The Ohio Rail Plan guides $2.3 million of freight investments during passenger rail corridors being studies by federal agencies, striking a balance between economic development, safety, and future mobility within Ohio’s transportation system.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Ohio Rail Plan funds freight projects and passenger studies
Ohio’s four Corridor ID Program Routes as part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID program. (Screen grab from the Ohio Rail Plan).

Ohio Rail Plan and freight development

The Ohio Rail Development Commission voted to pass $2.3 million of grants to five freight projects throughout the state. First Quality Tissue Midwest, of Defiance, will get $350,000 to construct new rail infrastructure to its new plant.

Don’t miss…Byron Solar Train offers unique driving experience for public

Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway was granted $1.2 million to restore a bridge on its Rook Subdivision in Tuscarawas County. The investment remedies key safety conditions and guarantees smooth freight flows across the area.

Wilmington Iron and Metal Company of Clinton County earned $174,000 to increase its on-site capacity via rail. RJ Corman Railroad Company of Kentucky earned $497,875 to make improvements on the St. Marys Subdivision across Mercer and Auglaize counties. Kraft Heinz’s Fremont operating plant of Sandusky County earned $150,000 to enhance its freight railroad access.

Authorities emphasized that these five initiatives enhance safety and broaden industrial competitiveness. Ohio’s freight system by rail sustains thousands of jobs, and selective grants reaffirm the long-term plan of logistics and economic policy of the state.

Ohio Rail Plan and passenger rail building

In addition to freight, federal analyses target Ohio’s potential for passenger rail through the FRA’s Corridor ID Program. Announced late in 2023, the program shortlisted 69 corridors across the United States, including four within Ohio.

The 3C&D Corridor, linking Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland, is a top priority. According to All Aboard Ohio, this corridor could generate 1,100 jobs and add more than $100 million annually to the state economy. The proposal includes three daily round trips.

Another project is that of the Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit line, funded by the Ohio Rail Development Commission. Another is the Midwest Connect, which proposes twice to four times daily round trips across Chicago, Fort Wayne, Lima, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. The plan is supported by the City of Fort Wayne and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

The company also floated widening its Cardinal route, now operating three times weekly between Chicago and New York with Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis stops. The plan might add service to a daily schedule.

But critics panned the Ohio Rail Plan for prioritizing freight over passenger service. All Aboard Ohio Executive Director John Esterly opined that the single-focused scope was a setback, considering that 78.4% of Ohio citizens identify supporting improvements to the rails as important or very important according to the Ohio DOT’s 2024 Transportation Preference Survey.

The Commission previously forwarded the preliminary planning step of the 3C&D and Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit corridors. A detailed service plan of service developments, including ridership projections, equipment requirements, capital expenditures, and schedule models, follows.

Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…MassDOT awards $1.1M to strengthen freight-rail growth

What is the Ohio Rail Plan?

Ohio Rail Plan is a federally mandated document, refreshed every four years, that informs investments into freight and passenger rail initiatives throughout the State of Ohio.

How much funding did the Ohio Rail Plan approve?

The Commission authorized $2.3 million in five freight grants, of which $1.2 million were authorized for Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway and $350,000 were authorized for First Quality Tissue Midwest’s plant in Defiance.

What passenger initiatives are included within the Ohio Rail Plan?

Federal research encompasses four Ohio corridors: the 3C&D Corridor, Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit, Midwest Connect, and upgrades to the Amtrak Cardinal line. They might increase service and stimulate the state economy.

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit