It was a small thing. Just $25,000 included in this year’s state budget to let Ohioans know its elected representatives support the idea of real passenger rail transportation options for the state.

The money will let the Buckeye State join the Interstate Midwest Passenger Rail Commission, according to a report by WBNS. That, in turn, will lead to conversations with Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and others.

A representative of All Aboard Ohio told WBNS there is work being done on a rail line that would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton. There is another proposed route that would go from Chicago to Pittsburgh and run through Columbus.

That is a big deal in a state where so many are now reliant on having their own vehicles (and on our crowded roads and highways); and where jobs are not always as close to our homes as we would like.

“So by providing a cheap and competitive transportation option in the form of a train that would go at a similar speed to driving or faster will provide folks connectivity to other cities,” Mitch Radakovich, state board chair of All Aboard Ohio, told the news station.

“It’ll allow people to be connected to jobs, people to be connected to families, to utilize some of the incredible healthcare systems that are across our state.”

All that is a long way in the future, but it is good news that state lawmakers are (ahem) on board. They understand there is a lot of good to be accomplished when people have more options.

“The hospitality industry, but then also just restaurants as a whole, hotels, more people moving places means more people spending money and a stronger community,” said Radakovich.

Here’s hoping this is only the beginning of meaningful cooperation and support that will get Ohioans (and those hoping to visit the state) where they want to go.