Train safety, Amtrak expansion moves ahead in transportation budget passed by Ohio House
Anna Staver
- One provision paves the way for Amtrak to one day connect Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
- Allocates $3 billion in federal and state funding for Cincinnati's Brent Spence Corridor project.
- The budget would require trains passing through Ohio to have two-person crews in the locomotive's cab for safety reasons.
Ohio's House of Representatives passed a $12.6 billion transportation budget Wednesday, and one provision paved the way for Amtrak to one day connect Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
“This is a huge jobs bill,” Rep.Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, said. “This is all about enhancing job opportunity and economic development in all parts of our state.”
The two-year budget, known as House Bill 23, passed 74 to 21 Wednesday afternoon. Here's an overview of what it would do:
- Allocate $2.2 billion for pavement projects and $717 million for bridges.
- Spend $1 billion to on road projects that would reduce commute times to employment centers.
- Allocates $3 billion in federal and state funding for Cincinnati's Brent Spence Corridor project.
- Require the Public Utilities Commission, which regulates train companies like Norfolk Southern, to create a report on Ohio's transportation of hazardous materials and waste with the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Require trains to have two-person crews for safety.
- Allow political subdivisions with populations over 300,000 to establish their own standards for bike lanes on public streets.
- Reduce the registration fee for a plug-in hybrid vehicle from $200 to $100 on January 1, 2024.
- Allow the Ohio Rail Development Commission or its designees (potentially Amtrak) "to construct and operate an intercity conventional or high-speed passenger transportation system."
Changes after East Palestine
Among the most significant changes from the transportation budget proposed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine were provisions to improve train safety following the derailment in East Palestine that led to a chemical spill.
The budget would require trains passing through Ohio to have two-person crews in the locomotive's cab for safety reasons.
"You need two sets of eyes to ensure the safety of these rail cars ... it's essential to have that two-person crew," Rep. Mike Skindell, D-Lakewood, said.
The Federal Railroad Administration is considering a similar change, and state lawmakers acknowledged that the final decision would likely rest with them.
"I think it's important to make that statement," House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said. "Congress will ultimately make that decision, but I thought it was good for our members to be able to express that in a way through the transportation budget."
Amtrak in Ohio
Another part of the bill would expand the list of entities that can build railroads in the state from just the Ohio Rail Development Commission companies designated to do so by ORDC.
"Which is code for Amtrak," Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said.
In February, the state announced plans to apply for federal funding to study the expansion of two potential rail corridors: One that connects Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, and another that hits Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit.
"That's kind of the first step," said state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland. "If we weren't doing that, it would kind of indicate that we were taking it off the table, which would be such a misstep."
But Stewart and other Republicans aren't sure a new railroad system, even a high-speed one, is a good idea.
"Like many Republican leaders for a very long time, I have concerns about the long-term wisdom of investing in a high-cost system," Stewart said. "I don’t want to see us take the first step today only to find ourselves diverting funds away from core services in 50 years to prop up the choo-choo train."
Other Republican objections
The House passed the transportation budget with broad bipartisan support, but it didn't get 50 votes from Republicans.
Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova Township, said that many members of his caucus of Republicans were concerned about increased spending, Amtrak's potential expansion, and something called "force accounts."
"There are many good parts of the bill, but there are some areas of concern," he said. "I think the Senate will address those areas. Hopefully, I can vote for the bill that comes back from the Senate."
Anna Staver is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.