New Amtrak Study Estimates $342.6M For High-Speed Rail

CENTRAL OHIO -- A report released late Tuesday afternoon says high-speed rail service would be used by nearly half a million people if it were running today.

Amtrak says the study was requested last year by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and will be used by the state to apply for federal stimulus money.

"This study is the first step in the state's planned for 'Ohio Hub' network of higher-speed, frequent trains connecting the principal business and population centers in the state with those in adjoining states and Canada," says an Amtrak fact sheet.

The "3C Quick Start" plan would offer 79-mile-per-hour service between Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati by 2011. In later years, speeds would be increased to 110 miles per hour.

The new report estimates the state will have to spend up to $342.6 million to get the "Quick Start" program running. It would use existing freight lines with upgrades to the track, signals and maintenance facilities.

In an ODOT news release, Ohio Rail Development commission Executive Director Matt Dietrich said, "The report shows that 478,000 passengers would board the train each year in Ohio, if it were running today. Other studies estimate that the ridership rate would jump to nearly 600,000 riders by 2014 using the same schedule and stops."

Currently, Amtrak only has three long-distance passenger trains running through Ohio. The Capitol Limited and the Lake Shore Limited stop in Cleveland. The Cardinal stops in Cincinnati.

Amtrak says, in 2008, more than 120,000 people got on and off its trains in Alliance, Bryan, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky and Toledo.

Passenger rail service to and from Columbus ended in 1971.

The Amtrak study estimates that the initial program would generate more than $12 million in annual revenue but that the state will have to chip in another $17 million each year to keep the rail system running.

"ODOT intends to use nongas tax dollars for these operating funds," says a news release, "including revenues from advertising on the train, franchise fees and existing grant dollars."

NBC 4's Matt Alvarez followed up on the report Tuesday night.

An Amtrak fare would be anywhere from $19 to $25 from Columbus to either Cincinnati or Cleveland, according to Stu Nicholson with the Ohio Rail and Development Commission

Friday, Oct. 2 is the big deadline for Ohio to get their application in for federal stimulus dollars. The state is requesting nearly $400 million. Ohio joins 39 other states in competing for some of the $8 billion in federal stimulus money that has been set aside for passenger rail service. In all, the 40 states have requested $100 billion.

RESOURCES
ODOT News Release: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/news/Pages/AmtrakStudyshowsHighDemand.aspx

Amtrak Ohio Fact Sheet: http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/OHIO08.pdf

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