Tomorrow, Cincinnati City Council's Economic Development Committee (EDC) will consider a resolution supporting the inclusion of the City in a new Amtrak rail passenger service between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, and requesting that the (ORDC) begin the study of possible passenger rail service between Cincinnati and Columbus.

Passenger trains have not run on the 3-C corridor since 1971.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland reiterated his support for the 3-C project during his 2009 State of the State address in January.

“We will strengthen Ohio with innovative transportation projects," Strickland said. "We will work toward the restoration of passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Our goal is to link Ohio's three largest cities by passenger rail for the first time in 40 years. This will be a first step toward a rail system that links neighborhoods within a city, and cities within our state."

An ORDC and Amtrak analysis of ridership projections and operating costs for twice-daily round trips is expected to be completed by fall, meaning that passenger trains could be on the tracks by the end of 2010.

The ORDC, an arm of the --> --> -->, is seeking $100 million for the first phase as part of the $9.3 billion in transit funding promised in the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package.

All Aboard Ohio, a public transportation and passenger rail advocacy group, is recommending $250 million in stimulus funding.

"Any stimulus dollars for rail not spent in Ohio will be spent for passenger rail development in another state," All Aboard Ohio interim executive director Ken Prendergast says in a media release. "Of the top 23 most densely populated states, Ohio and Hawaii are the only ones lacking a state-financed passenger rail development program. If we are to compete for jobs and residents, we must catch up to our competitors elsewhere in the U.S. and worldwide. This stimulus funding for rail development is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ohio to do that."

U.S. Department of Commerce data shows that even a $100 million investment in the 3-C corridor would create 2,400 new jobs with an increase in annual incomes of $50 million.

The 3-C plan is also seen as the logical first step to the more comprehensive system, a $3 billion-$4 billion transit project composed of high-speed trains running along 1,244 miles of track serving 46 stations.

Linking with the proposed Midwest Regional Rail System, New York's Empire corridor, Pennsylvania's Keystone corridor, and VIA Rail Canada, the Ohio Hub would serve 22 million people.

Photo credit: "Northbound Amtrak" by , courtesy of Flickr.

Previous reading on BC:
All Aboard Ohio: Stimulus bill may ignore Ohio's train and transit needs (1/21/09)