Ohio High-Speed Rail Advocates Look to Maine as a Model

COLUMBUS, Ohio—High-speed rail advocates are holding up a New England state as an example of a system that could work in Ohio.

Columbus hasn’t had regular passenger-train service since 1971.

The state plans to ask for about $400 million in federal stimulus money to start what’s being called a “3-C” system connecting Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

The money will be used to make major improvements to the existing freight-train tracks, signals and equipment to make them suitable for higher-speed passenger traffic.

“Hopefully, we’ll have train service by 2011, but we have a lot of ground to cover before then,“ says the Ohio Environmental Council’s Jack Shaner.

At a news conference Monday morning, Shaner and other rail supporters held up the state of Maine as a model of successful systems. 

Maine’s passenger rail system is called the “DownEaster.” It runs from Portland to Boston and claims to have toted nearly half-a-million riders in 2008.

The Maine system was initially funded by the federal government. Amtrak runs the daily operations but does not own any of the rail lines along the 116-mile route.

2001 3-C High-Speed Rail Study for Ohio Rail Development Commission
Cincinnati to Cleveland: 258 miles each way, $90.27 ticket, 3 hours and 28 minutes
Columbus to Cleveland: $47.42 fare

A 2001 study for the Ohio Rail Development Commission says a one-way, 258-mile trip from Cincinnati to Cleveland would require a $90.27 ticket and take about three-and-a-half hours.  Columbus to Cleveland would be a $47.42 fare.

“You’re probably just focused on are there any tolls or gas,“ says Maine rail investor Robert Martin. “But you’re not looking at maintenance, depreciation, insurance—all the factors that any business would look at in terms of an investment into a particular process.“

Supporters claim an Ohio system would spur billions in economic development dollars and might even help keep young professionals in the state by creating a better quality of life.

But it would come at a price: requiring millions of dollars in annual subsidies, which they say are standard and necessary for all public transportation systems.

“Go look at the communities in the west and the south, where our folks are moving to,“ says Chester Jourdan, Jr., of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. “Look at what they’re investing in. And if that doesn’t give us a wake-up call, then we’re going to find ourselves looking up one day, not having the workforce of tomorrow and the economy that we want to support our kids and grandkids.“

Another report on Ohio’s high-speed rail proposal is due this week from Amtrak and the Ohio Department of Development.  It is expected to revise the proposed routes, fares and timetables.

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