Strickland responds to critics of passenger rail-linkup plan

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland lashed out Tuesday at critics of plans to establish passenger rail service linking Ohio’s largest cities.

“I call them cheerleaders for failure,” Strickland said. “Anytime there’s an idea that comes along, they immediately go look for the negatives and for why it won’t work and why it might fail. That’s not the kind of spirit that I think will move Ohio forward.”

Strickland was responding to a Statehouse reporter’s questions about funding for train services between Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus.

The state recently received word that it was in line for $400 million in federal funding to help establish the so-called 3C passenger rail corridor.

“We’ve got $400 million that would have gone to some other state if we had not received it,” Strickland said. “It’s not costing anything from our general-revenue fund, and $400 million expended will provide a lot of jobs.”

But critics are questioning whether consumer demand will support rail service or how much future state funding will be required to sustain it.

Strickland and other proponents believe the corridor is the first step toward establishing eventual high-speed rail service throughout the state.

“We will be building an infrastructure,” he said. “People will go to work. We will provide a traveling option for Ohio citizens. It is a first step, but it is an essential first step. Trust me.”

He added, “Why do we continuously beat up on ourselves in this state, and why do we continuously look for the negatives instead of promoting the positives? ... For goodness’ sakes, we need cheerleaders for Ohio, not cheerleaders for failure.”