3C “Quick Start” Gets a “Go” from Commissioners

Major Passenger & Freight Projects Are Approved

(Columbus) – In the latest step to restoring passenger rail service to 60 percent of Ohio’s population, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) has officially given its go-ahead to efforts to secure up to $400 million in federal stimulus funds for Ohio’s 3C “Quick Start” Passenger Rail Plan.

The 3C “Quick Start” connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati as part of the Chicago Hub in President Obama’s Vision for High Speed Rail, seeks funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The application must be filed no later than October 2^nd with the Federal Railroad Administration.

As part of this effort, a combined team of ORDC and Ohio Department of Transportation officials are conducting an environmental assessment of the project, the results of which are also to be included with the application. 

Public input is also helping ORDC and ODOT identify the most viable routes for the initial 79-mph 3C “Quick Start” service. As part of that process, a 3CIsMe.Ohio.Gov web site, a telephone line, statewide radio public service announcements and a series of public meetings are scheduled for next week to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to comment on the proposal. The public meetings are at the following locations:

• Columbus – 4-7 p.m. TODAY, King Arts Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus. Served by COTA routes 6, 16, 81.
• Cleveland – 4-7 p.m. Sept. 16, Cleveland Airport Holiday Inn, 4181 W. 150th St., Cleveland.  Served by RTA routes 66X (Red Line Rapid), 70, 78 and 809.
• Cincinnati – 4-7 p.m. Sept. 17, City Hall Council Chambers, 801 Plum St., Cincinnati.  Served by Metro routes 1, 6, 10, 32, 33, 40X, 49 and 50.

Significant and very positive public input is also coming in through an on-line survey to the 3CIsMe.Ohio.Gov website.  With over 5,800 responses so far to the 12 question survey, 94% support the introduction of safe, convenient and cost efficient passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland. 

Ohio’s 3C “Quick Start” will connect the more than 60% of Ohio’s population that lives within 20 miles of the Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati corridor to 79 MPH passenger trains by the year 2011 and to 110 MPH trains in the near future. It will also start-up Ohio’s efforts to connect to the larger “Chicago Hub” high-speed passenger rail system announced earlier this year by President Obama’s administration.

Commissioners also took action on a number of important freight rail projects that benefit Ohio business and strengthen Ohio’s rail connections to the national and global economies.

·          Authorizing the ORDC and staff to act as the public sponsor and administrator for the CSX “National Gateway” intermodal freight project, should a $258-million grant application by CSX be successful under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) stimulus grant program.

·          Authorizing the ORDC and staff to act as the public sponsor and administrator on a potential $8.7 million TIGER grant application by US Railcar to establish a new manufacturing facility in Ohio for the production of passenger rail cars.

·          Approval of 2009 Rail Rehabilitation Projects: Mercer Landmark; Cleveland Commercial Railroad; Indiana & Ohio Railway Midland Sub; Indiana & Ohio Railway Lancaster Track; and Ohi-Rail/Piney Fork Line. (Note: call for specific project information briefings)

·          Approval of a $150,000 grant & loan package for a grade crossing to facilitate a rail spur that will enable expansion of business for Ohio Basic Minerals (sand & gravel).  Project will create 30 new jobs in Jackson County and retain 7 jobs at the OBM facility.

·          Approval of a grant of up to $80,000 to help Bellaire Harbor Service relocate and rebuild a 90-car rail spur at its facility on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad at the Ohio River. 

Please call or e-mail Stu Nicholson at the ORDC for more information on these projects.  Contact information is listed above.

(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 services and railroad grade crossing safety. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail )