An engineering firm with offices in Columbus has been tapped to join the team trying to restore Amtrak service in the city.
HNTB Corporation will be tasked with planning and development services for the Midwest Connect route, a potential route connecting Pittsburgh to Chicago via Columbus and Fort Wayne, Indiana. The route would include stops in Marysville, Columbus and Newark.
The engineering firm joins a multi-entity partnership made up of the City of Fort Wayne, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
“This is a major step forward in the public-private effort to reconnect Central Ohio to the nation’s passenger rail network,” said William Murdock, MORPC executive director, in a press release. “This partnership across several states helps to advance the required work to qualify for federal funds for implementation. It builds on years of work showing passenger rail is a critical investment for prosperity and attracting talent.”
The firm specializes in transportation and has worked on more than 40 passenger rail corridors across the country, according to the release.
HNTB was awarded a contract of up to $450,000 to review past studies, identify remaining gaps and establish the scope, schedule and budget for the remaining planning work, according to the MORPC. The contract for the initial tasks ends in June 2025.
The funds come from a $500,000 grant the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the City of Fort Wayne for the project in December.
The Midwest Connect is one of two proposed routes that include Columbus. The other is the “3C + D,” connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, sponsored by the Ohio Rail Development Commission. It has also received a $500,000 grant for an initial study.
Last month, the Central Ohio Passenger Rail Committee, a temporary select panel composed of leaders from surrounding municipalities, was formed to help MORPC advance the bid to restore Amtrak routes through Columbus by providing data and guiding strategy throughout the multi-year process.
Design and construction will take several years to build stations and upgrade existing freight lines to handle 79-mph passenger trains. MORPC has said service could be online by 2030.
“This project represents a transformative opportunity for our region,” said Parag Agrawal, MORPC chief mobility and infrastructure officer, in the release. “By enhancing connectivity and accessibility, we are not only fostering economic development but also promoting sustainable and efficient transportation solutions for the future.”
Amtrak shut down its last route through Columbus in 1979.
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