The Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail - Ohio Hub

Passenger Rail: How can we fulfill its economic promise for our region?

August 29, 2005

Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail The Ohio Hub System

860 miles - 32 stations4 States and Southern Ontario11 major metro areas22 million people

An Interconnected Rail Network

An Interconnected Rail Network

An Interconnected Rail Network

Public and Agency InvolvementResults

1) “We need this”. “Build it now”.

2) People like the Hub Plan as an economic development project.

3) Ohioans recognize the need to improve transportation system capacity.

4) Ohioans want to be connected… to the national network, to a regional system, to local mass transit, and to international airports.

5) The public likes the idea of leveraging existing state rail/transportation dollars to match federal funds.

6) People recognize that there needs to be a strong federal role in building systems like the Hub.

The “Ask”and Next Steps

1) Support funding Ohio Hub Economic Impact Study

2) Support funding the Planning Process Why?

a. To identify and preserve critically important railroad infrastructure

b. To capture dollars from existing state transportation projects – such as the grade separation program – as the state share of a federal program