John Schneider

John- When is the CfP mail piece going out? I was volunteering for roxanne recently and we were knocking on doors for people who already said they had voted. ^ Today. Also, it's a little early for the Enquirer mayoral endorsement. Won't happen this Sunday. More likely on October 27th.

I suspect anyone on this board, if they really want to see rail expanded here, can contribute at least $100 to a candidate or to Cincinnatians for Progress, which is about to undertake some myth-busting.

I thought John Deatrick was great, but following his web-chat, the usual torrent of misinformation appeared via email. So I sent Carl Weiser a note, which he published, here: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/10/14/replay-streetcar-chat-with-john-deatrick/

Is this the most misinformed Enquirer letter-writer ever? http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2013/10/14/unsure-about-streetcars-ability-to-tackle-our-hills/

There are no limitations on using the tunnels for urban rail. This has been studied extensively, and the tunnels can handle both streetcars and light rail. However, the stations would need elevators to comply with ADA, and ventilation standards are much higher today. With three-car trains, you might need longer platforms.

^ Not sure how this finally played out, but I recall there were going to be two early-release intersections where the streetcar would get something like a 10-15 second head-start on parallel traffic to enable it to change lanes without interference. The traffic engineers killed the "hold-green" idea, but we may get it back over time if people want to improve speeds

Ice can definitely be an issue, both on the wires and in the switches. They will probably run the cars continously, even in the middle of the night, to keep ice from forming on the wires. Most modern light rail and streetcar systems have switch-warmers thes days.

^ Wondering what kinds of voters turn out for Issue 4.

So here's the story: * When the streetcar was going to McMicken, the line was 3.9 miles * Once we identified the maintenance site that's a (long) block south of McMicken, we cut the line back a block on Elm and a block on Race. * It was Roxanne Qualls, after the 2007 study was complete, who insisted that the streetcar go to Uptown in the first phase. * John Cranley withdrew his support after Qualls called for the extension to Uptown. * City got the money to get to Uptown from the Strickland Administaration. * Kasich Administation took the Uptown money away. * So now we're back to where we were in 2007, a totally viable first-phase streetcar route which returns almost three times what it cost to build. Prior to the time Kevin Flynn bothered to read the 2007 study over the past few days, it's pretty clear that he believed the success of the Cincinnati Streetcar was dependent upon its getting to Uptown. Kinda sad, really.

Then give money, here: http://www.cincy4progress.org/

Contribute to Cincinnatians for Progress, which will be spending the dispel the myths, as it always has. Really, this time, make a stretch contribution. And then some. Leave it all on the floor. There won't be another chance.

it would be good for everyone on this board except the COAST lurkers to get out this weekend and knock on doors for pro-streetcar candidates. If you've never done this, you should. It is very well organized. You'll be given a list of thirty or so households on consecutive streets to visit in a three-hour period. Fifteen to twenty of them will be home. You will know the names of who lives there, their party registration and their ages. We all believe in what is happening in the core of our city, but a lot of Cincinnatians don't. Not that they necessarily oppose it. Many simply don't know what's going on, or if they do, how all of this big picture fits together. Reading natininja comment above, that's exactly the discussion you can engage them in. You'll learn a lot about parts of the city you may never go. Four Saturdays and Sundays remain before the election. You can type about it between now and then, or you can do something about it. The active members of this board could easily visit 1,000 Cincinnati homes this weekend. And if you really got into and got your friends and family into it, as many as 10,000 homes before the election. Getting a small fraction of those residents to understand why we are building a streetcar could be decisive in an election where only 60,000 people may vote. No single group in Cincinnati is more capable of telling the Cincinnati Streetcar's story than this page of UrbanOhio. Think about it.

John is from Defiance, Ohio. He lived in the UK for a while, and is a Chartered Engineer there. Married a Brit. Has both planning and engineering - a scary thought.

If anyone has received a mailing targeting pro-streetcar candidates, I'd like to get it from you. Thanks.

They're not taking it south of 2nd Street because they would prefer not to build over the garages -- it just adds another layer of complication, literally. Plus I think it's good that people will filter through the commercial district of The Banks on their way to and from the park.

^ All the difference in the world since John Deatrick has been in charge.

^ Guys, this is a dry hole, an over-reaction to wrong information. Let it go.

Is it just me, or does Amy Murray remind you of Tracy Flick in the movie "Election?"

There will also be lots of materials on the job by December. Unique-to-Cincinnati shelters, poles and special track work -- crossings and curves -- are being fabricated. I suspect MPD has hedged its purchase of copper wire, and that will have to be unwound. Our vehicles are being engineered to climb a very steep hill, and that's reflected in the size of their motors and the resulting power consumption. Selling them to Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis or Detroit might not be so easy. Cancellation is much more costly than just paying-off the contractor the amount of its profits. It's not $95 million, but it's a lot. But the Cincinnati Streetcar is not going to be canceled.

^ I think Tom Luken has influenced John Cranley beyond salvation on this subject.

^ I suspect that Cranley has now learned that he can't stop Phase 1a from being built. Even if he could round up five votes on the new Council, Cincinnati is obligated under many contracts, including one with the Feds which no mayor would want to piss off, to build a 3.6 mile streetcar in downtown Cincinnati. However, he can probably cause it to fail by shortening hours of operation, increasing fares and reducing mainenance and staffing -- all, in his justification, to save money. And he can (and would) undoubtedly cause Phase 1b to Uptown not be be built in any number of ways. By the way, Cranley is not just opposed to the streetcar. He is opposed to any kind of rail here, ever. He doesn't view public transportation as a city-builder but rather as a social program for people who are too old, too sick, too young or too poor to get around by other means. I've talked to him several times at length about this, and this is how he feels.

Derek's right, and the key thing is, whoever wins/loses tonight will have an easier/tougher time raising money for the November 5th General Election. You have until 7:30p to vote. Check to see if you registered and to see if your polling place has changed -- here: http://boe.hamilton-co.org/

^ What makes you think the several utility companies working all along the streetcar line are merely undertaking "exploratory digging?" Every day, I see manholes and vaults being rebuilt and loads of new pipe and conduit being installed.

I'm in 45202, and I got it. You'll see a big change in all aspects of the project now that John Deatrick is in charge.

Some news was made tonight at the fundraiser that streetcar supporters put on for Roxanne Qualls and Wendell Young. Vice Mayor Qualls said that, if elected, she would appoint Wendell Young as Vice Mayor.