Five professional sports teams have joined a growing coalition pushing for passenger rail linking Ohio's major cities, but Republican lawmakers remained skeptical Tuesday that the benefits would outweigh the costs.

A story from the AP says, the state's two-year transportation bill would allow the state to pursue $250 million in federal stimulus money to build passenger rail between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. A study on ridership and whether passenger service would interfere with freight traffic would be needed before construction could begin.

Republicans who control the Senate on Tuesday amended the rail plan in committee to require it to get the Legislature's approval to proceed, assuming federal funds are secured and the study results are favorable. The version passed by the House only required approval from the state Controlling Board, a panel controlled by Democrats.

The Senate plan is scheduled to go to the floor Wednesday, after which differences with the House would need to be reconciled.

Republicans are concerned about the rail plan's estimated $10 million yearly operating cost. They also question whether enough Ohioans will use it.

The estimated $10 million represents a fraction of 1 percent of Ohio's roughly $7.5 billion two-year transportation budget. But the amount of the subsidy would be determined by how many passengers use the train.

Rail supporters said Ohio lags behind other states in promoting train service.