| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 11, 2002 OHIO RAIL
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ORDC Approves grant to COTA for Passenger Platform Infrastructure Improvements COLUMBUS - The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) today approved a grant up to $300,000 to the Central Ohio Transportation Authority (COTA) to assist in paying for the infrastructure improvements associated with the construction of a passenger platform at the Columbus Arena Terminal. The grant is contingent upon the City of Columbus waiving any construction fees associated with the project. COTA plans to develop a multi-modal transportation terminal on the near North Side of Downtown Columbus that would serve intercity rail traffic, light rail, commuter rail, and buses. The project currently is in the design stage. James E. Seney, Executive Director of the ORDC, said the terminal would be ideally located to serve trains on the Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati and Columbus-Toledo Corridors and cities such as Marysville and Findlay. Seney said the infrastructure work involves moving the south abutment of the Front Street bridge over the CSX Transportation Corp. portion of the Buckeye Line to create space for the passenger platform. He said doing the work now while Route 670 is closed would eliminate a major obstacle to passenger rail service between Columbus and Northwest Ohio, head off higher future costs for the project, and avoid any conflict with development planned for the area. The overall cost of the work is $1,221,280. COTA will contribute $77,025, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, $600,000, and the Ohio Department of Transportation, $244,255. The money will be used for design and construction. "We believe this is a wise investment for us," said
James E. Betts, ORDC Chairman. |