Amtrak to upgrade stations along Ohio's proposed '3C' route

As the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) works to finalize its application to obtain Track 2 High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail stimulus funds for its proposed 3C HSR corridor, Amtrak has announced some stimulus-funded investments of its own along the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati route.

The national intercity passenger railroad plans to upgrade three stations on the route. Projects include constructing an ADA-compliant shelter station building and platform in Alliance; improving sidewalks and parking stalls, and upgrading the center platform walkway in Elyria; and completing accessibility upgrades to the existing concrete platforms in Bryan.

The Amtrak projects will strengthen Ohio's efforts to secure additional stimulus dollars for the 3C plan, ODOT Director Jolene Molitoris said in a prepared statement. 

If the state obtains stimulus funds for the corridor, it could launch 79 mph passenger-rail service on the route as early as 2011. The state plans to eventually operate trains at speeds up to 110 mph.

Track 2 applications are due to the Federal Railroad Administration on Oct. 2.