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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > June > 11 > Entry
Boehner on high-speed rail in Ohio
What does House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, think about high-speed rail between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland?
The question’s pertinent - after all, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland was in town just this week lobbying Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in hopes of garnering some $400 million to establish passenger rail service between the four cities as soon as the first quarter of 2011.
Here’s what he had to say Thursday, June 11.
“I’ve been involved this issue for 25 years,” he said. “If it’s only going to go between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, it’s nothing but a boondoggle. But if it’s connected to a national high speed rail system, now you’re talking about something that will make it worthwhile.”
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Comments
By forrest waller
June 16, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this
Build the fast speed railway in Ohio and they will come from within the State of Ohio and when the rail is completed accross americal they wilwill come . Lets do it….By forrest waller
June 16, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this
Build the fast speed railway in Ohio and they will come from within the State of Ohio and when the rail is completed accross americal they wilwill come . Lets do it….By J. Howard Harding
June 14, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this
Rep. Boehner’s comments about Ohio’s 3-C rail project just shows that no one is perfect; he/she cannot be wrong all of the time!By THOMAS J
June 13, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
I would suggest that the DDN research and run an article on the ‘INNER URBAN RAIL SYSTEM” that exhisted before WWIIBy THOMAS J.
June 13, 2009 9:52 AM | Link to this
As for AMTRAC it was never established to make a profit,it’s main purpose is to get auto tr4affic off the highways.By chris tilton
June 12, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this
When was the last time you rode Amtrak? Yup that’s what I thought. The high speed rail will have the same usage.By blear
June 12, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this
The truth about the value of light/high speed rail can be found at buckeyeinstitute.org. They have a great blog about it, plus research coming out soon.By Daytonian
June 12, 2009 10:40 AM | Link to this
James, if you compare usage data of the words “yutz” and “boondoggle”, the former is used only twelve percent more than the latter. Boondoggle is primarily used in discussions of public projects grown beyond their original intentions. The yiddish word yutz is primarily used by certain ethnic populations, often disparingly.By Dave
June 12, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this
James, what is your problem with the word “boondoggle”? It’s been in common usage since the 30’s for describing any program you personally think is a waste of money. Boehner is easy enough to criticize without resorting to this nonsense.By Midwesterner
June 12, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
-public works projects the, glorious invention of autocrats and dictators since ancient times. Why is it that the great dictators are obsessed with giant public works projects?By Kelan
June 12, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this
Don’t we need rail between the 3C’s in order to connect to a “national rail network”? Once we have rail between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, we can connect to other high-speed rail lines. Can’t have one without the other!By pm
June 12, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
I would love to see A rail system throughout ohio.Lets get with this program. This is long past over due! We also need light rail form cincinnati to the northern suburbsBy Philman
June 12, 2009 7:37 AM | Link to this
OK English Teacher’s , insread of Boondogle how about WASTE OF MONEY, who will use it, great you got a job in Columbus, now your going to spend 3 hour a day comuting to and from work, RIGHT.maube if it has a flat bed to haul your car like a ferryboatBy Buckeye
June 12, 2009 7:27 AM | Link to this
Boehner is right on this one, finally. High speed rail is the answer to all of our problems. Dayton is a destination city, it’s just too hard to get here with only one medium sized airport and a couple of smaller ones. This will revolutionize transport in the USA! Let the richer states subsidize our development. There is now a light at the end of the tunnel. Green shoots are everywhere. Here is the change WE can believe in.By mwm
June 12, 2009 5:33 AM | Link to this
Boehner is a walking and talking boondoggle. Remember his “drill here, drill now” fiasco and boondoggle trips to support it. Rail systems have worked for many years in other parts of the country. Boston is an example, with north and south station, and, connections to more rural areas. Mass transit in Seattle with the State Ferry system and buses. Of course, Boehner is a leader in the “NO party”. And as we all know, logic does not exist in the GOP.By TRS
June 11, 2009 11:49 PM | Link to this
No Rich - you only expect less shallow commentary from Republicans. You have a Democratic VP who is a gaff machine. Call it regional or whatever, but its not national and it has the makings of being a boondoggle. Since 1970 we have pumped billions into Amtrak and are it still isn’t even close to profitable. What makes this any different? Besides, who wants to go to Cleveland?By James
June 11, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
almost forgot… WHO IN THE WORLD uses the word “Boondoggle” ??? Does Bohner watch Gomer Pyle, Andy Griffith, or maybe old Don Knots movies??? Or maybe he’s hanging out with Mitt Romney these days.By Rich
June 11, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
TRS, Boehner said: “If it’s only going to go between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, it’s nothing but a boondoggle.” IT DOES NOT, and by his definition, IS NOT. This IS a national system, whether you care to recognize it or not. And I do expect less shallow commentary from such a prominent national leader.By Rich
June 11, 2009 11:11 PM | Link to this
TRS, Boehner said: “If it’s only going to go between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, it’s nothing but a boondoggle.” IT DOES NOT, and by his definition, IS NOT. This IS a national system, whether you care to recoznize it or not. And I do expect less shallow commentary from such a prominent national leader.By James
June 11, 2009 11:09 PM | Link to this
and before anyone talks about driving or planes… Driving takes forever, not to mention it’s flat out exhausting… Ditto for flying. Anymore, flying is like taking a Flying Greyhound Bus… It’s not enjoyable, it’s hassle-prone, and the airlines have repeatedly demonstrated that they could care less about providing low cost, high speed transportation to the masses.By James
June 11, 2009 11:06 PM | Link to this
Bohner sounds like a total yutz every time he opens his mouth. The proposed high speed rail IS connected to a larger system. Currently, Cincinnati is only connected to the Great Lakes / East Coast via The Cardinal Express… a slow rail line between Chicago and DC. If you want to go to Toronto, NYC, or anywhere else in the Great Lakes / Northeastern US, you have to take the slow rail to Chicago or DC and then connect to other railways. With the new high speed rail to Cleveland, Cincinnatians will have the ability to connect with Toronto, NYC, and the entire Northeast and do so a day faster than the current rail line options.By DanS
June 11, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this
This is the guy who said it would be cheaper to give everyone a GM vehicle rather than a bailout to GM.By TRS
June 11, 2009 10:40 PM | Link to this
Well Rich - for all your indignation, I’s suggest you look at your own map again. Hardly anything national about that. The stretch between Ohio and the west coast is pretty big. Certainly there are some sections of the country being serviced but national as Boehner aaddressed? Hardly.By Rich
June 11, 2009 9:17 PM | Link to this
“IF” it’s only going between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland? Mr. Boehner, are you really THAT uninformed? News flash: it IS connected to a national system. See this, sir, and educate yourself: www.fra.dot.gov/Downloads/RRdev/hsrmap.pdf Remind me again — you’re the highest elected Republican in Washington, correct? Good grief.