Tim Hanely, BLET Ohio Chairman, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and BLET member and State Representative Robert Hagan

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland was part of the announcement on January 28 that the state would receive about $400 million in Recovery Act funds as part of the high-speed rail initiatives.

“We can use this train as a foundation for expansion and improvement of Ohio’s rail service,” said Gov. Ted Strickland. Officials will now focus on creating the 3C rail system, linking Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland.

Also attending the event were state representative and member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), Robert Hagan (D-OH), and Tim Hanely, the BLET’s state legislative board chairman for Ohio.

The distribution of $8 billion for high-speed rail projects around the United States will affect more than just Ohio.

“We represent the skilled railroad workers who build and maintain our nation’s railroad tracks and operate our freight and passenger rail network nationwide. These highly skilled Teamsters possess the skills, training and safety qualifications necessary to build, maintain and operate these new high speed rail lines and safely handle the trains along the routes,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa recently.

“High-speed rail is a crucial investment in our future and building these rail lines will create good jobs and provide working families with security. The growth and expansion of our country was partly determined by the first railroads that crossed the nation. We see high speed rail as a modern extension of those first projects.

“I, along with Freddie Simpson, President of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, and Paul Sorrow, President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, look forward to continuing our work with the Obama administration to preserve rail jobs and expand work opportunities for members of the Teamster Rail Conference.”