Title
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE OHIO HUB AND PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL DEVELOPMENT
Drafter
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Body
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 developmen...
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