Link to Video on All Aboard Erie Facebook

This week, All Aboard Erie and the Lakeshore Rail Alliance released a new video advocating for passenger rail expansion in Erie, PA. The project required over a year of filming due to the fact that Amtrak trains pass through Erie only once a day. The video underscores the need for more frequent and expanded service and the accompanying press conference encourages local governments to fund a formal economic impact study. In Ohio, All Aboard Ohio has already taken the initiative by funding our own study, aiming to provide detailed, data-backed insights into the benefits of enhanced rail service.

Project Overview

Long-Term Filming for Infrequent Service:   Because Amtrak's Lakeshore Limited provides only one daily pass through Erie in each direction, one at 2am, and one at 7am. The filmmaker, Paul Gibbens, collected footage over the span of 12 months from more than 40 locations to capture the Amtrak trains and stories from some of the more than 15,000 passengers a year that ride from Erie.

Advocacy for More Data:   The video is a call-to-action for the community and local government. It advocates not only for increased rail service but also for community members to ask states to work with Congress to fund more passenger trains in the Chicago, New York and Boston rail corridor. In the accompanying press conference, All Aboard Erie sees the first step to be an economic impact study. By gathering concrete data, decision-makers can more accurately assess how improved passenger rail service might affect local businesses, job creation, and overall regional mobility.

Economic Impact Studies: Importance and Approach

Economic impact studies on public transportation projects are critical for several reasons:

• Quantifying Economic Benefits: Studies can estimate the direct and indirect benefits of passenger rail expansion, such as increased local spending, job creation in related sectors (like hospitality and retail), and higher tax revenues.

• Informing Investment Decisions: Accurate data helps local governments and investors understand the return on investment (ROI) associated with enhanced transit connectivity. For instance, similar studies in other regions have found that each dollar invested in transit infrastructure can yield multiple dollars in economic output.

• Supporting Sustainable Development: Improved passenger rail can reduce traffic congestion and provide reliable transportation to underserved communities. Reliable data supports arguments for socially responsible infrastructure investments.

The Ohio Initiative

All Aboard Ohio has proactively funded its own economic impact study to evaluate the potential benefits of passenger rail expansion in the region. This initiative in Ohio serves as an example of how local stakeholders can support data-driven decision making, rather than relying solely on recommended studies from higher levels of government. You can read our economic impact study here: Economic Impact of the 3C+D Corridor Project our advocacy book here: Ohio Runs on Rail and further research from groups like Policy Matters Ohio here: Rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission - Policy Matters Ohio

A Path Forward

The release of the All Aboard Erie video, combined with ongoing studies like the one in Ohio, underscores a broader regional interest in strengthening passenger rail service. Ohio's study shows that passenger rail would be beneficial to the Ohio Economy and both initiatives are focused on surfacing the necessary data to ensure that any service expansion is both economically sound and sustainable in the long term.

Local governments and community leaders are encouraged to review these studies and consider the detailed evidence supporting rail expansion. With comprehensive data in hand, policy decisions can be made with greater confidence, ensuring that investments in passenger rail deliver measurable benefits for communities throughout the region.

You can learn more about All Aboard Erie at their website: All Aboard Erie