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Here's a sign that support for intercity passenger-rail service is gaining steam in Ohio: For the first time in many years, the governor mentioned passenger rail in his State of the State speech, according to advocacy group All Aboard Ohio.

In his speech given last week, Gov. Ted Strickland discussed the importance of developing the Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati (3-C) Corridor.

"Our goal is to link Ohio's three largest cities by passenger rail for the first time in 40 years," he said. "This will be a first step toward a rail system that links neighborhoods within a city, and cities within our state."

On Jan. 1, Amtrak began working on a nine-month implementation plan to begin operating trains on the corridor by 2010's end. The Ohio Rail Development Commission and Ohio Department of Transportation are seeking $100 million in federal stimulus funding for the corridor's first phase and another $100 million through the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act for engineering and environmental impact studies necessary to fully build the Ohio Hub system.