The prospects of a commuter rail system in Columbus continue to grace the ears of residents, but definite plans remain uncertain.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority has picked Woodside Consulting Group Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. to study the Columbus area to determine if changes are needed to accommodate the development of a commuter line from downtown Columbus to the Polaris area.

COTA’s first priority is to obtain proper funding for the development of the light rail.

According to a Business First poll, 51 percent of Columbus taxpayers surveyed favor paying more taxes for light rail service, with 42 percent opposed and 7 percent undecided.

Although the majority of residents support a faster, more convenient means of transportation, residents of historical neighborhoods are not quite as thrilled.

The building of light rails to Columbus’ north side and downtown areas may mean the demolition of parts of neighborhoods such as Victorian and Italian Village.

Jason Rosselot, a three-year resident of Old Towne East, said he is amazed at how quickly the neighborhood has changed since his arrival, compared to the last 10 to 20 years.

“Destroying our neighborhood by tearing down homes and by changing road ways to landlock an area by the city are not ways to revitalize an urban area; it’s more of a way to put a choke-hold on our area,” Rosselot said.

Although the COTA rail plan sits only as a possibility right now, some members of the Council of Historic Neighborhoods see a negative effect such an addition could have and what parts of Columbus would face direct impact.

“It would affect the north side at this point,” said Therese Nolan, president of the Glen Echo South Civic Association. “Access to OSU is a big consideration. If this north-through-downtown route is a success, other lines are planned for other routes in Columbus.”

Another possible location to suffer direct effects would be the area surrounding High and Summit streets.

“I feel the Summit and Fourth street route would in fact be detrimental to that surrounding neighborhood. However on High Street, it would improve the appearance of a more business environment,” Nolan said.

COTA President and chief executive officer Ron Barnes said COTA missed major federal funding by not having a light rail plan in place.

“The federal transportation bill in effect from 1998 to 2003 gives Columbus only $66 million in transit funding, compared to $92 million for Dayton and $220 million for Cleveland,” Barnes said.

Each day, 55 people – representing 48 automobiles – move into Columbus. By 2020, another 400,000 people will live within the city limits, and 100,000 will be added to the suburban population.

“We have to provide customer-focused mobility solutions,” Barnes said. “We want to help you figure out how to get people to your facilities.”

A meeting was held on Jan. 28 by the CHN to discuss the demolition of the neighborhoods in order to provide advanced means of transportation.

Rosselot remains untouched by any statistics.

“The city needs to step in and do something to save these areas. I am amazed at how they are focusing on building more new homes, condos and lofts downtown, but you don’t see that unless you have strong anchors around it to stabilize it,” Rosselot said. “Eventually it will stall and be left for the taxpayers to come back and clean up the mess.”

Residents are warming up to the idea by voicing opinions early, but the COTA rail plan is still lingering in the air.

“Public input is still being sought. A vote would need to be scheduled eventually for approval of the local designation of tax funds,” Nolan said. “Federal matching funding has largely been lined up.”

Resident Doug Motz also attended and represented the Old Oaks Historic District.

“I certainly hope that the new nuisance abatement legislation will help prevent more good housing stock from being destroyed on the near east and south side,” Motz said. “My hopes are not high.”