COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a small sign of support for rail passenger service, Ohio legislators have included funding for the state to rejoin a regional rail group.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the state’s $61 billion, two-year budget passed by the state House of Representatives includes $25,000 in funding each year for the state to join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, which connects states seeking passenger rail improvements.
Ohio withdrew from the group in 2013 during the administration of Republican Gov. John Kasich, who also turned down federal money for Cleveland-Cincinnati passenger service.
The budget now moves to the state Senate. The deadline to finalize the budget is June 30.
Three routes in or through the state — Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit; Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati, and Chicago-Fort Wayne-Columbus-Pittsburgh — were among those selected for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program in 2023 [see “Full list of passenger routes …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 8, 2023].
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin are current members of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, based in Lombard, Ill. Ohio is one of four states eligible to join that is not currently a member;; Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota are the others.
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