Rail-service plan under fire

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

COLUMBUS — The Republican head of the Ohio Senate is questioning Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland on plans to provide passenger rail service among the state’s largest cities.

Senate President Bill Harris, from Ashland, sent a seven-page letter to Strickland earlier this week on the issue, voicing concern about the potential costs of the system connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

“They’re questions that need to be answered,” Harris told Statehouse reporters Thursday. He added, “I think it’s my responsibility as president of the Senate to make sure that I don’t send two of my members to a Controlling Board meeting to vote for something that they don’t have reasonable data that they can vote [on].”

Senate Republicans’ support will be needed as plans move forward to establish the passenger rail service, as at least one of two members of the caucus who serve on the state Controlling Board will have to sign off on funding. In his letter, Harris wrote that he was not convinced the plan “is the best use of our tax dollars.”

Amanda Wurst, the governor’s spokeswoman, said Strickland has directed the Department of Transportation to answer Harris’ questions and that a response would be issued as soon as possible.

The letter came a little more than a week after Strickland lashed out at critics, calling them “cheerleaders for failure” and defending plans to use $400 million in federal funding for passenger rail service.