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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE OHIO HUB AND PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL DEVELOPMENT
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WHEREAS, the Ohio Rail Development Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation have completed a feasibility analysis of increased freight rail capacity and regional passenger rail systems in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the study concludes that the Ohio Hub would strengthen Ohio's competitiveness by: improving the State's position as a strategic distribution and logistics center, slowing the growth of congestion, increasing the reliability of energy-efficient rail operations and instituting modern passenger rail service as an integral part of a national rail network; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Hub differs from the long-standing Amtrak model and suggests a policy that invests in the nation's railroads to achieve public benefits and to generate local economic development activity; and
WHEREAS, investing in high-speed rail infrastructure with improved freight and passenger rail capacity would create new construction jobs, permanent operating and indirect jobs, increasing the demand for U.S. materials, commodities and supplies; and
WHEREAS, the proposed improvements would provide more energy-efficient transportation options for moving freight and people; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna supports and encourages the State of Ohio to study additional methods of improving freight rail service and coordination with passenger rail service as a way to encourage economic development and job growth; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Ohio Hub improvements would increase capacity and delivery reliability for growing volumes of freight, remove railroad bottlenecks and improve operational fluidity while having a positive effect on highway capacity, shipping rates and business expansion; and
WHEREAS, each local rail station location will have the potential to capture millions of dollars of investments in industrial, commercial, office and residential development in transportation opportunity districts as rail-oriented development projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna is specifically interested in being the host community for a potential Gahanna/Port Columbus subregion station as contained in the draft Ohio Hub Plan and in participating in any committees tasked with identifying a specific location for such a station; and
WHEREAS, funding is needed to advance the environmental and project development process to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and to resolve decisions regarding project location, railroad capital improvements, community priorities, to preserve critical rights-of-way and capture on-going state transportation investments; and
WHEREAS, a federal funding partnership will be required to make this rail investment program possible, but this partnership is hampered by the fact that predictable federal funding is only available to construct all other modes of transportation except rail;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That the City of Gahanna does hereby request and support that the Ohio Rail Development Commission pursue completion of a Tier 1 Programmatic and Environmental Impact Statement on all feasible rail corridors in Ohio with special emphasis on reviewing additional methods to expedite, coordinate, and increase freight rail capacity along those same corridors.
Section 2. That the City of Gahanna does hereby request that the Ohio Rail Development Commission pursue inclusion of the proposed Columbus Airport Area station within Gahanna municipal boundaries to maximize and align with efforts for the Rickenbacker Intermodal facility development, to maximize and grow and support local industry through economic development, freight rail services, and passenger rail services for businesses in the Gahanna/Port Columbus subregion and offers to provide representation on any committees or studies examining the feasibility and location of a Gahanna/Port Columbus subregion.
Section 3. That we call upon Ohio's Congressional delegation to establish a federal program with long-term funding necessary for full federal participation.
Section 4. That copies of this resolution be delivered by the Ohio Department of Development to the Governor of Ohio, each member of the Ohio congressional delegation, and the Ohio Rail Development Commission.
Section 5. That this resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon passage by this Council.