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Public Meetings on Transit Oriented Development

In June, the public is invited to attend three meetings to get their input on how best to align land uses with existing/future rail stations in the Cudell, Detroit-Shoreway and Ohio City neighborhoods. The ultimate goal is so the community, the transit agency and rail service customers can each derive the greatest benefit from enhanced synergies between land use and public transit—called Transit Oriented Development. We hope these meetings prove to be educational and engaging for the public as well for community leaders.

All Aboard Ohio and OCNW are conducting the public meetings with the support of 10 Cleveland City Council members (see complete list below), the City of Cleveland’s Department of Community Development, plus the Cudell Improvement Inc., Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization and West Shore Corridor Task Force.

The meetings are a precursor to an upcoming Alternatives Analysis which will identify ways to improve public transportation in the West Shore Corridor from downtown Cleveland west into the lakeshore communities of Cuyahoga, Lorain and Erie counties. Findings from these meetings will be delivered for inclusion in the Alternatives Analysis, which is the first step in the planning process for a transportation project to become eligible for federal funding.

Here are the dates/locations of meetings, each of which will be from 6-7:30 p.m., with presentations starting at 6:30 p.m.:

CUDELL
June 11, 2009
St. Rose of Lima Church Hall
11411 Detroit Ave.

OHIO CITY
June 17, 2009
The Castele Learning Center
Lutheran Hospital
1730 West 25th Street

DETROIT-SHOREWAY
June 24, 2009
St. Colman Church
Basement meeting room
2027 W. 65th St., Cleveland

These council members generously provided Community Development Block Grant support for this public input initiative:  Ward 5’s Phyllis Cleveland, Ward 13’s Joe Cimperman, Ward 14’s Joe Santiago, Ward 15’s Brian Cummins, Ward 16’s Kevin Kelley, Ward 17’s Matt Zone, Ward 18’s Jay Westbrook, Ward 19’s Dona Brady, Ward 20’s Martin Sweeney and former Ward 1 Councilwoman/current State Senator Nina Turner. All Aboard Ohio thanks these council members for their support.

For more information, contact Kenneth Prendergast, All Aboard Ohio Executive Director at (216) 288-4883 or kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org

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June 2009 newsletter

Friends, Please click on the link below to view the latest Ohio Passenger Rail News from All Aboard Ohio....

http://members.cox.net/kjprendergast/AAO_Monthly_Newsletter_060109.pdf

Feel free to share the newsletter with others. But please join us or donate (you can do both here - see links at left!) so we can keep up the momentum and keep the information flowing!

Articles in the June 1, 2009 issue:

+ Passenger Rail Would Create Good Jobs - Could Employ More People than Auto Industry
+ Iowa Seeking Passenger Rail Service Improvement - Linking Cities to Chicago is Key to Future Growth in Iowa
+ Alabama is Investigating High-Speed Rail Feasibility
+ Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, BC Seek High-Speed Rail
+ NJ Transit River Line Rail Attracts Investment - Transit Oriented Development Praised by Community Leaders
+ West Shore Corridor Station Area Planning Workshops
+ California Seeks Stimulus Funds for High-Speed Rail
+ All Aboard Ohio Annual Meeting in Galion - Jolene Molitoris Awarded First Annual “Golden Spike” for Being a Passenger Rail Champion

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May 2009 newsletter

Friends, Please click on the link below to view the latest Ohio Passenger Rail News from All Aboard Ohio....

http://members.cox.net/neotrans2/AAO_Monthly_Newsletter_050109.pdf

Feel free to share the newsletter with others. But please join us or donate so we can keep up the momentum and keep the information flowing!

Articles in this issue:
+ Obama Releases Strategic Rail Plan - ARRA Stimulus Funding for High-Speed Rail
+ Annual Legislative Summit a Success
+ New York, Vermont and Wisconsin Invest in Rail - Passenger Rail Services Continued and Improved in 3 States
+ Texas is Investigating High-Speed Rail Feasibility
+ Amtrak Cascades Service Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
+ Voinovich Recommends Increase in Gasoline Tax - Obama Administration Opposed to Increasing Federal Gasoline Taxes
+ Ohio Sees Decline in Airline Services
+ Ohio Seeks Stimulus Funds for 3-C Corridor
+ All Aboard Ohio Annual Meeting in Galion - Join All Aboard Ohio as it continues to advocate for public transit and passenger rail in Ohio.

Scroll down this page for Annual Meeting information and registration! Or click on this link to see and print the registration form and map:

http://members.cox.net/neotrans/Annualmeeting2009registration.pdf

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April newsletter is available

Click on the link below to view the latest Ohio Passenger Rail News from All Aboard Ohio.

http://members.cox.net/neotrans/AAO%20Monthly%20Newsletter_040109.pdf

Feel free to share the newsletter with others. But please join us or donate so we can keep up the momentum and keep the information flowing!

Articles in this issue:
+ Ohio Senate Approves 3-C Corridor - Budget Battle Moves to Conference Committee
+ Poll Shows Support for 3-C Rail Service
+ Virginia to Provide Funding Support to Amtrak - New Passenger Rail Services to Lynchburg Announced
+ Virginia Beach Purchases Norfolk Southern Rail Line
+ Turkey Opens First High Speed Train Line
+ Group Recommends Constitutional Change - Gasoline Taxes Need to be Reallocated to Public Transportation
+ Ohio Leads Nation in Decline in Driving
+ Erie County Council Wants High-Speed Train
+ All Aboard Ohio Annual Legislative Summit - Join All Aboard Ohio as it continues to advocate for public transit and passenger rail in Ohio. See blog entry below!

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March newsletter is available

Click on the link below to view the latest Ohio Passenger Rail News from All Aboard Ohio.

http://members.cox.net/neotrans2/AAO_Monthly_Newsletter_030109.pdf

Feel free to share the newsletter with others. But please join us or donate so we can keep up the momentum and keep the information flowing!

Articles in this issue:
+ Stimulating Intercity Passenger Rail - American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009
+ Governor Strickland Wants 3C Trains
+ Federal Railroad Administration: “Overwhelming” Response to Request for High-speed Rail Proposals!
+ Amtrak Cascades Reaches Record Ridership in 2008
+ Cleveland RTA Reports Healthy Ridership Increase
+ West Shore Corridor: Project Status Update - West Shore Commuter Rail Task Force created to steer project
+ America’s Decline in Driving Continues for 14th Month
+ “Hell Freezes Over”: Phoenix Opens Light Rail Transit
+ All Aboard Ohio Annual Legislative Summit - Join All Aboard Ohio as it continues to advocate for public transit and passenger rail in Ohio. See next blog entry!

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Feb. 1, 2009 Newsletter

Please click on the link below to view and read the February 2009 newsletter
from All Aboard Ohio:

Click here for Feb. 1, 2009 Newsletter

Feel free to share the newsletter with others as an informational tool on
the latest happenings with trains and transit, and how you can help play a
small part in making their development in Ohio a reality.

** Remember that production and distribution of the newsletter is
dependent on your support of All Aboard Ohio. Please join us or make a
contribution today by visiting the “Join Us” tab at the left!

Stories in this newsletter:
* Ohio transportation priorities task force has good news for rail;
* Jolene Molitoris Named ODOT Director
* New Mexico launches extension of RailRunner Express to Santa Fe
* All Aboard Ohio 3-C Corridor meeting in Cleveland Jan. 7
* Is the Ohio Hub integral to Cleveland Medical Mart?
* Cincinnati Streetcar Project Update - Petition measure could prohibit all rail initiatives
* Economic Stimulus: Stuck on “Roads & Bridges”
* West Shore Corridor Update
* 3 C Corridor Meeting in Riverside, Ohio - Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009

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All Aboard Ohio supports state transportation task force recommendations

All Aboard Ohio, the only statewide citizens association whose mission is to advocate for improved passenger rail and transit services, welcomes and supports the recommendations of the Ohio 21st Century Transportation Priorities Task Force. The task force recommended to Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly that they should develop a more multi-modal transportation system that puts much greater emphasis on railroads and public transportation than it has in the past.

All Aboard Ohio was a member of the task force through its Northeast Ohio Director Kenneth Sislak. The task force brought together many diverse interests, including those representing public transportation, freight railroads, economic development, environmental issues, labor, biking, aviation, waterways and, of course, highways.

“The recommendations issued today (Jan. 6) are the kinds of policies and projects which we believe would create jobs in Ohio in a responsible, sustainable way that respects the challenges of the 21st century,” said All Aboard Ohio’s Interim Executive Director Ken Prendergast. “We are facing very difficult economic, energy and environmental questions. Our fragile economy and environment cannot afford to ignore these questions or respond to them inadequately. Bold answers are needed and All Aboard Ohio believes this report offers them.”

To view the report, click on the image below:

One of the most important sections of the report, All Aboard Ohio believes, is in Recommendation M (see Page 54), which would “Establish a dedicated and adequate source of funding for public transit, including buses, light rail, streetcars, trolleys, intercity and intra-city passenger rail.”

The text in Recommendation M also refers to the previous section, for Recommendation L, where it called for the state of Ohio to:

> Target a specific percentage of the proceeds of the bonds and the increased revenue to support public transit, including both intercity and intra-city passenger rail.

MORE DETAIL

Additionally, the task force report says the following:

The creation of a dedicated source of funding for public transit, including intercity and intra-city passenger rail, has the opportunity to reshape Ohio’s landscape – both economically and physically. This is why public transit has dominated Ohio’s transportation conversation in recent years.

Therefore, the Task Force recommends establishing a dedicated funding source for transit by directing a portion of the new special motor fuel tax to operating support for the state’s transit systems. Initial funding for that support should be on the order of $75 million for the first year but would increase over six years to represent a state share of 25 percent of public transit’s operating expenses and 50 percent of the non-federal match for capital expenses, which would be drawn from the $400 million of revenue remaining after payment of debt service.

Foremost in the report is Recommendation A: “Give Ohioans more options for getting where they want to go and for moving goods by developing a balanced and efficient system that ensures connectivity among all modes of transportation.”

With the goal of providing more options for Ohio’s citizens and businesses, including those that draw on the assets of rail, transit, air and marine, the Task Force offers the following actions to support Recommendation A:

 Improve intermodal connectivity identified by the recommended Transportation Futures Plan for seamless movement of people and goods. Timeframe: Near Term

 Use Asset Management Optimization and Prioritization Tools to assess, manage and achieve optimal conditions and prioritize decisions for transportation assets. Timeframe: Near Term

 Work to correct areas of congestion and non-attainment on key freight and passenger corridors with an integrated approach that balances the traditional capacity-adding approach with sustainable and innovative approaches such as transportation demand management and incentivizing compact transit-oriented development. Timeframe: Near Term

 Fund and support freight rail initiatives such as the Norfolk Southern Heartland Corridor and CSX National Gateway and re-evaluate, then eliminate, rail choke points as identified in the Ohio Freight Rail Choke Point Study, August 2007. Timeframe: Near Term

 Provide increased support for building expanded rail service at businesses for agricultural processing and bulk handling facilities as well as other industries that desire service. Timeframe: Longer Term

 Staff and fund the already created Office of Maritime Transportation in the Ohio Department of Transportation. Timeframe: Near Term

 Provide state advocacy in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa for the development of short-sea shipping in the nation’s inland waterways, including the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway and Ohio River systems, including designation of marine corridors with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). Timeframe:
Near Term

 Invest in the maintenance, enhancement and expansion of Ohio’s maritime infrastructure, including the Ohio River locks system, bulk heading, channel depths and intermodal connectivity. Timeframe: Longer Term

 Identify opportunities for increased multi-modal connectivity throughout the state, specifically through improving highway access and locating rail-truck intermodal facilities near air-freight facilities. Timeframe: Near Term

 Prioritize and accelerate critical roadway improvements, and identify short-term solutions that could reduce congestion and capacity constraints on roadways near cargo intensive airports. Timeframe: Near Term

 Develop a comprehensive transit system plan that includes regionalized transit, outlines improvements to the human services support and coordination efforts of the State, and develops intermodal initiatives to facilitate connection between intercity public transit and local public transit as well as to define a base level of transit service. Timeframe: Near Term

 Initiate Amtrak service in the 3-C corridor by 2010 and invest and implement the Ohio HUB to provide intercity and interstate passenger rail. Timeframe: Near Term and Longer Term

 Set aside federal funds and state match for up to 10 pilot projects to demonstrate the benefits of “Complete Streets” design within six months with the goal of evaluating the costs and benefits of “Complete Streets” design. Timeframe: Near Term

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Please let your state senators and representatives in Columbus know how you feel about this report and what they should do with its recommendations. Don’t wait! See:

I want to contact my State Representative.
I want to contact my State Senator.

Call their offices or write a short letter in your own words that has the basic message: "I support dedicated state funding for passenger trains and public transit at dollar amounts recommended in the transportation task force’s report. That includes dedicating new gas taxes to the development and operation of passenger trains and public transit." Thank you for any positive communications you can make with your state legislators to support trains and transit.

Kindly pass along any replies you get from your state legislators by e-mailing Interim Executive Director Ken Prendergast at kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org, by phone at (216) 288-4883 or by regular mail at 12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505, Cleveland, OH 44107.

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Jan. 1, 2009 Newsletter

All Aboard Ohio’s Jan. 1, 2009 newsletter is available. To view your copy, please click on the link below. Despite the down economy, there is much positive news to look forward to in the new year....

Click here for Jan. 1, 2009 Newsletter

Remember, continued publication of this “railgram” newsletter, its distribution to the public and other decision-makers, as well as all other All Aboard Ohio activities depends on dues-paying members like you. And if you’re not a member or haven’t yet renewed for 2009, please do so today! You can be a part of bringing quality passenger trains to Ohio by clicking the “Join Us” tab at the left. We need you!

Stories in this newsletter:
* 3-C Corridor kick-off meeting is Jan. 7 in Cleveland (scroll down to see meeting details);
* High-Speed Rail for America Act introduced in U.S. Senate
* Boosting Mass Transit Funding Shares - Actions in Congress and at ODOT
* All Aboard Ohio calls for a Green New Deal
* ODOT Changes Project Evaluation Criteria
* Dallas City Council Approves Tax Increment Financing District for Transit Oriented Development
* Vermont Sees Increasing Amtrak Ridership
* Driving Declines, Transit Ridership Increases
* Answering the Call of Duty - All Aboard Ohio appoints five mew members to Board of Directors

Feel free to forward your copy of the All Aboard Ohio newsletter on to friend and colleagues. Please encourage them to join today, too! 

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Ohio Congressional Delegation to Washington Supports Amtrak Startup Service

Recently, 14 of 18 Representatives from Ohio and both Senators Voinovich and Brown signed a delegation letter in support of Governor Strickland’s request to Amtrak to complete this study as soon as possible.  To see a copy of the letter click on the Amtrak Congressional Letter All Aboard Ohio cannot agree more that our state is looking for other options like rail travel given the current situation with climbing gasoline prices and airline ticket prices among other concerns.

All Aboard Ohio was instrumental in securing many of these signatures to the letter.  We now have an excellent base of support in Washington DC to begin the serious discussion of funding passenger rail operations in Ohio.  Thank you to all of those who contacted their Representatives in Washington.  This letter is a direct effect of your actions!

If you live within one of the signer’s districts please be sure to thank them for reflecting your concerns and that you appreciate all their hard work and

Please note that there were 4 of 18 Representatives who did not sign the letter.  Those who did not sign are Representatives Jim Jordan OH-4, Bob Latta OH-5, Dave Hobson OH-7, and John Boehner OH-8.  If you live in one of these districts I would recommend that you contact your Representative and ask why he did not sign the letter in support of Governor Strickland’s request to Amtrak to provide Ohioans with adequate transportation options.

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