COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Republicans and Democrats canceled planned meetings over the weekend and delayed the discussion of a passenger-rail service plan until Monday.
Governor Ted Strickland has been pursuing $250 million in federal-stimulus funding to use toward creating the 3-C Corridor, which would connect Columbus to Cincinnati and Cleveland.
NBC 4's Patrick Preston GOT ANSWERS on whether Ohioans planned to use the train.
The idea of building a passenger-rail service connecting Ohio's three largest cities would be a no-brainer if it were free.
A big question: How much will it cost the state beyond the initial $250 million investment?
The answer depended heavily on how often passenger-rail service would be used and whether the system would have to be subsidized by tax dollars.
"I probably would do it if I just wanted to take my time and not have to worry about traffic and that kind of stuff and just relax," Galloway resident Denise Nembhard said.
"I think that connection between the cities would be great for regular business commuters or even just connecting with family," Delaware resident Christian Adams said.
Adams grew up with train service outside Washington, D.C. He said it would make meeting up with his sister in Cincinnati much easier.
"A lot less stress to worry about. That's one less thing you have to worry about," Adams said.
For others, though, the answer would be in the ticket price.
"If the ticket was low enough -- less than a tank of gas," Columbus resident Phil Key said.
Not everybody said they see passenger rail as worth the investment.
Cincinnati resident Dan Dietz told NBC 4 he would rather see the state invest in schools and bridges than in rail service he said he doubts will be used by enough people.
"It's too easy to drive that distance. To go wait for a train and then to come back. I don't think that the public would use it. I think you'd be subsidizing a very small percentage of the population using that," Dietz said.
For additional information on this developing story, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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