Gordon Bombay

KJP, if you wouldn't mind asking, I'd greatly appreciate it! My guess is you were in the area looking for that old amusement park. Is it still standing? I heard it has been torn down. Parts of it and a few rides were still standing, still very cool. Took us awhile to find a way in, but we eventually did find it: And here's another photo of the rail cars:

Thanks! I have no idea at all since I'm not from that area, but does anyone know what track that is? Maybe that could be a clue?

The other day some friends and I were out looking for abandoned things on a road trip. We came across what appeared to be abandoned Interurban rail cars presumably from Cleveland, but I can't seem to find any information on them: There was a rail museum nearby (I assume they own the cars), but they were closed and I can't make sense of the info on their website (http://www.trainweb.org/norm/). I don't think they have these abandoned ones listed. Anyone know their history? I was hoping to write a little article about them for my website. Any help would be appreciated!

I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Pence, but I cooresponded with him a few times regarding Amtrak and Cincinnati rail history. I always loved browsing his website - he had some great stories and photographs of his travels. He will be sorely missed. Edit: Forgot Robert was kind enough to let me use a few of his photographs on my blog: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2012/12/in-memory-of-robert-pence.html I really enjoyed his photographs. They were a great documentary resource in a day and age before blogs and personal websites. It's sad that he won't be around anymore to go on more adventures.

Yeah, no shit? Maybe you missed those two ballot referendums and Kasich's administration reallocating money. Ignorance is bliss for you I guess though. And time and time again you have to be told why this wouldn't work. A modern streetcar is incredibly different than a bus in terms of the advantages it presents and physical size. Did you hit your head when you were practicing riding your bike on the streetcar rails?

Cox is a political hack. Someone like you, unfamiliar with using true and large public transit systems in larger cities would think that public transit is too slow. In Cincinnati, it often is. Mainly because our buses use the same right-of-way as motor vehicles on already congested highways and roads. Go to a city like Chicago and try driving from Comiskey to Northside when the Cubs or Sox are playing. Then do the trip again via the Red Line and see how much quicker it is. Just because the speed limit on a highway is 65 mph and a light rail vehicle may only consistently travel at 45 mph doesn't mean the car is necessarily always faster. However, to the unaware onlooker it seems that way. By the time you sit in traffic, navigate side roads and find a place to park - you could've ridden a train or bus and simply gotten off at your stop. Underutilized in terms of being a Transit Center, yes, but not for lack of trying *cough* Metro Moves *cough.* However, it would've cost nearly as much to fill the area in with dirt and at present the approach areas are rented out to System Parking who pays rent to the city, generating revenue. As already stated by someone else, this isn't due to a lack of locals not wishing to use it, they simply go elsewhere. It's underutilized because of political mis management and the assumption that Delta would always be awesome (spoiler alert: they're not). See this: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-downsizing-and-dying-of-cvg.html Yes and they've poo-pood your flawed, watered down COAST logic again and again (how many times did we have that diesel generator streetcar at Sawyer Point argument?). A trolleybus is not comparable, not similar or anything like a modern streetcar. Why do you continually live in denial of the fact that the streetcar is CURRENTLY under construction? You say "a living dog is better than a dead lion." I say: "You're wrong, again." Edit: Didn't mean for this to come off as so rude, but 8th&St you bring up the same flawed logic all the time as if you have little regard for any other arguments for/against the project. I'm all for hearing other voices and opinions, in fact I welcome it. Especially when this board is mainly pro-streetcar. However, repeating the same things ad-nausem isn't bringing anyone to your side especially when your support examples aren't even comparable to the topic at hand. I.E. CVG's low numbers have nothing to do with public transit.

I thought I remembered seeing some talk on here recently about BRT on line going up I-71, anyone have any idea if this is still being pursued? BRT to the Transit Center would seem like a no brainer. Also, anyone know if they plan on making any improvements to the RTC once the streetcar is built? In the past couple years they've removed all the benches and stuff near the "subway-like" entrances. The "digital" signs that inform you to check a Metro schedule are no longer working. Since the streetcar will stop right by the RTC it seems like they'd want to polish that up a little.

Excellent piece over at Urban Cincy by Jake Mecklenborg about the ten year anniversary of "Metro Moves" failing at the polls: http://www.urbancincy.com/2012/11/metromoves-a-decade-later/ Looking at the planning for the Metro Moves system, it's interesting to see what potential the current streetcar construction could have for the future. Maybe there wasn't an entire sales tax to fund the whole system, but at least we've made a step in the right direction. Also, I recommend the comments section. ;)

To echo LivingInGin, thankfully the sheriff has no say in the streetcar project and even though Si Leis was supportive of it... it's still Si Leis. Having spoken to a few friends who are Ham. Co. Sheriffs, Neil seemed to be their choice and kind of represented the "working man," so I hope it works out for them and the County. In terms of the wider scope of things - I was very happy with the election results tonight. Since becoming involved with the streetcar project and learning to make public transit part of my life, I've really become aware of the "culture war" the Republican party wanted to fight. Public transit was the first issue to open my eyes to the other side. I just hope that the re-election of Obama allows progress to continue not just on the Cincinnati Streetcar and other local transit related projects, but a move towards more support for cities and public transit across the nation. I can only assume that LaHood will be maintaining his post and we'll see more and more political support trickle down to the rails of the Cincinnati Streetcar when they're installed. Also, COAST took a beating. HA!

You'd think they'd be more concerned with a hotel or development at the levee. I can't believe someone is giving them money for this study. Where's COAST?

" to make pedestrian enhancements" Like planting some trees instead of using bike racks?

Creating a stronger downtown and urban core > some truck driver being able to glance up while passing through

Cool story, bro.

I have to agree with you and I live in Cincy. I don't think The Banks look half bad and even once the new buildings have aged they still won't look half bad. To a person familiar with architecture who has an eye for that sort of thing, I'm sure these are an eyesore. However, to the common man walking between the buildings on his way to a Reds game - these look great. Almost anything is better than the hole that was there a few years back. I love Cincinnati and Ohio dearly, but we're not New York, Chicago or LA - there aren't architects lining up to building something spectacular on the riverfront. I'll take what we've got and the sooner it's all filled in, the better.

We get it, you work for MSD so you're an expert on utilities. Seriously, why keep saying the same old nonsense that people keep disproving?

I had to work in the office up north earlier today and swung by the airport on my way home this evening (Aug. 31), demolition prep has already begun, excavators are in place and a truck was going around removing the airport's lights that once marked where to land.

Clearly, it doesn't. In case you missed it... The downtown/OTR route is under construction and the only discussion of this "more affordable" Clifton line is coming from you.

Seconded. List your route. Put up or..... I've gone through this already, but since you insist... Again, I'm not seeing how these are cheaper or what data points to that this would prove to have cheaper utility relocation. Why are these more "affordable?" And why wouldn't you want to serve downtown, the center of the city and the largest center of people during business hours and events? That's where you should start your ridership.

The primary construction issue with the current streetcar proposal is utility relocation issues... Again, you didn't answer the question! You're throwing out fickle and nonsense numbers with no sources except for "someone you know." Please point out these cheaper, alternate routes you mentioned. Do you write a blog for some special interest group? You seem to be using their talking point playbook. Do we really need to rehash the bus argument?

^That's all really cool stuff, but I was curious to hear what other routes you suggest could be more affordable.

How are some more affordable than others? We're currently debating the utility relocation costs for the existing route, so how do you know cheaper alternatives?

Originally one of the things that set the project back was the plan to include what we now call "Phase 1 (urban circulator)" and "Phase 2 (connection up the hill)" all together as one initial phase. Gov Kasich's pulling of state funding curtailed plans and instead we're moving forward solely with Phase 1 and eventually Phase 2 in the future.

I think you need some context. Many rail projects have had to jump through at least as much as this. The 3C project has been killed seven times over 40 years already. The Second Avenue subway in New York City has been dead/alive/dead/alive for 80 years. Houston's rail project was declared illegal by Congress (thanks to Rep. DeLay). Seattle's was a battle for decades. So was Phoenix's. And Dallas'. And... get the picture? Consider these GOP platform planks which have false and misleading foundations..... http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7852.msg638387.html#msg638387 In 2008 I was an ardent John McCain supporter (he brought Palin on and I was less enthusiastic, but still voted for "John Wayne McCain"), in this coming election my feelings and views have shifted totally. One of the biggest issues for me is the GOP's blatant disregard for mass transit, public transit and alternative energy. I think it says a lot about their old school, backwards thinking on other issues. It amazes me that the streetcar has gone through this many issues cause by the opposition when in reality you'd think Mass Transit would be a bipartisan issue given how it benefits everyone. It's a shame, thank God America seems to be pushing mass transit in spite of the GOP's nonsense. Maybe if we build a Chick-Fil-A on the streetcar line?

^Besides, it's not like you can decorate PBS with Lombardi trophy replicas when you don't have any to replicate.

Some photos from the now abandoned sections of the airport as seen during a special tour: http://bit.ly/CvgAirport