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City staff recommend $30,000 feasibility study after Amtrak outreach about potential Hamilton stop
Summary
City staff briefed council on conversations with Amtrak about new Ohio corridors and potential station locations; staff recommended hiring a consultant for a roughly $30,000 feasibility study and explained federal grant opportunities that could cover much of capital cost.
City staff on Aug. 14 told the Hamilton City Council that Amtrak has discussed expanded service in Ohio and that the city should consider a consultant‑led feasibility study to evaluate whether a stop in Hamilton is viable.
Michael Gurr, a project manager with the Public Works Department, summarized recent conversations with Amtrak and neighboring municipalities. He said Amtrak is pursuing large‑scale modernization and network expansion supported by federal programs, and noted proposed new service corridors such as “3C+D” connecting Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland. Gurr described funding examples from nearby Oxford, where a multi‑modal hub and station work were estimated at roughly $26 million with about 80% from federal grants.
“Amtrak approached the city of Hamilton a few months back,” Gurr said, noting national rail investment and a suite of federal programs that could fund station and infrastructure costs. He told the council the city should consider issuing an RFP to hire a consultant; staff estimated the study would cost up to about $30,000 and take roughly nine months to complete.
Gurr flagged site needs that local governments should evaluate — roughly 2 acres for parking, up to about 1,300 feet of siding — and a wide range of station cost estimates (transcript range cited around $14–15,000,000 depending on size and scope). He said further costs such as maintenance and potential safety improvements along rail lines would need to be studied.
Council members expressed support for pursuing more detailed analysis; one member characterized the opportunity as rare and urged the city to be proactive in securing a role in regional planning. Staff noted state‑level processes (the Ohio Rail Development Commission’s expected consultant procurement for a Phase I study) and said Hamilton would coordinate its work with those statewide efforts.
Next steps: staff recommended authorization to issue a request for proposals for a consultant to prepare a feasibility study and to monitor Ohio Rail Development Commission findings for the 3C+D corridor work. The council did not vote on grant applications at the meeting; staff identified follow‑up items including refined cost estimates and coordination with regional partners.
