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Rail advocates urge Ohio to rejoin Midwest passenger-rail compact and fund membership in HB 54

2706451 · March 14, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Representatives of labor and advocacy groups told the Senate Transportation Committee that rejoining the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRAC/MIPREC) and adding a $25,000 annual allocation in House Bill 54 would give Ohio a seat in regional planning and improve coordination on passenger-rail service.

John Esterly, State Legislative Board chairman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, told the committee that the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (referred to in testimony as MIPRAC/MIPREC) helps coordinate planning among Midwestern states and with the Federal Railroad Administration but does not exercise statutory control over state-sponsored routes.

"It should be noted that MIPREC does not have any statutory control or authority over state sponsored routes," Esterly said. He told…

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