ODOT investments/contracts up 30% for 2009 More than $1.5 billion in ARRA funds for Ohio ($400 million for rail) Maximizing flexibility: funds distributed across the modes to create a network , not individual systems
Growing Ohio’s freight economy means linking water and air to roadway and rail About 1 of every 13 jobs in Ohio is linked to the manufacture of exported goods, and these goods must be moved Ohio’s exports represent $34 billion in business Ohio’s River System accounts for one third of all annual U.S. water-borne commerce and is only at 33% capacity Ohio freight moved on the Great Lakes And Ohio’s 36 freight rail companies shipped 283.4 million tons of freight (2008, Association of American Railways most recent data)
Panama Canal: We must work to position Ohio to take advantage of the significant volumes of goods that will shift from the West Coast to the East with opening of the Panama canal Public/private investments in RAIL will make this happen, which is what we’re here to talk about tonight Heartland Corridor and Gateway Project-examples of infrastructure investments that maximized resources for more efficient freight delivery Let’s look at some of the investments Ohio has already made into freight rail
ODOT’s Investment in Ohio’s competitive rail strategy: Heartland Corridor : Norfolk Southern/Rickenbacker $95 million was the Federal funding for entire corridor (VA, WVA, OH) not just Ohio The ORDC grant for covered the Ohio Portion of the project Additional $7 million dollars in State stimulus funds (logistics and distribution) Rickenbacker intermodal yard: more than $27 million dollars of federal funding awarded for construction through an LPA agreement between ODOT and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority National Gateway: CSX/North Baltimore Ohio lead state for $258 million TIGER Application : Award for first segment (Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland (portion), Pennsylvania) = $98 million total ORDC also put $5 million in safety funds to North Baltimore Intermodal Facility (part of National Gateway) $20 million ARRA $10 million State of Ohio Logistics And Distribution Funds through ODOD
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Infrastructure improvements
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Jobs retained and created
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: Urban development
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: 3C=3W Win for Passenger, Win for Freight, Win for Ohio
Proven Success: (Last Slide) The Downeaster is not just a successful passenger train It is evidence of a successful public/private partnership NEXT STEPS: Final environmental study (public involvement) Engineering and detailed design New modeling/scheduling/speed Assistance in determining specifications for rail cars Determining operator Negotiations with freights for access agreements