Ohio is pivotal for passenger rail development connecting major routes from Chicago to points east. Despite strong public support for investment in passenger rail, the state has historically impeded development, as demonstrated by repeated failures of expansion proposals since the 1970s. Legislative support has not translated into action, especially following changes in state leadership. The current bipartisan push for passenger rail signals a potential shift, but overcoming historical barriers remains a challenge to establishing a robust rail system in the state.
Seventy-five percent of Ohioans want the state to invest in passenger rail and public transit, according to a 2024 Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Survey.
Ohio has become a barrier to passenger rail development in the Midwest-East Coast region, despite having a key geographic position for routes of national significance.
During I-71 reconstruction in the late 1990s, ODOT proposed a '2C' (Cleveland to Columbus) rail project to provide an alternative to construction-related traffic, which was again killed by the Governor's office.
The Ohio Hub Plan was created to connect Ohio's major cities and surrounding states, receiving strong support; however, it was killed after the election of anti-rail Governor John Kasich in 2008.
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