Wayne County, in partnership with Genesee Transportation Council (GTC), along with several local municipalities and agencies are working to create a strategic plan for the Ontario Midland (OMID) Short Line Railroad. With rail freight volumes increasing around the region, and local employers using rail to ship more goods, the OMID Strategic Plan is focused on determining new rail-oriented economic opportunities for local businesses and residents.
The OMID Short Line Railroad is located primarily in Wayne County and is operated by the Ontario Midland Railroad Corp. It connects with a regional distribution network with the potential to have regional, national, and international impacts with connections to the CSXT line stretching across the state from Port of Buffalo to the Port of New York and beyond across the United States.
The OMID Short Line Railroad service started October 1, 1979 shortly after Conrail abandoned the "Hojack Line". Wayne County took possession of the line shortly after, and since then has contracted with OMID to operate and maintain the line which currently serves approximately 850 cars and maintains 47 miles of track.
The railroad has experienced varying levels of activity over its 100+ year existence, and in more recent decades has supported numerous local businesses and manufacturers. While the County has maintained ownership and the line is used, a plan for higher utilization of this valuable asset including identification of opportunities has never been developed.
To continue leveraging the economic advantages of the railroad, the OMID Strategic Plan will include the development of target area plans that take advantage of existing rail infrastructure assets along the rail corridor to encourage and facilitate new rail-oriented businesses and manufacturers. The final plan will provide a clear path to increased utilization of the railroad through a combination of asset improvement recommendations and identification of locations ideal for private sector investment.
Public Input:
The first public meeting examined the existing railroad infrastructure, properties adjacent to the railroad, local planning & zoning, and environmental resources. A second public meeting is planned for late Winter 2020 and will include a business opportunity analysis and preliminary site selection. All of the public input will be used to develop the Strategic Plan with a final public meeting scheduled in Spring 2020.
January 2020 Study Materials:
Appendix A - Local Zoning Maps