NEWS
50 W. Broad
Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 644-0306
telephone or (614) 728-4520 (fax)
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/
Contact: Stu Nicholson
(614) 644-0513
Date:
March 30, 2005
Ohio Hub Gets Planning $$$$$:
Funding Aimed At Detailed Economic Impact Study
(Columbus)
-- The advance of Ohio’s regional
passenger & freight rail plans can chalk up a “win” in the progress column,
as the Ohio Rail Development Commission has secured a written commitment
from ODOT for $500,000 dollars in planning funds over the next 5 years.
ODOT
Director Gordon Proctor proposed that ORDC receive $100,000 per year for five
years in federal planning dollars.
These dollars would be matched by ORDC at a minimum of 20% up to a
maximum of $100,000. ORDC Executive
Director Jim Seney has accepted the proposal, stating that “ODOT’s support, for
the first time, gives ORDC a consistent level of planning funds to work with
and we appreciate that. A successful partnership with ODOT means ORDC can
achieve its goals for the Ohio Hub."
This
allows us to begin the much-needed, detailed economic impact study of the Ohio
Hub Plan yet this year. This study is
necessary to nail down what we believe to be very positive preliminary economic
impact numbers in the initial Ohio Hub Study:
·
6,600 Construction Jobs
·
6,000 Indirect Jobs
·
1,500 permanent rail
operating jobs
·
$1-billion increase in
property values
·
Household income increased by
$120-$610
·
Annual tax revenues increased
by $28-million
(Source:
Transportation Economics Management Systems)
“Although
these numbers are good,” says Seney, “we need to specifically identify which
segments of Ohio’s economy will benefit from the development of high- speed
passenger rail service and increased freight rail capacity, and by how
much. For instance, how much business
will Ohio’s steel, concrete, aggregates and heavy construction industries get
from this project? What Ohio
communities along the proposed routes will benefit from economic development
and new jobs created around stations and in their community as a whole?“
The
results of this study will help determine how we will move into the
environmental impact phase for the Ohio Hub, where elements like routes,
station stops and infrastructure needs will be determined. It is this phase that will get the Ohio Hub
to a level where the federal government will consider it a funding-ready plan,
and where we can identify and preserve critical rail infrastructure.
Advancing the Ohio Hub Plan to
this stage will bring us nearer toward a day when the people of Ohio, and the
goods they make and consume, will move faster and more efficiently by rail.
Note: You can view either Executive Summary or the entire Ohio Hub Plan at the ORDC website: www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/
(The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation. ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and expansion of passenger and freight rail service, railroad grade crossing safety and rail travel & tourism issues. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/ )