$400M for rail plan could be rejected

3 Republicans may block the state’s passenger train plan, which includes area stops.

Legislative panel may put brakes on passenger rail

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By Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writer Updated 11:12 PM Sunday, April 4, 2010

Three Republican votes on the state controlling board may block Ohio’s plans for passenger rail service and return $400 million in stimulus money for the project to the federal government.

This week, Ohio Senate Majority Leader Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said the likelihood that Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration will get one of the three GOP votes needed to secure the federal rail funds “is less than 50 percent.”

Republicans oppose the plan because they say the state can’t afford the estimated $17 million in annual subsidies to operate eight trains per day on the 255-mile route that will make stops in Dayton, Riverside and Springfield. They also say studies estimating 478,000 riders in the first year are inflated.

Rail advocates say restoring train service will put Ohio on the national rail map, promote tourism, lay the groundwork for a future high-speed system and create thousands of new jobs.

“If Ohio does not take advantage of this opportunity, another state will” by securing the rejected funds, said Strickland aide Amanda Wurst.

The showdown was set up last year when Democrats and Republicans avoided a long budget battle by agreeing that a supermajority of the state controlling board — five of seven votes — must OK the project. The seven-member board has four Democrats and three Republicans.

Board members Sen. John Carey, R-Wellston, and Sen. David Goodman, R-New Albany, say they will vote the wishes of the Senate GOP Caucus. State Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, said this week he hasn’t made up his mind.

While no date has been set, the vote looms over the rail plan even as state and local officials begin making detailed economic development plans for stops along the route.

Riverside officials say developers already are showing a keen interest in the site around the train stop planned for the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. “Why are we still talking about this?” said Riverside Economic Development Director Bob Murray. “It’s all about politics.”

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