I seems to me that there are huge infrastructure costs associated with the proposed 3-C corridor, that the completion dates are unrealistic and the subsidies will have to be much larger.
In the end, we're talking about connecting declining "rust belt" urban centers, in a state where there is little likelihood of economic recovery, even in the long term.
I was shocked to see how broad based the opposition is in Cincinnati, but there again, this is a city that had major riots only a few years ago. When public services are being cut, tax increases for a trolley system don't seem to be popular. Similarly, Cincinnati Union Terminal has always been a money pit and a burden on the community, something that railfans are reluctant to admit because of the impressive aesthetics.
IMHO, of the designated corridors that don't have ANY rail service, the 3C corridor is the most viable. Sure you can improve the CHI-STL, Cascades, NEC, Empire/Keystone and such... but there is NO line between CLE-CIN.
Now there's no question Amtrak could run A train on the proposed route right now. Freight traffic is low and not likely to improve much, though the rails could use some serious repair work. CLE has a light rail system through the RTA and is talking about expanding it-- C-bus has plans to implement a similar system and CIN is ready to go and make a system... protests not withstanding. CLE is a very artsy and progressive city, as is Columbus. Columbus is also home to Ohio State. The college traffic between these three cities is enormous. Never underestimate the power of football.
What do we get out of this?
Well now we have, if planned right, a connection between the Cardinal and LSL/CL. It's not much, but it is something that can bring the city of Columbus back into the Amtrak market at large.
I disagree that this is just a rust belt state. Ohio is also the back of the corn belt, as well as a key midpoint between the East Coast and CHI.
On the CL to and from ALC I often see people from Youngstown, Columbus, even Dayton boarding in the middle of nowhere Amshack because they want to take the train. If ALC, ALC of all stations can coax pax from the greater C-bus area and even DAYTON then can you imagine what an actual station in either of those two cities would do?
Columbus is plagued with bad traffic, and no amount of Interstate spending is going to improve it. And... if Amtrak is serious about a midwestern HSR network with Wisconsin, Mich., Illinois, and Missouri, how the hell are they going to leave Ohio out of the equation?
The most important thing that will come out of this is the re-integration of Columbus into the national network, as well as service between Dayton and CIN on off days for 50/51.
I also firmly believe that, if successful, there would be the next logical step of adding local and express trains. Where the expresses stop only at the four major cities, and the local trains can do a Penny-esqu meandering of the state once daily in each direction to ferry pax to/from the LSL/CL/Cardinal.
And trust me, Ohioans don't need much to be satisfied. Anything at this point is an improvement. Some Amfleets and a P42, maybe a cabbage, nothing more than Lincoln or Empire Service demands.
I look at the 3C corridor as a cross between Empire service and the Cascades. You have four medium-populated cities on a route that transverses a state and offers connection to LD service on either end. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.
