Let Our State Government Know That Rail Will Benefit Ohio

The Federal Rail Administration awarded Ohio with a $400-million grant to build passenger rail across the 3C corridor - the nation's most populous corridor without passenger rail availability. These grant dollars will allow our State to execute the 3C "Quick Start"Project – our first step in bringing a comprehensive passenger rail system across Ohio by linking Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. This project will create thousands of jobs and pump much needed revenue into our state.

Please show our state leaders that you support the Linking Ohio effort. Use all or part of the suggested text…add your own personal reasons of why you're Ready to Ride in Ohio, and click send. This letter will be sent to your respective state legislators, plus carbon copy to:

• Governor Strickland
• House Speaker Armond Budish
• Senate President Bill Harris
• Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation

Dear XXXX,

As a resident of your district, I want you to know how much I care about getting intercity trains running in Ohio soon, with the $400 million grant from the Federal Rail Administration to build out the 3-C "Quick Start" Project.

By implementing the 3C “Quick Start” Project, we will be positioning Ohio to remain a critical distribution hub of goods and people. Our Federal government has deemed rail as an economic driver for our country. By not executing the 3C “Quick Start” Project, Ohio is essentially turning its back on our country, and making our state irrelevant to our economic development efforts.

Ohio will benefit in many ways from this project:

Jobs: Ohio remains critical to building the things our nation uses. We have the people-power to continue at this capacity.
- Igniting Ohio’s rail supplier & contractor network
– 225 suppliers; 26,000+ employees
- 255 construction jobs
- 8,000 spin-off/indirect jobs

Improving Freight: Ohio is at the center of moving goods and people from the east to west and north to south.
- Significant dollars for upgrading our freight system to maintain our competitive distribution system
- Support from Norfolk Southern, CSX and Rail America
- Ohio is 7th largest exporting state with more than 300,000 jobs linked to moving goods in and out of the state

Creating a Collaborative Ohio: A collaborative spirit with what’s great in Ohio will elevate the unique qualities our state possesses.
- Over 40 universities and 220,000 college students within 10 miles of proposed stations
- World-class health care community
- Innovation centers
- Entertainment & Tourism

Safe, Reliable, Inexpensive Travel Option: People want travel options.
- 6.8-million Ohioans across 3C corridor
- 8½ to 14-cents per mile traveled vs. 54 to 55-cents per mile by car
- Productive travel – computer use with WiFi, safe cell phone use, conduct a meeting, read a book
- Convenient connections –buses, taxis, car rental, etc. at station destinations

Economic Impact in Station Cities: Cities designated at station stops along the corridor stand to realize positive economic impact
- Increase in property values around stations –up to 30% according to cities in other states
- Commercial and Residential development
- Urban enthusiasm

I urge you to take every action possible to ensure that Ohio uses its grant dollars to execute the 3-C "Quick Start" Project. Ohio needs to ensure its relevance to national economic development efforts, and intercity rail shows this.

Thank you.