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Thursday’s meeting promises to be a busy one for the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC). The agency will discuss funding for four freight-rail projects and long-term passenger-rail needs.

The freight projects include the continued rehabilitation of the Ohio Central Railroad’s Newark-to-Mount Vernon line; rehab work on a portion of the Indiana & Ohio Railway’s Midland Sub; rehabilitation of a 29.5-mile Midland City-to-Greenfield line; and tie replacement on Ohi-Rail-owned tracks in Minerva.

All four projects will positively impact shippers by eliminating slow orders on certain sections of track and improving service reliability, and the Midland Sub project will boost safety at three grade crossings in Grove City, according to the ORDC.

During the meeting, commissioners also will consider approving the expenditure of Federal Railroad Administration grant proceeds and ORDC funds to support long-term passenger-rail development.

An independent Ohio Department of Transportation agency, ORDC is responsible for improving and expanding freight- and passenger-rail services, and boosting grade crossing safety.