COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has directed the Ohio Rail Development Commission to apply for federal funding to study adding Amtrak service on two corridors serving the state, the commission announced.
The commission will seek $500,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration for studies of each corridor, a Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati route, and Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit service. Those funds would allow the state to employ a consultant to help with a service development plan, which would consider infrastructure improvements, operating costs, ridership projections, and state subsidies needed to start service.
“This is the first step of many in this process,” DeWine said in a press release. “We have a lot of questions that need to be answered before we make any commitments. The information we gather from this effort will help us make informed decisions about federal opportunities for passenger rail in Ohio.”
The move comes under the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development program, a $1.8 billion process launched last year to guide passenger rail development [see “FRA unveils Corridor ID and Development program …,” Trains News Wire, May 17, 2022]. DeWine had previously remained noncommittal to the prospects of Amtrak expansion.
“Under Governor DeWine’s direction, we have been talking with Amtrak for quite some time to explore options and gather information,” said Matthew Dietrich, the commission’s executive director. “Our work with Amtrak was necessary for a federal application but it is just the first step.”
Applications are due by March 27.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) issued a statement applauding the Republican governor “and our regional leaders for starting the process to pursue Amtrak expansion. … Expanding Amtrak in Ohio, whether along current routes or by connecting Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati, would transform our state’s economy and improve mobility for all Ohioans.”
Share this article
