natininja

Yeah, I realize that's a problem (see my edit). It would be nice to get those views, if it were feasible. Bellevue Hill Park could really benefit, too. A tunnel would be nice, as well. I think either one of those would also better serve the University than just shooting up Vine. A tunnel sounds even more expensive than an incline, though. Of course, it could be a good investment regarding future light rail. I am not optimistic, however, for anything but the planned route up Vine. However they do it, I cannot wait to see it built! :D

I was thinking along the lines of Pittsburgh's Duquesne Incline (though more modern, of course). I suppose making it flat like that is out of the question, though, with a modern streetcar's length. That may put the whole concept out of the question, but I really think it's worth pursuing. It would be functional, a historic tribute, and aesthetically awesome.

^Truth. Agree or disagree? I would agree with this assessment. Walking in front of traffic (not okay) is different than simple jaywalking (okay). And it's pretty rude when the music in someone's car is so loud that you can't hear the person across from you, or hear the music on your own car's stereo. Although I do think there's a fine line between "too loud" and an acceptable noise level. Bass also has something to do with this issue -- loud bass-bumping techno is generally more intrusive than loud jazz, for example (though this probably has less to do with the genre and more to do with the sub-woofers and the stereo's settings). Generally, I'd be less concerned with the music than walking in traffic. The music issue is personal preference, whereas the traffic issue is about safety.

They lied about that at official hearings, correct? What do you think is the likelihood that that would result in revocation of 501C3 status? It certainly sounds reasonable to me.

So I guess they will have to figure out how they're going to get up the hill with the engineering studies. I would really love to see the Bellevue Incline brought back! Seems unlikely, however.

Well, you got several (real) answers. We can't be all serious, especially on a Friday. It's just great follow-up seeing as how this thread was specifically lampooned in the Business Courier! Link?

Will they do that stuff, prior to receiving a guarantee for the rest of the funding? IIRC, council voted to set some money aside which would be used to complete some studies, so they would use it when funding was guaranteed. Without total funding guaranteed, will they do any of the stuff you mentioned? I guess they won't have this money until summer, anyway, and perhaps by then we will know about the federal funds, so the point might be moot. Although, they might look at using the funds they recently set aside. And it's not necessarily the case that the next federal grants will be announced before this $15m comes along.

There's nothing they can do right away when this money comes in, right?

They could at least add a flagpole, so the skeleton can deliver on the tallest-building promise.

That the TRAC is recommending $1 million for the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority for the preliminary engineering and environmental assessment of the Cincinnati Fourth Main Rail and Cincinnati Union Terminal project. Try this direct link. See page four: http://www.dot.state.oh.us/trac/Documents/2010%20Draft%20TRAC%20List%20(March%2018,%202010)%20with%20Signature.pdf Unfortunately, I can't access anything on the DOT site. But I think you guys have supplied enough of a summary, so thanks.

I can't access it for some reason. How high is 84, relative to other projects? Man, I love to hear good news about the streetcar project... And, on topic (and since I can't access the page), what is the relevant info to 3C?

Impressive sales pitch. Simple and effective. If they don't choose Dayton, it won't be due to a lack of quality effort!

Ohio is waiting here to receive all the YP's who can't afford the coasts after being hit by the recession. :-) The "new middle class" will have a tough time with coastal costs of living.

I didn't know there was a white-specific type of weather. :P

Are there certain streets you stick to, or avoid? My brother got jumped last summer in Northside, not even very late in the evening. In fact, 4 or so other people on his block also had that happen within a couple months of each other (one even ended up with a broken jaw that had to be wired together). I kind of imagine OTR to be a bit more rough than Northside.

It sounds like you guys need to work hard on a neighborhood watch. That's the only way this stuff ceases. I don't mean to be nosey, but I am curious about the state of OTR: Whereabouts were you parked on Central? I've actually been wanting to ask this for a while, and I may have an answer from the stats you just rattled off, but: Suppose someone moves to the Q. How inadvisable would it be to bike home alone at night (say, after bars close) from, say CUF or Northside? Or Covington/Newport?

Where was it parked? How much of that stuff was visible? If you aren't going to take stuff inside with you, lock it in the glove box.

I am kind of starting to like the idea of a Bond Hill station. It services the east side (the populated parts), it's on a different line so it can complement CUT well logistically, the neighborhood there could use the boost, it's accessible from 71 and 75, and it's not crazy-remote like Lunken (also meaning it does not require a ton of investment on track off the line going to CUT).

Huh? Sarcasm. LOL, I got it. And I found it pretty amusing. Especially coming from you.

Okay, so there are two ways to take this: face value, or underhanded attack. 1) Face value: the logical conclusions are that we need (a) more money for HSR, and (b) either more staff on FRA or a whole new organization all together. Now, given that calling for more spending and bigger government aren't very Republican values, it's easier to think he was going for... 2) Underhanded attack: he basically made it a political issue and took a jab at the Dems in charge. How far did he expect the $8b to go toward HSR, anyway? It's easy to interpret this as a slick way to make the Democrats look like they are not seriously supporting HSR while opposing HSR himself. All the while, he seems like he is supporting HSR, as he interprets that to be the popular position. (It's the method by which you "support" HSR in principle, but find fault with every specific plan which ever comes to light.) Another interesting issue: at least half of the money is going to non-Amtrak lines. (Florida + Cali + Ohio = $4b ... there may be more.) This, once again, makes me wonder: how much HSR does he expect for $8b? How much would a more comprehensive plan, which is integral to his "incompetence" charge, have actually helped with the rationing? I mean, Florida's HSR plan is going a pretty short distance, at $1.3b. If you scrap all the projects on there but FL and CA (the only true HSR projects), you have $4.4b left over. That funds 3 more HSR projects the (very short) length of Florida's line, plus a 3C-level project. That (a) hardly requires some vast, comprehensive plan (obliterating his whole point: that a competent FRA would have created one), and (b) hardly services any of the country, likely making the result even less popular than the one we have. Until this guy calls for lots more funding, I'm calling shenanigans. He sounds like a "champion for failure" in disguise. (A card-carrying member of the "party of NO".) Still, I must admit it's good to have a Repub publicly giving some lip-service to any rail projects at all. Even if it's disingenuous. If it helps convince other Republicans that rail is to be taken seriously, then it's possibly a net-positive.

Thanks for the update. It's good to keep up-to-date on the issue.

I realize it's public record, and there's no legal motivation to take it down. All I said is they should take it down. My reasoning is simple human decency. jmecklenborg highlights the biggest problem, but then there is also the question of what benefit there is to the public to see these people's faces. They will be punished by the courts. They don't need to be paraded through the public square (or, in this case, the interwebs) to receive further embarrassment. If they did something which is of concern to public safety, it is perhaps a different matter. But then we have things like sex offender databases. I just think it appeals to the lowest common denominator. It's like Jerry Springer on the web, except the people didn't ask to be on the "show". (Yes, I know most could have avoided being there by not committing a crime...but it's not like they explicitly signed up for it. And then, of course, there are the people who didn't commit a crime, but still get the treatment.) I just think it's in bad taste, and a bit cruel.

Congratulations, Paul, I know you've worked hard on this. Now to see the rest of it through. Things are looking up! :D

Agreed. Awful. They should take down that site. I did look at it, though...man, those people look messed up.

If Cincinnatians start getting too nasty, just stop letting us use your airport. That should correct any poor behavior.