's ridership is from Cincinnati to the East, but the opportunities for having state sponsorship is more complicated there. Also the demonstration last month October of roll-on/roll-off bikes on the Capitol Limited in some of the recreational areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia offers a potential to boost ridership on the Cardinal too as it serves many recreational areas in West Virginia. Friends of the Cardinal is advocating major infrastructure projects that could cut three hours from the running time of the Cardinal between Charleston and Washington DC, which would also reducing operating expenses for the freight railroads too.

 

I gave a presentation on an Amtrak station improvements program All Aboard Ohio is seeking for stations along the combined routes of the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited, specifically the stations at Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria and Cleveland where ridership has grown 34-87 percent over the past five years. I then gave an update on progress of the Columbus-Chicago campaign which is asking MORPC, the metropolitan planning organization for Central Ohio, to have an open discussion on the role for MORPC in this project.

 

John Schneider, chairman of the Alliance for Regional Transit, gave an excellent report on what it took to get where we are today with the Cincinnati Streetcar. The 2002 ballot defeat of the MetroMoves issue revealed something good -- more voters in the basin area of Cincinnati supported the issue than opposed it. So why not seek a smaller-scale rail transit project there. John started his jaunts to the Pacific Northwest (starting with Portland) to see what they had done and were doing, and more decision-makers joined him on each trip including Mayor Mallory, council members, business leaders, and others. By 2007, the streetcar was under active study and despite recent delays is under construction and under contract. One of the best slides from John's presentation is that Cincinnati population chart, which shows the city's population peaked in 1950, the year before the last of many streetcar routes operated. Yet the metro area continues to grow to be larger than the primary MSA of Cleveland, although still not bigger than the consolidated MSA of Cleveland-Akron. ;)

 

Lastly, Paul Grether, manager of Rail Services for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Cincinnati Metro), gave a brief introductory presentation before leading the attendees on our Streetcar Stroll -- a guided walking tour of the construction. One of the most important points that Paul noted was that representatives of streetcar manufacturer CAF have worked closely with the construction team to make sure the streetcar (namely its wheels/bogies) are designed to fit with the track systems. So now that's there's tracks in place, the streetcar's wheel systems can be fined tuned to work with the Cincinnati rail system. This is why the Cincinnati Streetcars cannot simply be used on other existing streetcar systems or those that are in advanced planning and design unless the wheel bogies are replaced. Track construction will continue throughout the winter as the concrete being used can cure at temperatures as low as 32 degrees and new-pour areas will be heated to cure faster. I missed much of Grether's presentation as I was taking pictures for All Aboard Ohio newsletters and other publications.

 

But if you all had gone to this meeting, you wouldn't have missed a thing! ;) Please attend future meetings. I think you will like them as we keep things educational and do not engage in partisan politics. Join us today at allaboardohio.org!

Thanks for the report. I would like to attend, but it's too far.

Thanks for the report. I would like to attend, but it's too far.

 

We move around the state, except for the spring meeting which is always in Columbus.

Anywhere in Ohio is too far for me. Maybe some day.

 

 

I gave a presentation on an Amtrak station improvements program All Aboard Ohio is seeking for stations along the combined routes of the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited, specifically the stations at Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria and Cleveland where ridership has grown 34-87 percent over the past five years.

 

 

 

Can you see if anything can be done about restoring Amtrak service to Painesville? Seriously. It was the main stop before Cleveland for what...something like a hundred+ years? If it was good enough for Abraham Lincoln to stop there surely the Lake Shore Limited can let passengers on and off for a few seconds twice a day! :wave: http://www.pscwrt.org/PDF/Lincoln%20Painesville%20021661.pdf

Can you see if anything can be done about restoring Amtrak service to Painesville? Seriously. It was the main stop before Cleveland for what...something like a hundred+ years? If it was good enough for Abraham Lincoln to stop there surely the Lake Shore Limited can let passengers on and off for a few seconds twice a day! :wave: http://www.pscwrt.org/PDF/Lincoln%20Painesville%20021661.pdf

 

Yes, we want it too. The cost will be very high, however, as the railroad right of way's owner CSX (which hates passenger trains!) is requiring all new Amtrak stations on its busy double-tracked line east of Cleveland to New York City to have trackside loading platforms on both main trains with no at-grade pedestrian crossings across the tracks. That means an overhead walkway or a pedestrian tunnel under the tracks that is ADA-compliant (elevators, etc). So we're probably talking something in the neighborhood of $5 million. The new Amtrak station at Troy, Michigan is probably a good a model, which is being built for $6.3 million. But Painesville doesn't need a station building for a waiting room, bathrooms, etc. So it might be done for less money than Troy. But Troy will have only one station platform whereas Painesville will need two. This is Troy...

 

 

 

And then here's Painesville's depot which has been renovated in recent years (you'd never know it by the amount of vegetation trackside!). ;) I shot this photo of an on-time Lake Shore Limited zipping past the Painesville depot at track speed (79 mph) on July 3, 2011....

 

^I guess I was being a little naive in thinking it could be done that easily. The old depot is supposedly being turned into a rail museum (at an extremely slow pace), but could that still be used as an active station? I surely wouldn't want to see an architecturally dubious monstrosity like the one in Troy in its place! lol

As long as the station has a small waiting area with two restrooms and enough room to maneuver a wheelchair, the existing Painesville station building could accommodate the passenger facilities. Otherwise Amtrak would build its standardized, unstaffed Amtrak waiting shelter close by. This is Connellsville, PA on the Chicago-Cleveland-Washington DC route. There is an identical station like this in Alliance, OH on the same route (second photo)....

 

 

 

 

That overhead walkway looks taller than it would if built at Painesville, as the tracks past the Troy station are slightly higher than the surrounding landscape. And the overhead walkway could be designed to look more historic, like the one built at Kingston, Rhode Island next to a 19th-century depot....

 

^thanks. hopefully this might happen. I just don't understand why there are no stops on the Lakeshore Ltd between Cleveland and Erie PA, when going westward from Cleveland it stops in Elyria and Sandusky en route to Toledo, which appears to be roughly the same distance. Incidentally, I think I was wrong initially: Amtrak never stopped in Painesville. I believe that when it took over and Penn Central was no more (in 1971?), service there stopped completely.

^thanks. hopefully this might happen. I just don't understand why there are no stops on the Lakeshore Ltd between Cleveland and Erie PA, when going westward from Cleveland it stops in Elyria and Sandusky en route to Toledo, which appears to be roughly the same distance. Incidentally, I think I was wrong initially: Amtrak never stopped in Painesville. I believe that when it took over and Penn Central was no more (in 1971?), service there stopped completely.

 

That's correct. Amtrak never stopped anywhere between Cleveland and Erie. It is not for lack of discussion. Stops in Painesville, Mentor or Ashtabula have been considered at various times in the past, but never got very far. This is surprising since one of Amtrak's biggest backers was Congressman Steve Latourette, yet he never pushed very hard for a stop. His successor, David Joyce, is also an Amtrak supporter.

Please RSVP today!

 

Nov. 13th/Wednesday, 7 p.m. -- CINCINNATI AAO LOCAL MEETING -- The Rookwood, 1077 Celestial Street, Mt. Adams. Please RSVP to Mike Weber at [email protected] AGENDA: report from Oct. 26 statewide All Aboard Ohio meeting, Nov. 9 Midwest High Speed Rail Meeting in Indianapolis, followup from Nov. 5 election and its impact on local rail/transit projects, and more. No registration fee, but attendees are encouraged to buy drinks, dinner, etc.

Do you shop on-line & want to help All Aboard Ohio get more & better trains & transit for Ohio?

 

Do both at GoodShop!

 

http://links.mkt4008.com/servlet/MailView?ms=NzQ4NTA0MgS2&r=MjgwMDEwOTQ1NQS2&j=MTAwOTc5OTQxS0&mt=1&rt=0

 

Sign up and check out all the great stores you can shop at through Good Shop and have up to 2.5 percent of your purchase go to benefit All Aboard Ohio! Do all your shopping for the holidays and year round through Good Shop and All Aboard Ohio will get a nice donation from Good Shop at the end of the year. Let me know if you want more information.

 

Thank you for your support!!

All Aboard Ohio FEBRUARY 2014 EVENTS

 

Feb. 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak stations campaign update, Red Line/HealthLine extension update, local transit initiatives.

 

Feb. 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, local transit initiatives, recent trip reports.

 

TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- NO MEETING THIS MONTH

 

All Aboard Ohio MARCH 2014 EVENTS

 

March 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Toledo-Cleveland corridor/stations update, Red Line/HealthLine extension update, federal rail/transit funding, local transit initiatives.

All Aboard Ohio MAY 2014 EVENTS (FYI local meetings are free)

 

May 10th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update (see allaboardohio.org), Red Line/HealthLine extension update, National Train Day-Toledo report, possible guest from Cincinnati, local transit initiatives.

 

May 10th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, National Train Day-Toledo report, local transit initiatives, recent trip reports.

 

TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- NO MEETING THIS MONTH

 

Annual Meeting, May 17, Gahanna, Ohio

Panel Discussion on Columbus-Chicago passenger rail

Details and registration at:

http://allaboardohio.org/2014/04/10/annual-meeting-gahanna-columbus-10-am-may-17/

Addition to the above....

 

Columbus Coordinator Larry Robertson reports that Saturday's local meeting had to be moved from the Grandview Library to meeting room B at Upper Arlington Public Library. Same time -- 10 am.

 

Please do not confuse this with the Annual Meeting on the following Saturday, May 17. Details and registration are at allaboardohio.org

 

KJP...waiting for a writeup on the annual meeting---I did see the pics---tell us about the change of leadership, the new Board and any decisions or vision regarding the future of AAO and the issues it's interested in. Miss you all in Ohio!

I kind of needed a day off yesterday. I'll get to it.

http://allaboardohio.org/2014/05/19/new-all-aboard-ohio-board-members-officers-named/

 

Outgoing All Aboard Ohio Chairman Ronald C. Sheck Ph.D., at left, accepts a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the Board of Directors from Executive Director Ken Prendergast at the association’s Annual Meeting held May 17, 2014 in Gahanna, OH.

 

New All Aboard Ohio board members, officers named

admin on May 19, 2014

 

At the May 17 All Aboard Ohio Annual Meeting in Gahanna, OH, 15 people were elected or appointed to two-year terms on the association’s Board of Directors. From the elected directors, the board chose a new Chairman in Jack Shaner, a new Secretary in Charles Horn and returned  Ken Sislak as Vice-Chairman and Ken Clifford as Treasurer.

 

All Aboard Ohio members and friends thank Ronald C. Sheck Pd.D. for his leadership, guidance and service as Chairman in the last two years. The board includes several new directors: Eric Childress, Tim Porter, Marvin Randaldson and Akshai Singh. All Aboard Ohio thanks Mark Carlson (he will remain as newsletter production coordinator), Eric Davies and Richard Straub for their volunteer service to the board. Here is the current board:

 

CHAIRMAN: Jack Shaner, Ohio Environmental Council, Columbus, OH

VICE CHAIRMAN: Kenneth Sislak, AECOM, Shaker Heights, OH

SECRETARY: Charles Horn, citizen, Kenton, OH

TREASURER: Kenneth Clifford, CPA, Medway, OH

NORTHEAST REGION: Ken Sislak (see officers, above)

NORTHWEST REGION: Roger Shope, OHERN, Bowling Green, OH

SOUTHWEST REGION: Derek Bauman, Cincinnatians For Progress, Cincinnati, OH

CENTRAL/SE REGION: Eric Childress, citizen, Columbus, OH

AT-LARGE: Theresa Allen, Blanchard River Watershed Partnership, Forest, OH

AT-LARGE: David Burns, Motoman Inc.,  West Milton, OH

AT-LARGE: Kenneth Clifford (see officers, above)

AT-LARGE: Michael J. Connor, railroad consultant, Dover, OH

AT-LARGE: Charles Horn (see officers, above)

AT-LARGE: Timothy Porter, NOPRA, Toledo, OH

AT-LARGE: Marvin Randaldson, Bike Cleveland, Lakewood, OH

AT-LARGE: Jack Shaner (see officers, above)

AT-LARGE: Ronald Sheck, retired transportation administrator/educator, Sylvania

AT-LARGE: Akshai Singh, Sierra Club, Cleveland Heights, OH

AT-LARGE: Jerry Wicks, OHERN, Bowling Green, OH

 

Also at the Annual Meeting, the board approved a temporary, promotional 1-year membership rate for new members of $5 per person which will be in effect until Aug. 31. Depending on how many people respond to this new-member dues rate, the board may consider extending the promotion or possibly making it permanent.

 

$5 per person to join All Aboard Ohio

http://tinyurl.com/ou2clbu

 

Executive Director Ken Prendergast gave a presentation on the Northern Ohio Rail Alliance (NORA) [http://freepdfhosting.com/5798746354.pdf], created April 11 among the metropolitan planning organizations of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, Erie County Regional Planning Commission and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. NORA will seek planning and improvement of the busy rail corridor within its Toledo-Sandusky-Elyria-Cleveland geographic jurisdiction.

 

Last but not least, the 50 persons in attendance heard a  panel discussion on the emerging Columbus-Lima-Fort Wayne-Chicago rail corridor by:

 

+ Carl A. Aveni II, attorney, Carlile Patchen & Murphy, Columbus OH

+ Richard C. Davis, nonprofit management consultant, MPA, MCRP, Fort Wayne IN

+ Fred Lanahan, Board President, Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association and Chairman of Citilink, Fort Wayne IN

 

The panel discussed the proposed passenger rail service [http://allaboardohio.org/2013/06/28/columbus-lima-ft-wayne-chicago-passenger-rail-study-released/] and its economic benefits, especially its important in attracting companies to cities in Ohio and Indiana seeking fast, comfortable and productive business travel to the first- and third-largest cities in the Midwest — Chicago and Columbus. Fort Wayne’s low-cost of living would be less than 90 minutes by train from Chicago’s Loop. Warsaw, IN seeks rail access to O’Hare Airport as this small town is a global center for health care companies with its multi-billion-dollar orthopedic manufacturing cluster. Lima is home to growing energy companies, including their manufacturers and suppliers, plus the headquarters of Marathon Petroleum Corp. in nearby Findlay.  Marysville is home to Honda of America.

 

And Columbus is a growing city that’s home to an increasing number of Fortune 500 companies, yet it is the largest city in North America without any regularly scheduled passenger rail or light-rail transit services. As a frequent traveler to Chicago on business, Mr. Aveni lamented this lack of rail access which is a major shortcoming for Central Ohio. Columbus must compete for jobs and businesses with other Midwest cities like Detroit, St. Louis, Kalamazoo, Springfield, Battle Creek and Bloomington-Normal that are gaining 110 mph passenger trains to the heart of Chicago.

 

END

All Aboard Ohio JUNE 2014 EVENTS

(local meetings are at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise indicated)

 

June 14th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update, Cleveland Streetcar, GCRTA rail station projects, station-area developments, Red Line/HealthLine extension update.

 

June 14th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, COTA systemwide route planning, recent trip reports.

 

June 14th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update, MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, TMACOG report, Amtrak service issues, etc.

 

Summer Meeting -- late August -- Cincinnati area -- watch for details!

 

END

All Aboard Ohio JULY 2014 & UPCOMING EVENTS

(local meetings are at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise indicated)

 

July 12th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update, Cleveland Streetcar, GCRTA rail station projects, station-area developments, Red Line/HealthLine extension update.

 

July 12th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, COTA systemwide route planning, recent trip reports.

 

TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Enjoy the summer off. We'll resume again in September!

 

Summer Meeting (afternoon) & train ride (evening) -- August 23 -- Cincinnati -- watch for details!

 

Second Annual TOD On Tap (TOD=Transit Oriented Development) -- September 18, 5-8 p.m. -- Cleveland & Shaker Heights -- watch for details!

 

END

All Aboard Ohio AUGUST 2014 & UPCOMING EVENTS

(local meetings are at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise indicated)

 

August 9th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update, Amtrak train delays, federal funding issues, upcoming display opportunities, GCRTA rail station projects, station-area developments. Pastries will be available to solicit your help in preparing the latest newsletter for mailing!

 

July 9th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service, federal funding issues, recent trip reports. Oh, and pastries as this will be available as this is the sixth anniversary of meeting at GHPL!

 

TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Enjoy the summer off. We'll resume again in September!

 

Summer Meeting & Family Outing aboard the Cincinnati Dinner Train -- 5 p.m. Saturday August 23 -- Cincinnati -- Registration and details (including RSVP for Sunday AM streetcar walking tour!) are here: http://allaboardohio.org/2014/07/31/summer-mtg-family-outing-in-cincinnati-aug-23-2/

 

Second Annual TOD On Tap (TOD=Transit Oriented Development) -- September 18, 5-8 p.m. -- Cleveland & Shaker Heights -- details soon SAVE THE DATE!

 

END

All Aboard Ohio SEPTEMBER 2014 & UPCOMING EVENTS

(local meetings are at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise indicated)

 

September 13th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update, Amtrak train delays, federal funding issues, GCRTA rail projects, station-area developments.

 

September 13th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago proposed rail service update, Amtrak updates (new Amtrak Thruway service to Pittsburgh!) and local transit news, recent and upcoming meetings, and more.

 

September 13th  TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, NOPRA update (FYI: NOPRA Annual Passenger Rail Forum---Mon. Nov.17, The Toledo Club), TMACOG report, Amtrak service delays, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update,  etc.

 

Second Annual TOD On Tap (TOD=Transit Oriented Development) -- September 18, 5-8 p.m. -- Cleveland (Ohio City) & Shaker Heights -- Details and registration (please register today!!):

http://allaboardohio.org/2014/08/22/5-5-billion-in-development-built-or-announced-since-2012-wwith-2000-feet-of-cleveland-railbrt-lines/

 

END

All Aboard Ohio OCTOBER 2014 & UPCOMING EVENTS

(local meetings are at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month unless otherwise indicated)

 

October 11th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak trains delays -- AAO's recent and future actions, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update, GCRTA rail projects, station-area developments.

 

October 11th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359 (note Larry will not be at this meeting).

PROPOSED AGENDA: Recent media news, Amtrak delays, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago "Tecumseh Corridor" update, updates on Cincinnati rail news, recent and upcoming meetings, and more.

 

October 11th  TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: local responses to Amtrak train delays, MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, NOPRA update (FYI: NOPRA Annual Passenger Rail Forum---Monday Nov.17, at The Toledo Club), TMACOG report, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update,  etc.

 

END

All Aboard Ohio NOVEMBER 2014 & UPCOMING EVENTS

NOTE CORRECT DATE FOR CINCINNATI MEETING IS BELOW -- INCORRECT DATE IS IN THE NEWSLETTER DIRECTORY (Fall newsletter goes in the mail this weekend)

 

November 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- 10th-floor conference room, City Club Building, 850 Euclid Ave (Last one here before we move to Tower City!). Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Upcoming office move, Amtrak trains delays updates, North Coast Transportation Center, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update, ODOT transit needs study, GCRTA rail station projects.

 

November 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Port Columbus-Downtown light-rail, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago, ODOT transit needs study, recent trip reports, and more.

 

November 8th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: local responses to Amtrak train delays, MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, NOPRA update, TMACOG report, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update.

 

November 17th/Monday, 11 a.m. -- PASSENGER RAIL FORUM & LUNCH (panel discussion and keynote speaker David King, Triangle Transit) -- 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Nov.17, at The Toledo Club, 235 14th St., REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/n6etzfh or contact Diane Reamer-Evans 419-241-9155 x117.

 

November 18th/Tuesday, 6 p.m. -- CINCINNATI LOCAL MEETING -- Moerlein Brewery Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-The-Rhine. Contact Derek Bauman 513-262-0345.

 

END

Reminder!

 

November 18th/Tuesday, 6 p.m. -- CINCINNATI LOCAL MEETING -- Moerlein Brewery Taproom, 1621 Moore St., Over-The-Rhine. Contact Derek Bauman 513-262-0345.

All Aboard Ohio DECEMBER 2014 Local Meetings

(Note Columbus meeting rescheduled by one week to Dec. 20 this month only & Cleveland meeting moved to Tower City!)

 

December 13th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- CLEVELAND AAO LOCAL MEETING -- AAO office in the Sustainable Cleveland Center, Tower City Center (230 West Huron, downtown), on 2nd floor above foot court, across from Hard Rock Cafe. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Office tour, Amtrak trains delays updates, North Coast Transportation Center, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update, GCRTA rail station projects.

 

December 13th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- TOLEDO AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: local responses to Amtrak train delays, MLK Plaza station improvements, OHERN report, NOPRA update, TMACOG report, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update.

 

December 20th/Saturday, 10 a.m. -- COLUMBUS AAO LOCAL MEETING -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus light-rail update, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago update, recent trip reports, and more.

 

Dues renewal notices will be mailed shortly. If you have already renewed using Pg. 2 of the last newsletter or at allaboardohio.org -- thank you! You may find the dues renewal letter informative, and please consider an extra donation before the end of the current tax year. Thanks!

 

END

Join us at 10am Saturday, All Aboard Ohio Cleveland local mtg, in AAO offices above food court, opposite Hard Rock Cafe, Tower City, downtown. pic.twitter.com/IO30lQ6sDC

Cincinnati Local Meeting Feb. 10

 

Please join All Aboard Ohio and guest speaker Cincinnati Councilman Wendell Young on Feb. 10 Tuesday evening for our quarterly local meeting at Pi Pizzeria - Cincinnati. 199 E. 6th St. (@Main), Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

CLICK HERE FOR MEETING/SITE DETAILS https://www.facebook.com/events/1603048789916397/

 

We'll be discussing updates on the #ExtendtheHoosier plan for daily intercity rail service to Indy and Chicago, the Cincinnati Streetcar, and the latest on the Wasson Way Project.

 

Not an AAO member? No problem we can get you signed up at the meeting for the low low annual dues price of just $35. Dues are tax deductible and go directly to support the efforts to bring these much needed projects to our region and state.

 

Thanks to Pi Pizza owner Chris Sommers and staff for hosting us. If you haven't had the opportunity to try it yet you are in for a treat. Pi is the "home of irrationally delicious deep dish and thin cornmeal crust pizza, and prime craft beers" like Rhinegeist.

 

As a bonus, Chris is a proud supporter of the Cincinnati Streetcar which he'll tell you is one of the main reasons why he selected the location at 6th & Main. Further, Pi pays all staff a $10.10 minimum wage. We are excited for the chance to support this great local business.

 

Monthly Local Meetings

 

As always, monthly local meetings are held in Cleveland, Columbus & Toledo at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This month, that's Feb. 14th:

 

CLEVELAND -- Conference room above the AAO office in the Sustainable Cleveland Center, Tower City Center (230 West Huron, downtown), on 2nd floor above foot court, across from Hard Rock Cafe. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Downtown Cleveland Intermodal Transportation Center, ODOT transit budget update, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update, GCRTA rail station projects.

 

COLUMBUS -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus light-rail update, ODOT transit budget, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago update, recent trip reports, and more.

 

TOLEDO -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Greyhound move to MLK Plaza station, National Train Day, OHERN/NOPRA/TMACOG reports, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update.

Monthly Local Meetings

 

As always, monthly local meetings are held in Cleveland, Columbus & Toledo at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This month, that's March 14th:

 

CLEVELAND -- Conference room above the AAO office in the Sustainable Cleveland Center, Tower City Center (230 West Huron, downtown), above foot court and across from Hard Rock Cafe. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: GCRTA service issues, Downtown Cleveland Intermodal Transportation Center, ODOT transit budget update, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update.

 

COLUMBUS -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Columbus transportation plan, Columbus light-rail update, ODOT transit budget, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago update, recent trip reports, and more.

 

TOLEDO -- Amtrak station, Toledo MLK Plaza, 415 Emerald Ave. Contact Bill Gill 419-536-1924.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Greyhound move to MLK Plaza station, National Train Day, OHERN/NOPRA/TMACOG reports, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update.

All Aboard Ohio

Spring Meeting, May 16, Marysville, OH

 

Join us Saturday May 16 at 9:30 a.m. for All Aboard Ohio’s Spring Meeting in the conference center at the Marysville Public Library, on the south side downtown at 231 South Plum Street (CLICK FOR MAP). Continental breakfast, boxed lunch (turkey, ham/cheese, veggie sandwiches), and refreshments will be provided by caterer Made From Scratch.

 

AGENDA

 

+ Coffee & Conversation

+ Welcome (10 a.m.) – Terry Emery, Marysville City Administrator

+ Columbus-Chicago passenger rail, Central Ohio rail & transit update — Thea Walsh, Director, Transportation Systems & Funding, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission & Dina Lopez is the Principal Planner, Transportation Systems and Funding, MORPC

+ Central Ohio rail & transit discussion — Stu Nicholson, Media Relations & Public Outreach at Engage / Murphy Epson

+ Hoosier State extension initiative — Derek Bauman, SW Ohio Director, All Aboard Ohio

+ Northern Ohio Rail Alliance update — Ken Prendergast, Executive Director, All Aboard Ohio

+ Lunch

+ Next meeting — July 25, Summer Meeting & Family Outing, Transit Oriented Development & rail transit tour, Cleveland

+ Amtrak/federal report — attending NARP board, council members

+ Local Meeting reports from around Ohio

+ Adjourn by 2:30 p.m.

 

Cost is $25 per person. Register here:

 

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/04/03/spring-meeting-may-16-marysville-oh/

 

See you then!!

A few scenes from today and Toledo's contribution to National Train Day events....

 

Event is held at the Amtrak station at MLK Plaza

 

There, you can tour the @Amtrak display train, including double-deck Superliners that stop in Toledo each day between Chicago and the East Coast!

 

All Aboard Ohio's display table

 

A successful National Train Day event in Toledo! Thanks to @TMACOG @Amtrak @nscorp & others for a great day!

 

Another great crowd as some 7,000-9,000 kids of all ages enjoyed a great day of trains

Monthly Local Meetings

 

As always, monthly local meetings are held in Cleveland, Columbus & Toledo at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This month, that's June 13th:

 

CLEVELAND -- Conference room above the AAO office in the Sustainable Cleveland Center, Tower City Center (230 West Huron, downtown), above foot court and across from Hard Rock Cafe. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak/transit funding news, GCRTA long-range rail fleet replacement, electrical system modernization, rail line extensions; Downtown Cleveland Intermodal Transportation Center; Ohio transit budget update; Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update.

 

COLUMBUS -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359. NOTE -- Larry will likely not arrive until 10:30 am however feel free to begin the meeting without him.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak/transit funding news, Columbus transportation plan, Columbus light-rail update, ODOT transit budget, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago update, recent trip reports, and more.

 

TOLEDO -- No meeting this month.

 

**DATE CHANGE!!** SUMMER MEETING & FAMILY OUTING, CLEVELAND, WILL BE AUGUST 15, 2015. 8:30am-3:30pm --

Guided tour of Cleveland rail transit system, station construction, track projects, real estate developments by stations, and Central Rail Facility (East 55th rail yards).

 

Meet at All Aboard Ohio Tower City office at 8:30 am for RTA day passes, orientation, refreshments, etc. Cost of $25 per person includes refreshments, lunch and orientation materials. All Aboard Ohio thanks GCRTA for sponsoring this event!! Details to appear soon at allaboardohio.org and in the newsletter due out by early July. All Aboard Ohio has a group rate at the Holiday Inn Express- Downtown Cleveland, 629 Euclid Ave., 216-443-1000. A hotel reservations link will soon appear on our website.

 

###

Monthly Local Meetings

 

As always, monthly local meetings are held in Cleveland, Columbus & Toledo at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. This month, that's July 11th:

 

CLEVELAND -- Conference room above the AAO office in the Sustainable Cleveland Center, Tower City Center (230 West Huron, downtown), above foot court and across from Hard Rock Cafe. Contact Ken Prendergast at 216-288-4883.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak/transit funding news, Northern Ohio Rail Alliance funding update, Downtown Cleveland Intermodal Transportation Center, Ohio transit budget update, Summer Meeting & Family Outing.

 

COLUMBUS -- Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave., Columbus. Contact Larry Robertson at 614-459-0359. NOTE -- Larry will likely not arrive until 10:30 am however feel free to begin the meeting without him.

PROPOSED AGENDA: Amtrak/transit funding news, Columbus transportation plan, Columbus light-rail update, ODOT transit budget, Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago update, recent trip reports, and more.

 

TOLEDO -- No meeting this month.

 

SUMMER MEETING & FAMILY OUTING, CLEVELAND, WILL BE AUGUST 15, 2015. 8:30am-4pm --

Guided tour of Cleveland rail transit system, station construction, track projects, real estate developments by stations, and Central Rail Facility (East 55th rail yards).

 

Meet at All Aboard Ohio Tower City office at 8:30 am for RTA day passes, orientation, refreshments, etc. Cost of $25 per person includes refreshments, lunch and orientation materials. All Aboard Ohio thanks GCRTA for sponsoring this event!! Details and register at allaboardohio.org and in the newsletter due out next week.

 

###

Cross-posted in the AAO thread....

 

Summer Outing 2015 (Cleveland rail & TOD tour) photo gallery:

August 17, 2015 | Author: kjprendergast

 

On Aug. 15, 40 members participated in All Aboard Ohio’s 2015 Summer Meeting & Family Outing, which was a guided tour of Cleveland’s 37-mile rail transit system, including several transit-oriented developments. Thanks again to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) for sponsoring this tour which attracted visitors from around Ohio.

 

Attendees were provided with a packet which included an GCRTA all-day pass and a presentation of selected real estate developments and transit projects (10mb download) along the tour. The tour started at All Aboard Ohio’s office at Tower City Center (former Cleveland Union Terminal), then rode the Waterfront Line round trip, Blue Line to Warrensville and return west to East 55th, Red Line east to the new Little Italy station, and west to Hopkins International Airport. The last part included a race between the Red Line train and the HealthLine BRT bus to Tower City, which the train easily won (the bus had 70 blocks to go as the train arrived Tower City!). Attendees returned from the airport on the Red Line to Tower City after a busy fun day.

 

MORE:

http://allaboardohio.org/2015/08/17/summer-outing-2015-cleveland-rail-tod-tour-photos/