Meet AAO's Social Media Team

Kelly Cumpson

Kelly is a strong advocate for investing in the future, which includes supporting people and ensuring they have access to opportunities. She believes that connecting Columbus to other cities through passenger trains would be a significant boost to the city's ability to attract job-creating businesses and provide opportunities to people.

Having worked as a software engineer for four years, Kelly is currently transitioning to become an analytics architect. During her free time, she enjoys taking walks with friends on weekends and visiting breweries on the Columbus Ale Trail.

Nathan Halm

Nathan is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University and is set to complete it in May 2024. He resides and works in Washington, DC, but considers Cincinnati to be his hometown.

Nathan's passion lies in using transit and infrastructure to provide more people with access to work opportunities, healthier lifestyles, happier communities, and better futures. Additionally, he is an enthusiastic supporter of Cincinnati sports teams, including FCC, the Reds, Bengals, and Cyclones.

Ben Paulus

Ben is passionate about advocating for more accessible transit options rather than relying solely on personal vehicles. His favorite proposed Amtrak route is the 3C&D route, which runs from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2023, earning a Masters degree in Architecture as well as an MBA. Ben is currently employed as a Project Coordinator II at MA Design. Additionally, he has a one-year-old Border Collie named Jerry (pictured).

Ryan Pecaut

Ryan currently works on developing resilient supply chain algorithms. Passionate about traveling and connecting with communities, Ryan has been working on social media development and graphic design for several years. Ryan's talents are transforming AAO's X page, where his posts have been shared thousands of times.

Megan Radakovich

Megan is currently a student at Syracuse University, studying graphic design and web design. She enjoys advocating for the connection between Ohio cities and is excited to see how new projects and development help bring communities together.

In her free time, Megan plays ultimate frisbee and has recently become a Syracuse University tour guide!

FRA RELEASES LONG-DISTANCE STUDY INTERIM REPORT, INVITES COMMENTS

By Bob Johnston | February 19, 2024 | Trains.com

Fifteen new or previously discontinued routes under consideration

WASHINGTON — Fifteen new or revived long-distance routes are presented in a new Federal Railroad Administration presentation to accompany the next round of meetings for its ongoing Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study.

The 163-page PowerPoint presentation was issued prior to the third round of six regional workshops for stakeholders including Amtrak and state transportation officials, as well as passenger rail advocates. It provides the rational for pursuing those 15 routes from possibilities suggested in previous workshop sessions that began last year [see “FRA look at Amtrak long-distance service yields wealth of data,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 28, 2023].

The planning exercise, mandated by a provision of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to evaluate potential Amtrak long-distance routes for areas not currently served, will culminate with a final report of recommendations to Congress after another round of meetings this spring. More details on the process are available at the study website, introduced in 2022 [see “FRA launches passenger long-distance study site,” News Wire, Nov. 1, 2022].

This long-distance study is independent from the FRA’s selection of 69 routes for its Corridor Identification and Development Program, which included $500,000 in initial planning money for sponsoring organizations [see “Full list of passenger routes …,” News Wire, Dec. 8, 2023]. There is one notable overlap between the two: revival of the North Coast Hiawatha on its former ex-Northern Pacific routing west of Fargo, N.D., through Montana and Yakima, Wash., to Seattle.

The report lists the criteria for developing an interconnected “conceptual enhanced network” that links rural and metropolitan areas where there has been significant public engagement. The idea was to build on the current “baseline” of long-distance service routes.

This was not followed west of Phoenix, Ariz., because the chosen city pairs were San Francisco and Dallas-Ft. Worth. The route chosen was through the San Joaquin Valley over Tehachapi Pass to Barstow, utilizing 160 miles of a short line between BNSF’s Transcon at Cadiz, Calif., and Wickenburg, Ariz., that hadn’t seen a passenger train since the 1950s.

Left in the lurch by both the Corridor ID and Long Distance study programs is the 136-mile former Southern Pacific route west of Phoenix that would allow the Sunset Limited to begin serving that urban center directly. The train was rerouted through Maricopa, Ariz., in 1996 when Union Pacific demanded that Amtrak pay for maintenance. The proposal also suggests reactivating the former route once used by Missouri Pacific’s Texas Eagle between El Paso and Fort Worth.

Also requiring substantial upgrading is Minneapolis-St. Paul to Denver via Sioux Falls and Pierre, South Dakota.

Each detailed route description lists the disclaimer, “Further analysis after completion of this study would be necessary to advance the preferred routes through project planning and project development activities prior to implementation.” There is currently no funding attached to the initiative.

Public comment on all of the proposals is encouraged; a comment form is at the bottom of the front page of the study website. Comments must be received by March 8.

A LEGACY OF TRANSFORMATION, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MILESTONES

As Board Chair Erin Rosiello steps down, we reflect on her groundbreaking term.

It is ten o'clock on a Thursday morning, and Erin Rosiello is holding a virtual press conference. All Aboard Ohio has just announced a milestone that they have been working towards for decades. What follows is a media frenzy where Erin spends the next two months being interviewed by various media professionals from around the state.

Erin doesn't take a single minute to reflect on this momentous occasion. Instead, she sets off for AAO's first-ever statewide Whistle Stop Tour. She presents in front of elected officials, business leaders, and community leaders with ease, despite how nerve-wracking it might be. Erin leads the conversation and takes charge, just as she has done in leading AAO during our most transformational year yet.

Erin is not just a leader, but also a team player who is willing to jump in wherever she is needed. She has served as secretary, treasurer, and marketing personnel, among other roles. Perhaps this is why she was able to move mountains when she finally accepted the role as board chair. Over the last year, Erin's accomplishments include:

• Recruiting a talented and diverse working board,

• Created board committees for the first time in recent history,

• Integration of online accounting, bank, and website (reducing the potential for errors),

• Contracted with non-profit consultants that are guiding the board through its first professional strategic plan for 2024,

• Created and executed a first-ever series of statewide educational events that have brought awareness and support to new audiences through media exposure.

• Secured pro-bono attorneys to assist us with contracts, employees and more,

• Oversaw an educational first board retreat that resulted in a board member matrix and succession plan providing AAO clarity on board members and board responsibility,

• Increased our Money Market savings account by 700%!

• Increased income to cover costs per month with a positive surplus,

• Created a statewide coalition of MPOs, elected officials, and community leaders that meets quarterly in Columbus - with more than 50 attendees from across the state,

• Created a steering committee for the coalition to guide the group that will coordinate and facilitate coalition messaging, letters of support, education and plans,

• Received a $37,500 matching grant from Devou Good Foundation - the largest grant ever received by AAO,

• Received a $55,000 one-time donation from a former AAO supporter - the largest AAO donation ever!

• Created and implemented a four-month fundraising strategy bringing in over $17,400 in donations and memberships from October through January 31, 2024.

The list of achievements is truly impressive, and it's worth noting that they were all accomplished within the span of a single year. As Erin takes a step back to focus on her personal and family life, we would like to extend our sincerest wishes for her success and express our deep appreciation for the exceptional leadership she provided during this critical year in the history of AAO. Her unwavering determination, unflagging dedication, infectious motivation, inspiring mentorship, and passionate advocacy have all played a pivotal role in transforming the organization and positioning it for a bright and dynamic future.

Click through the photos below to see Erin in action!