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    Airport Task Force to Take a Broad Look at Rail Options

    Although its first meeting has yet to be scheduled, an outline of what the new airport task force will be tasked with is beginning to take shape.

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    The task force, which was first announced in Mayor Michael Coleman’s State of the City Address, will take a broad look at the possibility of rail service to Port Columbus. It will also examine the current state of bus connections to the airport as well as ways that air service can be improved.

    Steve Campbell, the mayor’s Director of Regional Growth Initiatives, said that this list of items emerged from conversations between the mayor and Elaine Roberts, President and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

    “We view it as Ohio’s airport,” said Campbell, “this is a real opportunity to look at Port Columbus and the area around it as our regional transportation center, and to explore other modes of transportation that make sense.”

    He said that the first task for the group is to “unite the community around improving air service,” including increasing the number of direct flights. Current bus service will also be examined, with a focus on improving connections to Downtown, Easton and OSU.

    “As a community, we need to find a better way to connect these job centers, and public transportation has to be a part of that,” stated Campbell.

    As for the rail link, Campbell said that that the task force’s work will serve as a preliminary look at the feasibility of light rail, commuter rail, and/or regional passenger rail serving Port Columbus.

    “We need to start looking at it, see what hurdles there are,” he said, explaining that the task force will be looking into the practicality of all of these different possibilities, including where a transit station might go and how it would interact with the terminal.

    Campbell added that the Chicago-to-Columbus passenger rail proposal — which is currently being studied by the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission — could serve as a first step in a larger network. He noted that that proposal includes a potential commuter stop in Marysville, a Downtown stop, and a stop at the airport, “and then it’s a straight shot from the airport to Pittsburgh.”

    An announcement is expected soon on the makeup of the task force, which will be led by Dan Rosenthal of Milestone Aviation Group.

    For ongoing discussion on Downtown-Airport Rail, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

    For ongoing discussion on Columbus-Chicago Rail, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

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    Brent Warren
    Brent Warrenhttps://columbusunderground.com/author/brent-warren
    Brent Warren is a staff reporter for Columbus Underground covering urban development, transportation, city planning, neighborhoods, and other related topics. He grew up in Grandview Heights, lives in the University District and studied City and Regional Planning at OSU.
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