He said the project can be completed with its budgeted $400 million in federal stimulus funds.

Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris met Wednesday with Senate President Bill Harris, a Republican who last month issued a list of 20 questions about the project.

Molitoris said the train project is going through the same type of thorough review that any highway project would.

Early estimates have the trains drawing about 478,000 riders in the first year, a number Molitoris said will grow as stations are added.

Harris spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski said the senator remains skeptical.

The 79-mph train system would connect Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

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