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

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

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

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

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.

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.