[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

(erielack) Ashland Railway Update

Found this press release from ODOT regarding one of the few remaining West End sections of EL trackage.

Ohio Rail Development Commission approves $400,000 
grant to help rehabilitate Ashland Railway lines
 
COLUMBUS, OH. (Monday, January 30, 
2012) – On Thursday, January 19, 2012 the Ohio Rail 
Development Commissioners approved $400,000 towards the rehabilitation 
of the Ashland Railway (ASRY) lines from Mansfield to Ashland.  This
 grant will help ensure the line continues to thrive and keep important,
 rail-dependent businesses in the area by repairing the track, 
increasing speed from 10 mph to 25 mph, saving both time and money for 
everyone using the line.
 
In coordination with local economic development 
officials, the railroad has been very aggressively marketing sites along
 its Mansfield to West Salem line.   Evan Scurti, the 
Director of Ashland Area Council for Economic Development, explains that
 “This is a very important project.  Over the past 20+ 
years, Ashland has witnessed how a very competitive global economy often
 leads to business decisions that negatively affect industrial Midwest 
towns.  However, we have had some exciting recent successes
 due to our competitive advantages.  A short-line railroad 
that is investing in itself is a prime example of an asset that is 
helping us fuel industrial growth.”  ASRY industrial 
development efforts have resulted in two new customers on the Mansfield 
to Ashland segment this past year.  
 
One new customer, McFarland-Cascade, near Mansfield, 
uses the railroad to move telephone poles.  In addition, 
ASRY has added a new Barbasol plant in Ashland to its customer base in 
the last year.  Mayor Glen Stewart emphasized that “The 
Ashland Business Park is centrally located between Cleveland, Akron, and
 Columbus, with very easy access to I-71 and US 250.  This 
has attracted great companies who are distributing products across North
 America and the world.  The ASRY and State investments 
into the railroad will further strengthen our reputation as a premiere 
location for efficient supply and product shipments.”  Atef
 Halaka, President of Barbasol, LLC, explained that Ashland Railway’s 
services were a key factor that attracted [Barbasol] to Ashland during 
their 2008 site selection process.  “Transportation is one 
of our second or third highest costs and the use of rail is and will 
continue to be imperative to our success”.
 
State Representative Dave Hall, 97th 
District, who strongly supported the approval of the grant expressed 
that “This is excellent news and I am thrilled for the City of Ashland. 
 The railway grant is a major victory for the community, and I 
applaud the Ashland Economic Development team and Ohio Rail Development 
Commission for their outstanding work.  Without a doubt, 
these funds will enable local officials to improve the city and create 
jobs.”
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Rail/Pages/Press-Releases.aspx

 		 	   		  

	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	http://EL-List.railfan.net/
	To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html

------------------------------