Page 44 - EAZ PLan

and Cincinnati as the state’s largest metro areas. The concept includes a very limited number of intermediate stops. With concerns raised about the cost and speed of such a proposal, the push for passenger rail in Ohio has been delayed. However, plans for the EAZ should maintain an option to provide a future station location and the ability to consider the area for related development. While proximity to downtown Columbus may make a planned stop more difficult, the significance of tech-related employment and the importance of the EAZ could warrant a station location in the EAZ’s rail frontage along Darree Fields. In addition to regional passenger rail, Ohio is quickly becoming a major national logistics hub. Recent completion of Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor project has created a more direct route from east coast ports through the mountains to Columbus. The new improvements can accommodate double-stack container shipments and

has significantly reduced transit time to the new Rickenbacker Intermodal Yard. Central Ohio is becoming a key shipment point for Chicago and the entire Midwest. CSX also has key rail yards near Roberts Road and near Marysville. The creation of a new intermodal yard near Findlay places Dublin within easy reach of a variety of rail shipment options. As a major industrial freight corridor, U.S. 33 and the EAZ is strategically located within the region. The EAZ’s rail link between Columbus and Marysville provides the opportunity to integrate rail spurs to support freight movement and access to supply chains for clean manufacturing activity. Freight traffic on the CSX line is expected to increase significantly over time and will also impact the ability to consider other regional or statewide passenger options. The EAZ Plan provides flexibility for both passenger and freight rail applications. The Ohio Hub Concept may someday bring passenger rail to Dublin.