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Linking Ohio – “Linking Ohio is a diverse group of citizens who have lots of different reasons to want passenger rail transportation available in Ohio, starting with the 3-C “Quick Start” Project connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. Ohio state government has applied for $564 million in Federal grant dollars to make this passenger train route a reality—here are complete official details.” [Read More]
Ohio Higher Education Rail Network (OHERN) – “The Ohio Higher Education Rail Network (OHERN) is a plan to link all public and private colleges and universities in the state by rail. The OHERN concept grew out of the belief that there is a mutually beneficial and interdependent relationship between education and transportation; where colleges and universities can help build a statewide network of passenger trains and, by building that network, strengthen Ohio’s system of higher education.” [Read More]
LOL…just thought the phrasing was funny, I do feel like I need a support group because of Ohio’s rail issues sometimes :D
Ha! Hello… my name is Walker… and I’m a recovering rail addict. ;)
Hi Walker. Welcome to Passenger Rail Anonymous…
But seriuously….these are both very good efforts to reach out to Ohio’s college students & faculty (OHERN) and (Linking Ohio) to reach out to a range of people who have a stake in the development of more and better passenger rail in Ohio…. business people, community leaders, young professionals, etc….
Very encouraging to see the advocacy base becoming broader and more diverse.
I have heard various timelines on the 3C, but at this point, when is the earliest we can expect to be riding?
I fear that this will only happen in my dreams. It seems likely that the non-believers argument of limiting spending in these hard times (unless it’s for roads, of course) will stick now more than ever.
Can we trade the 70/71 split for mass transit?
^No, gas tax revenue can’t be used for transit in Ohio. It’s in the Ohio Constitution.
Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I predict Ohio will be one of the recipients for the ARRA Rail grants which I believe are to be announced in February.
Hey Jody,
Where have you heard about a timetable? I have been searching around all over the place and can only get “winter” out of anybody. I can’t wait to find out who got the cash. I hope it’s us! (It will be…I have faith).
CBT
The time table clock starts ticking the moment Ohio gets word from the feds on the ARRA grant request. According to the request that was filed (available on-line at the ORDC Website), 2012 is the projected date for running the first trains….possible it could be sooner, but that depends on the level of work that needs to be done on the rail corridor.
Are there any plans for space to take a bike with you on these trains?
You can take your bike on Amtrak as long as it fits the parameters and is considered a checked bag basically, so I don’t know why it wouldn’t be possible.
If you go by most Amtrak standards, the bike would have to be disambled to the point that it could be boxed in a standard bike box (usually you can snag a free one from the local bike shop after they get a new shipment). That really begins to negate the convince of a bike on the 3C if you have to disassemble, box, reassemble at the destination and then repeat.
Many of the commuter/transit rail systems that exist outside of Amtrak usually allow a bike to be rolled on off in specific location on the train. I’ve seen photos of some solutions that have 1-2 hooks near the door to hang a bike vetical or a specific spot with a fold down jump seat for the cyclist. Other systems, were demand is high for multi-modal accomadation, have an actual car to accomadate roll on/roll off.
I’m hoping this is addressed (in the surveys I have done, I have commented on this) when it becomes a reality. Another solution is have a specific policy for folding bikes, something COTA is ambigous on.
This isn’t commuter rail though, at least not what I’ve seen of it. I’d be all for bike racks or whatever on commuter rail servicing the city and the burbs…but this isn’t it.
I understand that. Taking a trip to Chicago on Amtrak-fine, box my bike. If I am going for tourism or even business and taking Amtrak then I probably have the time to sit at the station and put my bike back together.
Taking a short trip to Cleveland, Cinncinnati or Dayton by 3C? It’s not worth the time to go through the hassle of packing the bike up, carrying the tools and repeating the process multiple times when I probably want to hop off the train and go.
Or you could pick up a folding bike for those kinds of trips. That said, I think you’re looking for accommodations for an extremely small minority of people who want to ride a train to a different city with their bike. Again, light rail/commuter…cool, makes sense to me, not so much for this though.
I’m not even talking about a massive accomadation. Just enough space in a handful of cars to accomadate 4-6 cyclists a trip.
ETA
I’d gladly pay an extra $5 or so for the “luxury” of being able to roll on/roll off.