Ohio Could Rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission

Ohio lawmakers are drafting legislation that, if passed, would allow the state to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC). The state has not been a member of MIPRC since 2013, when Governor John Kasich turned down $400 million in federal grants for an intercity passenger rail line connecting Cleveland to Cincinnati.

 

This is an important step if Ohio plans to expand its limited passenger rail network. As it stands, Cincinnati only has three trains per week, and Cleveland’s two trains per day arrive and depart in the middle of the night. Columbus is one of the largest U.S. cities without intercity train service. The status quo transportation system is not serving Ohio well, and it’s critical that they work to improve it. Ohio should have a thriving network of fast, frequent trains.

 

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) brings together state leaders from across the region on a bipartisan basis to advocate for passenger rail improvements. The main purposes of the compact are to promote, coordinate and support  regional improvements to passenger rail service:

 

Rejoining the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission will allow Ohio to be part of the conversation for improving train service throughout the region.