Support is growing for passenger rail

COLUMBUS (AP) — Five professional sports teams have joined a growing coalition pushing for passenger rail linking Ohio’s major cities, but Republican lawmakers remained skeptical Tuesday that the benefits would outweigh the costs.

The state’s two-year transportation bill would allow the state to pursue $250 million in federal stimulus money to build passenger rail between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. A study on ridership and whether passenger service would interfere with freight traffic would be needed before any construction could begin.

The Senate plan is scheduled to go to the floor today, after which differences with the House would need to be reconciled.