Ohio Hub
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This article or section contains information about a planned or expected public transportation infrastructure. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available. |
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The Ohio Hub is a railway project maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation that is aimed at revitalizing passenger rail service in the Ohio region. Upon completion, the transit system will be composed of 860 miles of track serving 32 stations. It will connect four states along with southern Ontario, consisting of 11 major metropolitan areas and 22 million people.[1] The system's goal is to "expand the capacity of the transportation system by improving the railroads for both freight and passenger trains."[2]
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[edit] Passenger transit
The initial startup cost is now 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 system, is expected to cost $2.7 billion, or $3.5 million per mile. The second option, a 110-mph system is estimated to cost $3.32 billion, or $4.5 million per mile.[3]
[edit] Currently proposed service
The project's hub will be based in 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.[2]
[edit] 3-C Corridor
The 3-C Corridor will provide service from Cleveland to Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati. The line will provide connections to the proposed Midwest Regional Rail, however will not connect with any rail services to Pennsylvania, New York, or Canada. The 3-C Corridor is now part of the proposed southwestern corridor of the Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail.
[edit] Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail
The Ohio & Lake Erie Regional Rail will provide service to seven states plus Canada through four corridors originating in Cleveland. 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 Toledo and Detroit
- 7 stations total
- Connects with future Midwest Regional Rail to Chicago, and VIA Rail Canada to Montreal and Quebec City
- Northeast corridor to Toronto
- Serves Erie, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Toronto
- 11 stations total
- Connects with Empire Corridor to Albany and New York City, and VIA Rail Canada to Montreal and Quebec City
- Southwest corridor to Cincinnati
- Originally proposed as the 3-C Corridor
- Serves Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati
- 9 stations total
- Connects with future Midwest Regional Rail to Chicago
- Southeast corridor to Pittsburgh
- Serves Pittsburgh
- 4 stations total
- Connects with Keystone Corridor to Harrisburg and Philadelphia
[edit] Current status
Currently, the Ohio Hub Rail System is in the research and development phase. Meetings are held by the Ohio Rail Development Commission at regular intervals in order to discuss current progress and receive community input. The Commission is hoping that 2007 will bring a Tier 1 Programmatic Environmental Impact Study (NEPA) as well as a Record of Decision, which will allow the state of Ohio to being reserving funds for the project.[2]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Ohio Hub – Ohio Department of Transportation
