OHSnap

Back on topic: I keep meaning to snap some pictures, but the sun goes down too early these days. Anyway, as of late last week the site is essentially razed of structures. I think they need to remove foundations/slabs/do earthwork yet on most of the site, but the debris from the old buildings looks to be mostly gone. There's a shed in the center of the site whose age is indeterminate that appeared to be in use as equipment storage. There is also a sign on the construction fence opposite the Sam's gas station advertising the movie theater.

It is very common in Puerto Rico to use both shoulders as through lanes in congested areas. In my view, it makes it worse because there are huge conflicts at exit ramps. People using the shoulder have to cross over the traffic exiting from the normal right-hand lane. Same with merging on-ramp traffic, as noted above. Of course, traffic in Puerto Rico is a whole different animal in a lot of other respects, too...

My point exactly. I like hearing debate, not name-calling.

In your last three posts, you have called one member "uneducated" and "uninformed" and told him he doesn't "know jack squat" and to "put a sock in it," as well as calling two other members "trolls." Name-calling is not a hallmark of effective discourse and debate. If you make your arguments in terms of facts, we will listen to you, I promise.

There is a difference between reading the law and comprehending the law. There are volumes of case law that interpret ORC, and unless you know (or can find, read and understand) that case law you don't know jack squat. And that opinion comes courtesy of an actual attorney; the one who is sitting right next to me and who is a litigation partner at one of the region's largest law firms, and is also my spouse. You are offering up your uninformed and uneducated opinion as fact, which it is not. Quite simply you do not know what you are talking about, so until you actually have an educated and informed opinion to offer regarding the law kindly stick in a sock in it. With all due respect, instead of writing two paragraphs full of invective and harassment, why not actually add something to the discussion by citing some facts and/or relevant case law? Your post does nothing to further the debate. I have no idea if John Schneider knows what he's talking about in this particular instance, but he is recognized as a leader on the Cincinnati Streetcar issue, and as such I'm inclined to believe he's done his homework. His arguments appear solid. All you've done here is tell us your spouse is an attorney, a claim none of us can confirm or refute. Perhaps with facts on display some here would be inclined to believe you in the same way others are inclined to believe John. In other words, keep it highbrow, people.

Not surprised. USA3000 and its ilk base their entire business model on discretionary travel. Economy tanks, peoples' disposable income dries up, no more vacations to Mexico or DR. And the USA3000 type has no business traveler to fall back on.

^I can remember when this project was authorized - Jeanne Schmidt sent everyone a wonderful letter as to how this would benefit the businesses and homes around there. The best I can tell is that this protects primarily Ilsco along with a few other businesses. (Guess which party Ilsco gives money to?) For the money they've spent on the floodwall I suspect they could have built new facilities for those businesses on higher ground. Should I mention here that in the six years I've lived in Oakley, my house on higher ground has had water in the basement, but that Duck Creek channel has never come close to breaching the old channel walls? As for the floodwall, it's at least 8' at the intersection of Duck Creek and Kennedy, and it's not set back enough from the road to allow a connection with the wall in place (it'd be a 45 degree grade to do so). The only thing I can envision is that they'd have to breach the wall, which I'm sure the Army Corps would not stand for. Or perhaps they fly an overpass over the wall and Duck Creek Road and join with connector ramps (expensive!).

It's pretty nice through Madison now. I like all the traffic-calming measures, and my bicycle (and my in-between parts!) is thankful for the nice pavement. They put in electric "gaslights" that I have not yet seen on. But they still have the old-style overhead sodium lights, too. Not sure what's happening with all this lighting... The 20th Century is doing the ball-drop on the Square again this New Year's. Free admission. Should be a great scene.

I live about a mile from Oakley Station. Just about all of the old factory buildings were torn down as of Sunday afternoon. One taller partial structure is still standing approximately behind Meijer. I suspect this will be down this week. There are tons of debris still remaining, some segregated by material type into different piles. Site prep should follow that. We're some time away from walls going up still. On the subject of the Kennedy Connector - is it still on? I know the city has bought out and torn down many structures on Ibsen. I never understood how this was supposed to connect to Kennedy at Duck Creek since the Army Corps finished the 8' flood wall on Duck Creek this summer.