Greater Ohio Policy Center

04/20/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/20/2021 08:07

Amtrak Pursuing Rail Expansion Nationwide; Could Service Expand in Ohio?

A decade after Ohio passed-up the opportunity to invest in passenger rail service connecting the state's three largest cities, Amtrak, the national passenger rail operator, is considering expanding service options in the state, including pursuing the so-called 3C rail project once more.

You may have read our recent blog post discussing the American Jobs Plan, which calls for trillions of dollars of investment in hard and soft infrastructure across the country. Part of that plan includes $85 billion to modernize transit agencies, with funding intended not only to maintain existing transit infrastructure but to expand services by investing in bus, bus rapid transit, and rail services. It also includes a further $80 billion in funding for Amtrak to address repair projects and service expansion to underserved areas or development of new lines of service.

Ohio currently has three Amtrak rail lines that run through Ohio. The Capitol Limited connects Washington, D.C. to Chicago, with stops in Alliance, Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky and Toledo. The Lake Shore Limited connects New York City to Chicago, with stops in Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky, Toledo and Bryan. The Cardinal Line Connects New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago with a stop in Cincinnati.

If the current proposal from Amtrak were to be approved (along with enactment of necessary funding through the American Jobs Plan), service in Ohio would be expanded to include five new routes. The most talked about would be the 3C+D corridor plan, which would connect Cleveland and Cincinnati with stops in Columbus and Dayton, as well as a number of smaller cities along the route. Cleveland would see new routes with connections to Detroit via Toledo, Albany, New York via Buffalo, and Pittsburgh via Akron and Youngstown. The existing service route from Cincinnati to Chicago would be expanded from two daily trips to four.