Federal money is being funneled to support Amtrak’s expansion plans in Ohio, but don’t expect passenger trains to pass through Columbus anytime soon.
William Murdock, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), told the Dispatch that it will be at least seven years before Amtrak is here.
“Our guess is that if all the stars align, it will be 2030,” Murdoch said.
In early December, the Federal Railroad Administration announced that Ohio was ready for expanded service. The authorities are considering four directions:
- Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus-Cleveland
- Chicago-Fort Wayne-Columbus-Pittsburgh (includes Lima, Kenton, Marysville, Newark, Cochocton, Newcomerstown, Woolixville, and Steubenville)
- cleveland-toledo-detroit
- Increases frequency on Amtrak’s current routes from New York, Washington DC, and Chicago to Cincinnati.
The federal government provided $500,000 to plan each route.
Murdoch said there are two more steps after the first step when it comes to the planning process. There is federal funding for that, but state and local games will also be needed, he said.
“I don’t think it’s competitive,” Murdoch said.
MORPC is working with Fort Wayne, Indiana city officials on the Chicago-Fort Wayne-Columbus-Pittsburgh route. The Ohio Railroad Development Commission is the lead agency for the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati route.
The proposed site for the Columbus station would be the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the site of the former Union Station, which served rail passengers for decades. The last passenger train he left Columbus in 1979.
Murdoch said officials in Hilliard, Dublin and Marysville have also expressed interest in making stops in those cities.
Officials also consulted with officials from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority and the Central Ohio Transportation Authority, he said.
These routes not only increase transportation options but are also important for economic development. Ohio’s largest cities, as well as places like Lima, Newark and Mansfield, are hoping for service that runs regularly throughout the day instead of trains passing through in the middle of the night. This is what’s happening in Cleveland right now. Murdoch said.
“We think that would be a competitive disadvantage,” he said. “If you look at the map, Ohio doesn’t have very good passenger rail service.”
According to a survey of more than 2,000 respondents published by MORPC earlier this year. 92% said they would like to see rail passenger service here.
“Anytime Columbus can connect to other metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, it increases employee mobility and it’s another way to bring people here and actually move employees. “We can do that,” said President Kenny MacDonald. CEO of Columbus Partnership/One Columbus.
“I think there’s a lot of curiosity in the business community about this. There’s a lot of information that needs to be gathered,” McDonald said.
McDonald’s listed a new privately owned one. Brightline passenger train service between Miami, Florida and Orlando begins in September, train speeds reach 195 miles per hour, and one-way tickets start at $158. Fortress Investment Group has committed $5 billion to the venture.
“Large employers are going to be paying close attention. They want to be part of that conversation,” he said.
mferench@dispatch.com
@MarkFerenchik
