February in Review

We’re off to an incredible start this year! In early February, we held our Board Retreat at the Columbus Public Library, where we took a deep dive into the future of our organization. Through a design thinking exercise, we officially launched the development of our 3–5 year strategic plan. Over the past few years, we’ve made great strides in strengthening our operations, and now, with a solid foundation in place, we’re shifting our focus to long-term impact.

This plan won’t be created in a vacuum—we want your input. In the coming weeks, we’ll be reaching out to members through surveys and interviews to ensure our priorities reflect the needs and aspirations of the people who power this movement. Keep an eye out for opportunities to contribute because your voice is vital in shaping the road ahead!

Perspectives from the Statehouse

Later in February, I had a completely new experience—I testified at the Ohio Statehouse for the first time. I had the privilege of speaking before the House Transportation Committee in support of Ohio rejoining the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC). This multistate compact plays a crucial role in coordinating and advocating for passenger rail improvements across the region, and Ohio’s absence has left us without a voice in these important discussions.

Walking into the hearing, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I was prepared to make the case for Ohio rejoining MIPRC, but it was hard to gauge how the committee would respond. In the end, the testimony went smoothly, and the committee members were receptive to our message. But two moments stood out as game changers:

1. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce spoke publicly in favor of passenger rail. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first time in our organization’s 50+ year history that the Chamber has voiced support for rail development. Having Ohio’s largest business advocacy group align with our efforts is a major milestone—it signals that passenger rail is a mainstream economic priority.

2. Vice Chair Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin) shared his personal shift in perspective. He openly stated that ten years ago, he would have been against expanding passenger rail in Ohio. However, after seeing the world change—especially post-COVID—he now believes rail is the right step forward. Hearing a leader publicly acknowledge how and why his views have evolved gave me a renewed sense of optimism. When we engage in good-faith discussions and provide solid reasoning, minds can change.

With this momentum, we’re thrilled to share that our amendment to rejoin MIPRC has been officially added to the House budget bill. The next step is a final vote in March. Once that hurdle is cleared, we’ll be ready to celebrate a major victory for passenger rail in Ohio!

Next Step: Statehouse Advocacy Day

As we build on this progress, March 5 will be a big day for our movement. AAO leadership and our coalition partners will head back to the statehouse for our annual Advocacy Day, where we have more than 40 meetings scheduled with legislators from across Ohio. These conversations will be instrumental in shaping the future of transportation policy in our state.

We’ll end the day with a public reception in the statehouse crypt, where all members are welcome to join us! It’s a great opportunity to connect with advocates, legislators, and stakeholders in a more informal setting. Details are here if you’d like to attend.

Why In-Person Advocacy Matters

In a world where so much communication happens online, face-to-face advocacy is more powerful than ever. By showing up in person, we’re not just another email in a legislator’s inbox—we’re building relationships, establishing credibility, and positioning AAO as the trusted resource on transportation issues. Our goal is to catalyze real action—to ensure Ohioans have more transportation choices that benefit residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

These conversations aren’t just about presenting data and making requests. They’re about listening. When we sit down with decision-makers, we take the time to hear their concerns, answer their questions, and show that we see them as partners in this effort. That trust is what will take this movement to the next level.

At the end of the day, every leader we work with is a person just like you and me. It’s easy to get discouraged by political divisions or the slow pace of change, but moments like these remind me why we do this work. When we take the time to engage in real, human conversations—even with those we may not always agree with—we create the space for progress. And I truly believe we’re on the right track.