Potentially big news. There's a lot of rail that's buried in weeds or gone. I hope they can do something positive about that.

Potentially big news. There's a lot of rail that's buried in weeds or gone. I hope they can do something positive about that.

 

But much of the railbed is intact. From what I remember, there are places where it could easily be double-tracked for passing sidings. There's even a wye at Cecil.  But let's not get to far ahead of ourselves.  We need to see how much Pioneer is willing to invest in the line.  Whatever they do, it will be a vast improvement over the current owners.

 

Restoring info lost in the server crash.....

 

Published: June 29, 2013 3:00 a.m.

Rail line could generate 26,800 jobs

Federal approval of $1.6 billion project still needed

Sherry Slater | The Journal Gazette

 

FORT WAYNE – A report released Friday projects that more than 26,000 full-time jobs would be created if a passenger rail line is built to connect Chicago with Columbus, Ohio – with stops in Fort Wayne and Warsaw.

 

Transportation Economics & Management Systems Inc., a Maryland consulting firm, estimates that $700 million of additional household income would be generated each year across the 11-city corridor if the route becomes a reality.

 

The $80,000 feasibility study was requested by former Gov. Mitch Daniels to estimate the system’s cost and potential economic impact.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130629/LOCAL/306299982

 

 

 

http://allaboardohio.org/2013/06/28/columbus-lima-ft-wayne-chicago-passenger-rail-study-released/

 

Columbus-Lima-Ft Wayne-Chicago passenger rail study released

June 28, 2013

 

How does traveling the 303 miles from Columbus to Chicago in 3 hours, 45 minutes sound? Or from Lima to Chicago in under 2 hours, 30 minutes? That’s what a mix of express and local service trains along existing but upgraded, arrow-straight railroad rights of way between these cities could accomplish at a cost far less than what it would take to build an Interstate highway in this travel corridor. Imagine the economic benefits this could bring to cities and businesses along this route. Actually, you don’t have to imagine….

 

Our friends at the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association have released a very important Feasibility Study and Business Plan that will help all stakeholders, including All Aboard Ohio, educate our elected officials on the need for fast passenger trains in this busy travel corridor. Despite the travel demand in this corridor, there is no Interstate highway serving it, which also means bus service is slow and therefore not attractive. There is airline service, but flights can be expensive, especially to/from Fort Wayne. And for travelers bound for downtown Chicago — the Midwest’s economic capital — the train will actually be faster and less expensive than any other travel mode. For some, the train can act as the connecting flight to reach the global economy via airports in Chicago and Columbus.

 

Columbus — the Midwest’s third-largest city — deserves better transportation. It is the largest city in America without any passenger train or light-rail transit services. Also note the Fort Wayne is the second-largest city in Indiana. Its economic orientation is to Chicago. With a fast rail link to reach Chicago in less than two hours, Fort Wayne would be a more attractive, low-cost and high quality-of-life setting for businesses including corporate offices, the study found.

 

Specifically, the study noted these benefits:

 

+ 12,000 temporary jobs and 26,800 permanent jobs resulting from  this project;

+ Generate $7.1 billion in increased output for the region’s businesses;

+ Generate $6 billion worth of direct user benefits over the 30-year life of the project;

+ Start-up costs estimated at $4 million per mile vs. 10 times that for Interstate highway construction;

+ For every $1 invested in this project, an economic return of $1.70 is forecast.

+ 2.1 million riders in 2020, rising to 3.3 million by 2040, with 79% of riders diverted from cars;

+ Reduced emissions, traffic and dependence on expensive fuel;

+ Rail fares set at 2/3 that of air fares will generate annual farebox revenue of $116 million in 2020 rising to $190 million by 2040.

 

The next step is to secure funding for a Tier I environmental assessment for corridor development planning. Please share this study with community leaders, business persons and others when communicating the need for improved transportation to your area. Only through education can we win — and we need your help to spread the word! Let’s start today!

 

 

 

 

 

Warsaw IN in 1986, as the combined Amtrak Broadway Limited/Capitol Limited made two stops so the 20-car train could serve the small town.

 

And why is Warsaw interested in passenger rail?

 

ECONOMIC BENEFITS STUDY: http://orthoworxindiana.com/newsletters/Passenger-Rail-Study-1_11_2011.pdf

 

Economic Impacts of Midwest High Speed Rail on the Orthopedics Industry of Warsaw, Indiana

OrthoWorx, Inc.

Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff

October 2010; revised January 2011

 

PRESS RELEASE/SUMMARY: http://www.indianahighspeedrail.org/docs/OrthoWorxNewsRelease.pdf

 

 

The Dispatch sucks, especially their headline writer. We already knew what this route would cost to build, so a $100,000 was spent and a year's worth of research was invested to determine the benefits, and the only angle the Dispatch's headline writer could come up with is that this will cost $1.3 billion? Further, the reporter asked lots of good, productive questions. Yet an amazing amount of information we discussed did not make it into this article:

 

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/07/17/rail-line-to-chicago-would-cost-1-3-billion.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Passenger-rail line to Chicago would cost $1.3 billion

By  Rick Rouan

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday July 17, 2013 8:07 AM

 

A plan to create high-speed passenger rail service between Chicago and Columbus is picking up steam, but organizers say the $1.3 billion project still isn’t funded and is years away.

 

The Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association recently released a feasibility study saying the 300-mile system could create 26,800 full-time jobs and $700 million in household income along the corridor.

 

Railcars would travel 110 mph to 130 mph, getting travelers from Columbus to Chicago in less than four hours, according to the study. Once complete, the system could be handed off to a private operator.

 

“There’s economic benefit, given the amount of business activity that occurs between Columbus and Chicago,” said Vince Papsidero, Columbus’ planning administrator. “This actually could be profitable.”

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/07/17/rail-line-to-chicago-would-cost-1-3-billion.html

I am surprised the Dispatch even covered it, but this is a good sign.  I've met this new transportation reporter: a little new to the issue.  Hey...at least he's not like the last transportation reporter, who was allegedly cavorting with a GOP staffer while he was covering the proposed 3-C Quick Start.

 

But since some of the "titans" would like to see better connections between Chicago and Columbus, this might force the "Big D" to give it more print space. 

He calls KJP rather than Kasich's office.

I am surprised the Dispatch even covered it, but this is a good sign.  I've met this new transportation reporter: a little new to the issue.  Hey...at least he's not like the last transportation reporter, who was allegedly cavorting with a GOP staffer while he was covering the proposed 3-C Quick Start.

 

But since some of the "titans" would like to see better connections between Chicago and Columbus, this might force the "Big D" to give it more print space. 

 

Actually the article itself was fairy positive. About the best one could expect from the Dispatch. Reader comments were also supportive for the most part except for the predictable "boondoggle" and "it must be be privately run" remarks.

I am surprised the Dispatch even covered it, but this is a good sign.  I've met this new transportation reporter: a little new to the issue.  Hey...at least he's not like the last transportation reporter, who was allegedly cavorting with a GOP staffer while he was covering the proposed 3-C Quick Start.

 

But since some of the "titans" would like to see better connections between Chicago and Columbus, this might force the "Big D" to give it more print space. 

 

Rick is from Columbus Business First and, before that, from the Youngstown Vindicator. He's also a big Cleveland sports fan, so he's already cheering for the underdog....

 

And yes, during the latest attempt at getting 3C passenger rail, I was surprised that the chambers in the 3 C's were more interested in rail link to Chicago than they were between the 3Cs considering there is more travel between the 3Cs. But most of that is college students, various persons going to Columbus to get or keep various licenses, certifications, etc. and state employee business travel. The corporate folks want to get to the Midwest's economic capital and if they fly, they lose one hour just traveling from one of Chicago's airports to downtown. There's another hour of airport time at the arrival airport. An hour of flight time (assuming no delays). So that's at least three hours right there. So if you can get trains to downtown Chicago in under four hours from each of the 3 C's, offer reliable schedules and onboard amenities (wifi, business class, meeting facilities, etc) and do so with cheaper fares, you've got a competitive product. And each of the routes from the 3 Cs also serves other cities along the way including some big ones like Indianapolis (in Cincinnati's case) and some medium-sized ones like Toledo (in Cleveland's case) and Fort Wayne (in Columbus' and possibly Cleveland's case). So if these trains run through to Chicago O'Hare and Port Columbus International, or serve airports along the way like Cleveland Hopkins (via enclosed walkway) or Cincinnati-Covington (via shuttle bus -- or a real long people mover line over the Ohio River!), then all these smaller towns like Lima and Lafayette, Marysville and Greensburg, or even cities like Fort Wayne and Toledo would gain greater access to global gateways.

 

He calls KJP rather than Kasich's office.

 

He called someone at the City of Columbus. The cities are driving this. Cities are the economic growth drivers coming out of the Great Recession. America is a network of metropolitan economies which produce three out of four dollars of national GDP. If cities with existing or potential interrelationships strengthen their physical linkages, their syngergies grow and so will their economies. And it's not just me saying it......

 

http://www.nationaljournal.com/domesticpolicy/are-cities-the-key-to-u-s-economic-growth-20130619

 

The Midwest is a global economic powerhouse. It is one of the largest economies in the world in a relatively small area with excellent universities, cheap food, energy and water resources. But its transportation system is not up to global standards.

 

These top-10 metro areas (ranked by GDP) should all be connected to the Midwest's economic capital by fast passenger rail services. All cities except one has a regularly scheduled passenger rail service linking it to Chicago, and only the Ohio cities lack conveniently scheduled (ie daily, daylight-hour departures) trains to/from Chicago....

 

1. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN: $532,331

2. Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: $199,596

3. Detroit-Livonia-Warren, MI: $197,773

4. St Louis, MO: $129,734

5. Kansas City, MO-KS: $105,968

6. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH: $105,625

7. Indianapolis, IN: $105,163

8. Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY: $100,594

9. Columbus, OH: $93,393

10. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI-IL: $84,574

 

SOURCE: http://www.city-data.com/forum/ohio/1383798-ohio-midwest-gdp-2007-2010-columbus.html#ixzz2ZS99qael

Jul 18, 2013, 2:20pm CDT

Study lays out parameters for Chicago-Columbus high-speed rail

Staff

Chicago Business Journal

 

Building a high-speed passenger rail between Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, could create nearly 27,000 full-time jobs, but finding funding will be difficult, according to a report by the Columbus Dispatch.

 

The project would cost about $1.3 billion, the Dispatch said, citing a study by the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association. However, none of that money is actually available, yet, as the Federal Railroad Administration has been allocated $10 billion for grants to build high-speed passenger rail, and local governments have already filed $75 billion worth of requests for the money, the Dispatch said.

 

In the long term, the International Rail Journal said, trips between the two cities could be trimmed to three hours and 20 minutes. Furthermore, the Rail Journal said, over the first 30 years of operation, the new rail corridor could generate $6.2 billion in economic benefits.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2013/07/18/parameters-chicago-columbus-speed-rail.html

FYI, the distance from Columbus to Fort Wayne via US23 and US30 is 170 miles. US33 and US30 (plus a shortcut via Ohio117) offers the shortest road route to Fort Wayne at 153 miles. They are also the closest parallel roads to the rail corridor via Marysville, Lima and Fort Wayne. Neither of those are grade-separated, intersection-free, Interstate-quality highways. Even if they were, the rail service would be faster, less expensive, a more productive use of travel time, less polluting and more comfortable for many travelers. The cost to convert US 30/33 to Interstate-quality highways would be substantial. Grade-separating road intersections and/or constructing interchanges cost $25 million to $50 million -- per location. There are 50 such intersections along US 33 alone. And there are 210 at-grade intersections on US30 between I-75 and I-65 including 11-17 miles of urbanized travel in the vicinity of Valparaiso. The fastest driving route from Columbus to Chicago is via Indianapolis, and that all-Interstate route is more than 50 miles longer than the preferred rail routing.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Columbus, Ohio, Wants In on the Midwest Rail Renaissance

by Angie Schmitt

 

Columbus, Ohio, population 800,000, is among the biggest U.S. cities without passenger rail. But its time may have finally come.

 

A college town and state capital, Columbus has bucked the trend of urban decline in Ohio and built a strong economy on insurance and retail. The culture here has been famously resistant to rail plans, but it’s a young city that’s becoming more and more progressive. Columbus has seen major growth in its core urban neighborhoods in recent years.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2013/08/26/columbus-ohio-wants-in-on-the-midwest-rail-renaissance/

Published on October 16, 2013 1:20 pm

Advocates Push for Next Step in Columbus-Chicago Passenger Rail Proposal

By: Brent Warren

 

A proposal to connect Chicago and Columbus with high-speed passenger rail is seeing new signs of life. Local advocacy group Transit Columbus has started a petition on change.org that focuses on the next step in the process; a ‘Tier One’ environmental assessment that would cost about $2 million dollars. The group hopes to influence the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), which is currently looking into the proposal and considering whether or not to support it, as well as the City of Columbus, which helped pay for a study released this summer that projected big economic benefits from the line and a travel time of under four hours.

 

“MORPC is working with the City of Columbus and other communities along the line to investigate the business case for the service,” said MORPC Transportation Director Bob Lawler, who also chairs the organization’s Transportation Advisory Committee. “While the proposal is promising, all of us along the line should explore the benefits as well as the costs of service.”

 

Dan Williamson, spokesman for Mayor Michael Coleman’s office, echoed Lawler’s thoughts.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/advocates-push-for-next-step-in-columbus-chicago-passenger-rail-proposal-bw1

^ You beat me the post KJP.  Columbus Underground is one of my go-to sites for Columbus development news and I just viewed this article.  But then again, you did have some "inside information". :wink:

Ha ha. Better luck next time.

A non-copyrighted piece from NIPRA.....

 

http://niprarail.org/2013/11/21st-century-passenger-rail-to-fort-wayne/

 

21st CENTURY PASSENGER RAIL TO FORT WAYNE

UNDER: FORT WAYNE RAIL ROAD WITH NO COMMENTS

21st CENTURY PASSENGER RAIL TO FORT WAYNE

 

By Geoff Paddock, City Councilman, Fifth District; November 11, 2013

 

A broad coalition of support is building in Indiana and Ohio to bring passenger rail service back to the region–linking Fort Wayne with Chicago and Columbus, Ohio–at speeds up to 110 miles per hour.  A feasibility study and business plan, released by the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association, Inc. proposes a new model of rail service that is both efficient and affordable.  If we make an initial investment in infrastructure improvements, we could see a rail system that would serve over 2 million passengers a year, and achieve operational revenues exceeding costs.

 

The business plan, prepared by Transportation and Environmental Management Systems, Inc., recommends 10 trains running daily between Chicago and Columbus, OH with stops in several cities along the route, including Warsaw and Fort Wayne.  This designated route has the potential to achieve priority status among those regional corridor projects being considered for funding by the Federal Railroad Administration.  Such designation could make 80% federal funding available for new track, signals, and overpasses required for 110 mph service.  Chicago is now the center of a hub-and-spoke system for upgraded passenger rail service, connecting the third-largest U.S. city with many smaller cities across the Midwest.  Currently, upgraded routes are being planned or funded between Chicago and Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and the Quad Cities.  Decisions made in the next few months, will determine if Fort Wayne and Columbus will become the next priority for passenger rail service from Chicago.

 

Investment in such a system would be an economic boon for the northern potion of Indiana.  The initial construction cost for the Indiana portion is estimated to be about $550 million, with the state picking up 20% of the cost spread over three to five years of construction.  This cost is about $3.7 million per mile as compared to $15 to $20 million per mile for highway construction.  New track, signals, overpasses, and station work would allow for maximum speeds and safe integration with freight rail service.

 

The project would create employment opportunities equivalent to 26,000 full-time jobs over 30 years throughout the corridor.  Trains would attract an expected 2.7 million riders by 2030 and would add $700 million in annual household income and $2.7 billion to property values over that period.  Most new jobs are projected to be in educational services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, tourism / hospitality, and professional, scientific and administrative services.  This is in addition to 12,000 temporary jobs created by the construction of the system.

 

Many Fort Wayne area manufacturing companies producing parts for airplanes, trucks, and automobiles, can also make parts for locomotives and passenger cars.  Neighborhoods located near the expected stop at the Baker Street Train Station, would become more valuable to young people who want to live and work near a full-service transportation hub– providing nearby Citilink bus service to all parts of our city, including Fort Wayne International Airport.  With thousands of people accessing downtown from throughout the region, Fort Wayne will have a wonderful opportunity to market our city for tourism and hospitality.

 

Perhaps most significant to the success of this rail system, is that it is expected to operate at a profit by the third full year of operation.  By the 10th year, it would show a profit of $28 million.  Over the lifetime of the project, $1.25 billion in additional federal income taxes can be collected as well as $679 million in additional property taxes within the corridor.

 

This project has strong bipartisan support.  Mayor Tom Henry and County Commissioners Linda Bloom, Therese Brown, and Nelson Peters, have been working with me to secure support from Governor Mike Pence and other state and federal officials to invest in such a passenger rail system.  The next stop on this journey begins this week.  Mayor Henry and I are asking the City Council to appropriate $200,000 from the Legacy Funds to help pay for the next step—a Tier I Environmental Impact Study–for the corridor project.  These Legacy Funds are designated for transformational projects that will create jobs and improve our lifestyle.  This project certainly falls in that category.  The total cost for the Tier I program is about $2 million, with Indiana and its participating localities assuming responsibility for half of the total.

 

Completion of this Tier I EIS, expected to take 18 to 24 months, will help insure that Fort Wayne becomes the next destination served by the growing passenger rail movement that is linking cities around the United States.  We cannot afford to miss this opportunity.  Please contact your City Council representative today and ask him to support funding a small portion of what could be a lasting legacy for the future of Fort Wayne ( http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/city-council.html  ). And follow updates on http://www.niprarail.org , http://facebook.com/nipra2rail , or http://twitter.com/NIPRArail!

 

Geoff Paddock is the Fifth District City Councilman for Fort Wayne and a founding member of the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association, Inc.

The article states a recommended 10 trains a day.  We have established routes from Cleveland to Chicago and the best we get is 2 stops in the middle of the night.  I think money could be better spent to upgrade the existing corridor of Cleveland to Chicago.  The existing corridor has Toledo and Cleveland, a better combo than Ft. Wayne and Columbus (population wise).  Don't ge me wrong, I think it would be a great route and certainly welcomed, but what would 10 trains a day between Chicago and Cleveland at opportune times generate in terms of passengers and spin-off economic development?

The article states a recommended 10 trains a day.  We have established routes from Cleveland to Chicago and the best we get is 2 stops in the middle of the night.  I think money could be better spent to upgrade the existing corridor of Cleveland to Chicago.  The existing corridor has Toledo and Cleveland, a better combo than Ft. Wayne and Columbus (population wise).  Don't ge me wrong, I think it would be a great route and certainly welcomed, but what would 10 trains a day between Chicago and Cleveland at opportune times generate in terms of passengers and spin-off economic development?

 

Please note that the Chicago-Columbus route would link the Midwest's #1 and #3 cities in terms of population. And Greater Fort Wayne has 611,712 people, compared to Greater Toledo's 651,429, so they're not that far apart. And Lima-Allen County adds another 100,000 people. Plus, did you know that Warsaw, Indiana is a globally important orthopedics cluster? There is a large amount of business travel between Warsaw, Chicago and O'Hare airport that the rail service would support and enhance.

 

Yes, the cities along the northern route are important too; they need to catch up to the cities along the Chicago-Columbus route in terms of their organizational and planning activities. But these routes are not mutually exclusive. In fact, one option that is becoming more probable is that any expansion of passenger service along the northern route is going to have to find a new way to get to Chicago. The rail corridor west of Toledo to Chicago is saturated with freight -- up to 90 trains a day. The existing Amtrak trains there will probably stay there. But a routing via Fort Wayne (especially if they develop the Fort-Wayne-Chicago rail corridor) would make that option a very attractive, fast and freight-free path for high-performance passenger trains. See the map I posted in the very first message in this thread.

KJP, thanks for shedding some light on the overall plan.  I grew up in Columbus, which wasn't all that long ago, and I just don't see rail working.  I hear people complain about Cleveland having a car problem and all the parking downtown and such, but Columbus epitomizes a car problem.  Columbus is nothing but sprawl with every suburb having two to three high schools and subdivisions as far as you can see.  Years ago there was some serious talk about a second or "outer" outerbelt on the east side of Columbus, out near Pataskala.  IMHO I have always thought that rail doesn't thrive in this country like it does elsewhere, especially Europe and Asia for the following reasons:

- outside of the east coast cities and chicago, most cities really grew with the automobile (most european cities were built long before any real transportation and everything was compact and close. so putting in highways make little sense when a single rail line or subway could handle similar numbers.

- if you took a train from cleveland to columbus, what would you do to get to your destination once you arrived?  there is no rail, taxis are practically non-existent, and its not a very dense city so walking is limited.  so why not drive the couple hours and have a car with me when i arrive?

- over great distances it doesnt make economical or practical sense to take a train when air is available.  especially in our country, go much farther then cleveland to chicago or new york is impractical.

i think the real focus needs to be on developing light rail and commuter rail along with TOD.  once this is established then start connecting those cities with interurban rail.

^oooh, Columbus is unique and rail won't work there even though it works in every other major city in the world. Sure...

KJP, thanks for shedding some light on the overall plan.  I grew up in Columbus, which wasn't all that long ago, and I just don't see rail working.  I hear people complain about Cleveland having a car problem and all the parking downtown and such, but Columbus epitomizes a car problem.  Columbus is nothing but sprawl with every suburb having two to three high schools and subdivisions as far as you can see.  Years ago there was some serious talk about a second or "outer" outerbelt on the east side of Columbus, out near Pataskala.  IMHO I have always thought that rail doesn't thrive in this country like it does elsewhere, especially Europe and Asia for the following reasons:

- outside of the east coast cities and chicago, most cities really grew with the automobile (most european cities were built long before any real transportation and everything was compact and close. so putting in highways make little sense when a single rail line or subway could handle similar numbers.

- if you took a train from cleveland to columbus, what would you do to get to your destination once you arrived?  there is no rail, taxis are practically non-existent, and its not a very dense city so walking is limited.  so why not drive the couple hours and have a car with me when i arrive?

- over great distances it doesnt make economical or practical sense to take a train when air is available.  especially in our country, go much farther then cleveland to chicago or new york is impractical.

i think the real focus needs to be on developing light rail and commuter rail along with TOD.  once this is established then start connecting those cities with interurban rail.

 

 

So you feel that based on time you spent in a Columbus suburb gives you a better idea if the plan would work, compared to the professionals that actually studied how well this would work?

I'm reading a lot of perceptions. For many, perception is reality. Every city's land use design is the result of conscious decisions. And even in sprawling cities, they are redesigning themselves around rail transit. Allow me to introduce you to some of those sprawling cities that are having success with rail......

 

Charlotte: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/07/18/4172744/lynx-blue-line-light-rail-extension.html

+ NOTE that Charlotte is linked to Raleigh by a growing passenger rail service called the Piedmont Corridor sponsored by NCDOT: http://www.ncbytrain.org/projects/future.html

Denver: http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_1

Phoenix: http://www.statepress.com/2013/01/17/valley-metro-to-add-light-rail-extension-to-northwest-phoenix/

Salt Lake City: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865580328/Airport-TRAX-ridership-remains-strong-weeks-after-official-opening.html

Sacramento: http://www.sacrt.com/lightrail.stm

+ NOTE that Sacramento (a state capital with a metro population similar to Columbus) has frequent, state-sponsored Amtrak service to the Bay area: http://www.capitolcorridor.org/about_ccjpa/

Minneapolis: http://www.metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Projects/Current-Projects.aspx

Norfolk/Hampton Roads: http://insidebiz.com/2012topbiznews/news/light-rail-surpasses-estimates-beach-votes-favor-expansion

+ NOTE that Norfolk has new Amtrak service to Washington DC http://beyonddc.com/log/?p=4160

Dallas: http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/expansionmaps.asp

Houston: http://www.ridemetro.org/CurrentProjects/METRORailExpansion.aspx

Austin: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/story/23159381/austin-looks-to-expand-mass-transit-by-adding-urban-rail

 

 

Those are a few examples. There is no mystery here. I encourage you to visit some of these cities and experience their train services. North Carolina, Maine, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Michigan are all worth trying out. Kick "the tires" on these trains sometime.

 

How do you get to your final destination? This is the least challenging part of rail development. Taxis are always available at train stations at train time (Cleveland's station with its middle-of-the-night trains usually has 3-6 taxis waiting when a train arrives). Rerouted existing buses and/or new circulator bus services were planned for the 3C train services at all stations. Car sharing, bike sharing and well-placed stations in pedestrian-friendly settings all round out the local distribution services.

 

Low fares are the first priority for travelers. Rail does very well on that score, despite it getting less subsidies than its competition. And when travel is over distances less than 500 miles, rail travel can be time-competitive with flying -- in the declining number of places where flying still exists, is convenient and affordable. That's especially true when top train speeds of 100+ mph and end-to-end average speeds of 80+ mph. By the time I get to and through the origin airport, security, flying, get through the destination airport and to your final destination, the train can at least come close to equaling the flight time if not beat it -- especially when origins and destinations are in/near the central city. Guess what? When fast trains are offered more people live, work and visit central cities. Transportation shapes land use. And remember that the train stops in cities and towns that will NEVER have airline service and many don't even have bus service which is increasingly operated as express services between larger cities because it takes time and fuel for buses to exit highways and go into cities then back out again to the highway. Most people don't travel from one end of a train route to the other end. They get on and off at multiple stations along the way.

 

Here's a few videos that might help you visualize the different kinds of train services, station, and links offered.....

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZDnKJkMeoA

KJP, thanks for shedding some light on the overall plan.  I grew up in Columbus, which wasn't all that long ago, and I just don't see rail working.  I hear people complain about Cleveland having a car problem and all the parking downtown and such, but Columbus epitomizes a car problem.  Columbus is nothing but sprawl with every suburb having two to three high schools and subdivisions as far as you can see.  Years ago there was some serious talk about a second or "outer" outerbelt on the east side of Columbus, out near Pataskala.  IMHO I have always thought that rail doesn't thrive in this country like it does elsewhere, especially Europe and Asia for the following reasons:

- outside of the east coast cities and chicago, most cities really grew with the automobile (most european cities were built long before any real transportation and everything was compact and close. so putting in highways make little sense when a single rail line or subway could handle similar numbers.

- if you took a train from cleveland to columbus, what would you do to get to your destination once you arrived?  there is no rail, taxis are practically non-existent, and its not a very dense city so walking is limited.  so why not drive the couple hours and have a car with me when i arrive?

- over great distances it doesnt make economical or practical sense to take a train when air is available.  especially in our country, go much farther then cleveland to chicago or new york is impractical.

i think the real focus needs to be on developing light rail and commuter rail along with TOD.  once this is established then start connecting those cities with interurban rail.

 

These arguments are very, very old and have been addressed many times on this forum already. Also, either/or mentalities don't go very far with transportation systems. That "outer-outerbelt" wasn't something that the people demanded or a part of how people around here think. Instead, it was just something a company came up with in order to sell ODOT something.

KJP, thanks for shedding some light on the overall plan.  I grew up in Columbus, which wasn't all that long ago, and I just don't see rail working.  I hear people complain about Cleveland having a car problem and all the parking downtown and such, but Columbus epitomizes a car problem.  Columbus is nothing but sprawl with every suburb having two to three high schools and subdivisions as far as you can see.  Years ago there was some serious talk about a second or "outer" outerbelt on the east side of Columbus, out near Pataskala.  IMHO I have always thought that rail doesn't thrive in this country like it does elsewhere, especially Europe and Asia for the following reasons:

- outside of the east coast cities and chicago, most cities really grew with the automobile (most european cities were built long before any real transportation and everything was compact and close. so putting in highways make little sense when a single rail line or subway could handle similar numbers.

- if you took a train from cleveland to columbus, what would you do to get to your destination once you arrived?  there is no rail, taxis are practically non-existent, and its not a very dense city so walking is limited.  so why not drive the couple hours and have a car with me when i arrive?

- over great distances it doesnt make economical or practical sense to take a train when air is available.  especially in our country, go much farther then cleveland to chicago or new york is impractical.

i think the real focus needs to be on developing light rail and commuter rail along with TOD.  once this is established then start connecting those cities with interurban rail.

 

This absolutely has to be a long-term consideration to the success of intercity rail transit in ANY city. I think that rail can be successful in Cols in the short term, with the density of college students, but over time, the city will have to realign and improve its public transport to allow train travelers to reach the station without a car. Indy, Toledo, Cols, and perhaps Cincy all have to deal with this problem over time.

Like I say, this is a non-issue. We solve it every day at airports in cities throughout the USA, including in cities that have sprawled more than Columbus. And furthermore, you are selling Columbus short. A train station can be placed by the convention center -- on High Street, the city's busiest bus route. How many of Columbus' destinations are within a 10-minute walk of High Street (and COTA's #2, #5, #7, #8, #19, #21 routes)? Probably most of the destinations people travel to in Columbus. The rest can be reached by taxi, bicycle, walking and friends/family picking you up at the station. We all have little devices in our pockets that demystify our arrival city more than ever. This isn't that difficult, folks.

You are absolutely correct, it is solved everyday, and it can be effective.  But my point was that to have truly effective interurban rail the cities involved should have their own rapid/light rail network. Maybe every study would disprove me, but my personal preference of moving about a city is by train/light rail/etc not a bus or a cab or a bicycle.  Have I used those modes? Absolutely, and I enjoyed them, but they have their place, I just think people, or maybe just me, feel most comfortable on a train rather than a bus and it is much more affordable than a cab.  In my opinion, improving the route between Cleveland and Chicago or Cleveland and New York would reap a greater increase in ridership and loyal commuters then building a route through Ft. Wayne to Columbus.  If Columbus is in dire need of connecting to Chicago, I would argue connecting it via Indianapolis by way of Dayton.

How about if we upgrade CHI-CLE-NY and also give Columbus a rail line? (and and rail within the city too, please :) )

 

Is there a reason you say to send the line through Dayton and Indianapolis instead of Lima and Ft. Wayne? I don't know for sure, but I don't think there is already a rail that goes that route, and track would have to be completely laid for that to work.

Is there a reason you say to send the line through Dayton and Indianapolis instead of Lima and Ft. Wayne? I don't know for sure, but I don't think there is already a rail that goes that route, and track would have to be completely laid for that to work.

 

There isn't. All the track was ripped up 30 years ago, many of the bridges are gone and some structures were built on the right of way between Dayton and Indianapolis. And it was Warsaw and Fort Wayne that started the Chicago-Columbus project. The advocacy group there is comprised of city, business and transit officials. Plus Lima's mayor has been pushing for this since he got into office in the 1980s. This will go through Fort Wayne. Period.

 

 

 

So you feel that based on time you spent in a Columbus suburb gives you a better idea if the plan would work, compared to the professionals that actually studied how well this would work?

 

This is a blog of people interested in the a multitude of topics, not a professionals forum, a place where you and I can both opine.  I spent 20 years in a Columbus suburb, so I have a pretty good feel on people's attitudes.  Most suburbanites won't step foot on a public bus, they want their car and the perceived convenience of car. I'm not saying they are right or wrong.  Living and moving around Columbus is totally different than Cleveland.  Again, how many suburbs in Cleveland have 2 or even 3 high schools all with 1500 - 2000 kids in them? The east side of Columbus is a perfect example of the donut model of urban decay.  30 years ago, everyone wanted to be on Hamilton Rd and at Eastland Mall.  Then 20 years ago all the clamor was for Brice Rd, and now all the businesses are leaving Brice Rd and heading east a few miles to Rt 256.  The people that shop there don't even want to drive a couple extra miles into Columbus, they want their huge box stores, chain restaurants, and endless parking lots.  I think Columbus is certainly taking steps in the right direction of building a dense core trying to improve TOD, but I think it is the mentality that is harder to win-over. 

Give me all the studies you want, but often times its common sense that prevails.  Just like this study that is going to have 10 trains a day, more than Detroit and Cleveland have and generate 26,000+ jobs.  These studies are to influence the lawmakers to approve funding, no different than the salesman trying to sell you windows telling you what the "average person" saves in energy costs by installing his windows. Think back to the Horseshoe casino; "The casino counted 11,000 visitors from 9:30 p.m. Monday through 8 p.m. Tuesday. Horseshoe officials have estimated that they will get 5 million customers a year, an average of about 13,000 a day."  This was in the PD two days after it opened with people standing in long lines and with all the publicity possible.  To average 13,000 a day there will be days with more and days with less, opening day is not the day to get less. And we all know revenue continues to drop.  Another NE Ohio example is the Utica Shale "Ohio's natural gas and oil reserves are a multibillion-dollar bonanza that could create more than 204,500 jobs in just four years, an industry group said Tuesday" from the PD in September of 2011.  We all know that while it has brought much needed jobs to NE Ohio it has brought nothing close to that. But the professionals told us this information, why isn't true?  Again, I think Columbus does need connected via rail, but I also think Akron needs connected to Cleveland.  I think everyone agrees Cleveland needs real train service, not middle of the night stops. It's about prioritizing how limited funds are spent and spending them where you will get the most bang for your buck, and I don't see 10 trains a day of people in Columbus wanting to drive downtown (20-45 minutes depending on where you live), ride a train for just under 4 hours when you can drive to the airport (same time), arrive an hour early (Columbus is not that busy), and fly for an hour to Chicago.  To try to find something comparable, I went on Amtrak and Southwest Airlines and priced a round trip from Cleveland to Chicago middle of the week (I used Dec 11-12)  Amtrak $108.00, Southwest $185.80.  Now if I were really going from Cleveland to Chicago its a no brainer to fly, time of day and actual time.  But, the Columbus one is supposed to be much faster and presumably better times.  If it were me, I would take the train, save a few bucks, not lose too much time, and enjoy a train ride.  What about everyone else?  After looking at it that this way, I see the value in it, but only if the time of day is right, which brings me back to my original point.  Instead of spending $1.3 billion to build a new line, why not spend x amount and add a train in the morning to Chicago, that's all I want.  :-D

Both Franklin County and Cuyahoga County have about 750,000 people living in suburban areas. Both Cleveland and Columbus have exurbia beyond their counties as well. The suggestion that only Columbus is sprawling is beyond absurd.

 

 

I will add though, that 10 trains a day does seem very ambitious to start out with.

Unless there are multiple frequencies throughout the day the train will be less attractive to business and other travelers. Also, the line to Chicago is in dire need of upgrades to support ANY passenger service, whether it's for one train, a couple of trains or ten. If you are going to have to do this, you may as well do it right and get a service people will want to ride. I might add that it's critically important to get things right to prove the skeptics wrong. There won't be a second chance.

Instead of spending $1.3 billion to build a new line, why not spend x amount and add a train in the morning to Chicago, that's all I want.  :-D

 

That's $1.3 billion to rebuild the existing rail line to a condition where it could once again accommodate 100+ mph trains. Even rebuilding the rail corridor to allow a 79 mph top speed so you could get to Chicago in 5.5 hours would cost a pretty penny. Why?

 

This is what the rail line looks line in Ada, Ohio. This was once a double-tracked railroad which hosted 100 mph streamliners between Chicago and the East Coast. Now it's a 10-30 mph railroad owned by CSX which leases it to a regional railroad called  Chicago Ft Wayne and Eastern Railroad (CF&E). But the line is still active which, when it comes to regulatory and environmental impact issues, is an important advantage over reactivating inactive or abandoned rights of way....

 

 

 

These are tracks used by Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited which travels at 79 mph (with some 110 mph running in New York state) between Chicago-Toledo-Cleveland-New York City. Note the continuous welded rails, the extra hardware bolting the rails to the new wooden ties, the well-tamped ballast and the train is banking into these curves. It takes a lot of care and maintenance to elevate the outer rail through a curve so trains can operate as fast as possible through a curve. This kind of right of way will get you a 79 mph cruising speed for passenger trains....

 

 

 

And then you have this, which is what is being sought for Columbus-Chicago. This is the newly rebuilt Chicago-St. Louis line through Springfield, IL. The track was completely rebuilt with concrete ties, fresh and tamped ballast, four-quad gates at all crossing in 110 mph territory, and advanced rail traffic control signal systems that interact with the locomotive's controls so that if the engineer is late in responding to a signal, the traffic control system will stop the train. Such a system is needed in the USA for a train to exceed 79 mph (in Canada, the threshold is 100 mph and in the UK its 125 mph). Anyway, $4 million per mile will turn the right of way seen in the first photo into the one seen below....

 

 

 

OK, one more. This is the line between Chicago and Detroit. Amtrak owns half of it and Michigan DOT owns the other half. MDOT is upgrading the entire line from 79 mph to 110 mph for about $600 million, including this section west of Kalamazoo. Note again the concrete ties which are heavier and require less maintenance than wood ties. Because they are heavier, they can hold the tracks more tightly in place than wooden ones. And any variation in the alignment of the track will be noticed a lot more at 110 mph than at 79 mph. So that's why concrete ties are preferred for fast train routes. Also note the four-quad gates -- as compared to the usual practice of having flashers/gates in two of the quadrants of the road-rail crossing. This keeps vehicles from driving between lowered gates, which happens with stunning frequency and stupidity....

 

Hot off the interwebs from Columbus Underground:

 

MORPC Exploring Feasibility of Chicago-Columbus High Speed Rail

By: Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

Published on November 21, 2013 - 11:05 am

 

As it turns out, a change.org petition is sometimes all it takes to make some changes.  In October, we reported that local alternative transportation advocacy group Transit Columbus had published an online petition to encourage the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to further explore the feasibility of a new high speed rail corridor running from Columbus to Chicago.

 

The group has managed to collect over 5,100 signatures (and still counting) and today, they received a response from MORPC.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/morpc-exploring-feasibility-of-chicago-columbus-high-speed-rail

Great news from @NIPRArail:

 

Passenger Rail On Track For Environmental Study

By Rachel Martin - 21Alive

December 10, 2013

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) – The idea of high speed passenger rail is chugging further down the track as Fort Wayne City Council unanimously passed a resolution to fund an environmental impact study for the project.

 

Now City Council will recommend the Henry Administration take $200,000 from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) fund for a Tier I environmental impact study.

 

In the original proposal from Councilman Geoff Paddock (D – 5th District) the $200,000 would be taken from Legacy Fund. However, many council members didn’t favor the idea. Tuesday night, the proposal had been redrafted and Councilman Russ Jehl (R – 2nd District) teamed up with Paddock to help raise private funds to contribute to the cost of the study.

 

Fort Wayne is one of 10 cities included in the high speed rail route from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Passenger-Rail-On-Track-For-Environmental-Study-235339921.html

Great news from @NIPRArail:

 

Passenger Rail On Track For Environmental Study

By Rachel Martin - 21Alive

December 10, 2013

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) – The idea of high speed passenger rail is chugging further down the track as Fort Wayne City Council unanimously passed a resolution to fund an environmental impact study for the project.

 

Now City Council will recommend the Henry Administration take $200,000 from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) fund for a Tier I environmental impact study.

 

In the original proposal from Councilman Geoff Paddock (D – 5th District) the $200,000 would be taken from Legacy Fund. However, many council members didn’t favor the idea. Tuesday night, the proposal had been redrafted and Councilman Russ Jehl (R – 2nd District) teamed up with Paddock to help raise private funds to contribute to the cost of the study.

 

Fort Wayne is one of 10 cities included in the high speed rail route from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Passenger-Rail-On-Track-For-Environmental-Study-235339921.html

 

"Chugging" Will that word ever die?

Great news from @NIPRArail:

 

Passenger Rail On Track For Environmental Study

By Rachel Martin - 21Alive

December 10, 2013

 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21Alive) – The idea of high speed passenger rail is chugging further down the track as Fort Wayne City Council unanimously passed a resolution to fund an environmental impact study for the project.

 

Now City Council will recommend the Henry Administration take $200,000 from the County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) fund for a Tier I environmental impact study.

 

In the original proposal from Councilman Geoff Paddock (D – 5th District) the $200,000 would be taken from Legacy Fund. However, many council members didn’t favor the idea. Tuesday night, the proposal had been redrafted and Councilman Russ Jehl (R – 2nd District) teamed up with Paddock to help raise private funds to contribute to the cost of the study.

 

Fort Wayne is one of 10 cities included in the high speed rail route from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Passenger-Rail-On-Track-For-Environmental-Study-235339921.html

 

The problem is a study is a Long, Long, way from reality. We have had rail studies here in Cincinnati going back some 20 years. But that is all they have been - studies, not a single rail line has been built. The Cincy Streetcar is still under fire as being an unsustainable entity from an operational cost standpoint. I view a rail line from Columbus to Chicago as being out the outside of reality. Enough patrons in cities like Lima, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Indiana to support a passenger line? Come on, you are dreaming.

 

"Chugging" Will that word ever die?

The problem is a study is a Long, Long, way from reality. We have had rail studies here in Cincinnati going back some 20 years. But that is all they have been - studies, not a single rail line has been built. The Cincy Streetcar is still under fire as being an unsustainable entity from an operational cost standpoint. I view a rail line from Columbus to Chicago as being out the outside of reality. Enough patrons in cities like Lima, Ohio and Fort Wayne, Indiana to support a passenger line? Come on, you are dreaming.

 

 

The problem is the words "study" and "plan" are often used interchangeably when they should not be. A study indicates research or testing. A plan indicates design and engineering. In this case, it's the latter.

 

As for the ridership generators, I seem to recall there are other stations along this route -- namely Chicago and Columbus. These are the #1 and #3 cities in the Midwest in terms of population. There is a significant amount of travel between these cities and no direct Interstate. To build one would cost upwards of $10 million per mile vs. $4 million per mile for the rail line which will also accommodate rail freight service, especially at night.

 

And while you denigrate Fort Wayne, it has a strong travel affinity with Chicago. With 110 mph passenger rail service, Fort Wayne will position itself as a low-cost business satellite to and even a bedroom community of Chicago. So would Warsaw, IN some 30 miles west of Fort Wayne along the same rail corridor. Warsaw has become the nation's orthopedics headquarters which relies on access to Chicago O'Hare and the world, and from the world to Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne is never going to have world-class airline service to the world. And as the eastern endpoint/anchor station of a rail service, it will never have world-class rail service to Chicago O'Hare either. But as an enroute station along a 300-mile rail corridor linking the Midwest's #1 and #3 cities, it has a legit shot of gaining that world-class rail service. Without it, Warsaw risks losing this orthopedics cluster, which was stated more eloquently in the economic impact analysis noted in this press release http://orthoworxindiana.com/news/2011/02/3792/.

 

Similarly, Lima, OH has similar global access needs as little Warsaw, IN thanks to Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which has its world headquarters in nearby Findlay plus, offices and major refining/processing plants in Lima. The nearest worldwide access point to Findlay/Lima is Detroit -- about 1.5 hours away. But Chicago O'Hare has more options which can be reached in 2.5 hours by all-weather rail service. When oil executives or their suppliers need to make morning flights at O'Hare, having that time zone change into Chicago gives O'Hare the advantage over Detroit Metro. The loss of that hour coming to Findlay may be less important for business travelers concluding their trip into Lima.

 

Similarly, little Marysville, OH has similar global access needs as little Lima, OH thanks to Honda of America. Honda execs typically make trips between Marysville and Japan, which means driving east one hour to Port Columbus Airport, enduring terminal time, and then flying to Chicago. By that time, the train would have gotten them to downtown Chicago or O'Hare for less money and with greater all-weather reliability. Plus the train will provide consistent wi-fi access (at least theoretically!) throughout the journey from Marysville to Chicago.

 

But the bulk of the ridership will certainly come from Columbus and Chicago, both of which are growing vibrant cities which could enjoy even more vibrancy from a fast, low-cost, comfortable rail connection linking them. But don't discount the ridership contributions along the way. And recognize that this rail service will change those en route cities for the better.

But kjbrill won't ride it -- therefore it will be unsuccessful.

But kjbrill won't ride it -- therefore it will be unsuccessful.

 

And your sarcastic remarks are really going to make it happen that much faster!

 

First come feasability studies. Then come actual plans concerning just what tracks, what upgrades are required, what rolling stock, what is the ridership substainability, etc. Then comes the Big One, the actual appropriation of funds to make it happen. When you get to the appropriation of funds stage let me know.

But kjbrill won't ride it -- therefore it will be unsuccessful.

 

And your sarcastic remarks are really going to make it happen that much faster!

 

First come feasability studies. Then come actual plans concerning just what tracks, what upgrades are required, what rolling stock, what is the ridership substainability, etc. Then comes the Big One, the actual appropriation of funds to make it happen. When you get to the appropriation of funds stage let me know.

 

the same process also must be followed for roads too. All federally funded construction projects take an average of 10 years to go from idea to ribbon cutting. BTW feasibility studies aren't the first required step under NEPA, the 1,000-page law which governs the planning process for all federally funded projects.

Rail Advocate Optimistic About Columbus to Chicago High Speed Line

By Brent Warren, Columbus Underground

May 15, 2014 - 8:00 am

 

Since a proposal for high-speed passenger rail from Columbus to Chicago was first unveiled last summer, interest in the idea has been strong.  Mayor Coleman’s office called the idea “promising,” local advocacy group Transit Columbus saw an outpouring of support on social media, and the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has since said that they are committed to exploring the feasibility of the concept.

 

Fred Lanahan, President of the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association – the organization that spearheaded the original study – will be speaking at All Aboard Ohio’s annual meeting on May 17 in Gahanna.  We reached out to Lanahan to see if he could provide some background on the proposal, the role that different stakeholders are playing in the effort, and his thoughts on the next steps needed to take the idea from dream to reality.

 

Full Q & A at http://www.columbusunderground.com/rail-advocate-optimistic-about-columbus-to-chicago-high-speed-line-bw1

Thanks for posting. If you would like to attend the panel discussion on Saturday, register here:

 

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

More links and audio at the link to the full article below.

 

Mayors, Business Community Rally For Rail

Dan McGowan, InsideINdianaBusiness.com

 

Eight mayors from Indiana and Ohio have taken another key step in a plan calling for high-speed rail service between Chicago and Columbus, Ohio and running through northern Indiana. The group has issued a memorandum of agreement to develop the Northern Indiana/Ohio Passenger Rail initiative with freight rail operators and right-of-way owners along the proposed route.

 

They are pushing for an environmental impact study for the project. The total cost of the proposal is estimated at more than $1 billion.

 

You can view a copy of the MOA by clicking here: http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/video-player.asp?id=14467

 

An economic impact study spearheaded by the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association Inc. last year estimated the corridor could result in nearly 27,000 jobs over 30 years.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=66486

Next Steps taken to Continue Evaluation of Columbus-to-Chicago Rail

August 7, 2014 4:48 pm

By Walker Evans

 

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) along with the City of Columbus and City of Marysville jointly announced today that they will collectively be continuing with the necessary steps to evaluate the feasibility of the Columbus-to-Chicago high speed passenger rail line that was proposed last summer.

 

“Today’s announcement represents a significant milestone in the planning and evaluation of the proposed rail corridor from Columbus to Chicago, ” said MORPC Executive Director William Murdock. “With the leadership of the cities along the proposed route in Ohio and Indiana, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) formalizes already significant collaboration across states to diligently review this new transportation corridor. The MOA is a practical, yet critical next step to pursue the next phase of analyses, the Tier One Environmental Impact Study and the Service Development Plan.”

 

A group of cities, towns, planning agencies and businesses across both Indiana and Ohio have partnered to fund the study and business plan to build an eleven-city 300-mile link linking Columbus and Chicago. Stops along the way could include Fort Wayne, Marysville, Kenton and Lima.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/next-steps-taken-to-continue-evaluation-of-columbus-to-chicago-rail

MORPC press release......

 

http://www.morpc.org/about-morpc/news/news-archive/2014/morpc-columbus-marysville-join-ohio-indiana-cities-to-pursue-environmental-evaluation/index

 

MORPC, CITIES OF COLUMBUS, MARYSVILLE JOIN OHIO & INDIANA CITIES TO PURSUE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION OF RAIL CORRIDOR

AUGUST 7, 2014

 

MORPC and the cities of Columbus and Marysville are ready for the next phase of due diligence to continue exploration of a proposed Columbus to Chicago High-Speed Passenger Rail Corridor.

 

"Today's announcement represents a significant milestone in the planning and evaluation of the proposed rail corridor from Columbus to Chicago, “said MORPC Executive Director William Murdock. “With the leadership of the cities along the proposed route in Ohio and Indiana, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) [http://www.morpc.org/pdf/2014MOAColumbusChicagoRail.pdf] formalizes already significant collaboration across states to diligently review this new transportation corridor. The MOA is a practical, yet critical next step to pursue the next phase of analyses, the Tier One Environmental Impact Study and the Service Development Plan."

 

A coalition of Ohio and Indiana municipalities, planning agencies and businesses partnered to fund a feasibility study and business plan, for a regional, eleven-city, 300-mile passenger rail corridor between Columbus, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois through Fort Wayne, Indiana. Marysville, Kenton and Lima, Ohio would be the additional Ohio stops on the route. The study, released in 2013, was completed by Transportation Economics & Management Systems (TEMS). The next step in the process is to undertake a Tier One EIS as required by the Federal Railroad Administration. The participating jurisdictions along the route have agreed to execute a MOA to formalize their cooperation moving forward, including identifying shared public and private funding for the EIS.

 

Echoing the need for continued due diligence, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said the TEMS feasibility study and business plan showed great promise. “Creating another transportation link from Columbus to Chicago is important for our region’s economic future. Chicago is the largest economic center of the Midwest, which represents a nearly $3 trillion annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shared among the 9 states in the original Midwestern Regional Rail Initiative. The greater Columbus market, totaling over 1.8 million people, is the largest metropolitan city without high-speed passenger rail service.”

 

Marysville Mayor John Gore said, “This type of long-term planning simply makes good economic sense. As we strategically plan for future economic development in Marysville and Union County, a high-speed passenger rail service that provides regular service to Port Columbus and to Chicago mean ongoing opportunities for existing business growth through retention, expansion and recruitment. And that’s hugefor our community, the region and the entire state of Ohio.”

 

“Support for passenger rail is strong in Lima and the Greater Lima area,” said Lima Mayor David Berger. “We have a large base of potential passengers among our business people, students and everyday citizens who want and need an alternative option to driving to Chicago or Columbus. Having access to fast, frequent trains also would send a strong message to investors and others who are looking for development opportunities in Lima, as well as assist our existing businesses in recruiting new talent.”

 

Business and civic leaders also support undertaking the Tier One EIS.

 

Eric Phillips, Union County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said “If the Tier-1 Environmental Study shows this passenger rail corridor can be built and operated as planned, we see this service creating a significant economic development boost for Marysville and Union County by greatly enhancing our transportation portfolio. Selection and development of a station site alone could be a magnet for growth.”

 

“Passenger rail will have a high impact on our region,” says Ohio Northern University President Daniel DiBiasio. “It would significantly improve access for residents of Lima and Northwest Ohio to Columbus and Chicago. By broadening travel options for students, we can dramatically enhance their ability to benefit from the incredible opportunities these great cities provide, including commuting to internship sites and back home during breaks. Faculty, who now drive to campus from Columbus, would have a faster, safer, more eco-friendly commute. In fact, passenger rail will enhance faculty and student recruitment, making Ada, Ohio much more accessible."

 

According to a 2013 feasibility study by Transportation Economics Management Systems, the proposed service of 12 trains a day with at least 4 express trains would:

 

+ Directly connect the Greater Columbus market, totaling over 1.8 million people, with the largest center of commerce in the Midwest: Chicago;

+ Provide the same fast, frequent connections and benefits to Ohio cities like Marysville, Kenton and Lima;

+ Feature Chicago to Columbus travel times ranging from 3 hours and 45 minutes express service to 4 hours local service;

+ Attract an estimated 2.1 million riders in 2020 and will increase to over 3.3 million riders by 2040;

+ Generate a positive operating cost ratio of an estimated $5 million once the system ramps up in 2020 and rise to $64 million by 2040, operated by a private franchise operator. The business plan indicates that private operation of the system would be possible without annual government subsidies;

+ Generate an estimated 12,000 temporary jobs during construction and 26,800 permanent jobs over the 30-year project; and

+ Provide an estimated $6 billion of increased output for the region’s businesses.

 

For more information contact Sarah McQuaide at 614.233.4130.

City of Kenton, OH joined two weeks ago. This week, it's Marysville......

 

COLUMBUS TO CHICAGO HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER RAIL CORRIDOR

Marysville on board to explore rail service

By CHRIS BOURNEA

Sunday August 31, 2014 11:11 PM

 

The city of Marysville has joined with a coalition of municipalities and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission on an environmental impact study for a high-speed passenger rail line from Columbus to Chicago.

 

In an Aug. 14 report, Marysville Mayor John Gore said the project will help Ohio be more competitive in the global economy.

 

"This type of long-term planning simply makes good economic sense," Gore said in a news release issued by MORPC.

 

"As we strategically plan for future economic development in Marysville and Union County, a high-speed passenger rail service that provides regular service to Port Columbus and to Chicago mean ongoing opportunities for existing business growth through retention, expansion and recruitment. And that's huge for our community, the region and the entire state of Ohio," he said.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/marysville/news/2014/08/28/columbus-to-chicago-high-speed-passenger-rail-corridor-marysville-on-board-to-explore-rail-service.html

How about a nice suburban station surrounded by a high-density, mixed-use downtown district for Amazon and supportive uses (hotels, housing, restaurants, retail, subcontractor offices, etc) that's less than four hours from downtown Chicago and a shade over four hours from O'Hare International Airport? Think maybe that would help attract Amazon?? Oh, and by the way, a value capture mechanism could be offered (like a Transportation Improvement District) at this and other stations to fund a federal RRIF loan to build the rail infrastructure -- Example A: All Aboard Florida. Just a thought.....

 

City of Dublin considering making bid for $1.1 billion Amazon project

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/09/10/dublin-considering-incentives-for-amazon-project.html

 

Bring Innovation to the Infrastructure Funding Debate

http://valuecapture.org/2013/02/14/bring-innovation-to-the-infrastructure-funding-debate/

Fort Wayne Line rebirth

December 22, 2014 | Author: admin

 

For advocates of rail transportation, one of the most enjoyable developments is to see a railroad line come back to life. That’s been happening recently to the 270-mile Fort Wayne Line between Tolleston (Gary), IN and Crestline, OH via Ft. Wayne, Lima and Bucyrus. This was one of America’s premier passenger rail lines, linking Chicago and East Coast.

 

But will a sudden increase in freight traffic to this corridor help or hurt prospects for the return of passenger rail? That depends on how many freight trains and infrastructure improvements are coming.

 

The Fort Wayne Line west of Dunkirk, OH has been the subject of an initiative by a consortium of online communities to develop passenger rail service between Columbus and Chicago. If they are successful, service may begin with 79-mph trains. As more funding is found, the consortium would upgrade the line to progressively higher speeds.

 

A rebirth of this line for freight is more immediate. Norfolk Southern (NS) track resurfacing crews have been laboring between Ft. Wayne and Bucyrus since November – a time of year when such work is usually confined to NS routes in southern states. So what has them working in Ohio’s cold? A race to relieve traffic congestion.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://allaboardohio.org/2014/12/22/fort-wayne-line-rebirth/

The above blog posting led to a couple articles, including one in a Bluffton-Ada website and this one...

 

Rail freight up in area

Lima could benefit from renewed interest

Last updated: January 02. 2015 8:28PM - 630 Views

By Megan Kennedy - [email protected]

 

LIMA — Increased freight could lead to passenger rails.

 

Lima could see an increase of freight lines coming through the East and West ends of the city, Ken Pendergast, executive director of All Aboard Ohio said.

 

This increase could mean a higher-speed rail in the future.

 

The Fort Wayne Line was formerly a main component of the Pennsylvania Railroad prior to 1968, Pendergast said. “This route is still there, unlike a lot of other routes where they pulled up the tracks and lost the property and homes and businesses and bridges were taken out,” he said.

 

MORE:

http://limaohio.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=LI&date=20150102&category=news&lopenr=301029917&Ref=AR

 

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 22, 2015

Contact: Michael Williams

Genesee & Wyoming

Tel: 203-202-8916 [email protected]

 

CHICAGO, FT. WAYNE & EASTERN RAILROAD ANNOUNCES TRACK-IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Helps Alleviate Rail Congestion in Metro Chicago, Benefits Existing and Potential New Industries

 

FT. WAYNE, Ind. – January 22, 2015 – The Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CFE) today announced a track improvement project enabling 40-mph train speeds across the entire 315-mile rail line from Tolleston, Ind., to Crestline, Ohio. Work includes leveling and aligning nearly 50 track-miles, replacing segments of rail and installing more than 10,000 new railroad ties. Expected to be completed this month, the project will help alleviate rail freight congestion in the metro-Chicago area by creating an alternate route for trains going to and from the Chicago rail gateway.

 

CFE anticipates up to six additional eastbound freight trains per day over its line upon completion of the project. The additional trains, expected to carry energy products such as crude oil, bulk commodities such as grain, and other general merchandise, will be operated by Norfolk Southern Railway, which has rights to operate over the CFE and dispatches all trains on the line.

 

“Motorists and pedestrians should take note that trains will be running more frequently and also at higher speeds on certain segments that were not 40 mph before,” says Chuck McBride, CFE president. “Always obey signs and warning devices at railroad crossings, and cross only at designated crossings.”

 

There are more than 400 public and private railroad crossings on the CFE, 213 of which already had 40-mph train speeds. The 221 crossings now being increased to 40-mph train speeds are in Allen County in Indiana and in Crawford, Wyandot, Hardin, Allen and Van Wert counties in Ohio.

 

“This private-sector investment enhances an important piece of transportation infrastructure in Indiana and Ohio,” McBride says. “By increasing the railroad’s capacity to transport freight, the improvement project benefits existing customers and also makes the CFE corridor more attractive for potential new customers and economic development opportunities along the line.

 

Through these investments, we look forward to enhancing this route to help attract new industries that need superior access to the national rail freight network. We believe this fits well with the current resurgence of industries locating new facilities in Indiana and Ohio.”

 

CFE was acquired in 2012 by Genesee & Wyoming, North America’s largest owner of short line and regional freight railroads and a safety leader in the industry.

 

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I would have preferred to see INDOT win the Tier I EIS funding now, but the MIPRC funding application has the potential to be an even better outcome later. I'd rather have FRA plan the Midwest rail system given the history of rural-minded politicians and DOT's in Ohio and Indiana.....

 

Planning Work Continues on Columbus to Chicago High Speed Rail Idea

April 27, 2015 10:09 am

Brent Warren

 

Although it’s been nearly two years since we first reported on the proposal to build a high-speed passenger rail connection between Columbus and Chicago, the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has quietly kept up their planning efforts, coordinating communication among the local jurisdictions along the proposed line and supporting two separate proposals submitted last fall to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that would pay for the next step in the process, a Tier One Environmental Impact Statement.

 

MORPC recently found out that one of those proposals was turned down – a $3.2 million grant request submitted by the Indiana Department of Transportation was not selected for funding by the FRA. Bernice Cage of MORPC said that they are in the process of scheduling a debriefing session with FRA staff, “to understand how our application ranked against the others so that we may strengthen future funding applications.”

 

MORPC is still waiting to hear about a second federal application, this one submitted by the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIRPC).

 

MORE:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/planning-work-continues-on-columbus-to-chicago-high-speed-rail-idea-bw1