Ohioans Make New Year’s Resolution

to Continue Support of Passenger Rail

COLUMBUS (Friday, January 1, 2009) – With only weeks until an expected announcement on whether Ohio will receive federal stimulus funds for the 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan, many Ohioans are making a New Year’s Resolution to continue their support of passenger rail and urging the U.S. Congress to do the same.

In October, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) submitted a strong application for $564 million in federal stimulus funding for the 3C "Quick Start" Passenger Rail Plan - connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati with 79 mph passenger trains.

Online supporters from the 3CisME.ohio.gov site and 3C Is Me Facebook page are sharing with each other and their representatives in Congress what they would do if they could hop a train on the 3C rail line.

Within 24 hours of asking the question, more than 40 online supporters and Facebook fans of the 3C "Quick Start" Plan responded enthusiastically. Some comments include:

I could "more easily collaborate (from Dayton) with colleagues at UC, OSU, and Case Western."

"As a small business owner it would open up the potential for easier collaboration with colleagues in nearby cities."

"It would be great to easily travel between school in Cincinnati and home in the Dayton area. I could avoid the at times horrible traffic and get school work done during the trip."

"I would go to Columbus and Cleveland all the time to visit friends and colleagues, to shop, to go to museums."

"With passenger rail I could get around Ohio with less or no wear and tear on my car. Getting around Ohio would sure be nice without having to depend on a car so much."

Among the most vocal fans are mothers, professionals, recent college graduates and students from the University of Cincinnati, Wright State, University of Dayton, Xavier, Case Western and The Ohio State University.

In addition to this online support, All Aboard Ohio - a non-profit, member-based organization dedicated to promoting improved public transportation and passenger rail service throughout Ohio - has generated 876 letters to Congress through its campaign at LinkingOhio.com.

Although no definitive date has been set, ODOT and ORDC expect Washington to announce the awarding of stimulus passenger rail projects within the first quarter of 2010.

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For more information, contact Scott Varner, ODOT Communications, at (614) 644-8640

or Stu Nicholson, Ohio Rail Development Commission, at (614) 644-0513.
Additional information can be found at 3CisMe.ohio.gov