Lorain- Plans for a commuter rail line from Vermilion to Cleveland on existing freight tracks chugged forward Thursday after a citizens' group agreed to join forces with Lorain County officials to raise money for a feasibility study.
The task force needs to raise $34,000, which will be added to $34,000 already raised by the former Northern Ohio Commuter Rail Coalition. The $68,000 will provide the local match required for a $343,000 federal grant obtained years ago by U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, a Democrat from Copley Township, Blair said.
A commuter rail line through Lorain, Sheffield Lake, Avon Lake, Bay Village, Westlake, Rocky River and Lakewood and ending at Tower City or the Amtrak station in Cleveland has been discussed and studied since 2000. It has failed to gain wide support, even after meetings were held in communities along the proposed line. Many officials wondered if ridership would be high enough to justify the $100 million cost. Most city officials supported the plan, although those in Rocky River have said they want less rail traffic, not more.
But interest in commuter rail has grown as gas prices have risen, said Ken Prendergast, executive director of All Aboard Ohio, a nonprofit organization promoting rail. Those who envision a Lorain County line were buoyed by Gov. Ted Strickland's recent support for the planned Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati passenger rail line.
In Lorain County, the Northern Ohio Rail Coalition, which included businessmen and Vermilion Mayor Jean Anderson, had been raising money to get matching state grants for a business plan. Lorain County Commissioners and other agencies were seeking federal funds. Blair said she was recently informed by ODOT that no money was available for the coalition, which led to a discussion of a merger.
Once the federal funds are obtained the feasibility study will take about a year and an environmental impact study would take another year, said Prendergast. Service could begin in 2013. Trains would operate on existing Norfolk Southern tracks and the line could extend to Sandusky, he said.
Historic rail stations in Vermilion and Rocky River could be renovated, Prendergast said. Other stations would likely have to be added except in Lorain -- where the $7 million Black River Landing Transportation Center opened in 2003 as a proposed commuter rail hub.
This is an exciting plan that will bring some added growth to the area.
Stan Stepak
Howard Hanna - Gold Office 
440 933-6195 Office
440-476-0234 Direct Line
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