Ohio Hub
Encyclopedia
The Ohio Hub is a high-speed
railway
project proposed by the Ohio Department of Transportation
aimed at revitalizing passenger rail service in the Ohio region. Upon completion, the transit system will be composed of 860 mi (1,384 km) of track serving 32 stations. It will connect four states along with southern Ontario
, consisting of 11 major metropolitan areas and 22 million people. The system's goal is to "expand the capacity of the transportation system by improving the railroads for both freight and passenger trains."
system is estimated to cost $3.32 billion, or $4.5 million per mile.
(the state's largest and busiest airport and the only one with consistent international flights) with a second Cleveland location near downtown Cleveland
, and will provide service to adjacent cities in both the state of Ohio and the Ohio Region. Three proposals have been made for service – a single line system from Cleveland to Cincinnati
, and two networked systems with multiple corridors providing service from Cleveland to various cities around the Ohio Region. Each corridor will branch out from Cleveland, and serve from four to nine stations, as well as connections to other regional rail services. Additional lines have been proposed to connect the currently planned corridors with each other throughout the state, as well as to add more stations between major cities.
, Dayton
, and Cincinnati
, a distance of 255 miles (410.4 km). The service is predicted to carry around 478,000 people a year, using a subsidy of $17 million from the state government.
The proposed corridor has, however, attracted opposition from Republican members of the state board in charge of the project, as the proposed six-hour travel time and 39-mph average speed led the project to be dubbed "snail rail". The service is also opposed by John Kasich
, the Republican governor, who had pledged to end the project if elected.
On 24 September 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration
authorized the state to spend $15 million of the stimulus money for the purposes of determining specifications and completing studies regarding the corridor. Also on the 24th, the state released a new schedule for the service, which would see three daily round trips being operated, taking slightly over five hours each day, an hour and a half faster than previous estimates.
Following the 2010 gubernatorial elections
in Ohio, the newly elected governor John Kasich began the process of shutting down the project and returning the money to the federal government. This money will have to be redistributed to other applicants. In a press conference, Kasich said that "[t]hat train is dead. I said it during the campaign. It is dead. Passenger rail is not in Ohio’s future."
On 9 December 2010, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
announced that the federal government had revoked the funding for the 3-C corridor, which would be redirected to high-speed rail projects in other states.
. An additional network has been proposed with three additional lines (seven lines total), however is still under development. The current proposal features the following four corridors:
On December 9, 2010, the $400 million was reclaimed by the White House, following repeated promises by Governor John Kasich
to cancel the project. He attempted to get permission to use the funds on other transportation related projects, but this was rejected by the White House. The money reclaimed was divided among several other states, including California, New York and Florida.
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
project proposed by the Ohio Department of Transportation
Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation is the organization of state government responsible for developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the state of Ohio with exception of the Ohio Turnpike. In addition to highways, the department also helps develop public transportation and...
aimed at revitalizing passenger rail service in the Ohio region. Upon completion, the transit system will be composed of 860 mi (1,384 km) of track serving 32 stations. It will connect four states along with southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, consisting of 11 major metropolitan areas and 22 million people. The system's goal is to "expand the capacity of the transportation system by improving the railroads for both freight and passenger trains."
Passenger transit
The initial startup cost is currently projected to be in the $500 million range. This does not include the cost of trains or the preparations needed for high-speed service. Currently, two high-speed train systems are being explored. The first, a 79 mph (35.3 m/s) system, is expected to cost $2.7 billion, or $3.5 million per mile. The second option, a 110 mph (49.2 m/s) high-speedHigh-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
system is estimated to cost $3.32 billion, or $4.5 million per mile.
Currently proposed service
The project's hub will be based at Cleveland Hopkins International AirportCleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
(the state's largest and busiest airport and the only one with consistent international flights) with a second Cleveland location near downtown Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, and will provide service to adjacent cities in both the state of Ohio and the Ohio Region. Three proposals have been made for service – a single line system from Cleveland to Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and two networked systems with multiple corridors providing service from Cleveland to various cities around the Ohio Region. Each corridor will branch out from Cleveland, and serve from four to nine stations, as well as connections to other regional rail services. Additional lines have been proposed to connect the currently planned corridors with each other throughout the state, as well as to add more stations between major cities.
3-C Corridor
The 3-C Corridor will provide service from Cleveland to ColumbusColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, and Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, a distance of 255 miles (410.4 km). The service is predicted to carry around 478,000 people a year, using a subsidy of $17 million from the state government.
The proposed corridor has, however, attracted opposition from Republican members of the state board in charge of the project, as the proposed six-hour travel time and 39-mph average speed led the project to be dubbed "snail rail". The service is also opposed by John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
, the Republican governor, who had pledged to end the project if elected.
On 24 September 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
authorized the state to spend $15 million of the stimulus money for the purposes of determining specifications and completing studies regarding the corridor. Also on the 24th, the state released a new schedule for the service, which would see three daily round trips being operated, taking slightly over five hours each day, an hour and a half faster than previous estimates.
Following the 2010 gubernatorial elections
Ohio gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Ohio gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat, was defeated by former Republican House Budget Chairman John Kasich.-Background:...
in Ohio, the newly elected governor John Kasich began the process of shutting down the project and returning the money to the federal government. This money will have to be redistributed to other applicants. In a press conference, Kasich said that "[t]hat train is dead. I said it during the campaign. It is dead. Passenger rail is not in Ohio’s future."
On 9 December 2010, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
Ray LaHood
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms .-Early life and...
announced that the federal government had revoked the funding for the 3-C corridor, which would be redirected to high-speed rail projects in other states.
Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail
The Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail will provide service to seven states plus Canada through four corridors originating in ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. An additional network has been proposed with three additional lines (seven lines total), however is still under development. The current proposal features the following four corridors:
- Northwest corridor to Detroit
- Serves ToledoToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... - 7 stations total
- Connects with future Midwest Regional RailMidwest Regional Rail InitiativeThe Chicago Hub Network is a collection of proposed fast conventional and high-speed rail lines in the Midwestern United States including of track. Since the 1990s, there have been multiple proposals to improve the links from Chicago, Illinois to major destinations including Indianapolis, Indiana,...
to ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Via Rail CanadaVIA RailVia Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
to MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
- Serves Toledo
- Northeast corridor to Toronto
- Serves ErieErie, PennsylvaniaErie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Niagara FallsNiagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
, and TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... - 11 stations total
- Connects with Empire CorridorEmpire CorridorThe Empire Corridor is a term used to refer to the approximately corridor between Niagara Falls and New York City, including the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady and Albany. The Empire Service and Maple Leaf serve the entire length of this corridor, and the Maple Leaf...
to AlbanyAlbany, New YorkAlbany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Via Rail CanadaVIA RailVia Rail Canada is an independent crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. It is headquartered near Montreal Central Station at 3 Place Ville-Marie in Montreal, Quebec....
to MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
- Serves Erie
- Southwest corridor to Cincinnati
- Originally proposed as the 3-C Corridor
- Serves ColumbusColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, DaytonDayton, OhioDayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, and CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's... - 9 stations total
- Connects with future Midwest Regional RailMidwest Regional Rail InitiativeThe Chicago Hub Network is a collection of proposed fast conventional and high-speed rail lines in the Midwestern United States including of track. Since the 1990s, there have been multiple proposals to improve the links from Chicago, Illinois to major destinations including Indianapolis, Indiana,...
to IndianapolisIndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
- Southeast corridor to Pittsburgh
- Serves PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- 4 stations total
- Connects with Keystone CorridorKeystone CorridorThe Keystone Corridor is a Federal Railroad Administration "designated high speed corridor" with a 349-mile railroad line between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a top speed of...
to HarrisburgHarrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and Philadelphia
- Serves Pittsburgh
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
On January 28, 2010, the White House announced that Ohio would receive $400 million of its request. This will allow for passenger rail service to return on the 3C corridor.On December 9, 2010, the $400 million was reclaimed by the White House, following repeated promises by Governor John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
to cancel the project. He attempted to get permission to use the funds on other transportation related projects, but this was rejected by the White House. The money reclaimed was divided among several other states, including California, New York and Florida.
External links
- The Ohio Hub – Ohio Department of Transportation
- All Aboard Ohio - The Ohio Hub – All Aboard Ohio