Senator too severe in criticism of new railroad

Senator too severe in criticism of new railroad
EDITOR:
State Sen. Robert Hagan's Aug. 15 letter to the editor regarding the aftermath of the bankruptcy involving the former Youngstown & amp; Southern Railroad line would lead one to believe the efforts to revive that rail line have been an abject failure. With all due respect to the senator, the impression left by his letter couldn't be farther from the truth. His criticism of Columbiana County Port Authority Director Tracey Drake and the efforts of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, of which the senator himself serves as a commissioner, are unfounded and unsupported by the facts.
The fact that the current operator of the rail line has filed for bankruptcy is unfortunate, but that doesn't mean that the work that has gone into rehabilitating the railroad has gone for naught. Contrary to the senator's statements, these economic development efforts have succeeded in creating new business and jobs along the rail line and have provided economic benefits to the community as a whole. In response to Sen. Hagan's letter, port authority Director Drake rightly points out that 47 jobs paying an average of over $20 an hour have been created through the rehabilitation and operation of the Y & amp; S railroad line. Each of these jobs not only puts money into local businesses, but Drake points out that an estimated $20 million in land and infrastructure improvements have been invested to take advantage of rail service. ORDC is even now working to make sure rail service and economic development continues to grow as a result of that investment.
The other element Sen. Hagan doesn't seem to recognize is that an active and viable railroad line also reduces the amount of truck traffic on local roads, as many as four trucks for every carload of freight carried on a single railroad car. With projections by the Ohio Department of Transportation of 40 to 50 percent increases in freight traffic through Ohio, would he prefer to put more traffic on local and state roadways that are already at or above capacity? The fact is we in Ohio and as a nation don't put nearly enough money into our rail infrastructure. But the dollars we do invest are producing results that are driving our economy, creating jobs and creating a better quality of life for all of us and our communities.
Transportation based economic development is a long-term commitment to create the infrastructure necessary to allow job creation to happen and should not be a political sporting event.
JAMES SENEY, executive director
Ohio Rail Development Commission
Columbus
Youngstown learns a lesson: To be a success, an airlinemust be held to a schedule
EDITOR:
The Vacation Express decision to ground flights from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport was not a complete surprise to me. The constant delays had to be detrimental in motivating people to continue using this airline.
I was so excited in May to leave my home town airport for a golfing vacation to Myrtle Beach. It was an exhilarating moment for all of us there to see such a large crowd at the airport supporting the Vacation Express Airlines. Alas, disappointment followed. Anxious golfers and crying children with families were forced to wait after our scheduled 2 p.m. departure time until 6:15 p.m. with another airline coming from Columbus, Hooters Air.
All was forgotten until coming home departing Myrtle Beach International Airport, when an intercom announcement mentioned again, mechanical problems and a delay. Of course, we don't want to go on an unsafe plane but why are mechanical problems occurring so often? Our 11:30 a.m. flight didn't depart until 2:30 p.m.
If Vacation Express or another airline comes to our airport again, I hope that airport authorities support a plan for a better quality of scheduled flights. Please, we don't need another disappointment in this area!
PATTIE CEGLIE
Boardman