Gordon Bombay

By “junky” and “old” what you mean is: facilities where the owners weren’t maximizing revenue at the expense of the public.

A... "death trap?" C'mon.

If it’s anything like the “transit-only” lane on Main, it’s not worth a dollar.

I actually really like the idea of them playing a few games around various Ohio sites and cities. Hell, in Columbus you could do a game against the Bengals as a one-off novelty. The place would be packed and it’d be great to kind of see all “three C’s” come together on something like that. Edit: Akron is also a great place to host a game and of course the Hall of Fame stadium in Canton would be great for a few games as well. Do a “tour” if you will for one season as renovations get done. For another novelty: play on Progressive Field.

At that point for a Mark Cuban type, though — why pour that money into USL when you could just then get an MLS franchise or become part of an existing group, etc? Promotion/Relegation isn’t going to happen in the United States soccer system anytime soon, if at all (for better or worse). Aside from the play talent gulf (which is wider for some USL teams, but not all (yet still wide)), the wealth gap and valuations of franchises are immense. You’re also never going to get MLS to agree (in its current existence) to drop one of its “franchise” down to USL and de-value their whole product (MLS is a single entity structure). The only benefit in pro/rel goes to USL. Even if it’s a more “fair” or “just” system based on “sporting merit,” it’s just a fact that the major money (and all it entails with development, stadiums, etc) is in MLS. USL may eventually try their own pro/rel within their own system, but it will simply be a novelty. Could soccer eventually grow to demand it? Sure, but MLS is probably going to welcome in/expand any major franchise who’d be a threat (and currently, the existing USL business is not). Not saying it’s good or right, but MLS probably isn’t too worried about the USL and its teams challenging them in any way soon. And if there’s a market they really want, well, unfortunately they usually make sure to get it (see San Diego).

Could be and just to clarify: I don’t (nor ever would) expect her to reveal any details that aren’t public, etc. I certainly understand that often a standard response is just what’s going to come from a government official. Overall, I feel the streetcar is running much better than 2016, just coming here to grumble after an annoying commute where I would’ve just walked (but it’s gross out), ridden my bike (just got a flat), or taken the number 6 (which was further away at the time). 😁 Overall, living on the line is a great benefit and I did get good coffee instead of the stuff at my office. EDIT: Also appreciate your response, John, and appreciate that you’re still such a great advocate for the line.

I have before and her response has always been prompt and professional, but on these specific issues the response has generally been the same vague statements.

When you see a train is "19 minutes away" and decide to go grab a cup of coffee or do something else with that time until the train comes, the point is to know where it's at. But when you walk back to the 6/Main station thinking you have plenty of time because the app shows the train just beginning to approach 4/Main - yet it's really flying by the station you need - it's a bit frustrating. Wouldn't be a problem if the real-time signs worked, but they haven't been on in over a year at this point. I live on the line as well and generally, yes, the app works well enough... if you know how to use it. But the app is not user-friendly, to use "GO" you need an account, and things like this happen. The point is that these minor problems are easily fixed and can create a marked improvement in customer experience (especially for the casual folks who are just visiting, etc). Yet, these problems (and also the inconsistency with "closing times") are never fixed. EDIT: It’s just all a frustrating bummer.

And just missed the next one because the app is actually about a stop behind where the train really is. 🤷

19 minutes for a train (after knowing how to navigate through the free app and with nothing on the “real-time” signs). Watched a “charter” roll by the station and then several potential passengers including myself left. Amazing that the city is still so bad at this (although still miles ahead of SORRA). If METRO does in fact move to the RTC in the future, the streetcar MUST become more reliable.

To be fair, I think they do what they can. What would help de-escalate the more aggressive cases would be the presence of law enforcement (who have made clear they’re not interested), or, crisis intervention (who I believe are still a “pilot program” and probably not staffed well).

This must be a recent change, user error, or, an issue with Google, because the 2X stop is still on the East side of the baggage claim. Looking on Google right now, it seems to be defaulting to the stop on Lincoln Rd depending on how you plan the trip (an easy fix for TANK/Google by adjusting the data packets that Google Maps picks up automatically)., rather than the main one at Terminal Dr. Either way, though, there's no "masters" it's serving and the priority of the route is still for airport travelers. If you take the 2X from Downtown (for example, from the Hilton Netherland), it's still taking you directly to the airport. And if you reverse that trip, you have the potential for a few quick stops at employment areas directly north of baggage claim (still on airport property that the bus may as well pass anyways) before heading directly into Downtown Cincinnati. If you're wishing to reach Amazon, DHL, etc. or the destinations south of the airport, those are going to come AFTER and BEFORE the main airport stop (still giving priority to travelers). It's not a direct express route technically (as there's potential for at-most four stops before getting on the highway if you're headed TO Cincinnati), but it makes sense and is easy enough to understand for anyone accustomed to using Google maps or the Transit app. The 2X is never going to be a great option for airport travel anyways, unless you live in the core, and even then—it faces the same traffic as everyone else. It also makes sense that to maintain, justify, and keep this route—it would also serve as a quick way for those massive employment centers south of the airport. And if your ultimate destination is Florence and not the airport, the 2X isn't your best bet anyways. Again, the whole situation isn't as advantageous as a direct rail line, or even a bus line with transit only lanes on the highway, but it's probably the best we can hope for in this regional, political climate. Anecdotally, I've been using the 2X every time I've flown since both working (since 2016) and living (since 2021) Downtown. That bus is always filled with workers headed to the various airport destinations, but every time I ride it seems to have more and more airport travelers and I've had some good conversations with out-of-town folks who are catching the bus into the city after arriving at CVG. It's a super easy connection to the airport (and I've yet to have a trip skipped or missed (knock on wood as I fly next week)). This, in my opinion, is fantastic news. I certainly understand the appeal and utility of Government Square as both a transit user and former transit industry employee—but the space is often overcrowded, confusing, lacks protection from even the mildest of rain, and is spread out across multiple blocks. The key to using the RTC though will be if there's an easy, reliable, connection to it. Perhaps a circulator? Maybe the streetcar can serve that role if the city ever decides to run the streetcar properly. Maybe the SORTA Board could actually put some pressure on that. P.S. If everything shifts to the RTC, Government Square should become a proper food truck park. Like, a real one, that they have in other cities (not that silly one on the far east side that lasted a few weeks).

Weird. A career politician coming to leech some public money. Again. Wasn’t the guy Tom Brinkman supports (who also tried to steal an election) supposed to “drain the swamp” of these kinds of actors?

I think this was done a few years ago when they started adding Paycor signage/added lights to the roof to highlight the Paycor logo up there.

At what percentage of TANK’s ridership does the city optimize the traffic signals, get the real-time screens properly working, and adhere to their operating hours with a clear policy?

Too bad we don’t have any circulators that could whisk people around quickly while the “rapid” transit flows in and out of the RTC.

Missed opportunity, but on-brand for what will likely not be very good BRT anyways.

Skim through the past 600 pages from over the years and you’ll see just how difficult it was even to get the streetcar built (which is STILL not operated to its full potential). METRO/SORTA has also made a pivot to building BRT* the last decade in favor of light rail and fully separated from the streetcar in a strategic, political move (not that they operated it well in the first place). *a watered-down milquetoast version

I think that all depends on what you’re going up there for. Gonna get some Marion’s and roll a few frames while drinking pitchers at Capri Lanes? Worth it. Just meeting up with @ColDayMan? Nah. Need at least Amtrak for that. 😝

Cincinnati - you can fly around the world to Paris daily, but you can't get a bus up the highway to Dayton. All joking aside, this is great news.

Yeah—the fact that the guy is proposing a re-hash of his decades old idea with little specifics and hasn’t spoken with the key party involved seems questionable. Perfect clickbait fodder for a tv news station, though.

Get the bumper sticker campaign going now: “This Cleveland Browns Fan says… HELL YEAH TO THE HEXATRON!”

Yeah. Should’ve just left that wall blank.

Oh, the horror! It’d be a real shame to have something going on over there.

“Confirmed”