Ohio § 4981.03

§ 4981.03.

(A) The Ohio rail development commission shall do all of the following: (1) Develop, promote, and support safe, adequate, and efficient rail service throughout

the state; (2) Maintain adequate programs of investigation, research, promotion, planning, and development

for rail service, which programs shall include the consideration of recommendations

by public or private planning organizations; (3) Provide for the participation of private corporations or organizations and the public

in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of rail service, and

as franchisees of rail service. (B) In regard to rail service, the Ohio rail development commission is the successor

of the Ohio high speed rail authority and the division of rail transportation of the

department of transportation.  The commission shall succeed to all federal allotments, entitlements, subsidies,

and grants now existing, whether such allotments, entitlements, subsidies, and grants

are encumbered or unencumbered, in the same manner and with the same authority as

the Ohio high speed rail authority and the division of rail transportation exercised

prior to October 20, 1994. (C) Every authority, commission, department, or other agency of this state shall provide

the commission with data, plans, research, and any other information that the commission

requests to assist it in performing its duties pursuant to this chapter. (D) The commission may request and contract with any railroad to provide it with data

and information necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.  All railroads operating within this state shall provide the requested data and information

to the commission.  The commission shall not disclose any confidential data or information supplied

to it. (E) The commission shall cooperate with the director of development by exercising the

commission's duty to promote and develop rail service in this state in conjunction

with the director's exercise of his duty to promote the economic development of this

state. (F) The commission, when developing rail service throughout the state, may give priority

to projects undertaken within the geographic boundaries of qualifying subdivisions.