I am hopeful that this will give Kasich an out....
Backers make last-ditch effort to save railway plan for Ohio
By Tom Beyerlein , Staff Writer
1:15 AM Thursday, December 9, 2010
Supporters of Ohio's proposed "3C" passenger railway are discussing ways that planning for the project, which received $400 million in federal funding, could continue despite Gov.-elect John Kasich's opposition.
The supporters are considering establishment of a multijurisdictional "joint powers authority" that could receive the Federal Railroad Administration funding instead of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Similar entities have been established in California and Minnesota. Such an entity, which could involve local governments and regional transit authorities, would award an operating franchise to a private consortium, according to a document prepared by 3C proponent All Aboard Ohio.
....Kasich said the 3C plan, developed under Gov. Ted Strickland, will be dead under his administration, which begins Jan. 10. Kasich's press secretary, Rob Nichols, said "if (supporters) are privatizing it and removing taxpayers from exposure, we'd be more than happy to look at it."
READ MORE AT:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/backers-make-last-ditch-effort-to-save-railway-plan-for-ohio-1024667.html
Backers make last-ditch effort to save railway plan for Ohio
By Tom Beyerlein , Staff Writer
1:15 AM Thursday, December 9, 2010
Supporters of Ohio's proposed "3C" passenger railway are discussing ways that planning for the project, which received $400 million in federal funding, could continue despite Gov.-elect John Kasich's opposition.
The supporters are considering establishment of a multijurisdictional "joint powers authority" that could receive the Federal Railroad Administration funding instead of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Similar entities have been established in California and Minnesota. Such an entity, which could involve local governments and regional transit authorities, would award an operating franchise to a private consortium, according to a document prepared by 3C proponent All Aboard Ohio.
....Kasich said the 3C plan, developed under Gov. Ted Strickland, will be dead under his administration, which begins Jan. 10. Kasich's press secretary, Rob Nichols, said "if (supporters) are privatizing it and removing taxpayers from exposure, we'd be more than happy to look at it."
READ MORE AT:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/backers-make-last-ditch-effort-to-save-railway-plan-for-ohio-1024667.html
Passenger rail supporters consider consortium to revive Ohio proposal
By Tom Beyerlein , Staff Writer
1:17 AM Thursday, December 9, 2010
Gov.-elect John Kasich has declared a passenger rail project dead, but rail supporters hope to revive the plan by eliminating the need for state subsidies and creating a new entity that could accept $400 million in federal stimulus funding.
Rail supporters would create a joint powers authority, a combination of local governments and transit authorities that could grant a franchise to a private consortium that would run the so-called 3C passenger service from Cincinnati to Cleveland via Columbus and Dayton. The consortium would be able to access funds from such revenue streams as station leases, food service, advertising and sponsorships to help pay for the service.
Ken Prendergast of All Aboard Ohio said supporters are initially seeking only to complete a $14.9 million federally funded engineering study, without any obligation to create a rail service. "To kill this thing before the engineering is even done is irresponsible," he said.
He said the next step is to take stock of which stakeholders are interested in pursuing the JPA plan.
READ MORE AT:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/passenger-rail-supporters-consider-consortium-to-revive-ohio-proposal-1024830.html?cxtype=fb_mlt
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
