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:

http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/sites/default/files/Passenger%20Rail%20Report_small.pdf

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

Garden Rules tonight

Hello Gardeners!
We have a garden meeting tonight at 7:30pm at Creative Living.

Tonight's NECKO Garden meeting will focus on creating rules for the garden. The idea is to establish reasonable ground rules so that everyone can enjoy the garden and so that we make things as equitable as possible. If you can't attend tonight, don't worry, we'll send around a draft of the rules and then come up with a time line for commentary via email. After that deadline, we'll consider them accepted by the group and we will move on from there.

The next meeting will be February 9th at 6:30pm at Creative Living and we will probably finish up the rules, and start discussing classes we might like to have during the next couple of months. If you'd like to participate in classes, please let me know. If you would like to teach a class, please let me know. And of course, if you have an idea for a class, please let me know.

Thanks!
april
614-477-8610

Transportation subsidies according to Pew

Here's a tool to share with others when they ask if passenger rail should be privatized -- it already is, on the infrastructure side. Ask them when highways, airports and waterways will privatize their infrastructure, then we can discuss privatizing Amtrak operations which require fewer of their costs (one-fourth) to be subsidized than highways' costs (one-half). Equalize the rules of the game first....

Introduction

Everyone benefits from a transportation system that works efficiently and effectively.

The U.S. government has played a continuous role in the transportation sector throughout its history. To better coordinate the government's transportation activities, in 1966, President Johnson created the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Today DOT houses various government transportation programs, such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Trust Fund and the U.S. Maritime Administration. Altogether DOT includes 13 sub-agencies covering a range of transportation modes, such as: aviation, highways, maritime, motor carriers, pipeline safety, and public transit and railroads.

READ MORE AT:
http://subsidyscope.org/transportation/summary/

 

Please also see the pie chart of direct fiscal expenditures on transportation 2000-2008:

http://subsidyscope.org/media/images/transportation/piechart_DE_overview.png

 

 

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org

Fw: Another streetcar vote on May 3rd

If you do not live in Cincinnati, please share this with friends and relatives who do. This is an abuse of the Democratic process.

 

K

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Randy Simes

Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:33 PM

Subject: Another streetcar vote on May 3rd

Please read the following message from John Schneider.  It appears that the same special interest groups that were defeated in November 2009 during the Issue 9 campaign refuse to listen to the voters of Cincinnati and will put forth a new charter amendment that would be even more dangerous than the last when it comes to building a 21st century economy in Cincinnati.

 

Please, please, please make sure you are prepared and registered to vote this May and do everything in your power to share this message with your friends, family and colleauges.  If we can turn out a lot of people this May, we will win (again).  If you would like to learn more about the Cincinnati Streetcar please visit the city's official website.  To learn more about Cincinnati's long-term light rail plans visit the Alliance for Regional Transit's website.  All of this would be killed by the special interest agenda being pushed by COAST.  Thanks for your time and consideration.

 

--

Randy A. Simes | Owner & Managing Editor

UrbanCincy.com, connecting the region with its urban core

Mobile: 513.368.5478

Twitter: @UrbanCincy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <Millvalley@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 12:46 PM 

 

Dear Streetcar Supporter,

 

They will get the signatures, and they will make Cincinnatians spend $400,000 to re-litigate the decisive vote of November, 2009. This ballot language is actually worse than the last time. It prevents City Council from spending any money for streetcars and light rail until after December 31st 2020.

 

So even if gas prices rise to $4 or more over the next ten years, the City of Cincinnati can't spend a dime even to plan for rail, even if all the money were to come from the State or the Feds, or even if it were built with private funds. The language doesn't even provide the option of holding a vote on whether we should build rail.

 

Huh? I thought last time their slogan was: "We Demand a Vote!"

 

This election will probably be decided by fewer than 25,000 voters, fewer than one in ten Cincinnatians, so your involvement has a lot of leverage. We'll need to re-connect, and soon, perhaps as early as next week.

 

For starters, make sure anyone you know who might be inclined to sign the petition reads it very carefully. Second, make sure you are registered at the correct polling place and make sure any Cincinnati-resident supporters you know are similarly registered. This will be a game of inches, won with lots of individual efforts.

 

Thanks - we'll beat this again,

 

John Schneider

Fw: Another streetcar vote on May 3rd

If you do not live in Cincinnati, please share this with friends and relatives who do. This is an abuse of the Democratic process.

 

K

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Randy Simes

Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:33 PM

Subject: Another streetcar vote on May 3rd

Please read the following message from John Schneider.  It appears that the same special interest groups that were defeated in November 2009 during the Issue 9 campaign refuse to listen to the voters of Cincinnati and will put forth a new charter amendment that would be even more dangerous than the last when it comes to building a 21st century economy in Cincinnati.

 

Please, please, please make sure you are prepared and registered to vote this May and do everything in your power to share this message with your friends, family and colleauges.  If we can turn out a lot of people this May, we will win (again).  If you would like to learn more about the Cincinnati Streetcar please visit the city's official website.  To learn more about Cincinnati's long-term light rail plans visit the Alliance for Regional Transit's website.  All of this would be killed by the special interest agenda being pushed by COAST.  Thanks for your time and consideration.

 

--

Randy A. Simes | Owner & Managing Editor

UrbanCincy.com, connecting the region with its urban core

Mobile: 513.368.5478

Twitter: @UrbanCincy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <Millvalley@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 12:46 PM 

 

Dear Streetcar Supporter,

 

They will get the signatures, and they will make Cincinnatians spend $400,000 to re-litigate the decisive vote of November, 2009. This ballot language is actually worse than the last time. It prevents City Council from spending any money for streetcars and light rail until after December 31st 2020.

 

So even if gas prices rise to $4 or more over the next ten years, the City of Cincinnati can't spend a dime even to plan for rail, even if all the money were to come from the State or the Feds, or even if it were built with private funds. The language doesn't even provide the option of holding a vote on whether we should build rail.

 

Huh? I thought last time their slogan was: "We Demand a Vote!"

 

This election will probably be decided by fewer than 25,000 voters, fewer than one in ten Cincinnatians, so your involvement has a lot of leverage. We'll need to re-connect, and soon, perhaps as early as next week.

 

For starters, make sure anyone you know who might be inclined to sign the petition reads it very carefully. Second, make sure you are registered at the correct polling place and make sure any Cincinnati-resident supporters you know are similarly registered. This will be a game of inches, won with lots of individual efforts.

 

Thanks - we'll beat this again,

 

John Schneider

Meeting Highlights 1-24-11

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS   For Immediate Release: January 24, 2011   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

SUPPORTING PHASE 1 OF THE I-70/71 CORRIDOR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT: The city of Columbus is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to create a safer I-70/71 corridor.  The current downtown highway system opened in the 1970’s and traffic volume has exceeded the design capacity by more than 50,000 vehicles a day resulting in crashes, congestion and delays.  Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1838-2010, which authorizes the expenditure of approximately $2.5 million from the Build America Bonds Fund for Phase 1 of the project.  Phase 1 will include roadway improvements to the I-670/71 Interchange and involve the realignment of Interstate Route 670 eastbound so through traffic stays to the left, traffic to Interstate 71 exits to the right, and work on Interstate 71 from over Jack Gibbs to Long Street.  The project will also include 20 mainline, ramp and overhead bridges as well as enhanced crossings on Spring Street and Long Street, lying within the city of Columbus. This is the first phase of the reconstruction project costing $1.6 billion and expected to be completed in 2017. 

 

IMPROVING THE CHATTERTON ROAD WATER MAIN:  The city of Columbus provides drinking water to more than one million residents, businesses, and industries in the Columbus area.  Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 1763-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $2.7 million from the Water Build America Bonds Fund for the Chatterton Road Water Main Improvement Project.  The project consists of the construction of a 24-inch and 30-inch water main and the connection of lateral lines along Chatterton Road, between Noe-Bixby Road and Gender Road.  The purpose of this project is to close a loop for a 24-inch water main, reinforce the transmission route to the Hines Rd. Storage Tank, and reduce discharge pressures at the Parsons Avenue Water Plant (PAWP).  This project will include approximately 11,600 linear feet of water main.

 

EXPANDING access to the scioto Trail: Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring legislation that will enhance recreational access to the Scioto Trail.  Ordinance 1471-2010 will authorize the expenditure of $735,000from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund/Build American Bonds for the Scioto Trail – Main Street Connector Project.   The construction will consist of clearing, grading, concrete paving, building a retaining wall, and landscaping.  The connector will provide a link for cyclists and pedestrians from the Scioto Trail to an underpass beneath the Main Street Bridge and north and south travel along the path.  The project will increase safety for the cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

CRAFTING A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET:  City Council will take the next formal step in passing the 2011 General Fund budget by amending Mayor Coleman’s proposal originally submitted in November.  Last week, Council President and Finance & Economic Development Chair Andrew J. Ginther announced that Council would not add any additional spending to the Mayor’s proposal, and would instead bank a $1.9 million surplus from 2010. The carryover was achieved through cost savings, reduced spending and greater than estimated revenue. In addition, Council asked the Mayor to reduce his proposed budget by at least $1 million.  The Mayor has proposed $1.1 million in budget reductions, and per City Charter requirements, Council will amend the budget and then table the appropriations ordinances for one week. Council is expected to pass the budget at the January 31^st meeting. 

 

-30-

 

 

 

 

 

The oil industry's media arm seeks a train derailment

This piece was written by an employee of the Examiner publications, owned by billionaire oilman Philip Anschutz (who served on the boards of oil industry lobbying groups the American Petroleum Institute and the National Petroleum Council). It is so full of inaccuracies and distortions I couldn't finish reading it. Maybe you might have better luck. A response: given the crisis-level constraints this nation is facing, especially on the energy side, there should be budget austerity on anything to do with oil ...including a moratorium on all new-capacity highway and aviation projects, elimination of oil industry subsidies and a scaling back of defense forces protecting oil shipping lanes. Use the savings to get this nation off the "oil standard" including more high-speed rail, transit, telecommuting and more....


High-speed rail should be a quick cut
Saturday, January 22, 2011  02:52 AM 
The Columbus Dispatch 
  
Where can the new Congress start cutting spending? High-speed rail. The Obama administration is sending billions around the country for rail projects that make no sense and that, if they are ever built, will be a drag on taxpayers indefinitely.

When Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and John Kasich of Ohio cancelled high-speed rail projects, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood refused to let them spend the dollars on other forms of transportation and sent the funds instead to other states.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2011/01/22/high-speed-rail-should-be-a-quick-cut.html?sid=101

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org