By karon

November 14, 2010 12:36 AM | Link to this

NO! Kasich appears to be in the pockets of the oil and highway construction industries. Why else turn down 400 million dollars to give Ohioians an more efficent alternative transportation choice? Support trains let your state representatives know!

By hMMMMM

November 14, 2010 12:41 AM | Link to this

I’m so glad he is pulling the plug.25 million just to study it? Then let figure in the cost over runs of that plus the cost overruns when it’s being built. I do not think it’s the job of the govt to get me around the state

By karon

November 14, 2010 12:47 AM | Link to this

Barb Laurash, just to let you know England let the private sector take over the trains and train crashes become alarming because the private sector deregulated the trains safety. The government of England took the trains back and put those safety stardards back in place! When it comes to transportation you can never trust the private sector without heavy regulations!

By John

November 14, 2010 1:53 AM | Link to this

why cant the liberals here wake up??? were broke. kasich has the right idea: ITS CALLED CUT SPENDING!!! why havent we learned that socialism hasnt worked anytime in recorded history and it wont work now? long live the republicans to clean up the obama and the faithful mess!

By jpns

November 14, 2010 2:51 AM | Link to this

Give it up you people crying to stop spending, no matter what it is. You’re probably arguing FOR extending all of the Bush tax cuts. Historically, cutting taxes has never resulted in a reduction of government. You might as well make government work for you. These passenger trains are a good example of that. RTA and other bus/taxi services will see a jump in ridership as well as congestion relief of the never-gonna-be-big-enough I70, I71 and I75.

By GWB

November 14, 2010 4:31 AM | Link to this

SPEND, SPEND, SPEND is all you libs know. Wake up people - the Feds are broke, the States are broke, and our local counties are broke. Kasich is right we can’t afford this multi-billion rail system - take the bus if you feel the need to visit Gramma in Cleveland - just dont make me pay for your visit.

By YAHOO

November 14, 2010 5:06 AM | Link to this

When are you idiots going to get this right? First thing: IT IS NOT FREAKING HIGH SPEED RAIL! It is moderate speed at best. #2: It is COST PROHIBATIVE! The cost for the average rider far, far, FAR, exceeds the cost to drive the same distance, and will, unless gas goes to 14 freaking dollars a gallon! #3-Ohio does NOT have the FREAKING money to sustain yet another mass transit that will only transport less than 5% of the population of Ohio! When will you freaking idiots wake up!!!!!

By Philman

November 14, 2010 5:24 AM | Link to this

Notice how the REPORTERS have failed to tell us how much we spend in tax dollars to keep the mass transit RTA Afloat,notice how they fail to mention that every time the Govt tries to guess what a program or project will cost, it usally ends up costing 10 times what they guess.we would spend billions of dollars to build , and in five years we will see it running down the tracks with 11 passengers & 7 taxpayer paid UNION employees.

By RGuy

November 14, 2010 5:42 AM | Link to this

How can Carl compare city transit (Chicago & Atlanta) to statewide?? Can you say apples vs oranges. A train would be great…if we had the money so the government could subsidize it every year like they do Amtrack currently. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOLKS! and having a train will NOT generate increased revenues it will only ADD to our debt load!

By Larry

November 14, 2010 6:31 AM | Link to this

I’m happy because I am not convinced that enough people would have used it. We can’t afford to subsidize such a venture. If there was a law that Americans weren’t allowed to drive more than 25, 50, or a 100 miles from home, then it might work even if you were stuck in a city that required overnight hotel accomodations because the game ended too late.

By red

November 14, 2010 6:48 AM | Link to this

Classic DDN survey. Go to some liberal hangout and ask them what they think of ‘high speed rail’. HSR is sorta like the housing crisis, if you can’t afford it, doesn’t matter how cool you think it is, you don’t buy it. Kaisch is going to have to cut all kinds of things to get us back to reality and he will do it. Folks will hate him in the short term and love him in the long term.

By I M SERIOUS

November 14, 2010 9:17 AM | Link to this

The tenor of yahoo’s comments at 506am was of a general nature, and, while he uesed the term “idiots,” his post pointed out the uselessness of the system. Your posts however, from the very start, have added nothing to th edebate and have been mean spirited in nature. Once again, pot /kettle…grow up.

By Retired Sgt

November 14, 2010 9:43 AM | Link to this

Bill, the driving distance from Dayton to Cleveland is 212 miles. It does not take 8 hours, but more like 4.5. In a car getting 20 mpg highway, it would be 10.6 gallons used. If gas is 3/gallon, it would cost $31.80 each way. Conversely, according to the cleveland.com article from October 2010, it would cost $75 each way/pperson for a trip via rail. That is more than 2.5 times the cost of driving. That of course does not cover the cost of transfers via cab or bus from the depot to where you are going, and the time constraints you would be under by going by rail. Miss the last train and you will either have to stay in cleveland, or, take a long bus ride home. Now, take a family of four travelling to Cleveland, the cost to drive remains a constant 31.80 dollars each way, while you can quadruple the cost for train fare. You will not be taking a lot of friends on rail for 100 bucks. You would not even take yourself for a hundred bucks..unless you drive your car. The 8 hour ride you speak of is not by car, but the estimated time it would take you by train..

By Max

November 14, 2010 9:47 AM | Link to this

Yes, but let’s not give Kasich too much credit. He really doesn’t intend to pull the plug - all evidence pointed to C3 not being viable at this time - as much as keeping the idea in the minds of most what it is; a fiscal sinkhole. Cut the losses in the $25-million consultant funding and give the fed (our) money back to the government. Kasich’s point is far more fundemental; Ohio must be fiscally responsible which entails taking LESS from the federal government. Self sufficency is an admirable goal.

By James G.

November 14, 2010 10:39 AM | Link to this

May I suggest a playground for IM Indy and yahoo to go play on? The Ops pages are for opinions on the article in question. Keep it up and you’ll get a time out…both of you.

By drparkwood

November 14, 2010 10:40 AM | Link to this

Yes it was great to kill another government job based program. We don’t need any more government jobs, we need private industry jobs. If these rail believers would just look at the facts they would soon realize that this was just a money pit with no real benefit to Ohio. Fact, even the high use pass trains on the east coast have to be supported with gov money, Fact, Europe rail is gov supported, Fact, China’s new rail system is gov supported. No major examples exist where the pass rail are self supporting. It was a democrat/lib dream to increase gov plain and simple. Kasich needs to start reducing the OH gov work force.

By dale1

November 14, 2010 11:04 AM | Link to this

Obviously most people were against the trains or Strickland would have been re-elected. I would like a rail system in Ohio that was completely funded by the pasengers who ride the train. I don’t think the rail would have created private sector jobs and I could care less about creating more state government jobs since we cannot even afford the state jobs we have now. Hate to tell you folks, but the era of big government is coming to an end. Remember Ohio is on the bottom when it comes to a friendly business climate so maybe instead of trying to lie and say trains will create jobs we can lower regulations and business taxes to actually really create some good rpivate sector jobs.

By Just quoting some of the idiocy - to much to rebut.

November 14, 2010 11:18 AM | Link to this

I’m with Karon. Here’s just a little of the idiocy from the other side of the issue. @hMMMMM - “I do not think it’s the job of the govt [SIC] to get me around the state.” — So, I guess you’ll be staying off the roads as well? @John - “Why havent [SIC] we learned that socialism hasnt [SIC] worked anytime in recorded history and it wont [SIC] work now?” — Likewise, I guess you won’t be using the roads or paying attention to stop lights and road signs or using the post office or sending your kids to school or going to a park or collecting Social Security when your old or calling the police when your robbed or the fire department when your house is on fire. These are all the result of American socialism.

By Great in Dayton

November 14, 2010 11:24 AM | Link to this

I am for the rail system as long as Washington D.C. pays for any losses in money for us to have it as long as it exists. Absolutley no union employees are to be employed. I am sure when we get our Right to Work Legislation it will take care of that problem. It would help the local economies for sure but when there are not enough passengers the feds got to pay for it.

By Grandma Sue

November 14, 2010 11:34 AM | Link to this

Why can’t Ohio spend billions on more reliable transportation - - - such as horse-and-buggy, canal boats, zeppelins, and stagecoaches? Besides, them there new fangled locomotive’s loud whistles scares all the chickens in the coup. What the heck were we thinking? More HIGH PAYING jobs - strictly for union workers? I would rather see 3 unemployed people get jobs in food service than yet another overpaid union employee - laying rails. Kasich, keep thinning the herd!

By what it is

November 14, 2010 11:36 AM | Link to this

There are two sides of the train debate. #1 Those who are well informed on the idea and oppose it, and #2 Those who ‘think’ it would be great to have trains, but have no real facts to back up their opinion that it would be a good thing for the state.

By rm miamisburg

November 14, 2010 11:37 AM | Link to this

Sgt, I just drove from Cincinnati-had to pick up a co Biz owner- then to a convention in C-Land. It took 4 hours from the time I left Cincy to C-Land. With one stop to use Rest areas. We parked at the hotel where the convention-meeting was being held. Free. We drove to the Flats, had a nice lunch with other who were attending and then headed back to Cincy and then me, the Burg. I was up and back well with in the 8 hours some are saying a drive takes. Time to drive 4 hours at 65 or 70. Go with the traffic flow, Cost for gas , my Vibe got 36 mpg, 2.75 up and back so 27.50 for gas one way, total $55 both ways with gas still in the tank. OH We could stop and eat along the way or on the way back if we wanted to do so. KARON fails to take that in to consideration when she talks about trains. Now many will mention Chicago or NY or England or France for how trains run. WELL that is about the only way they have to travel. Roads there are not that great. Yes I have been there for Biz. Plus in the US Chicago-NY-Seattle, it was part of the design of the city for rail travel. So people got use to having a tram take them here and there. It is not like here in OHIO where we tore up the rails when train traffic got to costly. So for the Gov elect to say Take the Train High Speed rail moneyand shove it. FINE withme. Cost now 400 million, in 5 years 800 million and few riders- outside KARON. Tax payers would be paying for this boondoggle long after we are dead and gone. In Cincy even as I post this, some are taking up a petiition to get rid of the so called Street Cars, due to the cost of just one car. . One is sitting in front of Fountain Square for all to see and stand in. The Cincy Paper has done full page stories on this and now find it is a majoy waste of tax payers money. The petition will be to put it back on the ballot for another vote. If that happens then SC willbe stopped until such time as the voters say for it to be built. KARON can’t get past the riding on a train faze. Over all Cost will say it wont work. Be it Ohio or Cincy. I rather take my money and put it on raods not rails. ANSD GUYS lets be a little civil here. DDN like Sgt says has taken comments off and this is one of the few left. Go on Facebook and fight not on here.

By karon

November 14, 2010 12:37 PM | Link to this

Cincinnati will start construction on the streetcars this week! Thousands of people showed up last week to see the streetcar that was park by fountain square! Also trains are alot cheaper to maintain and run compared to highways!

By I THINK, YOU DONT

November 14, 2010 12:45 PM | Link to this

Karon, Perhaps you should read a few of these comments, most notably from RM in Miamisburg and the Sgt. The costs are too high, the amount of people riding them too low, and the percentages of traffic drven on the highway as compared to trains makes trains a laughable project. Streetcars are entirely different than rail incase you hadnt heard. Karon, I know you like trains, but you are clearly in th eminority…by a load. if you like trains, I suggest you move to France.

By karon

November 14, 2010 1:00 PM | Link to this

President Obama must take leadership and start building these trains for the country! Just like republican priesdent Eisenhower did in the 1950s with the highways!This is going to be a national works project for the country! Transportation, education, and health care should never be a campaign issue!

By good luck with that

November 14, 2010 1:08 PM | Link to this

Well karon, if anyone would be willing to waste billions of taxpayer dollars on a pointless project, Obama would be the man to do it. Fortunately for the sane among us, he has been essentially harmless for the next two years by the recent election results, so I don’t see your train dream coming true anytime soon.

By karon

November 14, 2010 1:20 PM | Link to this

Yes, the trains are coming with gas prices rising! 21st century is going to be about living substainablity and less about sprawling! Kasich unfortunely will keep Ohio dependent on foreign oil during his 4 year term!

By delusional much?

November 14, 2010 1:24 PM | Link to this

You have to give karon credit for being committed. In spite of all the FACTS that have been presented to her in the countless threads where trains came up, she still believes her incorrect opinion to be correct. Karon, you are WRONG. PERIOD. Get over it and move on to something else.

By I think, You dont

November 14, 2010 1:27 PM | Link to this

karon, as has been pointed out, the trains would take you from point a to point b. you would still have to take a cab or bus to where you want to go, thus increasin the cost of your trip. NO ONE is going to pay $100 round trip per person to go to cinci, then pay for cb or bus fare to where they are going every day. It just ain happening. the reason why trains are successful in Europe is: becuase gas prices are high, they stop at various towns and run all day and into the night, no one owns cars unless you are rich due to taxes, roads are terrible, and teh lay out of the cities lend itself to that form of transportation. people HERE will not ride trains. Trains are done in Ohio…Move to France karon…

By Good N Plenty

November 14, 2010 1:38 PM | Link to this

Nope, Karon SHOULD be committed…

By karon

November 14, 2010 1:43 PM | Link to this

Yes people in Ohio will ride the trains! Senior citizens, college students, people wanting to go to a to b without car dependence and tourist! Passenger trains will also bring economic growth to Ohio. Most importanly Ohio will be connected to the other states that will also get the trains! Kasich is not going to get his way about killing the trains!

By exactly

November 14, 2010 1:49 PM | Link to this

So now even karon admits that VERY FEW people will ride trains. Very good, now try adding 2 + 2 and see if you come up with 4 for a change. I’m not sure what you didn’t understand about ‘you are WRONG. PERIOD.’

By I think, You dont

November 14, 2010 1:49 PM | Link to this

Karon, Seniors will not ride the trains because they cant afford it at $45 ea way to Cinci, $75 each way to Cleveland. Students will not ride them for the same reason. Tourists are not going to come to Ohio to ride trains from Dayton to Cinci to Cleveland. Kasich WILL get his way, and the way of 78% of the Ohio Public since he will be Gov. There will be no trains for Karon. Move to France

By c'mon man

November 14, 2010 2:37 PM | Link to this

Let me offer my services to “study” the feasibility for a mere 100 grand…

By Rick

November 14, 2010 2:41 PM | Link to this

I love trains but there is no way this train to sustain itself economically. Morons like Karon believe the government should spend money on their favorite pet projects. Sorry, we just don’t have the money to do that anymore.

By Xman

November 14, 2010 2:44 PM | Link to this

To those of you complaining about the funding for the rail study being pulled: it doesn’t mean there will never be rail service, it means there won’t be rail service until it’s commercially viable. The government doesn’t have to make a profit — they simply confiscate your money through taxes and other fees whether you like it or not. A private company has to figure out how to provide a service you’ll voluntarily pay for. That’s a huge difference, and it’s one of the reasons we advocates of small government are glad Kasich pulled the plug, and hopefully will keep pulling the plug on such money pits in the future. Let the entrepreneurs keep more of the money they earned instead of taxing it away and they will find ways to grow rich by providing us with goods and services we actually want.

By karon

November 14, 2010 3:17 PM | Link to this

XMAN, We let rich people have tax breaks so where are the jobs that rich people were to create under those tax breaks??? They do not create jobs with those tax breaks , they just put in their pockets and scream for more! As long as we keep giving tax breaks to rich people the United States must keep borrowing from CHINA! Start taxing the rich! EXON MOBILE AND GENERAL ELECTRIC companies paid 0 tax last year, this must stop!

By wow

November 14, 2010 3:21 PM | Link to this

Just when you think karon can’t say anything dumber, she steps up and delivers. Karon, companies don’t pay tax anyway. If you raise their taxes, they just raise their prices or reduce their expenses to make up for it. That generally means their employees suffer or the consumer suffers, take your pick.

By wow

November 14, 2010 3:23 PM | Link to this

Just when you think karon can’t say anything dumber, she steps up and delivers. Karon, companies don’t pay tax anyway. If you raise their taxes, they just raise their prices or reduce their expenses to make up for it. That generally means their employees suffer or the consumer suffers, take your pick.

By I think, You dont

November 14, 2010 3:34 PM | Link to this

Karon never lets me down with her assinine comments. Taxbusiness more and prices go up. Tax the rich more and they hire less or lay off workers. they also wont spend. I have never seen a poor person doing any hiring karon. The Rich, those by definition making more than 250,000/yr, already pay 78% of all income taxes. everyone needs to py some taxes, that way they buy into th eprogam. If you have nothing vested, you dont care. In the words of Dan Ackroyd, Karon you ignorant….

By sad but true

November 14, 2010 3:40 PM | Link to this

The problem with karon, and others of her ilk is the fact that they have nothing to lose when the ‘rich’ are taxed more. They have no problem punishing success because they will never be successful themselves. How demented do you have to be to think someone should be penalized for being successful?

By On Common Sense

November 14, 2010 3:57 PM | Link to this

Most of these comments are so reckless and ridiculous! It doesn’t make sense to do the project. This is OHIO, there is no city in OH that is on the top 10 most populated cities. It’s time to get the government pacifier out of people’s mouth, their life, and stop wanting gov. programs to support every area of their lives. Sick of the “PELOSI” mentality….Old George Washington wouldn’t believe what some of you no brains are even saying.

By Bubba

November 14, 2010 4:43 PM | Link to this

Kasich is correct in pulling the plug on trains. If it was such a good idea, someone would’ve already done it - for a profit. In the event the project goes through, be sure to equip the locomotives with cow catchers, because that’s all you’ll see going through central Ohio.

By Take the bus and leave the driving to us

November 14, 2010 4:57 PM | Link to this

The Greyhound Bus Line standard one way fare from Cincinnati to Cleveland is $45.76. The trip duration is between 4.5 and 5.5 hours. The Dayton/Trotwood one way web-fare is $41.80 with a trip duration of 4.5 hours. Slow rail is redundant to transportation already provided by the private sector. Could the push for more public transportation provided by the public sector be a means of providing more subsidies based upon need and higher taxes for those that pay taxes? Rider fares represent only 15% of the RTA budget.

By Wanda

November 14, 2010 6:42 PM | Link to this

To me that was kinda stupid of Kasich to pull the plug on the rail system. Now there is no new jobs, no way to get to new places for jobs. Who side is he on anyhow? This made no sense at all. Thought he was here to support the people not his own decisions.

By profit is god

November 14, 2010 6:47 PM | Link to this

Karon, are u so myopic to not to see the success of our free-market system?Look at how our oil industry has been so successful in reducing our foreign dependency and escalating prices.Or reducing our escalating health insurance premiums.Or our corporate funding of elections.Give the rich more tax breaks.See how many jobs they created lately (in USA),how the middle class has expanded.We need more money in fewer hands to right this ship!TeaBag me,please!

By just the facts

November 14, 2010 7:01 PM | Link to this

The free market system works just fine for the most part, unless government sticks its nose where it doesn’t belong. Anyone remember when banks only loaned money to people that were actually creditworthy? Worked just great until the libs decided that EVERYONE deserved a mortgage, regardless of whether they could afford it or not. Back to the original topic, anyone that thinks trains would be anything but a colossal waste of taxpayer money are delusional.

By karon

November 14, 2010 7:09 PM | Link to this

Kasich start those trains now!

By karon

November 14, 2010 7:13 PM | Link to this

We need trains now. Never mind the fact that very few will ride them and that they will cost the taxpayers millions every year, I want them and that is all that matters. I am NOT interested in facts, only my personal opinion.

By karon

November 14, 2010 7:40 PM | Link to this

Actually KASICH was told by the passenger rail association out of North Carolina to start the trains, and that it does create jobs and economic grwoth! This article appeared in the Columbus Dispatch on friday! KASICH people in Ohio have waken and now they know their is alternative to transporation and jobs, it is call trains!

By Karon is an idiot

November 14, 2010 7:43 PM | Link to this

Nuff said

By not quite

November 14, 2010 7:48 PM | Link to this

Actually karon, trains MAY create jobs and economic growth in SOME areas of the country. As DOZENS of people have correctly pointer out for you OVER and OVER and OVER again, they will NOT do anything for Ohio.

By really?

November 14, 2010 8:10 PM | Link to this

Seriously karon, “Actually KASICH was told by the passenger rail association out of North Carolina to start the trains, and that it does create jobs and economic grwoth!”? A PASSENGER RAIL ASSOCIATION told Kasich passenger rail was a good thing? I guess I’m sold now, they would certainly never make a biased recommendation, would they?

By The Truth

November 14, 2010 8:14 PM | Link to this

The DDN must have to look quite a while to find several morons who would give them the answers they wanted to hear. Trains are a bad idea - we don’t have the money, not enough people will use them because it isn’t practical, and they are unsafe.

By The Real Truth

November 14, 2010 8:30 PM | Link to this

Actually I don’t see it taking too long for the DDN to find several morons in this town. Sad, but unfortunately true.

By karon

November 14, 2010 8:52 PM | Link to this

CARS And highways are the most dangerous form of transportation. Trains and planes are the safest! Proven fact!

By lol

November 14, 2010 9:16 PM | Link to this

So karon breaks out a ‘proven fact’ when it supports her position, but ignores the mountain of facts that prove her opinion on the subject to be incorrect. But then again, we all know karon isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.

By cantbeatagoodfilet

November 14, 2010 9:38 PM | Link to this

Yes, I’m happy that the train project has been killed. They would been a money pit that we can’t afford, with trains running nearly empty just as our local buses do now. Amtrak-Broke. Post Office-Broke. Social Security-Broke. Medicare-Broke. Fannie Mae-Broke. Freddie Mac-Broke. There is absolutely no evidence to support the idea that this train project would be any different. When I want to go to Columbus or Cleveland, I’ll go in my car, directly to my destination, on my schedule, faster/cheaper/more comfortable than on a train.

By Peter

November 14, 2010 10:22 PM | Link to this

I believe it is a horrible mistake. It reflects a failure of vision which will further cripple Ohio. The world is passing us by. I grew up on the East Coast, and have experienced the advantages of good rail service. I have made Ohio my home, and am sad that Mr. Kasich is depriving my fellow Ohioans of the same benefits.

By Earth to Peter

November 14, 2010 10:26 PM | Link to this

Ohio is NOT the East Coast. What works there will not work here, and it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see why. Hope this helps.

By the bottom line

November 14, 2010 10:31 PM | Link to this

Here it is: Anyone that thinks passenger rail is a good idea for Ohio is stupid, ignorant, uneducated, ill-informed, or some combination thereof. These threads always go the same way. Those who are informed give numerous reason why it will not work and those who want trains come back with ‘nuh uh’, ‘yuh huh’, or something equally compelling.

By Howard

November 14, 2010 10:53 PM | Link to this

Kasich and his defenders ignore the history of intercity rail passenger service development since 1945. In particular, 15 other states now buy supplemental conventional-speed rail passenger service and all such service is well-used.No one on earth built high speed (150+ mph) rail service first; all HSR began as and continues to be supplemental to conventional-speed service. No intercity rail passenger train service on earh is profitable.

By wow, just wow

November 14, 2010 10:59 PM | Link to this

The ignorance of the rail proponents is STUNNING. “No rail service on earth is profitable’, but let’s just do it anyway, right? Kasich and his defenders aren’t ignoring anything, they’re making sound decisions based on FACTS.

By Howard

November 14, 2010 11:01 PM | Link to this

According to IRS & AAA, driving costs $0.55 per mile. Midwest corridor service fares range between $0.14 and $0.18 per mile. Train travel costs are cheaper than driving, particularly for the growing number of people who cannot drive and/or do not own a car.

By Just like karon...

November 14, 2010 11:04 PM | Link to this

Howard is WRONG. PERIOD. I’m guessing they both dropped out of school in the 3rd or 4th grade.

By karon

November 14, 2010 11:14 PM | Link to this

Peter , this is why our politicians cannot make transportation an campaign issue. When interstate highways construction started it was a public works project for the better of the country! Now this is 21st century and we only have a car and highway policy in most areas of the country, this is not good for the country and it has lost its appeal. With gas prices rising in 21st century we have to go to alternative transportation and passenger trains are a start!

By No Trains

November 14, 2010 11:36 PM | Link to this

If trains were a good idea there would be buses full of people racing up and down the highways between our cities. There aren’t because people have little or no interest in being in close quarters with the masses. They don’t want to go WHERE the buses go, WHEN the buses go there. We are a nation of auto drivers. I am thrilled with that. I get on a bus or a train…NEVER. Thanks.

By let'sB4real

November 14, 2010 11:44 PM | Link to this

Hey you…stop picking on Karon!!! If she wants her train, let her have her train! If we can continue to charge up billions for 2 wars, and keep giving the rich tax cuts, why can’t we spend to improve our infrastructure (transportation). It never ceases to amaze me how the wealthy & the rich manage to brain wash the right wingers that are poor and uninformed to agree with their right wing hypocritical jargon. Unless you have all the specifics and figures from the actual project…keep quiet. You know nothing!

By TRS

November 15, 2010 12:34 AM | Link to this

Face it - trains for Ohio is truly “the little engine that couldn’t”. Can you say boondoggle?

By Night Train

November 20, 2010 4:18 PM | Link to this

To the poster who said “it’s not the job of government to get me around the state.” Good to hear… then you won’t mind the billions of state funds that go into building and maintaining our highways. To our incoming Governor who professes “jobs” to be his priority…. why would you turn away $400-million for a 3C rail project that would have created hundreds of construction jobs and an estimated 8,000 spin-off jobs from development? To those who call it a “boondoggle” and “the little engine that couldn’t”…. let’s see how snarky you are as oil becomes scarcer gasoline prices take a bigger bite out of your wallet.

By Robyn

November 24, 2010 7:10 AM | Link to this

Grew up in Ohio and went to OSU. Moved to NYC for work immediately after school in the mid 80’s. Like about 8 million others in this area have never owned a car, no need to. Maybe a lot of people would come to Ohio from the east coast and Chicago if they could get there! Sad that it is impossible to get from the financial capitols of the country to the state capitol of Ohio which is only 500 miles away by train. I am fairly conservative due to my upbringing and was always proud to be from Ohio. I thought that it was forward thinking,(inventors,presidents,so many advancements from Ohio in the past)but this debate is just ridiculous. It’s not a question of if we will run out of fossil fuels in the future, but when. The infrastructure for rail service will be needed in the future and will never be cheaper than it is today. Just like truck and air service was the wave of the future in the 1950’s and 60’s, high speed rail service will be by necessity the wave of the future. Cars/buses/trucks and airplanes are old fashioned now, not trains and if Ohio wants to be as successful in the future as it has been in the past the incoming governor would be wise to accept this gift from the federal government and help seat Ohio in the nations future financial success. Maybe he could also look into building these new high speed trains of the future in Ohio? Where are the forward thinkers now? I guess they are all in China, lol.

By mary

November 24, 2010 1:58 PM | Link to this

No I think we need high speed rail. Kasich maybe needs to drive the highways to see what traffic is like. Get a grip like the rest of us. We could be manufacturing the rail systems that are needed in OH CA etc. We have the factory space, the labor pool including specialized skills that are needed and hello we desperately need the jobs. Kasich is sooo far removed to what OHIO needs its pitiful. I have the people who elected him can live with what they have done.

By paul

November 27, 2010 1:07 AM | Link to this

If trains made sense for Ohio, private industry would have already done it. Ohio is not densely populated to support it.

By Robyn

November 27, 2010 8:09 AM | Link to this

Paul, respectfully, private industry did not build the roads or the airports, however it did originally build the railroads. Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati have the same number of people combined as Manhattan. (maybe more!) Check the stats. This is the point, traffic and fuel consumption in Ohio per capita is ridiculous. Jobs are being sent to China because of the Unions and cost of production and transportation, the future is in centralizing not decentralizing, suburbs and cars are a thing of the past, and you need Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and New York to help you succeed. Ohio could be the hub if it was built that way and the rails are the key. Look to the future not the past. The Chinese are already building GM cars and high speed rail with local parts and labor, teaching all of their children English, and will be competing with the US for fuel to move them. GM stockholders are making a profit off this, but not the GM workers, get a grip. Ohio needs to build things again, then they need to be able to move them, and the big bosses need to be able to travel there quickly and efficiently. Think 20 years from now, not 20 years ago. I am anti- union and pro small federal govt. and I dissagree with several of Obama’s policies, but if we are going to have a govt, their role should be to support the private sector and create an infrastructure that works for the future. That future is not in trucks, planes and cars, we are going to run short of fossil fuels and like someone said earlier up the blog unless fuel hits $14.00 a gallon it (the rail system) doesn’t make sense, well fuel in Europe is already $14.00 a gallon and when china starts competative buying it to fuel their GM cars it will be $14.00 a gallon here too. Wake up everyone, we are not alone in the world anymore!!!! We need to be competative in the future. If Obama and the federal govt are wrong in any way in my opinion it is not that they are socialist, as a matter of fact it seems to me they are investing in the support of private business by creating infrastructure that will be useful in the future. The problem is that they are not pressuring the new republican governor to think about the future and make the budget work to that end. If Kasich turns down this money to help build the infrastructure for high (or higher) speed rail both passenger and frieght he doesn’t get what is happening in the world, in my opinion. My guess is that within 20 years only America’s wealthiest people will be able to own and operate a car, then how will your kids get to grandmas house in Cleveland? This is not about you, it’s about your kids and your grandkids and the future of this country. And one other quick and brief comment to whoever it was further up the blog that said they would never ride a train because it was uncomfortable. If you haven’t been on a modern train on the east coast like NE regional or Acela, you don’t have a clue what your are talking about. There is no comparison to a plane, bus or a car for that matter, seats turn into almost beds with the space provided, you don’t have to stop to go to the bathroom, you can go online and talk on the phone all you want without fear of driving into someone else, and you can read, watch movies or television, eat and drink (even alchohol, lol)without fear of arrest. Truly VERY Comfortable and you occasionally even meet some nice people that you can talk to and sometimes make new friends along the way!!!

By karon

December 2, 2010 12:36 AM | Link to this

Robyn, You are one smart cookie!

By Adam

December 27, 2010 10:09 AM | Link to this

Robyn, Well said. I think many in Ohio don’t realize how much a train system would help our economy in the future. It’s not just about the jobs to build the rails and operate them. It’s about businesses wanting to come to Ohio because Ohio would have a much larger workforce within a reasonable traveling distance thanks to a rail system! Someone should really look in to either the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road), NJ Transit, MTA service to upstate New York, etc…. It’s not just city services that are provided on the East Coast. Currently cities like Philly, NYC, Boston, DC, Baltimore, Newark, etc… can all hire people living within 100 to 150 miles of their city.You can live in Scranton, PA and travel via train to work in Philly, NYC, Newark, etc… This is very appealing to a business as it improves the odds of hiring good/quality employees. It is appealing to workers as it is a much less stressful way to travel. You can sit back and read, use phone, drink, sleep,use restroom, whatever. Obviously, a 1.5 hour commute each way to work isn’t ideal, but it is much more doable if you aren’t having to drive. People are just looking at this thing all wrong.