Columbus, OH - A new report puts clear numbers and a clear vision on how high-speed rail will boost the Midwest economy, reduce highway and airport congestion, reduce dependence on oil, and protect the environment. The report was released by OhioPIRG today with business leaders, Amy Brennick, COO of Betty's Family of Restaurants and Annie Ross-Womack, CEO of the Long Street Businessman's Association, and Representative Robert Hagan.
"As the saying goes, 'you are either part of the problem, or part of the solution," said Jeff Griffin, OhioPIRG Program Associate. "Rail is a part of the solution - boosting our economy and creating jobs, modernizing our transportation system and helping to solve our nation's oil dependency, worsening congestion and pollution. Rail gets us moving, in the right direction."
The new report, "Connecting the Midwest," analyzes the potential of high-speed rail to the Midwest, and looks at benefits specific to eight Midwestern states, including Ohio.
Key findings of the report include:
• A completed Midwest high-speed rail network will create 57,000 permanent jobs and support 15,200 jobs during the ten years that it would take to construct the project. Making Ohio the crossroads between the Eastern seaboard and the Midwest by building high-speed rail from Cleveland to Cincinnati, Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, would boost the region's economy enough to create 16,700 permanent jobs and generate more than $3 billion of development near stations.
• Traffic congestions costs major Midwest metropolitan areas more than $10 billion annually in lost economic output. Midwest high-speed rail will reduce air travel by 1.3 million trips and car travel by 5.1 million trips per year by 2020, curbing congestion. In Ohio, the 3C stage of the rail network is projected to reduce car traffic on Ohio's highways by nearly 320,000 vehicle miles per year.
• An Amtrak passenger uses 30% less energy per passenger mile than a passenger car, reducing dependence on oil. In Ohio, the 3C line will save up to 15,000 gallons of fuel a day.
• High-speed rail will give consumer more transportation options. Region-wide in the Midwest, 58% of Midwesterners, or 35 million people, would live within 15 miles of a high-speed rail station; 17 million would live within five miles of a station. More than one out of every four jobs in the region would be within five miles of a station. 55% of Ohioans would live within 15 miles of a station, and 59% of the state's workforce would have a station within 15 miles of their workplace.
• The system would prevent 188,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year by replacing less efficient car and plane travel. The amount is equal to the annual emissions of 34,000 cars.
"The 3C Quick Start passenger rail system would increase economic
development to the downtown Columbus and surrounding visitor areas by
bringing friends, families, and travelers to our city to visit our many
attractions, our retail shops and our restaurants. Said Amy Brennick,
COO of Betty's Family of Restaurants. "There is no other project that
will create thousands of jobs, re-energize the customer base of hundreds
of small businesses, and benefit the environment like the 3C Quick
Start can."
Andrew Snow of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Columbus said, "The fact is, this is an economic development project with a number of benefits including the creation of lasting employment opportunities - not just for those working on the rail line itself and for the hundreds of rail supply manufacturers in the state but also for the next generation of Ohio's engineers, tourism industry employees and small business entrepreneurs. It's truly a win-win-win for everyone."
In January, the Obama administration announced that 31 states will receive a portion of $8 billion in funding to build and plan for high-speed rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Midwest received funds totaling $2.7 billion for rail projects in six states. Ohio will receive $400 million for the 3C rail project to get trains running quickly.
"PIRG has highlighted that aside from the immediate benefits of passenger rail to Ohioans, 3-C rail development will give Ohio the competitive edge over all other Midwestern states to host future high speed rail lines" said Representative Robert Hagan.
The report urges Congress to invest adequate resources in intercity rail and set performance standards to fully realize rail's potential. It calls on the President and Congress to articulate a national vision for high-speed rail similar to the vision outlined by President Eisenhower for the Federal Highway system.
"With a long history of bi-partisan support, high-speed rail should be embraced for what it is - a critical step towards modernizing our transportation system, creating jobs and growing our economy, and reducing our dependence on oil," concluded Jeff Griffin, OhioPIRG Program Associate.
Andrew Snow of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Columbus said, "The fact is, this is an economic development project with a number of benefits including the creation of lasting employment opportunities - not just for those working on the rail line itself and for the hundreds of rail supply manufacturers in the state but also for the next generation of Ohio's engineers, tourism industry employees and small business entrepreneurs. It's truly a win-win-win for everyone."
In January, the Obama administration announced that 31 states will receive a portion of $8 billion in funding to build and plan for high-speed rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Midwest received funds totaling $2.7 billion for rail projects in six states. Ohio will receive $400 million for the 3C rail project to get trains running quickly.
"PIRG has highlighted that aside from the immediate benefits of passenger rail to Ohioans, 3-C rail development will give Ohio the competitive edge over all other Midwestern states to host future high speed rail lines" said Representative Robert Hagan.
The report urges Congress to invest adequate resources in intercity rail and set performance standards to fully realize rail's potential. It calls on the President and Congress to articulate a national vision for high-speed rail similar to the vision outlined by President Eisenhower for the Federal Highway system.
"With a long history of bi-partisan support, high-speed rail should be embraced for what it is - a critical step towards modernizing our transportation system, creating jobs and growing our economy, and reducing our dependence on oil," concluded Jeff Griffin, OhioPIRG Program Associate.
