l\Iichigan a Ohio a Indiana

,. ~H .n_ ..,_. . . I r ,. . ~~~., ..N~· ~.~~''·'. 5~. , Intercitv Rail • Public Transit • Commuter Rail • lntcrmodal Issue 135 Railroad merger sidetracks trains By Ken Prendergast gan and Ohio Associations of Rail­ and John DeLora road Passengers (MARP and OARP) While it is too soon to tell what the have been monitoring the on-time long-term effects will be from the performance of Amtrak passenger June 1 split up of freight railroad Con­ trains in our regions, and the reasons rail Corp. among Norfolk Southern for their delays.

Inc. (NS) and CSX Corp., the restruc­ CSX, which got 42 percent of Con~ tured rail systems have gotten off to rail, had relatively minor problems. a rocky start. A number of technical · Norfolk Southern, which got the rest and corporate culture problems have of Conrail, ran into severe problems, left many freight trains stopped on mainly involving incompatible com­ mainlines and clogging freight yards, puter programs. Within days, trains Yellow signals loom. S~veraldays before June 1, when freight railroad Conrail Corp. causing serious delays to most Am­ began arriving later and later. By the was acquired and split among CSX Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corp., Amtrak's trak pas·senger trains in Indiana, end of the first week, United Parcel Pennsylvanian sped west beneath a signal bridge toward Chicago. This passenger train, that 114nson Conrail tracks which have sin,ce bee.n transferred taNS, was on time this Michigan and Ohio. Service was switching much its of day. However, this and many oiher trains oper~tingea;t oiChicdgo have begun suffering Since the Conrail split, the Michi- - See "Merger", page Five serious delays due to problems associated with the takeovf(!r of Conrail. Columbus to decide its transit future Nov. 2

Dlll.ll~~J....- ...... 7 ..-T-4-.n. ... .n ...... 7:11 .n..,...... ,, .. .,._.n,, 4-.-. 1-...... :-.- ran mto severe problems, left many freight trains stopped on mainly involving incompatible com- - Ken Prendergast mainlines and clogging freight yards, puter programs. Within days, trains Yellow signals loom. S~veraldays before June 1, when freight railroad Conrail Corp. causing serious delays to most Am­ began arriving later and later. By the was acquired and split among CSX Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corp., Amtrak's Pennsylvanian sped west beneath a signal bridge toward Chicago. This passenger train, trak passenger trains in Indiana, end of the first week, United Parcel that runs on:Conr.aii tracks which have since been transietred toNS, w.as on time this w~s Michigan and Ohio. Service switching_ much of its ddy: However, this and many other trains operating east -oJChic~gohave begun suffering

Since the Conrail split~the Michi- - See "Merger", page Five serious delays due to problems associated with the takeovfr 9! Conrail. Columbus to decide its transit future Nov. 2 Polls show voters will say ''yes'' to levies By Ed D' Amato ployers who need labor, the plan will provide OARP Secretary viable alternatives for all commuters, suburban COLUMBUS- The Board of Trustees for the and inner-city alike, to get to work. Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) voted to By 2020, Columbus is expected to see a 34 place a two-part sales tax initiative on the No­ percent increase in the humber of automobile vember 1999 ballot to expand the COTA bus sys­ trips, a 63 percent increase in the number of miles tem and to bring commuter rail to Columbus. The driven, and a 91 percent increase in the amount expansion plan, called "Vision 2020: Transpor­ of time drivers will spend on the road. The focus tation for a Great Community," would be phased of Vision 2020 is to address these problems. elude a renewal of this temporary tax to keep in over 20 years beginning in 2000. COTA is currently funded by a temporary, !A­ the current COTA bus-only system intact. A sec­ Facing crippling traffic congestion and a sepa­ percent Franklin County sales tax that must be ond levy-the addition of a permanent, !A-per- ration of inner-city residents from suburban em- renewed every 10 years. The proposal will in- - See "COTA levy", page eight

The Passenger Rail News PRESORTED 479 Humiston Drive FIRST CLASS Bay Village OH 44140-3017 U.S. POSTAGE 135 PAID ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Cleveland OH Permit# 2470

KEN PRENDERGAST VICE PRESIDENT 12029 CLIFTON BLVD UNIT 505 LAKEWOOD OH 44107-2101

It Two The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 }Pllssen Train of Thought Copyright © 1999, Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers. All articles not originated by OARP are copyrighted from The Passenger Rail News Editor by their respective originators. All rights reserved. Kenneth Prendergast Kenneth Prendergast, Editor Mark Carlson, Production Marilyn Carlson, Distribution aws of physics tell us that objects in motion tend to stay in motion. L Conversely, objects that are motionless tend to stay still. Such is the case with rail passenger services. The rules of passenger rail service tell us that states and regions with at least a visible number of passen­ ger trains tend to see more investments than those regions that have little or no service. Recognition of this principle has forced rail advocates and political lead­ ers, who have had dreams of high-speed trains dancing in their heads, to take a "walk before you run" approach to railway development. But, for those regions which have no passenger trains to begin with, simply learning to crawl has proven to be tough enough. . The reasons for these difficulties can be traced to those pesky laws of phys­ ICS. Corporate and governmental policies could help provide a nudge, how­ ever. Corporate policies refer to Amtrak's position regarding new trains and routes. To its credit, Amtrak has taken a business-like approach toward the creation of new services. For Amtrak to invest in a new service, company officials must take a hard look at how the new service will affect the company's bottom line. · · Fortunately for Amtrak-but unfortunately for regions lacking service­ there are literally dozens of requests each year by cities and states across the WnrmJ nation for new trains. This is unfortunate for regions lacking any train ser- Photos and Articles · . vice because they must compete with regions that have train service and are

Clippings from newspapers and magazines . · • ·: wanting more. (. must include the publication's name and date. A course in basic economics will teach anyone that adding two new trains

. ~- Your articl~and news briefs should betyped to an existin~rou~ch as Chicago.-.Milwaukee,wbichJ~asl4.traiJ1s.a4ay- and double-spaced, though very short items will generate more new revenues than new costs. Starting up two trains on a may be legibly written. Preferably, send hard route like Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus-Cleveland, which hasn't seen regu- copy withffiM-compatible text files on 3¥2'' lar passenger service since 1970, means a large expenditure must be made disks. Submissions via e-mail to: just get the route ready for passenger trains. Putting into motion this motion- [email protected]. less object will take a huge financial shove.

We reserve the right to edit~.n()_n-:Pul>li!.~d . Havi~g said all that, it appears that a source of motivation to get these wen:: cnc uLcrcury uuz;ens ur requests eacn year oy ctues ana srares across me ~ i" .O.'i • Td:J ...... nation for new trains. This is unfortunate for regions lacking any train ser­ Photos and Articles vice because they must compete with regions that have train service and are .. ·: Clippings from newspapers and magazines wanting more. must include the publication's name and_date. A course in basic economics will teach anyone that adding two new trains to an existing as Chicago-Milwaukee. which has 14 trains a Your articl~and news briefs should be typed route-.such day­ and double-spaced, though very short items will generate more new revenues than new costs. Starting up two trains on a may be legibly written. Preferably, send hard route like Cincinnati-Dayton-Columbus-Cleveland, which hasn't seen regu­ copy with ffiM.,compatible text files on 3¥2'' lar passenger service since 1970, means a large expenditure must be made disks. Submissions via e-mail to: just get the route ready for passenger trains. Putting into motion this motion­ ..·: [email protected] . less object will take a huge financial shove. We reserve the right to edit all non-published Having said all that, it appears that a source of motivation to get these submissions. Original photos should be sharp, . immobile things moving is the federal government. U.S. Senator George bright prints-avoid slides and negatives. . . Voinovich (R-Ohio) is sponsoring a bill that would give states the flexibility to spend federal transportation dollars on intercity passenger rail projects. Always include your name and phone Clearly this flexibility is important, as different states and regions have dif­ number! ferent transportation needs. The Passenger Rail News But, a certain amount should be set aside for regions that have little or no 12029 Clifton Boulevard, #505 passenger rail service. A precedent was recently set in a $2.2 billion capital Lakewood OH 44107-2161 . . ... infusion to Amtrak. Federal funds were set aside for states lacking Amtrak . . service to help nudge proposed services forward. But what about regions · · f R ·1r adp - · · d . Obi fi with almost no passenger rail service? Much of Ohio would qualify, as would The Obio Assoctation o at o assengers 1s mcorporate m o as a non-pro t tat lik Ind" d K tu ky . . d fro &~-tal" d th IRS Cod S . . 501 s es e tana an en c . assoctationan exempt mrcuer mcometaxun er e e, ection (c)(3) Th al al m· d "th · ed Its t h 1 th . . . . . e tid e er govemmenth as ways e WI ffilX resu . o e p ose as a publicly supported educational orgamzation. Dues and donations to OARP . ' . . .. . "bl . dan .th th IRS Cod who are less fortunate. When 1t comes to passenger ratl service, Ohio has the may be tax -de d ucti e m acco~ ce w1 e e. . . . .

• • • • • • • • • • • • •. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •. • • • • •. • • ~ cut~re• ~~~::o~~e-~I:h.~e-f~::s: ~~~s~~~~~e-s~~:~~ :1: s-tl~l::r.~a~·-••••• \ YES! I WANT BETTER RAIL PASSENGER SERVICES! An introductory one-year membership in the Michigan or Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers includes a subscription to The Passenger Rail News, plus action alerts, notice of rail-oriented events, and local meetings. (Contributions to OARP may be tax deductible.) #135

Clip or copy this coupon, li1check the'assbciation Enclosed is a check or money order for•.. · NAME you wish to join, and send this along with a check TITLE or money order for the proper dues (see schedule D $ 15.oofor an Basidlndividual Membership. COMPANY at left) payable to: D $ 1Q.oofor a Retired/Student Membership. ADDRESS ...... D Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers CITY ...... P/0 Box 532 D $1QO.oofor a Corporate Membership. Send Marquette, MI 49855-0532 me __ copies of the newsletter (up to 10). STATE ...... ZIP CODE ...... D Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers TELEPHONE .. ( ...... ) ...... Remember, please mail to the proper state association. 610 Executive Boulevard E-MAIL ...... Delaware OH 43015-1159 The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Three 2-C Corridor to beconte 3-C? nati, Dayton and Springfield marketplaces be­ pressing transportation problems. By Ken Prendergast cause they can provide a significant increase in That same year, Dayton will host the Century OARP Vice-President ridership and revenue," ORDC Executive Direc­ of Powered Flight celebration, to commemorate tor Tom O'Leary said in the Cincinnati Post. the lOOth anniversary of the first flight of the Should plans for new Cleveland-Columbus pas­ A good comparison can be made in the differ­ Wright brothers. Not only were they Dayton na­ senger trains be expanded beyond the state capi­ ence between the costs of having two trains oper­ tives, but they tested the first airplane at Huffman tal to include Dayton and Cincinnati? That's a ating round-trip between Cleveland and Colum­ Prairie in Dayton-not at Kitty Hawk, NC. Event question that Amtrak and the Ohio Rail Develop­ bus, or running four round trips. While the train­ promoters are expecting three million visitors to ment Commission (ORDC) will answer with new miles double from two round trips being increased Dayton in 2003. cost and revenue estimates. to four round trips, the operating costs rise from Lastly, Amtrak has agreed to waive some costs OARP members already know the answer to about $7.2 million to $9.5 million (including for which it originally said it would bill Ohio. that question should be a resounding "yes." But, lounge car costs). The cost increase for acquiring One of these is a lease charge for the two-year

· what seems simple to OARP members is actu­ the trains-about $6.4 million rising to $6.7 mil­ demonstr~tionperiod. Also, Amtrak will review ally a slow process. The Ohio Department of lion-is even less dramatic (the only difference their policy regarding the sale of locomotives and Transportation (ODoT) was reluctant to include is $320,000 in additional training costs). rail cars. Non-Amtrak equipment could also be rail as part of a solution to ease traffic during the State transportation planners also weren't happy used as long at it meets safety standards. $500 million reconstruction and addi­ A steering committee overseeing these fmancial tion of a third lane along most of In­ analyses, as well as marketing and safety issues is terstate 71 between Cleveland and Co­ to make a recommendation to ODoT by Septem­ lumbus. ber whether this project should proceed. While rail eventually won ODoT's conditional support, it removed rail from consideration as a means to miti­ ACTIONAlERT! gate traffic congestion. Instead, ODoT Last year we wrote letters, made phone calls, officials said they would pursue rail .. and testif~dat hearings on the rail passenger passenger service between Cleveland service between Cleveland and Columbus pro­ and Columbus on its own merits. With posed by the Ohio Department of Transporta­ a small, two-year demonstration, trans- tion (ODoT). Thanks to your excellent response, . portation planners wanted to get a ·thedfort•te·gettrain;serviCereally got abig push sample of rail'S potential to-attract paS-' ·~ ·, ,, .. "l"i ''at ~t"cnticafume:We'are~now at a d:itical time sengers. A specia/3-C passenger train pauses Sept. 1998 at Galion. once again. If the demonstration could be worked out, and with Amtrak's projected revenues. Amtrak esti- As early as September, a committee is expected it proved successful; ODoT officials would be mated $1.5 million would be generated by two to recomrilend to the ODoT that traip service able to justify a much larger investment in pas- daily round trips, and $2.3 million:from four daily should be started up on Ohio's busiest intercity senger rail service. The kind of investment in rail round trips. Amtrak assumed a one-way Cleve- travel corridor. It will likely begin as four round ~-- .,_ ..._... ~---~...... ~ T .& • • #P #.:1/L~~• Last year we wrote letters, made phone ·calls, officials said they would pursue rail " and te$lif~dat hearings on the rail passenger passenger service between Cleveland service between Cleveland and Columbus pro­ and Columbus on its own merits. With posed by the Ohio Department of Transporta­ a small, two-year demonstration, trans­ tion (ODoT). Thanks to your excellent response, . portation planners wanted to get a ·the effort·te·ge~traitrservicereally got abig push safilple ofraiF s pOtential to--attractpas..:. ~ I j :·· Jq John "at~t"cnticrut'imK We'arE'nowat a cil.tical time sengers. A specia/3-C passenger train pauses Sept. 1998 at Galion. once again. If the demonstration could be worked out, and with Amtrak's. projected revenues. Amtrak esti- As early as September, a committee is expected it proved successful; ODoT officials would be mated $1.5 million would be generated by two to recommend to the ODoT that train service able· to justify a much larger investment in pas- daily round trips, and $2.3 millioafrom four daily should be started up on Ohio's busiest intercity senger rail service. The kind of investment in rail round trips. Amtrak assumed a one-way Cleve- travel corridor. It will likely begin as four round being envisioned would eliminate the need for land-Columbus fare of $16, while recent studies trips between Cleveland and Columbus, with a anobscenelyexpensivefourthlanealongi-71 be- by ORDC consultants assumed a $27 fare. later extension to Springfield, Dayton, and Cin­ tween Cleveland and Columbus in the not-too- Regardless of the low fare, the trains are not cinnati. But, ODoT won't push for the trains distant future. But, getting there is proving to be expected to double their revenues from a dou- unless Governor Robert Taft and the leaders of a slow ride. bling of round trips; That led planners to wonder Ohio's legislature say so. Amtrak had developed financial data for the if the added train miles should instead be used to That means they need to hear from you! Write Cleveland-Columbus (2-C) passenger service; penetrate new ridership markets, rather than run as many letters and make as many phone calls Those numbers showed operating costs that were the same trains back and forth over the same route. as possible so they make the RIGHT decision! much higher and revenues much lower than what That's why running trains beyond Columbus to Let's go for the win! Tell 'em you want train ser­ ODoT and ORDC had anticipated. In fact, the es- Dayton and Cincinnati is being considered. vice! timates were so disappointing that state officials Other factors that have not yet been considered Write to: began to wonder if the project was doomed. should improve the financial performance of the The Honorable Robert Taft To their credit, ORDC officials and other state passenger rail service. Amazingly, Amtrak did not Governor of Ohio leaders did not give up when confronted by the take into account in its ridership/revenue forecasts Riffe Center dismal cost and revenue estimates. They realized that 1-71 would be under reconstruction between Columbus, OH 43215 that ever-more expensive highway widenings are Columbus and Cleveland for the next 10 years. not occurring quickly enough to keep up with traf- One might expect that so many orange barrels Speaker JoAnn Davidson fie growth. That means that the need for fast, inex- would encourage people to consider non-high- Ohio House of Representatives pensive passenger rail service will continue to grow way forms of transportation. The State House in Ohio's busiest intercity travel corridor. Another factor is that Ohio will hold its bicen- Columbus, OH 43266-0603 That led ORDC to ask Amtrak and Parsons- tennial in 2003. The state already is planning nu- President Richard Finan Brinckerhoff Ohlo for new revenue and cost esti- merous festivals and other events to celebrate the Ohio Senate mates for the proposed rail passenger service. state's 200th birthday. Columbus, as the state's The State House And, since the rail service is no longer being capital, is likely to host many of these events. There Columbus, OH 43266-0604 viewed as a parallel project to the I-71 roadwork will be apressing need for a stress-free way to between Cleveland and Columbus, the scope of access them from Ohio's largest metro areas. Not To find out who your state legislators are, call the analysis has widened to consider linking only would passenger rail service provide a venue the State House switchboard at (614)466-2000 or Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati (3-C) via Day- for noting the historical importance of railroads contact your local library, or city/village hall. Do ton and Springfield. to Ohio's growth, but it would also be a great way not confuse your state legislators with your U.S. "There's a good reason to look at the Cincin- for Ohioans to consider solutions to their state's Congressional representatives and senators! Four The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Plan B for Cincinnati station? CINCINNATI- A study by a consultant hired away from downtown. opportunities also exist nearby at Longworth Hall, by the city is recommending that the best place Cincinnati Union Terminal, which is Amtrak's which could also serve as a passenger station if the to locate a railway station in central Cincinnati present station in the city, also was considered Crosset site doesn't work out. is at a site just west of the new Bengals football in the study. But a lack of space for expansion Longworth Hall is large enough that it could stadium. If the plans are realized, it would mean and frequent freight train traffic past the termi­ be redeveloped with retail, restaurants and com­ placing a train station closer to downtown Cin­ nal kept it from being recommended by R.L. mercial office space. There also is enough va­ cinnati than it has been in decades. It would also Banks. Also, looked at and rejected was the old cant land surrounding Longworth Hall to estab­ mean putting rail passengers within a few blocks Amtrak station site (1972-1991) on Old River lish a number of tracks and passenger platforms, of the city's primary convention, business and Road. Its inaccessibility by customers and trains and possibly a mail and express facility. tourism attractions. removed it from consideration. Unfortunately, trains to Cleveland would prob- The study by R.L. Banks & Associates of The Crosset site has existing rail infrastruc- ably still have to transit the busy Mill Creek Val­ Washington D.C. was commissioned 1 ley railway corridor. Although Nor­ after planners concluded that an in­ folk Southern's new third main track termodal hub, near the Freedom Cen­ could be used, NS has identified this ter, being sought for light-rail, buses, as a new north-south service lane and taxis wouldn't have enough through Ohio and Kentucky as part room to also accommodate diesel­ of it's post-Conrail route structure. powered commuter and intercity pas­ This servi<;e lane will put even more senger trains. traffic through Cincinnati. Of nine locations studied, a station The next steps are for the city to in the vicinity of 3rd Street and Cen­ · act on the consultant's recommenda­ tral Avenue (dubbed the Crosset site) tions, for more detailed designs to be would be accessible to the Chicago­ made of a station facility, and for Washington D.C. Cardinal train funding to be secured for its con- (with a back-up move), plus future Graphic courtesy of Urban Design Associates struction. This could occur as part of passenger services from St. Louis, Cleveland, ture, is relatively flat, and has space for handling the planning for the Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Chi- and the Midwest high-speed trains from Chicago multiple passenger trains without interference cago high-speed service. Designation of this and Indianapolis. East-west commuter rail ser­ from freight trains. A small station could be built route as a high-speed corridor by the Federal .; vice, which is being studied by the Ohio-Ken­ to serve the present leve~of passenger rail traf- Railroad Administration earlier this year makes tucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments fie, and expanded to handle additional, future it more likely that federal money could be ac- (OKI), could also use the Crosset site. passenger trains and routes. quired to help pay for engineering, design, and Two other possible orientations of the station Just as important, the Crosset station could also hopefully, construction costs. in this same general area were considered. They be served by the proposed I-71light-railline, which Much of the information for this article was ~eLongworth Hall, a former Baltimore & Ohio would eventually link Greater Cincinnati Intema- compiled by Dave Dawson, Executive Director, Railroad warehouse and "The Hole", both west tional Airport at Covington, KY with Paramount's Citizens Transit Alliance, Inc., in Cincinnati and 9 C"t..~.. h..-:. r'rlf"tt.t:.!QA .. coif-a !:l.nA f"h...-:r~.f".r.r_#ag li.:H:IP £arthar ll'"inaco lplonrl near Mgson OH RedeJrelonD3ent Q4 RP -q-hqr ob '''iche=• - "Y"YU.~.1..1..1..1..1.5'-'-'.I..I..._,•'-"'• '-'UIU"'""" I..I.Q.J.I.l Iunuing to oe secureo ror us con- (with a back-up move), plus future Graphic courtesy of Urban Design Associates Struction. This COUldOCCUr as part of passenger services from St. Louis, Cleveland, ture, is relatively flat, and has space for handling the planning for the Cincinnati-Indianapolis-Chi- and the Midwest high-speed trains from Chicago multiple passenger trains without interference cago high-speed service. Designation of this and Indianapolis. East-west commuter rail ser­ from freight trains. A small station could be built route as a high-speed corridor by the Federal vice, which is being studied by the Ohio-Ken­ to serve the present level of passenger rail traf- Railroad Administration earlier this year makes tucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments fie, and expanded to handle additional, future it more likely that federal money could be ac- (OKl), could also use the Crosset site. passenger trains and routes. quired to help pay for engineering, design, and Two other possible orientations of the station Just as important, the Crosset station could also hopefully, construction costs. in this same general area were considered. They be served by the proposed I-71light-railline, which Much of the information for this article was are Longworth Hall, a former Baltimore & Ohio would eventually link Greater Cincinnati Intema- compiled by Dave Dawson, Executive Director, Railroad warehouse and "The Hole", both west tional Airport at Covington, KY with Paramount's Citizens Transit Alliance, Inc., in Cincinnati and of the Crosset site, and therefore, a little farther Kings Island near Mason, OH. Redevelopment OARP member Bob Wickens. New Royal Was location study unnecessary? CINCINNATI- Planners at the Ohio Rail said City Councilman Todd Portune, as quoted Development Commission (ORDC) notified city in the Cincinnati Post. "The window of oppor­ Oak shelter officials that diesel-powered Amtrak and com­ tunity is while everything is tom up. It's going muter trains could be accommodated at the to be foolish to do anything else but lay the track RO)'"AL OAK - The Royal Oak Downtown planned transportation center near the Under­ at the same time." Development Authority (RODDA) has put out a ground Railroad Freedom Center. This is the site Construction on the $40 million transportation request for bids for a new shelter. The design re­ originally proposed to unite Amtrak trains, com­ center is being permitted by the reconstruction sembled a 1920's-era Chicago elevated shelter, and muter trains, light-rail transit, city buses, taxis and of Fort Washington Way (the riverfront highway) had only a back wall of steel plates with a sloping cars in the heart of the' riverfront district. and the construction of a two-level Second Street. roof. The bids came in substantially higher than Riverfront design consultants questioned the project budget of $125,000. Without the highway's reconstruction and the whether Amtrak and commuter trains could fit MARP's Tim Backhurst and John DeLora ap­ new, dual-level Second Street, there would be peared before a June 16 board meeting of the into the transit center being developed. That no room for the transportation center. RODDA. MARP pointed out that for a fraction of prompted city officials to hire R.L. Banks & As­ the cost, a standard bus shelter with a roof could sociates to recommend alternate sites for a rail­ be installed which would give far greater protec­ road station (see above article). However, the tion to passengers. late-breaking developments suggest the study Based partly on MARP's presentation, the may have been for naught. RODDA voted to reject the bids and to refer the ORDC planners said that an exemption can be project back to a committee. The general consen­ granted to allow Amtrak and commuter trains, sus of the board was to get something done on this which are larger than light-rail trolleys, to fit into issue. MARP offered to work with the City Plan­ the two-level transportation center, now under ning Department in designing a new facility, which construction. The news was warmly received by was underway in early July. The next issue of The Cincinnati officials. Rail Passenger News will have an update. "This is what we've been saying for months," The Passenl(er Rail News, Aul(ust 1999 Five Railroad merger sidetracks trains Governors, ntayors -"Merger'', from page one ------traffic to trucks due to late-arriving trains. As want rail funds June continued, the problem worsened, and freight trains were backed up for 30 miles out­ WASHINGTON- Support continues to grow loudly and clearly that intercity passenger rail is side Chicago, partly due to severe crew short- for giving states the flexibility to use federal a part of the solution for furthering economic ages made worse by the computer failures, which transportation funds for intercity passenger rail. development, relieving congestion and increas­ meant NS couldn't tell replacement crews where The latest organizations that have called on Con­ ing mobility," said Governor Tommy Thompson to find a number of trains. gress include the U.S. Conference of Mayors and (R-Wisconsin), Amtrak's chairman of the board. On most days since June 1, the two- to three­ the National Governors Association. "Granting flexibility will put intercity passen­ track railway west of Cleveland has been reduced "Cities and towns are sending a signal to Wash­ ger rail on more equal footing with other trans­ to a single-track railway because of the number ington that intercity passenger rail must play a portation modes, and will help Amtrak achieve of stopped freight trains, thereby causing signifi­ key role in solving air and road congestion, and its goal of becoming a successful business en­ cant delays to Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, Capi­ in driving economic development," said George terprise." tol Limited and Pennsylvanian which use this Warrington, Amtrak's president and chief execu­ The National Governors Association and the route. Similar delays have been experienced in tive officer. U.S. Conference qfMayors are among those in a the vicinity ofNS's (formerly Conrail's) Conway The U.S. Conference of Mayors is asking Con­ growing list of supporters calling on Congress to Yard west of Pittsburgh. Delays of a similar na­ gress to pass Senate Bill 1144, that would pro­ give passenger rail eligibility for federal trans­ ture have been experienced by travelers on Am­ vide more equitable federal transportation fund­ portation funds. Other public policy organizations trak trains to Grand Rapids and Detroit. ing. The bill, which is being pushed by Senator in this list include the National Conference of While the safety of the traveling public does George Voinovich (R-Ohio), would grant states State Legislatures, the National Association of not appear to be at risk, the reputation of passen­ the flexibility to invest National Highway Sys­ Counties and the National League of Cities. ger rail service does. Amtrak trains occasionally tem (NHS), Surface Transportation Project (STP) There also is an impressive list of private busi­ suffer delays, especially during the summer and Congestion Mitigation!Air Quality (CMAQ) nesses, environmental organizations, labor months when travel is peaking. But the extent funds contained in the $216 billion Transporta­ unions and transportation associations who sup­ and cause of delays is what concerns MARP and tion Efficiency Act (TEA-21) in intercity passen­ port flexible funding for passenger rail. These OARP. Nearly all Amtrak trains east of Chicago ger rail and the development of high-speed rail include Alstom Inc., American Passenger Rail now operate over tracks owned and operated by corridors. States :ire currently prohibited from Coalition, Bombardier Transportation, CSX NS orCSX. using these federal funds on transportation solu­ Corp., General Electric, General Motors, High Ever since Conrail was split among NS and tions that include intercity passenger rail. Speed Ground Transportation Association, IBM CSX, delays to passenger trains of an hour or so In the past three years, states and cities have Global Services, Renfe Talgo of America, Inc., are common, with some delays exceeding five contributed more than a half-billion dollars for Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc., Sierra hours. MARP and OARP argue that this is sim­ joint capital projects with Amtrak, with $300 Club, Surface Transportation Policy Project, ply not acceptable. How much time should million this vear alone. Transoortation Trades Deoartment of the AFT"- e nextbtllty lo invest National Highway Sys­ Counties and the National League of Cities. ger rail service does. Amtrak trains occasionally tem (NHS), Surface TransportationProject (STP) There also is an impressive list of private busi­ suffer delays, especially during the summer and Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CMAQ) nesses, environmental organizations, labor months when travel is peaking. But the extent funds contained in the $216 billion Transporta­ unions and transportation associations who sup­ and cause of delays is what concerns MARP and tion Efficiency Act (TEA-21) in intercity passen­ port flexible funding for passenger rail. These OARP. Nearly all Amtrak trains east of Chicago ger rail and the development of high-speed rail include Alstom Inc., American Passenger Rail now operate over tracks owned and operated by corridors. States &e currently prohibited from Coalition, Bombardier Transportation, CSX NS orCSX. using these federal funds on transportation solu­ Corp., General Electric, General Motors, High Ever since Conrail was split among NS and tions that include intercity passenger rail. Speed Ground Transportation Association, IBM CSX, delays to passenger trains an hour so of or In the past three years, states and cities have Global Services, Renfe Talgo of America, Inc., are common, with some delays exceeding five contributed more than a half-billion dollars for Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc., Sierra hours. MARP and OARP argue that this is sim­ joint capital projects with Amtrak, with $300 Club, Surface Transportation Policy Project, ply not acceptable. How much time should million this year alone. Transportation Trades Department of the AFL­ MARP and OARP give CSX and, especially, NS "My colleagues across the nation have spoken CIO, and others. before we consider filing protests with the ap­ propriate regulatory bodies? NS put out a press release saying it would have Birmingham Amtrak the problem "under control" by the end of June, but that didn't happen. Noted railroad stock ana­ lyst James Valentine of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter said that, although the service disruptions station to move, twice were bad, they were nowhere near the meltdown that Union Pacific suffered in 1997. Maybe they should just put the Birmingham, have included a 24,000-square-foot plot for a He said that, according to customers, small MI station on wheels. The Amtrak shelter sits on "transit facility." The developers are going to tum progress was being seen by the end of June, and land which the Big Rock Chop House had leased the former Ford trac­ he felt that the comer was being turned. However, from Erb Lumber, owner of the land. Big Rock, tor plant site into 300 he added it could well be into September or the which occupies the former Grand Trunk station residential housing end of the year by the time everything is running building, has purchased the land and has told units and a large shop­ smoothly. NS was dealing with the problem by Amtrak that it wants all of the parking area for ping mall. The site hiring back hundreds of recently retired or bought­ its patrons. Amtrak's lease expires Aug. 1. plan looks very attrac- out Conrail operating crew personnel. As a result~Amtrak is moving a few yards to tive, and will allow L \ A difficult transition period from the Conrail the south onto land still owned by Erb. New plat­ much better access split was expected by most informed observers, forms and a new shelter will have to be built. A from the south than the but R6t~prolonged one. As noted earlier, MARP new access from Eton Street to the stop will also current site. and OARP will be monitoring the operations of be necessary. The new site will have even less MARP has met Mark Carlson map NS and CSX and how they affect Amtrak travel­ visibility than the current one, which is notori­ briefly with the Planning Director for the City ers. If you are traveling on trains east of Chi­ ously hard for first-time users to find. of Troy, and will be in touch with the city as de­ cago, please send trip reports to MARP or OARP The good news comes from the other side of velopment proceeds. The target date for comple­ (depending on which organization you belong the tracks, in the City of Troy. City officials there tion of the shopping mall and housing develop:­ to, or which route you are traveling). If your train have approved a site plan for a new shopping ment is 2002. was on time or close to on time, we would like mall and housing on the south side of Maple Rd. Birmingham is served by three daily round­ to hear of progress reports, as well. (15 Mile Rd.) and West of Coolidge. Developers trip Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac trains. The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 1 ~ Euclid .Corridor project approved $325 million sought for bus, .rail improvements broad-based transit needs of the entire county." GCRTA spokesman Dan Minnich said expan­ CLEVELAND - The Euclid Corridor transit than 20,000 daily riders today. sion of major transportation improvements to the project progressed into the final design phase fol­ Other elements of the Euclid Corridor project West Side may be included at future meetings to lowing approval by the Northeast Ohio Areawide include the redesign and extension of East 17th set the guidelines of a possible study. Coordinating Agency- a metropolitan planning and 18th streets. Two large transit centers also "We will definitely look at extending major organization that distributes federal and state will be built downtown to unite the Euclid Cor­ transit improvements to the West Side, though it funding to local infrastructure projects. ridor electric trolley buses to dozens of may not necessarily be an extension of the Euclid The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Au­ countywide bus routes. Corridor," he said.

thority (GCRTA), area Congressional represen­ ;:·:=~t:;:·.:.]:':· . :":' Numerous movers and shak- tatives, and other officials are now seeking fund­ ..,;...; ers in the community are push- ing from the federal government to pay most of ing the Euclid Corridor project, the cost of the $325 million transit project. Al­ " including Cleveland Mayor ready, $70 million in state funds have been se­ Mike White, Congresswoman cured. GCRTA will commit a significant share, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Con­ as will the City of Cleveland and affected major gressman Steve LaTourette, the property owners. If all the funding can be put Cleveland Clinic Foundation, together, construction on this East Side transit Cleveland State University, project could begin as early as 2001 and be com­ Playhouse Square Foundation, pleted within eight years. Midtown Corridor Inc. and Uni­ Construction of a transitway down the middle versity Circle Inc. of Euclid Avenue is the project's primary com­ GCRTA officials, Congres- Graphic courtesy of GCRTA . al . d th ponent. The transitway will be used by new elec­ s1on representatives, an o - trically powered, extra-long buses that would be Proposed Euclid Avenue transitway at Playhouse Square. ers are trying to acquire federal articulated - or "hinged" in the middle so the While Euclid Avenue is often considered the transit money to help pay for Euclid Corridor. train-like buses could negotiate downtown in­ Main Street of Cleveland (and East Cleveland), While a report by the Federal Transit Adminis- tersections. The Euclid Avenue transitway will political leaders from Cuyahoga County's 55 tration (FTA) didn't rank the project highly- a run from downtown to East Cleveland via Uni­ other municipalities and other cities in surround- critical barometer for any project to get federal versity Circle. Service frequency will be in­ ing counties wanted guarantees from NOACA funds- Mr. Minnich said he expected that would creasedfrom a bus running every five minutes, and GCRTA that their public transit needs change in a new report due this summer. to one every 120 seconds. wouldn't be neglected while such a large invest- "That (old) report was based on information The electric buses will stop at rapid transit-style mentis made into a single transportation project developed back in November," he said. "Since stations at major cross-streets. Euclid Avenue will that measures only 7 miles in length. The Cuya- then, the Ohio Department of Transportation has be landscaped, while the old traffic circle will hog a County Commissioners brokered a deal put $70 million into the project and is being used be restored at University Circle- home to most with GCRTA and NOACA to provide for the tran- to leverage federal dollars. The fact that we have of the citv's.museums and other .culturalinstitu- sit needs of other oarts of the metro area. this money is a biz factor !bat they (the FI'.t\l _ Ull,.;i1llJ pVWI;'l~U, ~AU<1-1V11 UUOI~OI Ll1<1L WVUlU U~ 0 v1.~ a.J.'-' uy.1.J.1.5 1.v """''i"".a..a."'.a."'u.""'.1.'" articulated - or "hinged" in the middle so the While Euclid Avenue is often considered the transit money to help pay for Euclid Corridor. train-like buses could negotiate downtown in­ Main Street of Cleveland (and East Cleveland), While a report by the Federal Transit Adminis­ tersections. The Euclid Avenue transitway will political leaders from Cuyahoga County's 55 tration (FTA) didn't rank the project highly- a run from downtown to East Cleveland via Uni­ other municipalities and other cities in surround­ critical barometer for any project to get federal versity Circle. Service frequency will be in­ ing counties wanted guarantees from NOACA funds- Mr. Minnich said he expected that would creased from a bus running every five minutes, and GCRTA that their public transit needs change in a new report due this summer. to one every 120 seconds. wouldn't be neglected while such a large invest­ "That (old) report was based on information The electric buses will stop at rapid transit-style ment is made into a single transportation project developed back in November," he said. "Since stations at major cross-streets. Euclid Avenue will that measures only 7 miles in length. The Cuya­ then, the Ohio Department of Transportation has be landscaped, while the old traffic circle will hoga County Commissioners brokered a deal put $70 million into the project and is being used be restored at University Circle- home to most with GCRTA and NOACA to provide for the tran­ to leverage federal dollars. The fact that we have of the city's museums and other cultural institu­ sit needs of other parts of the metro area. this money is a big factor that they (the FTA) tions - to slow down cars and make this area The Euclid Corridor was approved 32-1 by will look at. We think this will win us federal more pedestrian-friendly. NOACA's governing board. Parma Mayor support." Euclid Avenue, between downtown and Uni­ Gerald Boldt cast the lone dissenting vote. He versity Circle, is GCRTA's busiest bus route. It leads Cuyahoga County's second-largest city, and passes through densely populated neighborhoods didn't feel his community was seeing its share New Elyria-Cleveland and commercial districts that are highly transit­ of transit investments. oriented. About 40 percent of all households Part of the brokered deal requires that an analy­ Airport bus service! along this route are without a car. With more than sis be completed to determine the viability and ELYRIA- OARP sponsor Lorain County 28,000 daily riders, Euclid Avenue buses between funding strategy to extend major transit improve­ Transit is starting up regular bus service, run­ downtown and University Circle carry more ments to the West Side of the City of Cleveland ning Mondays through Fridays, from Elyria to people than some U.S. rail transit lines. via Lorain Road or any other east/west corridor. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The One of those rail lines is the east-side segment This could involve the westward extension of boarding site is on the south side of Elyria, at of GCRTA's Airport-Windermere Red Line. the Euclid Corridor's electric trolleys through the Value City parking lot on Elyria-Oberlin GCRTA originally wanted to reroute the Red some of the transit-oriented ethnic neighbor­ Road. This site is served by LCT's daily Lorain­ Line down Euclid Avenue under the "Dual Hub" hoods of the West Side. Elyria-Oberlin buses. plan, which would have also involved the con­ Another part of the deal by NOACA stipulates At Hopkins Airport, convenient connections struction of a $450 million, 1-mile-long subway that GCRTA will make its next major transit can be made to the rest of the world, or to the through downtown. project an extension of rail service to the sub­ Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's Instead of relocating the east-side Red Line, urbs. GCRTA officials said a number of rail ex­ (GCRTA) Red Line rapid transit for downtown three of its stations will be relocated to tap into pansions already being planned would fit that Cleveland and other metro Cleveland destina­ urban neighborhoods that have undergone sig­ description, including extensions of the existing tions. Trains run every 6-15 minutes, from 4:30 nificant redevelopment in recent years, includ­ Rapid system or creation of new diesel-powered a.m.-10 p.m. daily. GCRTA's "Rapid" station is ing Little Italy and Bicentennial Village. Other commuter trains on freight railroad tracks. U.S. an escalator/elevator ride down from the airport's stations will be completely rebuilt in place. About Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Lak:ewood) has his baggage claim area. $75 million will be invested in these rebuilt and own preference. For schedule and fare information for LCT's relocated stations. This should help generate new "We asked for the extension of the Rapid (Red Elyria-airport buses, call (440) 329-5545 during traffic to the East Side Red Line, which carried Line southwest from the Airport) to Berea," he regular business hours or visit their Web site at 60,000 riders a day in the 1960s, but sees fewer said. "I certainly think that we need to look at www.loraincounty.com/lct any time. Eight The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Illinois puts rail on fast track Columbus to decide its transit future Midwest system is coming to life By Ken Prendergast cago--for improvements to tracks, signals, sta­ - "COTA levy", from page one----­ OARP Vice-President tions and operating grants to Amtrak. cent sales tax-would pay for bus service ex­ Illinois Governor George Ryan approved leg­ Here is a breakdown of how the $70 million pansion and commuter rail. Having a permanent islation that will create a huge infrastructure pro­ will be invested in the Chicago-St. Louis high­ portion of the sales tax will allow COTA to le­ gram called Illinois First, which includes fund­ speed rail project: verage federal money for the construction costs ing to upgrade much of the Chicago-St. Louis • $10 million state match (already committed) of the commuter rail system. Federal funds will Amtrak route for 110 mph speeds. While the to complete the Positive Train Control signal/ probably pay about half of these costs. amount of money in Illinois First for high-speed traffic control system project on the 112-mile seg­ COTA had considered placing a single, Y2-per­ rail is only $70 million, it will combine with other ment between Dwight and Springfield. The cent, permanent tax on the ballot, but decided to state, federal and Amtrak funds to make high­ American Association of Railroads and the Fed­ split it into one permanent and one temporary speed service a reality on this route in as little as eral Railroad Administration are picking up the tax to give COTA more accountability to tax­ four years. tab for the lion's share of this project. Total in­ payers. Current polls indicate support by a ma­ The plan, while not a billion-dollar "bullet vestment in the PTC project is about $50-60 mil­ jority of voters to increase the tax. In 1995, train" in the Japanese or European sense in which lion; COTA placed a tax increase on the ballot, but it trains routinely reach speeds in excess of 150 • $30 million to improve the track between failed after a rail component was dropped from mph, does create a building-block approach to­ Dwight and Springfield to allow 110 mph run­ consideration. This caused support by many sub­ ward realizing high-speed service. ning, thereby cutting 30 minutes from what is urban residents to disappear. This time around, · Passage of the high-speed rail funding in Illi­ already a speedy, 1-hour, 56-minute trip; Franklin County voters will finally have the op­ nois has gotten the attention of officials in other • $10 million to fix grade crossing signals be­ portunity to decide whether rail transit should Midwest states, notably in Wisconsin where tween Dwight and Springfield, including the re­ be part of their community. Governor Tommy Thompson is seeking funding wiring of circuits to accommodate faster trains to create 110 mph passenger rail service between by allowing proper timing between gate activa­ Chicago and Milwaukee, with future extensions tion and train arrival; and Help wanted! to Madison and Minneapolis. Michigan, the Fed­ • $20 million as part of a 50/50 match with Amtrak funds to purchase four sets of equipment eral Railroad Administration, and Amtrak already Tired of seeing Ken Prendergast's name atop for the corridor. invested tens of millions of dollars to re­ newsletter articles or in the photo credits be­ build a long section of the Detroit-Chicago neath many pictures? So is he! Lately, the situ­ rail line so that Amtrak passenger trains ation has gotten better, but more contributions will soon be able to operate at 100 mph to the newsletter are always needed. speeds. With your help, we can make this a more Nine Midwest states last year developed well-rounded publication that better represents plans for an 11-route network for faster the geographic areas it covers. Follow the sub­ trains, including 110 mph speeds on most mission guidelines on Page two for sending lines. The high-speed rail development all plan, dubbed the Midwest RegionalRail r,...:_,.,:._...,...... :..-.-- ,E:L..~~.:.r....~ "-- - - cntcago ana MilwauKee, wnn tuture extensiOns I.J.VJ.I QIIU U.Q.lll Q.J.J.J. Va.I, a..UU .A...A..'-".At' TT U..Aia.'-''-& e to Madison and Minneapolis. Michigan, the Fed­ • $20 million as part of a 50/50 match with Amtrak funds to purchase four sets of equipment eral Railroad Administration, and Amtrak already Tired of seeing Ken Prendergast's name atop for the corridor. invested tens of millions of dollars to re­ newsletter articles or in the photo credits be­ build a long section of the Detroit-Chicago neath many pictures? So is he! Lately, the situ­ rail line so that Amtrak passenger trains ation has gotten better, but more contributions will soon be able to operate at 100 mph to the newsletter are always needed. >"' speeds. With your help, we can make this a more Nine Midwest states last year developed well-rounded publication that better represents plans for an 11-route network for faster the geographic areas it covers. Follow the sub­ trains, including 110 mph speeds on most mission guidelines on Page two for sending lines. The high-speed rail development all photos and some articles. If you are con­ plan, dubbed the Midwest Regional Rail tributing articles from Michigan, please send Initiative (MRRI), included routes from them first to John DeLora (see page eleven for Chicago through Indiana, Michigan, and address, phone, and e-mail). Ohio to cities such as Cincinnati, Cleve­ We may not be able to use all contributions land, Detroit, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Ken Prendergast 'photo all the time, but it's better to have them and Rapids, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, Port not need them, than to need them and not have The remainder of rail funding in Illinois First Huron, South Bend, and Toledo. A number of them! Chicago-area skeptics of the rail plan have since will be invested in other Illinois passenger cor­ become converts. They now recognize the plan ridors and will yield the following improve­ Additionally, Metra (the Chicago-area com­ will eliminate local pressures for building a third ments: muter rail agency) is spending $11 million for Chicago airport. • $11 million to provide cab signals for Am­ improvements on the Chicago-Joliet line. This Just completing lines to Detroit, St. Louis and trak trains between Aurora and Galesburg, al­ includes improved traffic control systems, tracks Milwaukee would be "like developing a little lowing for 90 mph service and cutting 20 min­ and switches to allow the faster operation of pas­ Midway Airport and dropping it in the heart of utes of the travel time; senger trains (commuter and high-speed) over the Loop," says Paul A. Karas, president of Grove • $1.5 million for various projects on the Mil­ the line. Management Co., a Chicago infrastructure waukee and Carbondale lines. The Carbondale While the improvements budgeted represent consultancy. His comments appeared in the June trains (as well as trains from Indianapolis and only a portion of the total $450 million cost of 21 edition of Crain s Chicago Business. "What's Cincinnati) will benefit from track improvements attaining 110 mph service over the entire Chi­ the logical outcome of the status quo? Conges­ at Grand Crossing which is being funded from cago-St. Louis route, the state's investment is a tion on the roads and at the airports is just going other sources; huge step forward. Ultimately, the Illinois De­ to get worse." • $5 million for station improvements state­ partment of Transportation and Amtrak are work~ Illinois' new law includes bond money in the wide; and ing toward operating 10 round-trip trains per day, amount of $150 million for highway-rail grade • $10 million for a freight program. Chicago­ on a 3-hour, 42-minute schedule for the 282-mile crossing improvements, $70 million for work area rail advocates report that this is for fixing route. Currently, there are only three round trips related to high-speed rail, and another $30 mil­ freight bottlenecks around Chicago, and that the per day on this route, on a 5-hour, 30 minute lion for other passenger and freight rail items. Chicago-Joliet segment (used by Chicago-St. schedule. Once all the improvements are imple­ This is on top of millions of dollars the state has Louis Amtrak trains) is an obvious candidate for mented, the trains are expected to cover their already invested in the Chicago-St. Louis route­ these funds, with both freight, commuter and operating costs from passenger and package ex­ and several other lines emanating from Chi- planned high-speed service on it. press revenues. The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Nine Clock is ticking on Summer Travel Alerts Capitol Ltd.-Florida Amtrak travel discounts connection problems Time is running out for you to take advantage of sev- (Chicago- New Orleans) and Sunset Limited (Los Ange- Connections at Washington D.C. eral summer travel promotions on Amtrak. Many of the les - Orlando) will feature interpretive guides providing will no longer be guaranteed between fare discounts are intended to benefit families, seniors, on-board commentary on geographical highlights, cultural train 1130,the eastbound Capitol Lim­ and children, but there are others who will benefit. The and natural history while customers enjoy the breathtak- ited, and train #91, the southbound following are some of Amtrak's most popular travel pro- ing views. Trails & Rails are in partnership with the Na- Silver Star. The Capitol Limited op­ motions: tional Park Service, Eastern National and National Park erates daily between Chicago, South Amtrak Explore America Fares - For one low fare, Foundation. Bend, Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, travelers can visit one, two or three regions of the country Degas Express - In partnership with the New Amtrak Washington D.C., and a number of for a period of up to 45 days, with as many as three planned Orleans Museum of Art, art lovers can take Amtrak's Cres- smaller towns enroute. The Silver stopovers along the way. Summer fares range from $239 cent (New York- New Orleans), City of New Orleans (Chi- Star, also daily, links New York City, to $399, with a special $99 fare for travel within the state cago- New Orleans) and Sunset Limited (Los Angeles- Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Rich­ of Florida. New Orleans - Orlando) to en- mond, VA, Raleigh, NC, Charles­ North America Rail Pass - joy to works of French Impres- town, SC, Savannah, GA, and many Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada of- sionist painter Edgar Degas. The cities in Florida including Jackson­ fer the North America Rail Pass, travel package includes dis- ville, ·Orlando, West Palm Beach and which gives travelers 30 con- counted rail tickets, hotel accom- Miami. secutive days of travel anywhere modations and admission to the 1 While the connecting time at Wash­ in the U.S. and Canada, with un- [ exhibit. ington D.C. between trains #30 and limited stopovers. The summer jj: Kids Always Ride For Half- #91 is 1Y2 hours, Amtrak has not been fare is $645. ~·Price - Amtrak's year-round able to make this connection. Now, Amtrak Vacations - Amtrak 50% discount for children ages offers a variety of complete va- 2-15, traveling with an adult is passengers wishing to make the con­ cation packages year-round pro- the best family vacation value in nection will have to wait in Washing­ viding transportation, lodging the travel industry. (Kids under ton D.C. until11 p.m. to catch south­ and tours to places like New York Additional year-round savings are available only through 2 ride free). bound train #97, the Silver Meteor. City, Niagara Falls, Colonial Amtrak's "Rail Sale" page of their Web site, www.amtrak.com Kids Fare Better Than Half Fortunately, there is more frequent Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Chicago, Branson, Off On The Auto Train - For only $29 one-way or $58 service out of Washington D.C. to MO, Seattle, San Francisco and many others popular des- round trip, kids (ages 2 to 15) can ride on Amtrak's Auto Vtrginia cities like Richmond, so the tinations. Travelers can customize their own package to Train. Amtrak's one-of-a-kind Auto Train carries passen- wait won't be anywhere near as long include additional destinations, car rentals and Amtrak's gers and their cars, automobiles, vans, and motorcycles as it will be to points farther south. Air Rail plan (see below). every day between Lorton, Va., in suburban Washington, The reason for this change is the Amtrak Air Rail - Amtrak Air Rail Packages allow D.C., to Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. continuing late operation of train vacationers to travel one way by train and the other way Seniors Discount - Seniors, 62 years of age and above, #30, primarily due to freight conges- passengers wishing to make the con­ offers a variety of complete va- 2-15, traveling with an adult is nection will have to wait in Washing­ cation packages year-round pro- the best family vacation value in ton D.C. until11 p.m. to catch south­ viding transportation, lodging the travel industry. (Kids under bound train 1197, the Silver Meteor. and tours to places like New York Additional year-round savings are available only through 2 ride free). City, Niagara Falls, Colonial Amtrak's "Rail Sale" page of their Web site, www.amtrak.com Kids Fare Better Than Half Fortunately, there is more frequent Williamsburg, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Chicago, Branson, Off On The Auto Train - For only $29 one-way or $58 service out of Washington D.C. to MO, Seattle, San Francisco and many others popular des- round trip, kids (ages 2 to 15) can ride on Amtrak's Auto Yrrginia cities like Richmond, so the wait won't be anywhere near as long ,- tinations. Travelers can customize their own package to Train. Amtrak's one-of-a-kind Auto Train carries passen- i include additional destinations, car rentals and Amtrak's gers and their cars, automobiles, vans, and motorcycles as it will be to points farther south. r Air Rail plan (see below). every day between Lorton, Va., in suburban Washington, The reason for this change is the continuing late operation of train ~. Amtrak Air Rail - Amtrak Air Rail Packages allow D.C., to Sanford, Fla., just outside of Orlando. #30, primarily due to freight conges­ ~·.vacationers to travel one way by train and the other way Seniors Discount - Seniors, 62 years of age and above, tion on Norfolk Southern and CSX ~·by plane on United Airlines. always receive a 15 percent discount off the regular fare,

Cruise Rail - Cruise Rail means vacationers can take s~ialone-way fares, and reduced Explore America Fares. between Chicago and Washington Amtrak to Miaini, Tampa, Port Canaveral (Orlando), New For more information on schedules, fares and reserva- D.C. Until July 13, Amtrak has been Orleans, Los Angeles and Vancouver, B.C., for a three-, tions, visit a travel agency, visit Amtrak's web site at providing buses from Pittsburgh to four- or seven-day ocean cruise. www.amtrak.com or call Amtrak toll-free at (800) USA- Washington D.C. for passengers Trails & Rails Program- This summer, Amtrak's Cres- RAIL. For information on Amtrak Vacations, call 1-800- connecting to train #91. cent (New York- New Orleans), City of New Orleans 321-8684. "We've learned that our customers do not see a five-hour bus ride as an acceptable alternative," according to OARP board hires Mayors form A01trak an Amtrak release. "Nor is it accept­ able to hold train 1191at Washington for the amount of time often required its office manager advisory council to make this connection. The Eastern The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers' Board Mayors from throughout the U.S. have organized a and Atlantic Coast Business Groups

of Directors has hired John Stacy of Columbus on a part­ 21-member Amtrak Mayors' Advisory Council to bol­ are working to reestablish this co~­ time basis to run many of the association's business af­ ster local support for intercity passenger rail, raise aware­ nection with the fall schedule change, fairs. In addition to keeping the OARP Hotline up-to­ ness of its important transportation role, and support but for the summer, it is not fair to date (614) 470-0334, Mr. Stacy will distribute letters and Amtrak's efforts to improve and expand. our customers to promise a connec­ action alerts to the membership, seek grants and other "There is a clamoring for more and better rail service tion that is not being made." fundraising, develop a database of potential corporate in big cities and small towns throughout the U.S., and and organizational sponsors, and send them invitations collectively, these mayors will raise their voices to sup­ New Michigan to become, OARP sponsors. port a stronger Amtrak for their community," said Mayor While OARP is committing existing association re­ John Robert Smith, Amtrak Board member and mayor sources so this important work can be done, it is the discount fare! board's belief that this position can be self-supporting. . otMeridian, Mississippi. With every full fare-paying adult, Mr. Stacy also provides office management services to Fortunately, there is one mayor from each of the three up to two kids may travel for free on other organizations and associations, and has many states covered by The Passenger Rail News. From In­ the Grand Rapids-Chicago Pere Mar­ worthwhile contacts in business and government. He is diana, there is Elkhart Mayor Jim Perron. Michigan has quette. The special offer is available the second person OARP has hired this year. Last win­ Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido. Finally, Ohio is rep­ for travel on Monday through ter, the board selected Christine Vineis of Columbus as resented by Mayor Chuck Sanders of Waynesville, near Wednesday only and will run through the association's government affairs director. Xenia. Most states have no representation. Aug. 31. l tA,- Ten The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Pennsylvanian marketing underway By Lee Bullock President, Amtrak Intercity Huntingdon, Lewistown, and Paoli, Penn. Am­ transportation needs of residents of northern Ohio Amtrak was pleased to host the members of the trak service has also been promoted on the Pitts­ and Indiana. And, as I have indicated, Amtrak is Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers, state burgh Steelers Radio Network. aggressively promoting the train in markets we and local officials from cities throughout Indi­ We were happy to host OARP [Past] President feel will bear fruit with more customers. ana, Ohio and Pennsylvanian, local media, and Mark Carlson in Wilmington, Del., in January to Our record to date bears out our increased em­ of course paying customers aboard the inaugural solicit your organization's input and discuss ad­ phasis on better service for the traveling public. run of its newly-extended Pennsylvanian (Phila­ ditional ways to promote the Pennsylvanian. Our In fiscal year 1998, we had the greatest ridership delphia-Pittsburgh extended to Cleveland, Toledo, marketing plan is ongoing and has shown results. increase in a decade--4.5 percent-and passen­ South Bend and Chicago). This train, now oper­ Ridership aboard the Pennsylvanian continues to ger revenue topped $1 billion for the first time in ating between Philadelphia and Chicago via increase steadily relative to its pre-extension lev­ history. Commercial ventures that Amtrak is pur­ northern Ohio and Indiana on a daylight sched­ els. suing, like increasing our transport of mail and ule, presents Amtrak with an opportunity to "show OARP Vice President Ken Prendergast and I express, have helped support the nation system off' train travel to customers who haven't tried had the opportunity to discuss prospects for and allowed for expansion of service for our core passenger rail travel before. Amtrak's expanded train service while on board market, transporting passengers. Customers along Many of these communities had not been served the inaugural run. Mr. Prendergast commented the routes of the Three Rivers (Chicago-Akron­ by daytime passenger trains since well before on the substance of our conversation in the ''Train New York City) and Texas Eagle (Chicago-Dal­ Amtrak's inception. There are many residents who of Thought" editorial column in the December las-San Antonio) as well as the Pennsylvania route heretofore had not considered tramtravel because 1998 issue of The Passenger Rail News. How­ have benefited. of the pre-dawn arrival and departure times of ever, Mr. Prendergast's apparent misinterpreta­ Organizations like OARP have been helpful in services we provided prior to the Pennsylvanian's tion of the essence of my statement, "Well, now telling the story of a renewed, more customer­ extension. We realize that for our new service to that you've got this train, you have to promote focused Amtrak to the traveling public and be successful, we have a job on our hands, re­ it," deeply concell1s me .. policyl;Ilakers on the federal, state, and local level. acquainting residents of northern Ohio and Indi­ The suggestion that Amtrak was shifting respon­ We value that alliance and look forward to con­ ana with the benefits of travel by train. sibility for marketing the new Pennsylvanian to tinuing a positive working relationship. In order to deveiop public awareness and to the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers was introduce this new service to communities and a misrepresentation. We have always looked to prospective customers along the route, Amtrak advocacy organizations like OARP to support the Help support Sen. initiated a marketing program aimed at position­ goals of Amtrak, that of carrying more passen­ ing the-extended PennsylvaniaiJ._{

~ ana with the benefits of travel by train. sibility for marketing the new Pennsylvanian to tinuing a positive working relationship. In order to deveiop public awareness and to the Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers was introduce this new service to communities and a misrepresentation. We have always looked to prospective customers along the route, Amtrak advocacy organizations like OARP to support the Help support Sen. initiated a marketing program aimed at position- goals of Amtrak, that of carrying more passen- • • :·ing·the:extended Pennsylvaniaf] J~vontbly~Withget'S ·and pr6viding a convenient travel altema- 'll'OIDOVIC h' _S_ bill ... demographic groups our marketing data have tive for the public. Operating a financially viable, Your help is needed to win passage of a very determined are most likely to try train travel. customer-focused and market-driven passenger important piece of national legislation. u.s. sena­ Amtrak is sponsoring radio traffic reports in rail system is the best means of doing so, and the tors George V. Voinovich (R-dH) and John H. Cleveland and Pittsburgh, continues to place spot responsibility for providing this service and mar- Chafee (R-Rl) introduced a bill that would let states radio advertisements in Fort Wayne and South keting it rests with Amtrak. spend their flexible Transportation Efficiency Act Bend, Ind., Sandusky and Toledo, Ohio, and Erie, From the advocacy community, I ask what Am- for the 21st Century (TEA-21) dollars on intercity Johnstown, Harrisburg and Altoona, Penn. We trak asks of the general public, give us a try, we passenger rail investments. a~sopurchased newspaper advertisements in have a new service which we think addresses the Chafee chairs the Committee on Environment and Public Works; Voinovich chairs its Subcom­ mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. TEA- 21 is the big highway/transit law enacted last year. The new flexibility in the proposed legislation, S.ll44, dubbed the "Surface Transportation Act of 1999," applies to National Highway System, Sur­ face Transportation Program and- in certain situ­ ations - Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds (see "Governors, mayors want rail funds" page five). Under current law, intercity passenger rail is the only major form of surface transportation on which federal law forbids states to spend gasoline-tax­ generated funds. This lack of federal matching dollars for rail passenger improvements means that states will instead look to make investments in highways and aviation only. When you write letters asking your U.S. Se!Ja­ tors to support this bill, please refer to it hy its name and number (Surface Transportation Act of 1999 - S.1144). Give personal reasons why you want Robert Boyce photo your senators to support this bill. And, if you live Now who. has the right of way! This spring, crews moved the only edifice remaining from Columbus Union Station-an in Ohio, please don't forget to send a letter of thanks ornate arch-from Arch Park to a new park next to Nationwide Arena. The arena, now under construction, is where the to Senators Voinovich and Mike DeWine for sup­ Columbus Bluejackets of the National Hockey League will play starting next year. Columbus Union Station stood on North porting this bill. Write to your senators at the "U.S. High Street, near Arch Park, prior to being demolished in 1976. Now, Arch Park is being obliterated for a new parking Senate, Washington D.C. 20510" or call them at garage. Moving the 400-ton arch two-tenths of mile to its new location required five days of snail-like movement. Here, the arch is seen rolling over the Cleveland-Cincinnati rail line. (202) 224-3121. The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Eleven T&v1f1genMmhers PLEASE PATRONIZEfHESE AUTHORIZED TRAVEL AGENTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS: Akron/Stow Parkside Travel U S A (330) 688-3334 Joel Brown Alliance Alliance AAA Travel (330) 821-2323 (330) 456-6315 Canal Fulton Massillon AAA Travel (330) 854-6616 Cincinnati Joy Tour & Travel, Inc. (513) 777-8221 Roberta Sprague Cleveland Ohio Motorist Association/AAA Travel (216) 606-6080 Cleveland Randall Park Mall Travel Agency (440) 475-8747 (800) 999-2434 Robert Peck Columbus Accessible Travel Agency (614) 792-3555 (800) 837-2822 Jude Cuddy Columbus Ohio Automobile Club/AAA Travel (614) 431-7823 Elyria Tours & Travel Service, Inc. (440) 323-5423 (800) 443-7789 Mike McCiister Mansfield Mansfield Travel Center (419) 756-8747 Jay Gilbert Massillon Massillon AAA Travel (330) 833-1034 Cheryl Anderson Piqua Miami County Auto Club/AAA Travel (937) 773-3753 Sandusky Sandusky Travel Service, Inc. (419) 626-4633 Roberta Slyker Solon Astro Amtrak Tours (440) 519-7331 (800) 759-7404 "Amtrak AI" Mladineo Troy Miami County Auto Club/AAA Travel (937) 339-0112 Authorized Amtrak travel agents who wish to join OARP, maintain current membership status, and be listed in the TRAM DIRECTORY should send a $50 check, made payable to OARP, to: Tom Allen, Treasurer; 610 Executive Blvd; Delaware OH 43015-1159. The TRAM annual listing fee entitles you to list your CITY, the NAME OF YOUR AGENCY, one LOCAL PHONE NUMBER, one LONG DISTANCE PHONE NUMBER, and the name of one CONTACT at the agency. Renewals will be billed by the Treasurer. Updated: Sept. 1998 Directory of the region's associations of railroad passengers Ohio Michigan OARP's 24-hour News and Information Hotline 614/ 470-0334 CHAIRMAN James Rilen [email protected] I 3017 Lowe PRESIDENT Bill Hutchison [email protected] r:J:J Kalamazoo Ml 49001 • 616/342-4379 474 Delaware Court ~ Westerville 43081 614/470-0334 Q) VICE-CHAIRMAN Alan Gebauer u 2705 Warwick Dr PAST-PRESIDENT Mark Carlson mdcarlson@ ameritech.net ...... r:J:J Bloomfield Hills Ml48304-1861 248/338-844 7 ~ 479 Humiston Drive ~ f Q) Bay Villag~44140-3017 440/331-3161 Si;CRETARY John DeLora sfna @mich.com " u 0 VICE~PRESIDENTKcimPreri~d~rg~st . [email protected] 20707 Ed!l,ewood · 12029 Clifton Blvd #505 St. Clair S ores Ml 4808()..1862 810/772-7842 tE Lakewood 44107-2161 216/529-7677 I 0 TREASURER Terrance Donnelley SECRETARY Ed D'Amato eddiejoe@ compuserve.com 910 Highland Dr 2093 W Case Road Marquette Ml 49855-9319 906/249-9920 Columbus 43235-7526 614/451-7103 DIRECTOR Clark Chametski TREASURER Tom Allen djalle@ midohio.net 2646 Traver Blvd 610 Executive Blvd I Ann Arh,..r lAI AQinr::: '7-:»A I '7£:!1·_-:tQ-t A OARP's 24-hour News and In ormation Hotline 6 CHAIRMAN -----James Riley [email protected] 3017 Lowell PRESIDENT Bill Hutchison [email protected] r::n Kalamazoo Ml49001 • 6161 342-4379 474 Delaware Court 1-4 Westerville 43081 6141470-0334 (1.) VICE-CHAIRMAN Alan Gebauer . U 2705 Warwick Dr PAST-PRESIDENT Mark Ca~son. [email protected] Bloomfield Hills Ml48304-1861 r::n u:= 248/338-8447 1-4 479 Hurmston Dnve 4-i (1.) John Delora . [email protected] ... ,- ..··· Bayyn~a~~~'~40~3017. ~0/3~1~·3161 SE9RETARY (.) ... 0 20707 Ed·ewood · · vfCE~PRESIDENTKen Prendergast [email protected] . I St. Clair S~oresMI4808D-1862 810/772-7842 E 12029 Clifton Blvd #505 0 Lakewood 44107-2161 2161529-7677 TREASURER Terrance Oonnelley SECRETARY Ed D'Amato eddiejoe@ compuserve.com 910 Highland Dr 2093 W Case Road Marquette Ml49855-9319 906/ 249-9920 Columbus 43235-7526 6141451-7103 DIRECTOR Clark Charnetski TREASURER Tom Allen djalle@ midohio.net 2646 Traver Blvd 610 Executive Blvd Ann Arbor Ml48105 734/761-3814 Delaware 43015-1159 740 1369-5804 00. DIRECTOR Jeff Godshall AREA 21613301440 Dominic Liberatore [email protected] 406 Oakland 28200 Detroit Road Unit D-2 Royal Oak Ml 48067 Westlake 44145 440 I 835-6532 su DIRECTOR Robert KinKead I Transportation 2000 AREA 419 Kat'J(Wigton dkwigton@ rich net. net ~ 270 Peterson Road ...... POBox 32901 Mansfield 44903 4191589-7583 Detroit Ml 48232 0 _,..., DIRECTOR George Schlaepfer AREA 5131937 Kevin McChord kmcchord@ pol. net ·"' r::n 5986 Meadow Creek Dr #4 14232 Brentwood 1-4 Livonia Ml48154 734/427-8195 0 Milford 4515D-6514 ~ AREA 614/740 John Manni~ [email protected] EXECUTIVE John Delara See listing above u 204 Reinhar Avenue en DIRECTOR ~ Columbus 43206 6141443-8742 ...... METRO DETROIT CHAIRMAN John Delora 810/772-7842 [email protected] 2 0 AT-LARGE Dan Roberts WESTERN CHAIRMAN David Vanderbee 616/ 452-3495 12 Westerville S~;,Ste 275 ~ Westerville 4308 6141899-7848 ..d EAST CENTRAL CHAIRMAN Richard Pekarek 810/695-1091 YOOPER CHAIRMAN Terrance Donnelley 906/ 249-9920 AT-LARGE Robert Williams [email protected] u 3238 Nash Avenue Cincinnati 45226 5131321-9048 National Associationof Railroad Passengers AT-LARGE Dave Lebold diebold@ hotmail.com NARP Passenger RaiiNews Hotline (24-hours - Not a free call) 900 1988-RAIL 5003 Arbor Village Dr #C-39 Executive Director Ross Capon 202 I 408-8362 Columbus 43214-1667 6141 436-5240 Assistant Director Scott Leonard fax-202 I 408-8287 ~ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ken Prendergast see listing above 900 Second Street, NE #308 e\J GOV'T AFFAIRS Bill Hutchison see listing above Washington DC 20002-3557 U5 NEWSPAPER EDITOR Ken Prendergast see listing above e-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.narprail.org

1 ·w·r" A~EAC60ES Cleveland vacant NARP Region 6 Directors I 00 2161 330 I 440: Elyria Phil Copeland 440 I 365-7970 1-4 330 I 544-3203 Warren G. Douglas Hudson Paul Arden 2191947-0126 Alan Gebauer See list above r ..9 AREA CODE Toledo Vacant 1466 Grand Isle Ct r e\J 419: Lima John H. Keller, Sr. 4191224-9936 HobartiN 46342 Mark Carlson See list at left I S:: Mansfield Richard A. Fry 4191 526-3775 ;a Sandusky Steve La Conte 419 I 668-6225 W. Mike Weber 513/891-9251 Vacancy 9800 Misty Morn Lane 1-4 AREA CODES Cincinnati W. Mike Weber 5131891-9251 Cincinnati OH 45242-5450 0 5131937: Dayton Linda Leas 937 1253-9448 • Clermont Ronald D. Garner 513 I 444-3098 J. Howard Harding 330/867-5507 Springfield Stephen Klipfel James Dingus, Jr. 440/561-9200 0 937 I 882-6521 20600 Chagrin Blvd. #701 489 Overwood Rd. i U AREA CODES Columbus Robert Boyce 6141486-7038 Cleveland OH 44122-5996 Akron OH 44313-5327 t 1 614 /740: Delaware Tom Allen 740 I 369-5804 Updated: August 1999 Twelve The Passenger Rail News, August 1999

by sending a tax-deductible dona­ In September the state's 2-C Cor­ tion check payable to: ridor committee will make its rec­ ommendation to the Ohio Depart­ "OARP 3-C Campaign" ment of Transportation (ODoT). Tom Allen, Treasurer Not only does OARP want to 610 Executive Blvd. make sure that trains are recom­ Delaware OH 43015 mended by the committee, but we J also want ODoT to accept their The Ohio Association of Railroad Passen­ ) recommendation. gers is incorporated in Ohio as a non-profit OARP has created a special cam­ association under the IRS Code, Section paign to fund our professional rep­ 50l(c)(3) as a publicly supported educational resentative and other OARP educa­ organization. Dues and donations to OARP ·~. tional efforts to achieve our primary ~aybe tax -deductible in accordance with the IRS Code. Mark Carlson map goal - 3-C passenger trains. Regional Calendar of Events/Meetings August 1999 Date Event Time Location Address Contact person & telephone number 14 Columbus Local Meeting 9:30a.m. Red Door Tavern 1736 West 5th Avenue Bob Boyce 614/486-7038 16 2-C Initiative- Committee Mtgs 10:00 a.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 2-C Initiative- Steering Cmte 1:00 p.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 21 OARP Board Meeting 10:00 a.m. Delaware Library Delaware OH Bill Hutchison 614 I 470-0334

SentPm hPr 1 ()()() ,_. .. ,...,...~ .... c;:; .. -.ac::ac:a:a: -e*"""** Augus~;9;;.,I't'Icca.••~ •) '""••.,.,

Date Event Time Location Address Contact person & telephone number 14 Columbus Local Meeting 9:30a.m. Red Door Tavern 1736 West 5th Avenue Bob Boyce 614/486-7038 ' ' ~ 16 2-C Initiative- Committee Mtgs 10:00 a.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 2-C Initiative - Steering Cmte 1:00p.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 21 OARP Board Meeting 10:00 a.m. Delaware Library Delaware OH Bill Hutchison 614 I 470-0334

September 1999 Date Event Time Location Address Contact person & telephone number 11 Columbus Local Meeting 9:30a.m. Red Door Tavern 1736 West 5th Avenue Bob Boyce 614 I 486-7038 9 ORDC- Committee Mtg. 9:00a.m. Riffe Center 31st Floor 77 South High Street Lynda Nelson 614 I 644-7176 ORDC -Full Commission * 10:45 a.m. Riffe Center 31st Floor 77 South High Street Lynda Nelson 614 I 644-7176 * approximate. Full Commission meeting follow Committee Meetings 20 2-C Initiative- Committee Mtgs 10:00 a.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 2-C Initiative- Steering Cmte 1:00 p.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 30 Lorain County Meeting 7:00p.m. Oberlin Public Library 65 South Main, Oberlin Phil Copeland 440 / 365-7970

/ October 1999 Date Event Time Location Address Contact person & telephone number 9 Columbus Local Meeting 9:30a.m. Red Door.Tavern 1736 West 5th Avenue Bob Boyce 614 I 486-7038 11 MARP Annual Meeting 12:00noon KalamazooCentralLibnuy, 315 Rose St., Kalamazoo John DeLora 810 I 772-7842 16 OARP Fall Membership Mtg 9:30a.m. Columbus TBA John Stacy 614 I 470-0034 18 2-C Initiative - Committee Mtgs 10:00 a.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306 2-C Initiative - Steering Cmte 1:00p.m. ODoT West Broad St. "Hilltop" Office Complex Don Damron 614 I 644-0306

22-23 .NARP Board Meeting Toronto Colony Hotel, 89 Chestnut St., Toronto Ont. Jane Colgrove 202 I 408-8362 .,.

All meetings are subject to change. We firmly suggest that you confirm dates, times, and locations for all meetings. Anyone wishing to have their meeting or event listed in this directory, please send the information to: Ken Prendergast, Editor 12029 Clifton Boulevard #505 Lakewood OH 44107-2101 216 I 529-7677

e-mail: kjprendergast@em~l.msn.com. Deadline for submissions is the 15!1!of the even numbered months I l\;1ichigan o Ohio o Indiana II Intercity Rail • Public Transit • Commuter Rail • Intermodal Special Supplement What's in Columbus' How you can help By Ed D' Amato transit tax levy? OARP Secretary Although polls indicate support by By Ed D' Amato south light-rail line along High Street, between the Brew­ most voters to increase the Frank­ OARP Secretary ery District and the Short North area. The exact termini lin County sales tax to pay for As early as 2005, Central Ohioans could be zip­ for the light-rail line have not yet been determined. COTA's Vision 2020 expansion ping past traffic jams in Fast Trax commuter trains. plans, opposition has already As for the commuter rail component, it will be imple­ They could also be enjoying a convenient link to a emerged. Factions which helped mented in two tiers. First-tier routes would include: downtown light-rail circulator and a bus system defeat a 1997 tax to build a sports • Downtown to north Columbus and Worthington along doubled in size, with 24-hour service on a dozen arena in Columbus, voiced opposi­ the CSX (former Conrail/New York Central Railroad); routes. tion as soon as COTA's board yoted \ • Downtown to Westerville (former Pennsylvania Rail­ Those components would be realized if Franklin to place the levy on the November road); County voters support a pair of transit levies, each a r--- ballot on May 26. " lA-percent sales tax. The levies would fund the Cen­ Central Ohio OARP members can tral Ohio Transit Authority's (COTA) "Vision 2020: help promote the levy by writing --- \ Transportation for a Great Community." letters to The Columbus Dispatch J and other local pap~rs,calling local '\' \ ' The Vision 2020 plan has four major components: radio talk shows, and asking com­ • At the core of the plan is to double existing bus munity organizations to support the service, expand cross-town bus routes and offer 24- initiative. hour service on major bus routes to get people to OARP members can also help by \ their jobs at any time of the day or night. volunteering to become a "COTA • Introduce Fast Trax commuter trains. The plan Ambassador." COTA is recruiting has 41 rail stations and a Qradua] ohase-in of eivht -...... ,.- - ISJUeea .. ; • Downtown to Westerville (former Pennsylvanla-Rail-=­ Those components would be realized Franklin to place the levy on the November if road); County voters support a pair of transit levies, each a ballot on May 26. - Central Ohio OARP members can ~A-percentsales tax. The levies would fund the Cen­ tral Ohio Transit Authority's (COTA) "Vision 2020: help promote the levy by writing ' ·-. l Transportation for a Great Community." letters to The Columbus Dispatch and other local pa~rs,calling local ~·( The Vision 2020 plan has four major components: '¥ radio talk shows, and asking com­ ;. • At the core of the plan is to double existing bus munity organizations to support the ! service, expand cross-town bus routes and offer 24- initiative. hour service on major bus routes to get people to OARP members can also help by ) their jobs at any time of the day or night. volunteering to become a "COTA • Introduce Fast Trax commuter trains. plan The Ambassador." COTA is recruiting J I has 41 rail stations and a gradual phase-in of eight Ambassadors to help educate the Co­ I routes on existing rail corridors in and out of down­ lumbus community about Vision I town Columbus. On the busiest corridors, separate ' 2020. Ambassadors will receive spe­ ) tracks will be constructed. cial training about Vision 2020 and • Develop intelligent transportation systems. This ' invitations to Vision 2020 events. would use new and existing technologies to shorten Interested people can register travel times and allow transit vehicles to better navi­ online at COTA's Web site at gate congestion. The plan would employ the global www.cota.com or by sending a post­ positioning system (GPS) to track bus and train card to COTA, 177 South High Street ~ movements. Electronic clocks at stations would tell 1 Graphic courtesy of Wallace, Floyd, Associates Inc. Columbus, OH 43215. Be sure to in­ j visitors at what time the next bus or train is due. clude your name, address, phone Also, a signal prioritization system would allow bus • Downtown to far-east Columbus on CSX/Ohio Cen­ number and mention that you want drivers to change traffic lights to improve the spac­ tral tracks, through Whitehall and Bexley, with a future to become a COTA Ambassador. ing of buses. spur on new right-of-way to Port Columbus International • Improve downtown mobility by building a new Airport; and multi-modal transit center for commuter trains as well • Downtown to north-northwest Columbus on CSX as Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati (3-C) Amtrak (former Chesapeake & Ohio RR) which would also serve trains, adding more shuttles, and building a north- Ohio State University and Upper Arlington. Commuter trains on some of these routes would oper­ ate over new tracks to separate fast passenger trains from slower-moving freight traffic. Second-tier routes would be: • Downtown to west-northwest Columbus including Hilliard on CSX (former Conrail/NYC RR); • Downtown to southeast Columbus including Groveport and Canal Winchester on the Indiana & Ohio Central (former CSX/C&O RR); -See "What's in levy", page III II The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Chamber of commerce endorses COTA levies

..,_;·The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce eral funding opportuni­ Board of Directors voted unanimously to endorse ties that are not available the passage of two 0.25-percent sales tax levies to the community today on the November ballot to fund the future op­ since COTA does not erations of the Central Ohio Transit Authority have permanent funding. (COTA). "Columbus is missing "The bottom line is, an enhanced mass transit the opportunity to ben­ plan will help us improve business by linking efit from federal transit workers to jobs," said Dimon R. McFerson, chair­ dollars, while Cleveland, man of the Chamber board and chairman and CEO Cincinnati, and Dayton of Nationwide. "COTA's proposal is right in line all leverage hundreds of with what the business community needs - prac­ millions of dollars in [ tical solutions to our mass transit challenges that federal funds each year support our VICiftU to improve and expand Dave Kanzeg· photo work-force ~~ their transit systems," Central Ohioans may soon enjoy the benefits of rail transit, just as people have benefitted from and its an­ she said. rail in booming San Diego, where several railway routes carry 150,000 people a day. l ticipated Moreover, the 10-year temporary tax provides priority. . growth." the accountabi)ity lhe local business community · ·-·Businesses ~sostrongly supported theere- Chamber demands, chamber officials said. Mrs.· Jackson ation of commuter rail service using existing rail President said that four out of five businesses view the ad- to link surrounding subufbs witn downtown, and CEO Sally A. Jackson explained that the per­ dition of bus service and routes to link workers adding bus service between suburban areas; and manent levy allows Columbus to leverage fed- to current and emerging employer sites as a high increasing the accessibility ofservice."

But your exit is at the opposite end of the platform, where signs point to f ~~ a special Nationwide Arena. At the top of the escalator, you and your spouse join up with frienqs at a p:r¢etennii:Ied meeting sp<>tbefore walking to the nearby ain- ·of -·Thought sports bar: -, , ; "Jt:ii - During the game, as the Columbus Bluejackets are embarrassing the Rang­ The Passenger Rail News Editor ers, the snow starts to fly. By game's end, a couple inches of wind-driven :1 snow have fallen, sending thecity's oormally congested highways into a Prendergast skidding chaos. While others are fretting the drive home, you have no wor- ries. Hundreds of hockey fans, some of whom probably shouldn't be driv-

__.-.:._ .ic.tw:e a_c_old Wed.n~s<:lay~Y-~Illt!£in Columbus in 2010. The forecast ing in any weath!M'. pourinto the train. Fans exsitedly share their opinions 1 -- a r - •• P! . !· t SA •• t1hia ziall sqfi '[ ShrengJa !:he .. The Passenf(er Rail News, Auf(ust 1999 111

""""'

. . Dave Kanzeg photo Ken Prendergast photo

At left,qD~nverJ?egionalTransit District light-rail train acce,erates tQ 65 mph away from the Mile High City's central business district. At right, an electric light-rail train jn Cleveland exchanges

<~ptiSsefig~rswithl:i diesel-powered commuter train borrowed from San Francisco;. COlumbus will gain these modes of tran~portationif voters there approve two transit levies on Nov. 2.

·:'" TO CLEVELAND COLUMBUS. What others westervuleRail Corridors

'' , ·. " • >. 1_:·~.% - 1st Tier Corridors -2nd Tier Corridors are sayu":g.•. -Future connections • • Cleveland-Cincinnatti on COTA's "Vision 202fi»plan and Amtrak Service the Nov. 2 public vote that would make the plan reality: future "We need an improved m~s'' !J I < extension ~· i ;I ··· to Newark tern and that's why l'ye heenll - .. - will listen to get behind COTA's'eff6rts;" said Downtown Transportation Center & Columbus City Councilmeni~rNfaryellen central city light-rail circulator 0' Shaughnessy, as quoted {lflfj_€b£~mbus.

Alive, June 3, 1999 article in WJJi~hStiealso noted a recent survey showing traffic con­ gestion to be one of the top complaints of ·-- z;"?,_... •- • Cleveland-Cincinnatti on COTA's "Vision 202fr plan and the Nov. 2 public vote that would

make the plan reality: .,. ~~--·'-'VIUIIIUU<>future I Airport extension "We need an improved m~s'' ) ~tern: ... to Newark _. mut,thafswhy I'ye be¢nf'_ _ ·, ~r will listen to get behind COTNieff6rts;" said Downtown Transportation Center & Columbus City Councilmem~rMaryellen' central city light-rail circulator O'Shaughnessy, as quoted itfs~~€bJ~mbus.I Alive, June 3, 1999 article in ~1UchS1iealso noted a recent survey showing traffic con­ gestion to be one of the top complaints of city residents. -. future extension ~"'~MAto Lancaster "I like the idea of increasing the sales tax Winchester for mass transit. It's an excellent idea to cut Ken Prendergast map down on our traffic," said Lisa Buffer, a Ca- I2 nal Winchester resident, in The Columbus What's in Columbus' transit tax levy? Dispatch, March 22, 1999. -"What's in levy", from page "With two issues on the ballot and orga­ I----­ For now, the plan does not include extension • Downtown to the far west side including nized opposition, we have just started a long, of the commuter rail lines to cities in surround­ New Rome on Norfolk Southern (former Con­ difficult process," said Ronald Barnes, ing counties like Delaware, Newark, Lancaster, raiVPRR); and COTA general manager, in The Columbus Marysville, or Powell even though many people • Downtown to southwest Columbus and Grove Dispatch, May 27, 1999. commute to Columbus daily from these areas. City on CSX (former Baltimore & Ohio RR). The reason is that COTA does not have the au­ The downtown-Worthington line would be the thority to operate into areas outside of Franklin first route placed into revenue service, beginning County except when those areas offer special Most voters favor operations in 2005. From then on, other routes contracts to COTA. doubling COT tax would be brought into service every few years The transit authority is, however, carrying on A's with all eight routes in operation by 2020. conversations with the surrounding counties and 35% As the rail routes are implemented, the COTA hopes to develop plans to extend the trains (as Oppose buses ~ouldbecome more of a cross-town sys­ well as bus routes) to those areas sometime in 51% tem than a hub system like it is now. Trains would the future, once funding from outlying areas is ...... become the primary hub and buses would feed made available. Favor into rail lines at strategically placed transit cen­ It is interesting to note that currently 60 per­ 15% ters throughout Columbus. COTA is choosing cent of COTA riders use the buses to commute Uncertain commuter rail over light-rail for all routes (ex­ to work. Also, more than 60 percent of all cur­ Source: Ohio State University College of cept the downtown circulator) because it is more rent riders own at least one automobile. COTA Social and Behavioral Sciences. Figures cost effective and faster to build than light rail also carries 10,000 commuters per day on ex­ do not total 100% because of rounding. since it can use existing corridors. press buses from suburban areas. Ken Prendergast chart N The Passenger Rail News, August 1999 Light rail good return on investment competing cities use federal dollars to make to 20 years the expressways in Greater Cincin­ By John Frank, Jr. themselves more successful at luring businesses nati will be at gridlock, then we should be over­ Chairman, Colliers International and tourists. If this happens, growth will stag­ joyed that the KPMG analysis regarding light CINCINNATI- A current study of transpor­ nate and Greater Cincinnati will have little chance rail is so favorable. tation for this area, being coordinated by the of becoming a world-class destination. This opinion piece appears courtesy of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of If we accept what OKI is telling us that in 15 Cincinnati Business Courier. Governments (OKI), is concentrated on the first phase of a light-rail system which would extend from Cornell Road in Blue Ash to the southern end of Covington. Conservatives' report Later phases of light rail would extend the sys­ tem to the airport and to Kings Island, as well as north along the Interstate 71 corridor. The OKI master plan has commuter and passenger rail says rail transit works extending to the east and west. But today, we Rail transit is effective in getting people out of drove instead, those Expressways would simply need to be concerned about getting the study for their automobiles, according to a new study, stop, gridlocked," the study states. the first phase completed, which requires fed­ "Does Transit Work? A Conservative Reap­ For transit to be competitive, the authors say eral dollars and, thus, the support our congress­ praisal." Paul Weyrich and Bill Lind of the Free that three criteria must be met. First, transit must men, Reps. Rob Portman, Steve Chabot and Ken Congress Foundation undertook the study that be available. Second, the available public transit Lucas. was released today at a conference of the Con­ must be high quality, and third, the trip purpose If the study money is not forthcoming, Greater gress for New Urbanism. must be one for which transit can compete. Cincinnati may not be able to receive federal The study was applauded by Republican Wis­ "When we ask what percentage transit carried funds for light rail for many years, if ever. consin Governor Tommy Thompson, who wrote of the .trips for which it can compete, we get a KPMG, the international CPA/consulting firm, in the foreword, "Read (this study) and I think very different picture, one that accords much has cQnducted an economic/financial fiscal im­ you'll see why even conservative state governors more closely with the real importance of mass pact analysis of the first phase of light rail. This want more and better public transit, not less." transit in urban areas," the study states. first phase will cost $600 million and it is antici­ Messrs. Weyrich · and Lind state that transit's The study notes that 54,4 percent of American pated that the federal government's share will effectiveness is often measured erroneously by households had public transit available in 1993. be half of that amount, with state and local fund­ comparing the number of auto trips to the num­ The number tells us that transit could not com­ ing coming in at 25 percent each. ber of trips on public trans­ pete for any trips from al­ ~i Thisstudy shows tke return on investment for portation. This is the wrong ; most half the households in the $300 million non-federal share and it was measurement, according to America because they had conducted with very conservative projections. the authors, who propose a no transit available. Economic/financial impacts include inter-indus­ new measurement that bet­ In San Diego, Messrs. try sales, job taxes, state and local taxes, state ter calculates the importance Weyrich and Lind note that and local corporate income taxes, local property of transit: transit-competi- the San Diego Trolley is at-

...,...,.,.;,...... , .....-...:11- .....,...1 •.-..--.:Ll ...... ---- ...... -...... + ...... ~--- .L--~--- 'T"l_- ___ .....1_- --- - ~.... - .L---...!-- _.:..J ___ ---L- L--·- - as CQnducted an econonliclfinanCial fiscaJim­ you'll see why even conservative state governors -~more closely. with the real" importance ot inass .

pact analysis of the frr~tphase of light rail. This want more and better public transit, not less." transit in urban areas," the study states. first phase will cost $600 million and it is antici­ Messrs. Weyrich· and Lind state that transit's The study notes that 54.4 percent of American pated that the federal government's share will effectiveness is often measured erroneously by households had public transit available in 1993. be half of that amount, with state and local fund­ comparing the number of auto trips to the num­ The number tells us that transit could not com­ ing coming in at 25 percent each. ber of trips on public trans­ pete for any trips from al­ Thisstudy shows the return on investment for portation. Tliis is the wrong most halfthe households in the $300 million non-federal share and it was measurement, according to America because they had conducted with very conservative projections. the authors, who propose a no transit available. Economic/financial impacts include inter-indus­ new measurement that bet­ In San Diego, Messrs. try sales, job taxes, state and local taxes, state ter calculates the importance Weyrich and Lind note that and local corporate income taxes, local property of transit: transit-competi­ the San Diego Trolley is at­ taxes and local tangible property taxes. tive trips. The authors cite tracting riders who have a _The impact on this area from all of the above three case studies in Chi­ choice. More than a third of provides an incredibly impressive return on in­ cago; St. Louis, Mo.; and the Trolley's riders have a car Ken Prendergast photo vestment. The bottom line is that, in 1999 dol­ San Diego in answering available but choose to take lars, the $300 million investment returns $443 "yes" to the question, "Does Transit Work?" the Trolley instead. They also note that the San · million. Tax revenues will return the $300 mil­ "Each of our case studies shows independently, Diego Trolley competes effectively with the auto lion investment by 2017 and the system will still and all together demonstrate conclusively, that for recreational trips, where almost 18 percent of have a remaining useful life of more than 20 high-quality rail transit can compete effectively all trips on the Trolley were for recreation or en­ years at that point. for work and recreational trips in the area that tertainment. A more recent measurement comes The study excludes many indirect financial transit serves," said Messrs. Weyrich and Lind. from Super Bowl Week in 1998, when nearly 1 benefits which are real and which make the re­ "Total trips is a poor yardstick by which to mea­ million people used transit to get to and from Su­ turn on investment even more significant. Fur­ sure the effectiveness of public transit. These three per Bowl events. ther, there are many non-financial benefits such case studies establish beyond question that when The authors also note that the St. Louis as travel-time savings, reduced pollution, and the we measure transit with the correct yardstick, tran­ Metrolink light rail system proved skeptics reduction of urban sprawl. sit-competitive trips, it measures up well." wrong when it opened in 1993. Weekday rider­ Some of the politicians opposing rapid transit In Chicago; they note that between 50 percent ship rose to 44,414 passengers after the first year

systems for the Greater Cincinnati area do so an~60 percent of the trips made to the central busi­ of service, compared to Bi-State's projections of because of their philosophical convictions that ness district are on transit. The importance of tran­ 17,000. "So much for the critics who claim that the federal government should not spend money sit to Chicago is further illustrated by considering light rail systems always carry fewer people than for such purposes. However, money is available what would happen if the transit trips shifted to projected," states the study. The Bi-State expe­ in the federal budget and many cities have ben­ automobiles. The authors note that the Dan Ryan/ rience also showed that quality rail transporta­ efited from these funds. Kennedy Expressways carry 200,000 vehicles per tion can attract people from their autos. In a 1995 A number of cities the size of Cincinnati or day, while parallel Chicago Transit Authority rapid survey, 85 percent ofMetrolink's passengers had smaller are building light rail with federal dol­ transit lines and the Metra commuter rail lines not previously used public transit. lars. If we do not follow suit, we will sit by while carry 182,000 riders. "If all 182,000 rail riders This article appears courtesy of U.S. Newswire. For more infornwtion,call OARPat (614)470-0334