Thursday, January 27, 2011

Other states' rail investment benefits, and what Ohio is already missing

All, Although passenger rail development in Ohio was killed off by our esteemed Governor (at least by proxy), you might be interested in what the Stimulus Act is doing for passenger rail and job creation in the rest of the nation. A new report and lots of data is being compiled by the Assocation of American State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) -- once just a part of the highway lobby. Information is posted at AASHTO's new Web page on high-speed and intercity passenger rail at:

http://www.highspeed-rail.org/
 
A copy of their newest report (worth sharing!) is temporarily available only at:
Here are some examples of recent benefits......
  • Nor-Trak, headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, is making the castings used to hold rail to ties along the Chicago–St. Louis Corridor.
  • Nippon Sharyo, the largest manufacturer of high-speed rail trains in Japan, is building a new manufacturing plant in Rochelle, Illinois, in hopes of building high-speed trains for corridors throughout the country.
  • Steel Dynamics, Inc., in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is making continuously welded rail at its Columbia City, Indiana, plant, to be delivered to Recovery Act projects in Maine and Vermont. A company once operating at only 27 percent of capacity, Steel Dynamics officials are now indicating that the plant will expand and hire additional workers this spring to meet growing demand.

Just the potential for better passenger rail is spurring economic development across the country:

  • In Normal, Illinois, more than $200 million in private funds has been invested in anticipation of high-speed rail, including the construction of a new hotel and conference center. Uptown Normal is a neighborhood that surrounds the Bloomington-Normal stop on the Chicago–St. Louis corridor. Despite retail vacancies across the country, this pedestrian-friendly neighborhood is bustling with economic activity.
  • LL Bean, headquartered in Freeport, Maine, is also gearing up for more business when the expanded Downeaster rail line stops in their town. "LL Bean is very excited that the Downeaster is coming to Freeport. The train will serve the local residents as well as visitors. Freeport is a destination for shopping, outdoor activities, and as a gateway to all Maine has to offer. The train will truly enhance the visitor experience, as well as Freeport as a community," said Carolyn Beem, manager of public affairs for the giant clothing company.
 
And in case you missed it, $3 billion worth of job-creation activities (new railcar manufacturing, major station-area redevelopment, etc; SOURCE: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/critics-say-losing-3c-will-cost-ohio-3critics-say-losing-3c-will-cost-ohio-3-billion-1043600.html) were being organized by the private sector in response to the $400 million 3C passenger rail project before it was terminated last month. Yet none of the capital or operating funding for 3C would have come from the state's troubled general fund.
 
I sure hope dust tastes good because we're being left in it.
_______
 
Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org
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