Grant Approved to Study Cuyahoga-Erie Co. Train

Monday, November 9, 2009
Topics: Politics, Other
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Today's economic climate and new energy strategies have sparked renewed interest in commuter rail service to the western suburbs. Now, rail advocates have secured funding to determine just how it could be done. Ideastream®'s Rick Jackson reports.

The study by a private firm will be paid for with a $400,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration, combined with 70 thousand dollars from local agencies. 

The investigation will include whether the little-used Norfolk Southern freight line could be utilized; if electric rail cars or diesel would be a better power source for trains; how far west the line should run; and whether busses might make more sense than rail lines.

Ken Prendergast is Executive Director of All Aboard Ohio… the rail advocacy group. 
He says a new rail option would be beneficial to several counties.

KEN PRENDERGAST:
“It represents a simultaneous investment in both Cuyahoga and Lorain, as well as Erie county. We’ve seen that in other cities that have also made these kinds of investment and have learned a lot of the things that I think we’re gonna learn is that this is gonna benefit the downtown, the inner ring suburbs, as well as the outer suburbs.”

The analysis is expected to take about eight months, and if the line is eventually built, the Federal Transit Administration would likely pay for much of the construction. The rest would come from state, local, and private investments.

Additional Information

All Aboard Ohio Website