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Rail advocates urge Ohio to rejoin Midwest passenger-rail compact and fund membership in HB 54
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 senators the House-passed transportation budget language would do two things: create a mechanism in the revised code for gubernatorial and legislative appointments to Ohio's commissioners to the commission and provide an annual allocation of $25,000 to fund Ohio's membership.
Mitch Radovich, board chair of All Aboard Ohio, said the organization represents more than 2,000 members and urged reinstating the commission language so Ohio "has a voice in national rail discussions." He argued that without membership "we risk missing critical funding opportunities and making costly missteps as we work through planning processes for potential future routes." Radovich also noted the annual membership fee is "$25,000 per year."
Committee members asked witnesses for specifics about timelines and finances. Radovich said planning steps such as the corridor service-development plan would clarify potential service, and he cited the Borealis service (Chicago–Minneapolis/St. Paul) as an example of recent new Amtrak service that has shown positive ridership. He also described federal programs, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act corridor program and a "corridor ID" service-development phase that would study capacity, speeds and freight coordination.
Senators pressed for data about ridership, operations, and financing; Radovich and Esterly said studies and state examples exist and offered to provide economic-impact analyses and audited financial reports from other states. The transcript records no formal committee action on rejoining the compact during this hearing.
