National Gateway and Ohio

The National Gateway proposes a state-of-the-art rail corridor linking the East Coast's international deepwater ports and major consumption markets with the population and manufacturing centers of the Midwest. With improved clearances, new terminals and greater capacity, the National Gateway will improve the flow of freight by rail, enhancing Ohio's consumer options and augmenting the Midwest's ability to deliver goods to world markets.

While the route structure is already in place, the National Gateway will provide the necessary capacity, facilities, and equipment for highly efficient, environmentally-friendly advanced rail service. Funding for development will come from both public and private sources, with public benefits of $22 expected for every $1 of public money invested.

Expanding capacity on our nation's railways will bolster environmental health and promote economic growth. The National Gateway delivers over $1.8 billion of public benefits to Ohio by:

  • Reducing CO2 emissions by over 2.4 million tons
  • Expanding rail market access potential for the State
  • Enhancing rail transportation infrastructure, including a new intermodal terminal in Northwest Ohio and planned terminal expansion in Columbus
  • Reducing the State's highway congestion by shifting freight from over 1.7 billion freight truck miles to rail, saving nearly $85 million in highway maintenance costs
  • Saving over $400 million in logistics costs for the State

Job Creation:
The intermodal terminal in Northwest Ohio as well as the planned expansion of the Columbus terminal as part of the National Gateway will bring new economic opportunities and thousands of jobs to the State.

More Rail Options:
As part of the National Gateway, the new Northwest Ohio transfer yard and double-stack clearances will improve existing service and expand freight shipping options between the Midwest and Mid Atlantic ports and metro areas.

Highway Relief:
By creating an additional freight transportation option, the National Gateway will reduce traffic congestion and lower highway maintenance costs. One train can carry the load of more than 280 trucks, clearing space for over 1,100 cars. The National Gateway will shift over 1.7 billion freight truck miles from Ohio's highways to rail. Any effort to shift freight from highways to railways greatly improves safety, the environment and traffic.

Logistics Savings:
By expanding rail access and providing new shipping options, the National Gateway is expected to reduce overall freight shipping costs on goods entering and leaving Ohio by over $400 million.

Emission Reductions:
Over the first 30 years, the National Gateway will reduce CO2 emissions in Ohio by over 2.4 million tons. This is over 10 percent of the total project reduction of almost 20 million tons. The National Gateway's environmental benefits in Ohio can be measured in a number of different ways:

  • Reduces CO2 emissions by over 2.4 million tons
  • Reduces fuel consumption by over 270 million gallons of gasoline
  • Saves the equivalent emissions as taking almost 400,000 cars off the road
  • Eliminates the same amount of carbon sequestered by more than 60 million tree seedlings growing for 10 years