Ohio rail developments to be considered Jan. 20

Two industrial development sites in Ohio, with the potential to create much-needed jobs, will boost their attractiveness to new business with new rail connections, if Ohio Rail Development Commision Commissioners approve at the meeting on January 20th. 

 The Eastpointe Business Park near Zanesville, Ohio, is seeking to improve both rail access and safety by extending rail service deeper into the 1,200-acre industrial park and adding new lights and gates to grade crossings at the site. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority is asking the ORDC to serve as project sponsor so it may access $475,000 in federal rail line relocation funds for the project. 
 In Van Wert County, the local port authority is seeking a $500,000 grant to rehab a rail line into a 1,600-acre job ready mega site that could generate up to 2,500 jobs and improve service and business for two existing companies. Commissioners will also consider a request for funding to make repairs to a railroad bridge on the city of Greenfield-owned rail line in Highland County. They will also hear briefings on a staff-approved project to rehabilitate the Indiana & Ohio Railroad Line from Lancaster to Logan, a rail bridge repair project in Ashtabula County and funding for a steel trans-loading facility on the Cleveland Commercial Railroad.