Passenger rails are fast ways to get around — but the process of building them for the first time is quite the opposite.
Headlines quickly circulated on the possibility of passenger rails, but the news has since slowed in its tracks. Looks like we’re taking the slow train, and that gives us plenty of time to recap anything you may have missed.
On track | December 2022
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission stated Columbus + beyond is “on track” for passenger rail services in the future. This group has been working on the “Midwest Connect” corridor, a rail that would link Columbus and Chicago, for several years.
First steps | February 2023
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the state is applying for $500,000 in funding to study a possible passenger rail in Ohio. Two corridors would be researched if approved: Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati + Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit.
This proposed corridor would also connect CBUS to Pittsburgh. | Rendering via State of Ohio Rail Plan
Moving forward | March 2023
A $12+ billion transportation budget was passed, and it included verbiage to ensure passenger rails could be built in the future. Specifically, “The Ohio rail development commission shall prepare a plan for the construction and operation of an intercity conventional or high speed passenger transportation system in this state.”
Linking up | March and September 2023
The idea of a rail connecting Columbus to Chicago brought many discussions to Dublin officials. Months later, it led to the hiring of a private consultant to research building a station on 100 acres of land.
Send us your questions on the passenger rail and we’ll dig deeper.