Rail station to bring jobs, service by 2012

City officials say a passenger rail service ties in nicely with Dayton’s state designation as an aerospace hub of innovation and provides opportunities for college-bound students.

DANIEL ROSENBAUM/NYT City officials say a passenger rail service ties in nicely with Dayton’s state designation as an aerospace hub of innovation and provides opportunities for college-bound students.

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By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer Updated 10:19 AM Friday, January 29, 2010

DAYTON — City officials say a passenger rail service linking major Ohio cities ties in nicely with Dayton’s state designation as an aerospace hub of innovation and provides opportunities for college-bound students.

“In the short term, we’re going to gain jobs with construction of a (modest) train station. In the long term, we’ll have transportation ease and a nice amenity downtown,” City Commissioner Matt Joseph said Thursday, Jan. 28.

Trains are expected to be running by 2012.

John Gower, the city’s director of planning and community development, said the rail station at Sixth and Ludlow streets will be a short walk from Sinclair Community College and just 1 1/2 miles from the University of Dayton, a lead partner working to establish an aerospace hub here. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is visiting UD at 12:30 p.m. today to give a hub update.

The $5.7 million station will include a waiting area underneath the tracks and a covered walkway.

Another proposed stop in Riverside would be near the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, one of the state’s largest tourist stops.

“This is big,” Gower said. “In this particular case, it was our good fortune to be located between Cincinnati and Columbus.”

Gower added that the rail corridor also will provide easy access to Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati.

“This is one of the most efficient and effective ways to move passengers and goods,” he said.

Ohio’s “Quick Start” plan calls for using about $400 million in federal stimulus money for conventional passenger service along a 256-mile route between Cincinnati and Cleveland. Trains will reach speeds of 79 miles an hour with three trains running in each direction daily.

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