Rep. Sykes Leads Ohio Delegation Letter Urging Ohio Department of Transportation To Include Akron-Canton In Amtrak Expansion
Encourages public to sign community letter of support for Amtrak expansion in Ohio’s 13th District
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) led a letter signed by Ohio delegation members Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-11), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Greg Landsman (OH-01) urging Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Jack Marchbanks to include a passenger rail service development plan for a stop in the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) or another location in the Akron-Canton area in the 2024 State of Ohio Transportation Plan. The members also requested that ODOT prepare a proposal in advance of the next Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program to secure funding for the study and planning of the rail service development plan for the Akron-Canton area.
“Akron and Canton have always been deeply connected in respect to our shared airport, roadways, cultural assets, industry footprint, and commuter interchange rates. The region is a gateway to Ohio from the East Coast of the United States; an Amtrak stop would better connect the workers and families of Eastern Ohio to economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities across the state and the region. Failing to provide such infrastructure would undoubtedly result in adverse consequences for the economic development of the region,” wrote Ohio delegation members.
View the full delegation letter here.
Last December, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced it had selected four key routes in Ohio as priorities for Amtrak expansion. To the dismay of many community members, the Akron-Canton region was not included in any of these four expansion routes. Rep. Sykes has stated she will continue to advocate for an Amtrak expansion route in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District to ensure residents in our communities are not excluded from the opportunities, good-paying jobs, and economic boost passenger rail would bring.
The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance also sent a letter to Director Marchbanks expressing their strong interest and support for passenger rail expansion in Ohio’s 13th District.
To demonstrate continued support for passenger rail expansion in Ohio’s 13th District, Rep. Sykes is encouraging members of the public to add their names to a community letter of support to ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. Constituents can view and sign the letter here.