 Then-governor and rail proponent Ted Strickland said that the average speed could be increased to 46 mph, but Republicans were still not sold on it.The service is also opposed by John Kasich, the Republican governor, who had pledged to end the project if elected.On 24 September 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration authorized the state to spend $15 million of the stimulus money for the purposes of determining specifications and completing studies regarding the corridor.