I would recommend checking out the full report if you have time at www.saiprc.com/about-the-se....

For Ohioans interested in economic development and intercity connectedness, I strongly encourage reading about the 3C+D proposal.

"This expanded mobility provides access to employment, education, and healthcare for travelers, including the 19 million Americans with travel-limiting disabilities."

"Enhanced Mobility: The report found that rail provides an alternative to congested highways, saving road users an estimated $113 million in travel time annually. State-supported rail services connect 152 million residents, 68 million jobs, and 8.5 million college students across the country."

"The report also highlights that public investments in stations can spur private investments, sometimes at a ratio of two-to-one."

"Tourism and Development: In 2024, state-supported rail services transported 2.6 million tourists, who generated an estimated $1.4 billion in tourism spending and supported 21,000 jobs with $1.2 billion in annual earnings."

"Job Creation: The economic benefits come from several sources, including daily operations, capital investments, and tourism. Daily operations alone support over 11,000 jobs, generating approximately $867 million in annual earnings."

"Ridership Surge: State-supported routes carried 14.5 million annual riders in 2024, accounting for 44% of all Amtrak riders nationwide and 80% of Amtrak's ridership growth between 2009 and 2019."

"A Growing Network: There are currently 30 state-supported Amtrak routes operating in 20 states and three Canadian provinces."