Amtrak train

Mayor Don Plusquellic's idea for Akron to Cleveland rail has stirred conversation, but previous studies on regional rail connections have fizzled out and left rail commuters waiting on the tracks, like these passengers waiting for Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited to get rolling again in Cleveland.

(All Aboard Ohio)

AKRON, Ohio -- It's been a week since Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic first dropped an idea to circumvent Gov. John Kasich and build high speed rail in Northeast Ohio, and people are still talking about it.

The mayor's idea wasn't exactly new. In 2002 the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study commissioned a study on the feasibility of a commuter rail system to connect the two cities, using existing rail corridors to the east of the Cuyahoga River valley, through Hudson and Macedonia.

They concluded that traffic would only be sufficient to justify a rail project if Cleveland was included. The feasibility study also eliminated high-speed rail, defined in the U.S. as trains that travel at least 110 miles per hour, as an option for a regional commuter train because the high speed would reduce the number of stations and riders. It did not address how long trains would take to travel between cities.

Overall the report found that a rail system could be part of a plan to reduce congestion, but conceded that the wide-spread layout of the metro areas could create challenges to attracting traffic.

Among findings in the study, which is attached below:

* "The CBDs of Cleveland and Akron remain the area's major travel destinations, but they are gradually being challenged by suburban commercial development generally, and the development of several major suburban employment centers throughout the corridor."

* "These characteristics make the suburban centers create an "everywhere-to-everywhere" commuting pattern that increases traffic volumes and is notoriously difficult and inefficient to serve with public transportation. ... The combined result is more commuting by automobile, increased travel time and traffic volume and increasing convergence of traffic on suburban employment and commercial areas."

* "Over the next 20 years, significant increases in traffic congestion and accident rates are likely at many locations unless significant improvements to transportation systems are made."

* "The continued growth of downtown Cleveland, Akron, and Canton as regional destinations is essential for commuter rail to be effective."

* A commuter rail line would reinforce these developments provided that easy pedestrian and shuttle connections were available from the station.

* "For mass transit to become a viable alternative to highway construction and contribute to focused growth rather than sprawl development in Northeastern Ohio, several fundamental policy commitments must be made. Regional policy makers in the Canton, Akron, and Cleveland areas must agree to coordinate infrastructure to support the transit investments and to avoid creating competitive excess capacity on highways."

* New, concentrated development around stations could be aided by a station area development plan. Similar plans related to highway intersections and/or highway corridors could also influence growth patterns.

Plusquellic's idea would be somewhat different than the "commuter rail" and "light rail" alternatives studied in 2002. It would be a more direct connection, and Plusquellic said that it would put Akron on any future route south to Columbus and Cincinnati, like the one proposed before Kasich rejected federal funding for the project in 2011.

A majority of townships along the corridor wrote letters supporting the rail proposal in 2002. Here's what cleveland.com readers think of the newest reprisal.

flee2thecleve: "Don't highways run at a loss and cost taxpayers money too? You could say the same thing about any form of infrastructure. The reality is third world countries have better rail options than the US."

allenfreeman: "Why do Northeast Ohio mayors think they are futurists and economic engineers who need to tax and spend even more to 'govern'? Government is 'well-run' when local elected officials competently complete the day-to-day tasks of city management: potholes, trash pickup, simple city services. Stop expanding your roles and asking for more money."

fifty-nine: "At least there are some govt officials who don't have their head buried under a rock. Gov Kasich says no to improving rail service in Ohio while the Chicago - St Louis corridor is being upgraded to 115 mph track"

Stags_Leap: "High speed train to Akron? I'd be happy just to have Cleveland create a southbound Rapid Line that runs to around the intersection of 21 and the Turnpike with a Park n Ride lot for commuters."

rayy: "A lot of people live in Akron and work downtown Cleveland. The Cleveland to Akron buses are full every day; it's not hard to imagine more people riding if it were a train."

NothingToDoInNEOhio: "ODOT can't maintain their roads, and Akron doesn't maintain their roads either. Where would the money for this come from? Akron has a billion dollar sewer project on their plate right now. What's the use of connecting two cities with nothing to do in each?"

californie: "Anyone who has been to Europe knows that high speed rail is terrific and a much better way to travel than going by car or even by airplane for intercity travel. The trains are much quieter than airplanes and have lots of legroom. They are so quiet it is hard not to fall asleep. You can get anywhere in a few hours tops."



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