Amtrak spending money to improve train service in Sandusky

SANDUSKY — The federal government has picked four Ohio routes as priorities for expanding service — including the existing Cleveland to Toledo route that includes Sandusky — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said Tuesday. The decision on the four routes by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration means that each route will be allocated $500,000 to plan service improvements. Metropolitan planning organizations will be asked to begin working on corridor development efforts, Brown said. Brown identified the four Amtrak routes as follows: • Cleveland to Toledo to Detroit While riders in Sandusky can board trains in the middle of the night, Amtrak has said it wants to improve service, including offering more convenient times. • Cleveland to Columbus to Dayton to Cincinnati, an expansion of Amtrak service that's been discussed for years • Chicago to Fort Wayne to Columbus to Pittsburgh, a proposed Midwest Connect corridor via Lima, Kenton, Marysville, Columbus, Newark, Coshocton, Newcomerstown, Uhrichsville and Steubenville in Ohio; Columbus currently is not served by Amtrak. • Amtrak service to Cincinnati, which connects to New York City, Washington, D.C. and Chicago; The service currently runs three days a week, but daily service is proposed. In addition to the money being spent on planning, the four corridors will be given priority for future funding, Brown said. He said two of the routes, from Cleveland to Detroit and the proposed new Cleveland to Cincinnati route, were sponsored by the Ohio Rail Development Commission with the endorsement of Governor Mike DeWine. Brown and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, both issued statements about the announcement. "Today's announcement is a great first step toward expanding Amtrak in Ohio," Brown said. "Good Amtrak service shouldn't be a privilege only for people on the coasts: These new routes would expand opportunity, help grow businesses and create jobs and connect communities in Ohio and across the Midwest," Brown said. "I fought for the investment to make Amtrak expansion in Ohio possible, and I will keep fighting to make sure that Ohio receives these critical infrastructure projects." Kaptur noted she's "thrilled" how the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Rail Administration selected a route serving Sandusky for its first round of funding to expand and improve rail service. "Northern Ohio's connections to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Canada and beyond will be enhanced because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," Kaptur said. "Transportation infrastructure can connect communities and change lives, and I am glad to have fought for this bipartisan funding that will help us to imagine a new transportation future for our region."