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Ohio governor lashes out at critics of rail plan

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By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS, The Associated Press Updated 6:46 PM Tuesday, February 9, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday lashed out at critics of the state's plan to use $400 million in federal stimulus money for a startup rail service, calling them "cheerleaders for failure."

Strickland said he's tired of people who attack every idea that comes along and always look for something negative to say.

"We need cheerleaders for Ohio, not cheerleaders for failure," said Strickland, a Democrat running for re-election. "I'm getting a little frustrated that every time an idea comes along we devote ourselves to finding all the reasons why we shouldn't do it or it won't work."

He said that attitude is not the way to move Ohio forward.

In a coincidence that seemed to prove part of Strickland's point, Republican Sen. Mark Wagoner sent a weather-related tweet around the same time that took a shot at the rail plan.

"With this snow and the roads, I should've ridden a dog sled to Columbus. Even that would be faster than Strickland's train," Wagoner said in his tweet. A message was left seeking comment from Wagoner.

Strickland said the plan will create at least 8,000 jobs and is a first step toward building a passenger rail infrastructure.

Some Republicans have questioned the plan, and newspapers have been full of letters to the editor on the topic, some supportive, some critical.

Ohio's train project calls for a 79-mph startup service connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. The goal is to lay the foundation for a higher-speed system that eventually will branch off to the Midwest and East Coast.

State Sen. Tom Patton, chairman of the Senate's transportation committee, said he's concerned that Strickland is underestimating the eventual cost of building a passenger rail network and that initial speeds will be lower than 79 mph.

He said the state should spend money instead on existing bus and light-rail systems that already serve millions of Ohio riders a year.

"I'm a cheerleader for not wasting taxpayers' money," said Patton, a Republican from Strongsville in suburban Cleveland.

Although Ohio would not use any state funds to develop the project, the state must come up with $17 million annually to operate the service.

Amtrak released a study in September predicting that a restored service in Ohio would draw 478,000 riders in its first year and has the demographics needed for successful operations, including population density and a concentration of colleges and universities.

Fourteen states already have contracts with Amtrak to operate the kind of startup, conventional-speed service that Ohio is after.

Strickland says other states would have rejoiced to receive $400 million in federal funding.

"It is a first step, but it is an essential first step," he said. "Trust me, if we had not gotten these resources, if we had not had the opportunity to take this significant first step, Ohio would have been left out."

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February 09, 2010 11:43 PM EST

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