Statewide Meetings

At All Aboard Ohio’s September 2026 Statewide Meeting, political strategist Rachel Coyle presents How Things Work at the Statehouse, a practical introduction to advocacy in the Ohio General Assembly.  

Rachel breaks down the legislative process, the political dynamics that shape what happens at the Statehouse, and the opportunities Ohioans have to influence legislation along the way. She explains why state government offers advocates more opportunity to make an impact than many people realize, even with a relatively small group of engaged citizens. 

Topics covered include:  

• How a bill moves through the Ohio House and Senate

• Understanding the General Assembly, legislative sessions and lame duck 

• How committees work and why they are so important to advocacy 

• How to sign up for committee notices and know when legislation is moving 

• Why calling legislative offices can be one of the most effective ways to engage 

• Building relationships with legislative staff 

• How and when to submit written or in-person testimony 

• Tips for writing effective testimony 

• How to find and track bills through the Ohio Legislature website 

• Using bill analyses to understand legislation without reading hundreds of pages of legal language 

• Additional tools and resources for following the Ohio Statehouse  

Rachel also shares practical examples from advocacy campaigns across Ohio and explains why persistence, relationships and simply showing up can have an outsized impact at the state level.  

Whether you’re advocating for passenger rail, better transportation or another issue affecting your community, this presentation offers practical tools for understanding Ohio government and making your voice heard.

All Aboard Ohio Board Chair Mitch Radakovich takes the hot seat for our July 2026 Statewide Meeting with an AMA: Ask Mitch Anything following a mid-year update on the organization’s work, growth and priorities.

Mitch shares updates on All Aboard Ohio’s statewide advocacy, passenger rail initiatives, growing chapters and university affiliates, communications reach, coalition building and strategic priorities for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

The conversation then opens to members for questions and discussion on topics including:

• Ohio’s passenger rail corridors and the Corridor ID Program

• State and federal funding for passenger rail

• All Aboard Ohio’s advocacy strategy and resources for members

• Chapter development and local advocacy

• Amtrak service and rider experience

• Daytime passenger rail service in Ohio

• Multimodal connections and future station opportunities

• Working with elected officials while maintaining AAO’s nonpartisan role

• Priorities heading into Ohio’s 2027 state budget cycle

The meeting also highlights All Aboard Ohio’s continued growth, including more than 50,000 followers across social media and more than 9 million people reached over the previous year, along with the organization’s work to build a stronger statewide coalition for expanded transportation options.

Whether you’re already involved with All Aboard Ohio or just want to know what we’re working on, this conversation offers a candid look at where the organization stands midway through 2026  and where we’re headed next.

What happens when you intentionally leave your car behind and rely on transit, rail, and other transportation options to travel between two major Midwest cities?  At our June 2026 statewide meeting, Executive Director John Esterly kicks off a two-part series documenting his upcoming trip from Columbus to Chicago without driving or flying in the traditional sense. In Part 1, John explores the planning process, compares travel options, examines costs and travel times, and evaluates how passenger rail, transit, and other transportation modes can work together for longer-distance trips.  This presentation serves as the foundation for a real-world travel experiment that will be documented throughout the summer and revisited at our September statewide meeting.

In April 2026, thousands of Ohioans experienced a rare opportunity to ride passenger trains along the historic Panhandle Route between Columbus, Newark, and Dennison. At our May statewide meeting, Wendy Zucal, Executive Director of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, shares the story behind the sold-out Buckeye 250 excursion trains and the years of planning that made the event possible.  

Wendy discusses the partnerships, logistics, community support, and economic impact behind one of Ohio's signature America 250 events, while highlighting what the excursion revealed about public interest in passenger rail. The presentation also explores how special events like the Buckeye 250 can help build momentum for future rail service, including the proposed Midwest Connect corridor linking Columbus and Pittsburgh.

What happens after a corridor is selected for study but before trains start running? At our March 2026 statewide meeting, transportation planner Elliott Lewis of AECOM takes members inside the passenger rail planning process and explains what happens between the major milestones.  

Drawing on his experience with the Midwest Connect Corridor and previous work at MORPC, Elliott discusses Corridor ID, service development plans, stakeholder engagement, funding, consulting, and the coordination required to move passenger rail projects from concept to reality. The presentation also includes an update on Midwest Connect and a discussion of current developments affecting passenger rail planning nationwide.