Thomas Vodrey, Staff Writer—
Imagine being able to take a shuttle from Granville to a station in Downtown Columbus. From there, you could get to Cincinnati or Cleveland in 2 hours in the comfort of a reclining seat on a train traveling up to 110 MPH. While it may be fantasy now, it could soon be a reality.
Using money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021, Amtrak is pursuing an expansion of the nation’s passenger rail network, and Ohio will need to decide by March 20th if it’s on board or not.
Although a number of routes have been proposed for Ohio under the program, the most eye-catching is the 3C+D route between Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati; a route which hasn’t been served by passenger trains since 1967. Currently, passenger rail service in Ohio is limited to two lines which only come to the state in the middle of the night.
Governor DeWine has indicated a tepid willingness to pursue passenger rail expansion in Ohio, but has yet to commit to it. I believe the state should embrace the opportunity wholeheartedly.
Studies have found that commute time is the primary indicator as to whether or not a person can escape poverty. 10% of households in Columbus, 21% in Dayton, 22% in Cincinnati, and more than 25% in Cleveland don’t own a car and have been left behind by infrastructure. Connecting our cities by rail would give new freedom and opportunity to these families.
After decades of disinvestment in Ohio’s cities, Amtrak service could rejuvenate our urban areas. Gen Z has a lower driver’s license attainment rate and owns fewer cars than any other generation. Making alternative modes of travel available in Ohio could attract young people to our graying state, and make it a more attractive place to do business.
Amtrak would also be a boon for our environment. Passenger rail emits up to 83% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than driving and up to 73% fewer emissions than flying. If we want Ohio to be serious about combating climate change, Amtrak expansion is an obvious solution.
Ohio shouldn’t allow itself to be left behind. Our fellow Midwestern states have already reaped the benefits of Amtrak service. Pennsylvania and Illinois both have fast, reliable, and frequent trains which connect their major cities, including to other states. Even in Michigan, travelers in Detroit can catch a train to Chicago at 110 MPH. Since when have Ohioans accepted second place to Michigan?
Opponents of passenger rail often deride it as a waste of time and money, but this is false. While the 3C+D line would cost $100 million to construct, it would generate $130 million in economic benefits for Ohio. If $100 million gives you sticker shock, consider that $30 million more is being spent to add a single lane of traffic to a 1.8-mile stretch of I-75 this year.
It is likely that Amtrak itself would cover a large portion of the cost, but this and many other questions can’t be answered unless the state takes steps to engage them. Of course this would all take time, but as the saying goes, “the second best time to plant a tree is now”.
Given the benefits, it would be foolish to not pursue this opportunity, but ultimately this is about choice. While driving is good for many purposes, it shouldn’t be forced on every person for every purpose. Ohioans deserve to be provided choices for how they wish to travel, whether it be by car, or hopefully someday by rail.