Cincinnati began seriously pursuing the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway in late 2022.
The deal closed on March 15, 2024, for $1.6 billion. Today, more than two years later, the trust fund created from that sale, known as the Cincinnati rail fund, is approaching $2 billion.
On the surface, that looks like a success.…
Railroad Trust Funds and the 12% Spending Rate
Railroad trust funds were approved with the expectation that they would accelerate infrastructure improvements across Cincinnati.
However, as of the February 10, 2026 meeting, only about 12% of the allotted funds had been spent. This raised concerns about the utilization of railroad trust funds and their efficiency.…


