Ohio may be in danger of missing out, if state officials do not get a little more excited about proposals for expansion of Amtrak service in the state.

In May, the Federal Railroad Administration will finalize plans for an Amtrak expansion, after which states will have a chance to apply for pieces of $66 billion for passenger rail included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

But, according to a report by cleveland.com, there isn’t much enthusiasm for the idea.

“I think Ohio runs the risk of essentially getting left behind in the dust of other states,” Stu Nicholson, executive director of All Aboard Ohio, said.

According to Amtrak’s expansion plan, investments in the Buckeye State could include a new service connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati; and an expansion of the service along existing routes in Northern Ohio.

While those plans may not sound like they will have much impact on people living in our area, that is not the case. No, residents of Belmont, Harrison, Jefferson and Monroe counties won’t rely on trains for their daily commutes, but the expanded access to transportation to and from those cities could be important to us — and it likely will generate revenue and tax dollrs for the state.

But as other states rally to prepare grant applications, Ohio officials shrug their shoulders.

Should they continue not to move on this proposal, state officials are in real danger of leaving Ohioans stranded while other states take advantage of an important opportunity.