Retrofitting factories
Riverside deputy mayor touts rail car production at empty plants
Jim Wellman envisions train cars being built at GM Moraine or Delphi brake plant.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
City of Riverside deputy mayor Jim Wellman wants General Motors and local officials to consider a plan to build light rail passenger cars at the former GM Moraine Assembly buildings. Staff photo by Ty GreenleesA Riverside man is calling "all aboard" on the idea of building passenger rail cars in one of several shuttered auto plants in the Dayton area.
Jim Wellman, 57, deputy mayor of Riverside, acknowledges that he doesn't have a background in development. And he admits he has no solid leads when it comes to possible makers of passenger rail cars.
What he says he does have, however, is 37 years of experience as a CSX railroad conductor — and timeliness. The Ohio House recently included "3C corridor" passenger rail service — linking Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland — in a budget passed to the Senate. And other states are latching on to similar ideas.
Wellman himself testified for 3C service before the Ohio Senate Committee on Highways and Transportation last week. And he believes rail cars could be made in the General Motors Corp. Moraine plant or the Delphi Corp. Needmore Road brake plant, both closed last year.
Rail-related production isn't new to the region. Dayton Phoenix Group, which has a facility off Kuntz Road, manufactures parts for locomotive motors, generators, brakes and more.
Wellman is calling for a public meeting on his idea at the Expressly Espresso Coffee Shop, 101 Woodman Drive, at 6:30 p.m. March 26.
Moraine City Manager Dave Hicks has spoken with Wellman and is willing to hear him out further. "It's good to have a great idea," Hicks said. "It's better to have a great idea and the ability to put it in place."
Hicks said Wellman is not the only individual with whom Moraine government has spoken who is interested in that potential use of the GM site, which the automaker still owns. City officials have been contacted by a group of investors who have a similar idea, he said.
Hicks declined to identify the group, other than to say they seem credible. But the principal challenge is that these ideas can cost $100 million to $150 million.
Brian Martin, president of United Auto Workers Local 696, whose members once worked at the Delphi Needmore plant, thinks infrastructure and transportation are key to a strong economy, and like any union leader, he welcomes the idea of job creation, especially union job creation.
"If you're going to put money into something, it probably should be from the foundation up, and that's infrastructure and transportation," Martin said.
"Bring your talents, bring whatever you have," Wellman said of his March 26 meeting. "Bring your curiosity."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
