The petition
In recognition that the current state of transportation in the state of Ohio requires bold action and strategic investment in Ohio's rail infrastructure and that fuel prices, congestion, and overall lack of mobility have degraded Ohio's competitiveness over recent years, we the undersigned urge Ohio's political leadership to pursue the development of the Ohio Hub Plan as pursued by the Ohio Rail Development Commission. We recognize the ability of rail development to provide economic development opportunities through increased capacity for passenger as well as freight movement. Over the Ohio Hub Plan's 30-year life, the benefit/cost analysis estimate nearly $9 billion in user benefits and resource savings with $4.9 billion in costs including capital, maintenance, and operating expenses, producing a 1.8 benefit/cost ratio.
More specifically, the Ohio Hub Plan will:
- Create 16,700 permanent jobs which is equivalent to more than 500,000 person years of work;
- Raise the region’s income by over $1 billion over the life of the project;
- Increase the average annual household income in the region by at least $90;
- Generate more than $3 billion in development activity near stations;
- Increase land values and create the potential for communities to develop new retail, office and residential developments near the passenger rail stations;
- Create an annual $80 million impact on state tourism by generating 320,000 new overnight trips;
- Increase Cleveland Hopkins Airport traffic by 5% and create a $0.5 to $1 billion economic benefit;
- Create a potential benefit for freight rail operations in the range of $3 to $6 billion; and
- Generate an annual fuel savings of approximately 9.4 million gallons of fuel.
Results of this petition will be made known to Ohio's Congressional Delegations, the Ohio General Assembly, and the Governor of the State of Ohio. All signatures will be collected up until All Aboard Ohio's Legislative Summit on April 30, 2008.
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