COLUMBUS — By a wide margin, Ohio legislators voted to join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, after the Ohio House of Representatives today voted 85-6 in favor of Senate Bill 212, sponsored by State Sen. Jeffry Armbruster (R-13, North Ridgeville).
Armbruster succeeded earlier this year in getting the bill passed (33-0) by the Ohio Senate. He joined with Rep. Rex Damschroder (R-89, Fremont) in marshaling the bill through the Ohio House. The bill awaits Gov. Bob Taft’s signature.
“We join with other supporters of this bill in urging Governor Taft to sign SB 212,” said Stu Nicholson, administrative director of the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers. “Thanks to Senator Armbruster, Representative Damschroder and their staffs for their hard work in keeping this bill a priority in a very busy legislative session.”
If Gov. Taft signs the bill, Ohio would join a consortium of Midwest states in planning and pursuing future high-speed rail projects. Ohio rail corridors that have already been designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as eligible to receive high-speed rail planning and construction dollars are:
* Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati (via Dayton)
* Cleveland-Toledo-Chicago
* Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati
* Others may be added soon.
Nicholson said the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact will enable its member states to go to the federal government as a powerful group and seek funding for rail improvements. The compact also will be key in the planning process, as most high-speed corridors cross state lines and will require coordination.
SB 212 received support from Buckeye Steel Castings Corp., Greater Cleveland Growth Association, Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Midwest High Speed Rail Coalition, Ohio Rail Development Commission, Ohio Sierra Club, Talgo, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and many others, including OARP.
The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers is a nonprofit organization founded in 1973, and represents hundreds of thousands of people who use Amtrak in Ohio each year. OARP advocates the preservation, improvement and expansion passenger rail and transit services in Ohio to raise our quality of life and economic competitiveness.