On Tuesday, November 23, Rep. Kaptur sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration expressing her strong support for an application submitted by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) for a $2.56 million grant that would be used to fund a comprehensive analysis by NOACA of the Cleveland to Chicago rail corridor.

 

The corridor, which runs through Cleveland, Elyria, Sandusky, Toledo, Bryan, Waterloo, Elkhart, South Bend, Gary, and Chicago, is a critical linchpin of the nation’s transportation network, connecting the industrial Midwest to America’s coasts and international shipping lanes.

 

NOACA’s study would identify investments that would be needed to improve passenger and freight rail travel, and reduce congestion along one of the nation’s busiest corridors.

 

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalize our dilapidated infrastructure – and rebuilding our nation’s rail corridors will be a top priority,” said Rep. Kaptur. “Through the visionary leadership of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, we hope to take the next step that will empower us to better connect our ports and manufacturers to markets, bring together the economic hubs of the Midwest, and drive new investments and job growth throughout the region.”

 

“NOACA is thrilled to have this opportunity to submit the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant to improve the AMTRAK multi-modal transportation system within the Cleveland-Toledo-Chicago corridor,” said NOACA Executive Director and CEO Grace Gallucci. “I am optimistic about the collaboration with our state representatives, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and Department of Transportation agencies representing our Great Lakes region.”

 

Rep. Kaptur’s full letter can be found here.