cailes

That is the first video I have seen of the battery powered tram. It looks like it operates really nicely. I wonder what the hold up in implementing that in American cities is. Charging technology or something I imagine. If it's like the ones in Europe, I believe they use embedded charging "spots" in the ground to charge the batteries.

Give Cincinnati back the $52 million. That would be REALLY cool.

Who said anything was dead?

I have written to the TRAC board twice and never received an email back. Being that I am an Indiana resident though, might have something to do with it. LOL At least they know my tourist dollars would support it. ;-)

I chuckled hard! However don't think a PPP couldnt be used. I get the feeling that with the GOP guiding the house and dictating a lot of the coming surface transport bill, the processes n place may change to make PPP a reality for projects like that.

Its a few pages back

That has to be a like a right hook to "their" jaw. haha!!

Not apples to apples but when I was at Railvolution I learned that when Portland got approval to begin on it's first light rail project by convincing a state republican majority. Anything is possible...

This is exactly what is wrong with state government. "they" call rail a special interest issue, but at least we aren't abusing power in a gross manner such as this.

The idea of building a shorter route with remaining funds is one option. However as it was pointed out, the regulatory hurdles, or the process, slows this down. This is one area where conservatives and liberals both agree that things need to change. Its ridiculous that this should take so long to go through review upon review upon review. I realize of course WHY, but when something must change rapidly, it can be difficult to do so

Seriously cease & desist? *facepalm*

Too bad there isnt a way to impeach a Governor. haha As John has pointed out, these things repeatedly get built up and knocked down. I just hope that this project can survive this level of beat down. What frustrates me the most about this, is that there is no oversight. This is being orchestrated by a small amount of people without any sort of say. What about taxpayers who *gasp* want this type of investment? Where is the equality in funding for different modes? So disappointing.

Not even Jerry Jones could get the tax stripped in Dallas

Finally got around to reading about the things that the gov said. This dude sounds like a real clown. Even if he doesn't believe in the streetcar, he has to know that he is only infuriating people even more by the nature of his remarks. Perhaps that is his tactic?

How about civic donation? I dont know anything about the level of philathropy in Cincy, but in Indy, we have been somewhat successful in getting private donations to help shore up projects. The cultural trail up here, $62 million total, raised 2/3 of that in private donations. I wonder if there are old railroad nuts with more money than they can spend, that would be interested in contributing to such a cause. It is a travesty that these things are happening. I havent seen any mention of highway plans being shelved, but that is par for the course with these people

My experience is limited to Portland only, but when I went I bought a 7 day TriMET pass. I rode the LR, streetcar and the bus and of all the times I rode everything, the only time I was EVER asked to show my ticket, was on the bus. No one ever asked on the train or on the streetcar. The ticket machines were there, but no one ever asked. Obviously, if I lived there Im sure I would be subjected more often to checks, but in 6 days there riding everyday, the only time I EVER saw an official on board, was when they were handing out flyers about upcoming known service disruptions. Really, it seems to me like it would be difficult to police. If random searches were performed and a perception formed that there was the ever present threat of getting checked, its reasonable to assume the fare jumpers would be fewer and far between. Charlotte recently did a study of it's light rail and found that fare jumpers accounted for a miniscule amount of the fares being lost. Whether or not Cincy's route is free or not, it is time well spent to see how these things operate in other cities. I personally think that for smaller (relatively) cities like Cincy that a circulator service like this owes its existence to being low cost or free. It will greatly encourage the movement of people and the generated economic activity can help bridge the gap. Especially when 3rd party operating cost sources are secured. Just my thoughts.

I thought the same thing

Kills me reading the ignorance of people in the comments. It always amazes me that people blow up and become economic experts when it comes to govet spending on transit, yet nary a word when a new highway story is published. Double standard...

The email address worked for me as well.

Where is the Phoney Coney when you need it?

"Nothing says "rugged individualist" like the exhaust emitted from 10,000 cars at rush hour." -Dave Hoppe - NUVO (Indianapolis)

Someone else has posted here that "they" have a lot of support. Someone else said if it went to a referendum, most people in general arent educated enough to know right from wrong, and simply know all the negative propaganda being spewed. Unless the general public is educated on why this is a good idea, it could easily get voted down. In this case, representative democracy worked and the project is moving forward. Because only key people needed to be sold on the concept. Grassroots education works, but it takes a while to reach large amounts of people unless you start with a lot.

I live in Indy and want to see this project happen for more reasons than just the benefits of seeing a streetcar roll through places it should be rolling through. This has regional implications. Someone should pay for a full page ad in the Enquirer touting the economic benefits of this, and how many other organizations have studied this and called it a firm economic driver. Get the message to the people.

If you have ever looked through all the documents required for a route, its mind numbing. Every government, quasi government, non-profit, etc geographically near a proposed rail (or freeway) has an opportunity to weigh in. Even when its not a full blown NEPA process. So much "environmental justice" to prevent the diasaster that became neighborhoods after the freeway system got built. Unfortunately, most people dont know this and the media who are against it love to use it as a tool for a project being "stuck in red tape" If that were justification for a story, newspapers could employ an entire department of writers to talk about projects that are "stuck in red tape" Keep the mojo guys!!

I feel really bad for you guys over the border. We are fighting similar conservative "parenting" (if you will) up here in Indy in regards to a mass transit plan that has PLENTY of support. At least we didnt get the ball rolling only to be knocked down. Its terribly frustrating watch these things happen. Hang in there. Keep the support in a positive way for these projects!