Central Ohio passenger rail proposal takes next step

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus is the largest city in the Midwest without a major rail system, but a new investment change that.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission announced a $650,000 investment, partnering with the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. The funds are going towards the Midwest Connect project, a planned corridor that would connect Chicago and Pittsburgh with stops in Columbus and Fort Wayne.

“Connecting those cities would be a very attractive route for everybody, from businesses to students going to college to sports fans and more. We're really interested in how it could connect people to jobs,” Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Executive Director William Murdock said.

The investment is meant to serve as a signal to the Federal Railroad Administration that the region is ready to move on to step two.

“We are at a point now where there's a dedicated effort with communities, big cities, business community advocates, all pushing in the same direction and at the same time,” Murdock said.

It’s a three-step process to start building a line. This upcoming second step is called the Service Development Plan.

“This next phase of study is going to answer those questions everybody has: how fast? Where will the stations be? How will it work with freight? How often will service be?” Murdock said.

The cities of Hilliard and Dublin each contributed $50,000 towards the study; both allotted land in hopes of housing a station.

“It's going to take the entire region, I think, to make this happen,” Dublin Senior Planner Christopher Will said.

He said they’ve been having in-depth conversations about the possibility of a passenger rail with residents.

“Everyone that we've talked to in Dublin is very excited about this, from residents to business and other stakeholders, really seeing this as an opportunity to bring mobility and transportation options to the community,” Will said.

The city of Columbus, Marysville and Lima have also contributed. There is still a long road ahead. Murdock said the earliest the passenger rail would begin service is 2030.

Learn more about Midwest Connect by clicking here.