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Earlier today, a new Amtrak study on the 3C Corridor “Quick Start” Passenger Rail project was released with several new figures, most impressively a researched estimate of 478,000 annual passengers riding between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.
The study was conducted over the past nine months and will be used as part of Ohio’s federal stimulus funding application that will be filed on October 2nd.
The ridership estimates are based on conditions of passenger rail service as if it were operating today. Studies show that ridership would grow to nearly 600,000 annual passengers after five years of continuous non-upgraded service. The findings by Amtrak would mean that the “3C Quick Start” line would be the 12th largest generator of passenger rail traffic in the country.
The study also places the current total cost estimates of the 3C project at $342.6 million, which includes infrastructure, track and signal upgrades as well as maintenance facilities. The annual revenue from ticket sales is projected to be over $12 million per year based on the 2009 ridership estimates, and would grow as ridership increases.
More information about the Amtrak study can be found here on ODOT’s website.
This evening, ODOT and the Ohio Rail Development Commission held an open house public meeting at the King Arts Complex to provide more information on the project, as well as answer questions and concerns. Several of the most informative slides from the powerpoint presentation are below, and the entire presentation can be viewed here (PDF).
That’s the average speed of the train – including stops – on the entire route. Some have confused it with the actual speed of the train.
Within Exhibit 10 of the pdf, there’s an overhead showing the Norfolk Southern Grandview Yard site (south of Goodale), where the circus drops off the animals. It seems that with the available land there, they might have more space to build a station and tie it in to the Grandview Yard development north of Goodale. Alternatively, if the station is downtown, then it’d be really nice if, one day, a light rail was able to connect GY to downtown (main station), etc. and other stops on a light rail system.
I guess I was a little confused as to why they had this exhibit in there, titled “NS Grandview Yard Location”, as there was no reference in the text of the document to this exhibit.
Ethan…right on the fact that average speed includes stops. What the Dispatch didn’t report is that the same applies to driving a car as well… meaning the average drive time is below the posted limit.
As to the Grandview Yard subject brought up by another poster…. I think that yard is being looked at as an overnight staging and maintenance location. I would much rather see some of the right of way used for a local light rail line that could run from NW Columbus with stops near UA and in Grandview and hooking up with the 3C trains downtown.
dartuck,
I don’t think the term “Grandview Yard” on that exhibit refers in any way to the proposed retail development of the same name. As noozer noted, it’s where Norfolk Southern has a small rail yard.
I was REALLY hoping they’d start out as high speed trains. The two things that could make this bomb are being slow and being expensive, so they may be starting with one foot in the grave. But, I hope not. I think placing the station next to the Convention Center is a good idea (actually, I think placing it in the Arena District is even better, especially if the AD gets a Casino, which is where I’d put it.) If you’re thinking “transit oriented development” though, you don’t put transit where people already are, you put it where you WANT them to be…but that takes balls, and is risky. Re: streetcars and light rail – I think we should beef up COTA first, as there are a lot of improvements to be made there.
Thanks for the info. regarding Grandview Yard. A staging/maintenance spot would probably make more sense. As to the use of the right of way for light rail, did anyone catch the story in the Dispatch this morning, regarding the unexpected success of the Phoenix Light Rail system?
Here’s the story:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/09/20/Arizona_rail_NYT.ART_ART_09-20-09_A7_J9F4N8D.html
Daren
Looks like it was caught in the Phoenix Light Rail thread:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/phoenix-light-rail-news/page/2
Good to see Phoenix showing great numbers. Hope we’ll see COTA get light rail going to connect with the 3C trains.
On-line survey and Facebook page for the 3C Quick Start: both can be found at….
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail/Programs/passenger/3CisME/Pages/default.aspx
Official: Trains are the ticket
Transportation secretary touts convenience
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 2:51 AM
By James Nash
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Trains might never shuttle Ohioans to ballgames, musical shows and other events throughout the state as quickly as cars, but rail will attract riders who value convenience over speed, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said yesterday.
READ MORE
Good story…but the figure of $581-million is not what was quoted in the draft Amtrak study. The capital costs, minus equipment purchases (according to the ODOT/ORDC release on the study on the 3CIsMe.Ohio.Gov website) is $342.6-million. Even if new passenger cars are puchased at the Amtrak-suggested cost of $175-million, those numbers don’t add up to $581-million.
BTW: I am told that refurbished, used passenger cars can be had that are as good as new and at half the cost of new ones. North Carolina uses such equipment and are doing very well with them
3C Facebook page has 979 “friends” in barely a week….still time to push it over 1,000 ….so spread the word.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-3C-Quick-Start-Passenger-Rail-Plan/134456767470
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail/Programs/passenger/3CisME/Pages/default.aspx
Attend a 3C “Quick Start” Rally for Rail this Thursday (Oct. 1st), as Ohio submits its stimulus application to Washington. The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio Rail Development Commission will submit the state’s federal stimulus application for the 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail Plan with two events Thursday in downtown Columbus and Cleveland.
Columbus “Rally for Rail”: 9:30 AM
Union Station Arch in the Arena District
Next to 277 W. Nationwide Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43215
Speakers include ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris, Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel and ORDC Executive Director Matt Dietrich.
A recently released ridership and revenue study prepared by Amtrak estimated that 478,000 passengers would board the train each year in Ohio, due in large part to the concentration of colleges and universities along the corridor. “Historically, throughout its national system, Amtrak has enjoyed steady ridership support from college students,” the study pointed out.
“As the president of The Ohio State University, I am privileged to see first-hand the abilities and dedication of the next generation of college graduates. Providing them with the basic infrastructure as well as the education that will allow them to fully achieve their potential is ever on my mind… Ohio’s plan for passenger rail in the region will provide a critical physical link to enhance the development of the emerging knowledge economy,” wrote The Ohio State University’s President Dr. E. Gordon Gee, in a letter of support for the 3C “Quick Start” plan.
Recognizing the economic development potential of the 3C “Quick Start” service, Cleveland’s business community is also embracing the state’s plan: “We support your efforts to bring federal dollars to Ohio for the purpose of creating a high speed rail system in our state,” wrote Joe Roman, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, “A high speed system that connects our cities is cited as a project worthy of priority consideration.”
Tomorrow’s events are an opportunity to visibly show the depth and breadth of public support for passenger rail service in Ohio. Banners and signs will be encouraged: “3C Is Me”, “Trains Save Energy”, “Passenger Rail: Good for the Environment”, “I want trains! Build the 3C!”
Cleveland “Rally for Rail”: 3:00 PM, Thursday, Oct.1st
Cleveland Amtrak Station Building
200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway
Cleveland, OH 44114