Amtrak, U.S. DOT officials like Columbus' chances for restoring passenger rail [Story in body, website is broken]

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Amtrak, U.S. DOT officials like Columbus' chances for restoring passenger rail [Story in body, website is broken] (www.bizjournals.com)

By Carrie Ghose – Staff reporter, Columbus Business First Apr 3, 2023

Central Ohio's effort to restore passenger rail service through Columbus has cheerleaders among those who will decide the project's fate.

Returning Amtrak to the underserved region after four decades would help "realize our vision for passenger rail," said Derrick James, the service's director of government affairs, who praised Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for directing the state to apply for a key grant to start the process.

An official for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will award those grants, was even more encouraging. Both were among speakers at the recent Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's annual State of the Region event.

"We're excited for hopefully getting an Amtrak station here in the city of Columbus again," said keynote Charles Small, DOT deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs. "We might have some good news for you soon."

Just a few weeks ago, Amtrak's director of network development, in a Columbus appearance, called the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati corridor “a textbook case where intercity passenger rail can be commercially viable.”

Small said U.S. DOT expects to award the grants to study rail corridors in September or October.

Trains could be rolling by 2030 if all pieces fall into place, said John Gardocki, MORPC transit planner, before the event. Separate from Ohio's application to add the "3C+D" route, MORPC has joined Fort Wayne, Indiana, in applying for a Chicago-Pittsburgh train through Columbus.

The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority already has designed the downtown station for the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Major rail lines pass beneath the facility, on the site of the former Union Station.

Passenger rail was the No. 1 transportation and transit priority for 90% of respondents in a mobility survey by MORPC, Ohio State University and the Columbus Dispatch. Preliminary survey results were released at Friday's event.

That's not the only mobility option in play. By 2027, operations could start for the first LinkUs bus rapid transit route, running west of downtown along Broad Street, Gardocki said. East Main Street would come online the following year and the longer and more complex northwest route along Olentangy River Road in 2029.

Regional officials within the Central Ohio Transit Authority service area are planning to ask voters in fall 2024 to double the current COTA sales tax to 1% – in line with Cleveland and Cincinnati – to support LinkUs. The plans also must score well with federal planners to unlock infrastructure money.

The federal government is preparing for unprecedented infrastructure spending through the combination of the infrastructure bill, the Chips and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, Small said. Intel Corp.'s Ohio plans, Honda electric vehicle plants and the coming EV battery plant, along with rail and other transit efforts, mean Central Ohio is poised to benefit.

For perspective, Small said, the 800,000 residents the region is expected to add by 2050 is the equivalent of adding the city of San Francisco. Every decision the region makes about transportation also will impact climate change, housing and economic development.

RECOMMENDED MORPC has mapped out $30 billion worth of projects over the coming 30 years, Executive Director William Murdock said. That encompasses roads, rail, transit, multi-use trails and pedestrian safety initiatives, with an emphasis on better connecting Columbus and surrounding communities.

"Ideas like these can dramatically improve everyone's quality of life," Murdock said. "Let's rally around these ideas so we really can get better as we grow bigger."

"Let's be bold. Let's go after the big plans we have on the table," said Thea Ewing, a former MORPC officer and now a project director for engineering firm HNTB. "There's going to be a great opportunity to put on the books a generational investment. The time to talk about it is right now."

As if there were not enough on that table, MORPC also presented attendees with a vision of a more distant future: A video projected as a hologram by Pittsburgh-based Holovision depicted not only Amtrak leaving from beneath the Greater Columbus Convention Center, but a street-level trackless train heading to destinations such as downtown Hilliard or Dublin's Bridge Park.

Instead of rails, the trains follow painted tracks on roadways. The technology in use overseas has never been implemented in the United States, but MORPC officials want the region to dream big about the future.

"We're just trying to push the dialog," Gardocki said. "If we add these options, we can stay at the (traffic) maintenance level we have. We know people won't give up their cars. We need a segment of the population to switch."

By Carrie Ghose – Staff reporter, Columbus Business First Apr 3, 2023 Central Ohio's effort to restore passenger rail service through Columbus has cheerleaders among those who will decide the project's fate. Returning Amtrak to the underserved region after four decades would help "realize our vision for passenger rail," said Derrick James, the service's director of government affairs, who praised Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for directing the state to apply for a key grant to start the process. An official for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which will award those grants, was even more encouraging. Both were among speakers at the recent Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's annual State of the Region event. "We're excited for hopefully getting an Amtrak station here in the city of Columbus again," said keynote Charles Small, DOT deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs. "We might have some good news for you soon." Just a few weeks ago, Amtrak's director of network development, in a Columbus appearance, called the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati corridor “a textbook case where intercity passenger rail can be commercially viable.” Small said U.S. DOT expects to award the grants to study rail corridors in September or October. Trains could be rolling by 2030 if all pieces fall into place, said John Gardocki, MORPC transit planner, before the event. Separate from Ohio's application to add the "3C+D" route, MORPC has joined Fort Wayne, Indiana, in applying for a Chicago-Pittsburgh train through Columbus. The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority already has designed the downtown station for the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Major rail lines pass beneath the facility, on the site of the former Union Station. Passenger rail was the No. 1 transportation and transit priority for 90% of respondents in a mobility survey by MORPC, Ohio State University and the Columbus Dispatch. Preliminary survey results were released at Friday's event. That's not the only mobility option in play. By 2027, operations could start for the first LinkUs bus rapid transit route, running west of downtown along Broad Street, Gardocki said. East Main Street would come online the following year and the longer and more complex northwest route along Olentangy River Road in 2029. Regional officials within the Central Ohio Transit Authority service area are planning to ask voters in fall 2024 to double the current COTA sales tax to 1% – in line with Cleveland and Cincinnati – to support LinkUs. The plans also must score well with federal planners to unlock infrastructure money. The federal government is preparing for unprecedented infrastructure spending through the combination of the infrastructure bill, the Chips and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, Small said. Intel Corp.'s Ohio plans, Honda electric vehicle plants and the coming EV battery plant, along with rail and other transit efforts, mean Central Ohio is poised to benefit. For perspective, Small said, the 800,000 residents the region is expected to add by 2050 is the equivalent of adding the city of San Francisco. Every decision the region makes about transportation also will impact climate change, housing and economic development. RECOMMENDED MORPC has mapped out $30 billion worth of projects over the coming 30 years, Executive Director William Murdock said. That encompasses roads, rail, transit, multi-use trails and pedestrian safety initiatives, with an emphasis on better connecting Columbus and surrounding communities. "Ideas like these can dramatically improve everyone's quality of life," Murdock said. "Let's rally around these ideas so we really can get better as we grow bigger." "Let's be bold. Let's go after the big plans we have on the table," said Thea Ewing, a former MORPC officer and now a project director for engineering firm HNTB. "There's going to be a great opportunity to put on the books a generational investment. The time to talk about it is right now." As if there were not enough on that table, MORPC also presented attendees with a vision of a more distant future: A video projected as a hologram by Pittsburgh-based Holovision depicted not only Amtrak leaving from beneath the Greater Columbus Convention Center, but a street-level trackless train heading to destinations such as downtown Hilliard or Dublin's Bridge Park. Instead of rails, the trains follow painted tracks on roadways. The technology in use overseas has never been implemented in the United States, but MORPC officials want the region to dream big about the future. "We're just trying to push the dialog," Gardocki said. "If we add these options, we can stay at the (traffic) maintenance level we have. We know people won't give up their cars. We need a segment of the population to switch."

[–] • 1 pt

AMTRAK, to the best of my knowledge, sucks everywhere it was established. The AMTRAC here has financial issues, charges too much to be economical for the masses, is not as fast as travelling by car, equipment breaks too often, ...

I think its all about spending big money, not really about an economical improvement of transportation opportunity for the poor-middle class. The Fleecing of America. My long biased opinion of Amtrak.

[–] • 2 pts

Those issues notwithstanding, no one here can give a valid use case for a multi-city connector. No one can say how you're going to get to the rail station, or to your destination once you've arrived, or who is going to pay the high (proposed last time) ticket prices. The cost in time is another factor, it's high-speed but proposals stop at every burg on the way meaning you're well under 40MPH when it's all said and done.

It solves nothing and as you said, just fleeces people. I'd love to see rail, but it's not going to compete with packing 4 people in my car and driving there.

(post is archived)