You’ve probably seen the headlines about high-profile passenger rail projects in states like California and Texas going off the rails, losing billions in federal funding. It’s easy to look at that news and feel discouraged about the future of trains in America.

But what if we told you that was actually good news for Ohio?

It’s true. The failure of those speculative, hyper-expensive projects has caused a massive shift in federal policy. The government isn't backing away from rail; it's stated it's getting smarter. It's pivoting away from risky "moonshots" and looking for practical, fiscally responsible, and deliverable projects.

In other words, the federal government is looking for projects just like Ohio's. This is the buckeye state's moment to seize a historic opportunity and build a modern passenger rail network for the 21st century.

The Feds Have a New Playbook

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has learned some very expensive lessons. After seeing projects like California's spiral from a $33 billion estimate to a mind-boggling $135 billion, they've developed a new, unwritten policy we can call the "Viability Doctrine."

Gone are the days of blank checks for aspirational visions. The new federal playbook prioritizes projects that are:

• Fiscally Realistic: No more runaway budgets. The numbers have to be credible and based on sound engineering.

• Built on Existing Infrastructure: Using existing rail corridors dramatically cuts costs, timelines, and environmental hurdles.

• Backed by Strong Local Support: The feds want to see a unified front from state and local governments, businesses, and community leaders.

• Grounded and Deliverable: The goal is to get shovels in the ground and trains running, not to fund perpetual planning exercises.

This is where Ohio hits the jackpot. It's proposed corridors—the 3C+D (Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati), the Midwest Connect (Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh), and the Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit link—are a perfect match for this new doctrine. By design, they are the responsible antidote to the "boondoggles" that failed elsewhere.

In fact, all three of Ohio's corridors have already been accepted into the FRA's Corridor ID program, a structured process designed to vet and develop successful projects. They aren't just knocking on the door; the federal government has already invited them in.

The Ohio Advantage: A Plan That's "Just Right"

Ohio's vision for passenger rail is the ultimate "Goldilocks" project. It's not a minor fix, but it deliberately avoids the massive costs and construction risks that doomed high-speed rail. By focusing on conventional-speed service on existing tracks, Ohio present's a low-risk, high-reward proposition.

Consider the contrast:

• California's "Train to Nowhere": Plagued by mismanagement and a $100+ billion price tag.

• Ohio's 3C+D Corridor: Connects the state's four largest economic hubs—including Columbus, the second-largest metro area in the US with no Amtrak service—for a tiny fraction of that cost, and generous economic benefits to the state.

Some might bring up the "ghost" of 2010, when a previous rail plan was cancelled. But we can turn that history into a strength. The current plan is a direct result of learning from the past. The powerful, bipartisan coalition of cities, chambers of commerce, and planning organizations Ohio has built shows that Ohio has done its homework and is now a more reliable and resilient partner for federal investment.

It's Time to Go All Aboard

The stars have aligned for Ohio. Federal policy has shifted in our favor. Billions of dollars from cancelled projects are being returned to grant programs for which the buckeye state is a prime candidate with it's practical, popular, and shovel-ready plan.

The national narrative of passenger rail failure is being rewritten. With a smart, strategic approach, Ohio won't just be a chapter in that story—it will be the headline.