A new report called “Connecting the Midwest” was released by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) today and provides in-depth information on how high-speed passenger rail systems in the Midwest will create jobs, boost the economy, reduce highway congestion, and reduce fuel consumption.
“As the saying goes, ‘you are either part of the problem, or part of the solution,” said Jeff Griffin, OhioPIRG Program Associate. “Rail is a part of the solution – boosting our economy and creating jobs, modernizing our transportation system and helping to solve our nation’s oil dependency. Rail gets us moving, in the right direction.”
Some of the highlights from the report include:
- A completed Midwest high-speed rail network will support 15,200 temporary construction jobs over a 10 year period and create an additional 57,000 permanent jobs.
- Building high-speed rail from Cleveland to Cincinnati, Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Buffalo would boost the region’s economy by generating more than $3 billion of development near stations.
- The 3C stage of the rail network is projected to reduce car traffic on Ohio’s highways by nearly 320,000 vehicle miles per year, reducing congestion and pollution.
- The 3C line will save up to 15,000 gallons of fuel per day.
- 55% of Ohioans would live within 15 miles of a station, and 59% of the state’s workforce would have a station within 15 miles of their workplace.
- The system would prevent 188,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year by replacing less efficient car and plane travel. The amount is equal to the annual emissions of 34,000 cars.
Andrew Snow of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Columbus said, “The fact is, this is an economic development project with a number of benefits including the creation of lasting employment opportunities – not just for those working on the rail line itself and for the hundreds of rail supply manufacturers in the state but also for the next generation of Ohio’s engineers, tourism industry employees and small business entrepreneurs. It’s truly a win-win-win for everyone.”
OhioPIRG is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization that stands up to powerful interests. The full report can be found at www.ohiopirg.org.