cramer

I've picked up both of those biases as well—just passing it along. I do think Next City brings up some interesting points, though the claim that the sidewalks downtown are quite generous seems to reveal a certain unfamiliarity with Cincinnati's situation.

I thought this piece in Next City was worth reading: Does Europe Build Streetcars? Not Quite http://nextcity.org/theworks/entry/does-europe-build-streetcars-not-quite

That's precisely what I wanted to know, thanks KJP and John. "$41 million of the $45 million in Federal funds for the Cincinnati Streetcar will just go to another city if it's not used here in Cincinnati." If you're writing to new members of council, that makes a good opening and closing.

Right Jake. I'm trying to understand the federal money left in the project. Cranley seems to think you just ask and the money moves wherever you like. I'm hoping we don't live in that world. Roughly: $25MM from FTA Urban Circulator grant, as mentioned above. $4 MM from FTA passthrough to OKI CMAQ $16MM from TIGER3 from USDOT My very limited understanding suggests only that $16 mil could be easily reassigned. If that's the case, the city is getting a raw deal in any cancellation.

The current PLUS route doesn't meet the frequency requirements either. If they tried to repurpose the UCG, would they be able to use the same feasibility study and alternatives analysis that was done for the streetcar grant? Certainly seems like no. It looks to me like the UCG is the line to fight on. Might want to make that specific point in communication to Brown and the incoming council. Looking to the group to correct me if I'm wrong. Cranley certainly thinks so...

OK, partial answer to my own question. Statutory requirements for the Urban Circulator Grants. http://www.fta.dot.gov/about/about_FTA_11006.html#statutory_requirements_to_use_Section_5309 Yes. To be eligible for funding under Section 5309, a project must be based on the results of an alternative analysis and preliminary engineering. In addition, a project must meet one of the following guideway criteria: Be a fixed guideway for at least 50% of the project length in the peak period OR Be a corridor-based bus project with Substantial Transit Stations Signal Priority/Pre-emption (for Bus/LRT) Low Floor / Level Boarding Vehicles Special Branding of Service Frequent Service - 10 min peak/15 min off peak Service offered at least 14 hours per day So $25MM of that money at least, can't be used for MLK exchange. Hop On certainly doesn't seem like a corridor based bus project.

It's been ages since I've posted, but I'm hoping that someone can shed some light on this. It's my understanding that most or all of the federal funds received in support of the streetcar were use-constrained, like the FTA's urban circulator grant. I suppose the TIGER 3 funds could be reappropriated. What money of the 44M is fungible? If we want to make a case about how much money the city will lose, this is a crucial point. If Cranley can just put a call in to Valerie Jarret and put the whole funding at risk, well, then I've had a very naive understanding of federal grant making. The reporting on this is awful, trying to get a clearer picture.

Hmmm... Calhoun Street South?

I got in there on a tour for free, with some county engineers, if I recall correctly. We could take pictures and they had lots of lights down there.

Yeah, this looks like more Queensgate. I like the effort for LEED certification.

Interestingly, the bananas we now eat are not the same from a few generations ago, which were wiped out by disease. I recall hearing that there is a new threat to banana crops which might have the same effect. Edited to add: It's Panama disease. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/php/management/bananapanama/

We had David Halberstam. He talked a bit about the importance of land grant colleges, which, while true, would've been better suited for State. Oops. That's all I remember. The loudest boos were reserved for the valediction from a girl from South Bend.

How terrible would it be to have another school's president give your commencement?

Umm, a North Campus street in Ann Arbor?

It wasn't a great building. And it is in the West End. I hope this keeps the Free Store from tearing down the buildings near their HQ.

Stands for: Cats Rummaging Among My Excess Rations. I have a bunch of strays in the neighborhood; they get into my garbage cans a lot.

Online gadabout.

That interview is more evidence that baseball has got to be the most fun to play of all the professional sports. Of course, it's more fun when you're winning.

Even more sandals and Bud Light than at Sawyer Point?

Um, the county didn't build the Mill Creek. It's a creek. Those 19th century industries needed water, both for their processes and for transport of their goods. Are you talking about the canalization? The Army Corps of Engineers did that to prevent flooding.

Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center stats from 03. http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf

Cincinnati has the nation's 4th or 5th largest inland port. They aren't just floating by.

F1 is really rather boring, once you get past the spectacle. Those foreigners wouldn't find Cincinnati sufficiently glamorous — and there isn't a racing tradition to overcome a lack of swank. Vegas, SoCal, or Miami I could see.

The steps he jumps off in the beginning are Baymiller St, off of Central Pkwy.

"Kool Aid" references the Jonestown Massacre. As in, don't drink the Kool-Aid, since it is in fact poison. But as nobody was selling Kool Aid at Jonestown, the reference doesn't make any sense.