When the 3C passenger rail line pushed by Gov. Ted Strickland was derailed, supporters say the estimated 16,700 jobs and $3 billion in potential investments went off track as well. Developers said they are not likely to build projects in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati now that the $400 million in federal funding has been given to other states. The federal money was redirected after Gov.-elect John Kasich called the rail plan a publicly funded boondoggle and rejected it. Wisconsin's new governor also rejected a similar plan in that state, returning $800 million, which was then sent to other states.
When the rail line was on track, Cleveland developer Forest City Enterprises contemplated projects in Springfield and Riverside, a Dayton suburb that is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Wright-Patterson-Riverside Station development was projected to create $180 million of taxable property on 44 acres.
Jeff Linton, vice president for corporate communication for Forest City, said a "significant project" also was envisioned for Springfield in Clark County.
"Clearly, it won't happen now," Linton said. "It's a governmental decision. We were looking at it as an opportunity to develop some real estate."
In nearby Dayton, officials anticipated that a downtown development of up to $250 million would spring up around the rail station. Similarly, in Columbus, the rail line was expected to spur business development in the Short North and Arena District, as well as provide a link between Downtown and Port Columbus. Cleveland officials were looking at a light-rail connection to the city's Medical Mart, convention center and Flats areas.
Locally, certain not to happen is construction of a $15 million facility planned for Columbus by US Railcar Co. The plant would have employed up to 200 when fully staffed, said Mike Pracht, president and chief executive officer of the Columbus-based railroad-car manufacturer.
"It's unbelievable these states would send back $400million and $800 million in free money," Pracht said. "It's mind-boggling.
"The only thing I can compare it to is the interstate-highway program back in the '60s. Where would Ohio be today if it opted out of the interstate highway system? To suggest passenger rail would be any different is naive."
Pracht said that in addition to the jobs his company would have added, abandoning the rail plan negates millions of dollars in potential development that would have clustered around each rail station along the 258-mile route.
But Kasich was unrelenting in his opposition to the now-defunct rail plan.
"The governor-elect's focus is on creating private-sector jobs," Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said. "He's focused solely on creating private-sector jobs, not on a train that will cost taxpayers $17million a year that will be slow and that very few people will ride."
Nichols acknowledged the 3C train could create some private-sector jobs, but he said the development benefits would be outweighed by the public costs.
"You can spend $20 billion and see how many jobs you'll create. Build a bridge to Ontario.
"We had the debate. The train is dead. The matter is closed."
