Mr Sparkle

Yep, unbelievable. They had to interview a known streetcar opponent on a totally unrelated issue just so they could get their daily negative press on the project. The online article was revised to exclude the paragraph you talked about, b/c I did not see it. Not sure about the print article tho.

Ohio would be #4 in the Nation in Gaming Tax Rec'd if projections hold and the 33% tax rate is applied: http://news.cincinnati.com/assets/AB17410758.PDF The article makes good points about states that have the higher casino taxes, have more 'bare bones' casinos (Basically slot parlors since tables games are loss leaders if the tax rates are too high) http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110508/BIZ01/105080374

Yeah, and only one of the three slots is still available. It doesn't seem like many states have applied for a slot, so I'm kind of surprised I-80 in PA got turned down, unless (1) they're getting picky since there's only one slot left or (2) they just didn't want both major east-west interstates in PA to be toll roads. Number 2

I got his news in my Elinks from the library. Anyone with a library card can download 3 free MP3's a week! see this link for details: http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/news/2011/downloadmusic.html

The push to add an anti-rail measure to the Cincinnati Charter is being supported by the Cincinnati FOP and firefighter unions (they were at one point helping to collect signatures). I'm always surprised that these unions are so anti-rail. Is it really a conservative bent against rail, or is it something else (like misguided selfishness that it would take money out of their pockets)? Its very unusual. The argument I keep hearing from opponents of the streetcar is "They are cutting fire and police to build a streetcar". We all know that is BS and would be illegal if true, but do they? The Enquirer fuels this statement as well. Anyways, Mallory just stood up for police and fire in Cincinnati in his public opposition to SB5. We'll see how it goes. Regardless,police and fire will be a key vote in November since they will be out in droves due to SB5. Most folks do not know how government is funded, or how money is spent. Witness the recent Enquirer polling for opinions on the City Budget (A short article was printed in the TM on Sunday), basically no one wanted to cut anything, but no one wanted to pay more for anything!

^I don't think any space is being reserved future i/c's with the EC. I was illustrating an example. Funding the EIS is not the issue, but funding the construction of the upgrade to interstate standards would be. Controlled access is not the same as limited access. Controlled Access will have at-grade intersections, and narrower shoulders (if any) and can still have provisions for pedestrians.

In reference to property taxes for roads/streets. The amount is small and typically not enough to fund capacity improvements, and is usually used for maintenance. For example, the City of Cincy typically has to cull together a myriad of funds to perform capacity improvements, such as Issue 2 (SCIP/LTIP) Bonds, and MRF funds (License Plate fees)

I don't think a subsequent action can easily enable it. Considerable amount of funding will have to be found. Also, an agency cannot obtain clearance for a "Phase 1" of a project if is part and parcel of a larger facility. NEPA requires the ultimate build facility be the one that is permitted (e.g. ODOT cannot do the EA for a super 2 lane road on a 4 lane R/W that will ultimately be a freeway without considering the environmental impacts for the full built out freeway). In the case of the EC, even if they reserve space for a full interchange now, the EIS needs to be based on the full freeway build out.

I suppose the fixed costs for maintaining streets and roads as public right of way for all and as conduits for utilities and communications could be separated from the costs to maintain and expand for vehicular traffic could easily be assessed on all property owners

@Civvik, my statement is not exclusive to new roads and streets

^That is correct, but the benefit might not be as minuscule as folks conventionally think when you factor in the ability to move goods to their final destination via the roads, rubber tire transit and other modes that share street r/w, EMS and fire service, the ability to carry utilities and storm-water drainage in the street r/w, the presence of communications infrastructure in street R/W, etc.

You're missing the point. Property tax is not a user fee on drivers of automobiles. Everyone who owns property in the county pays property tax whether or not they drive a car. So, let's take the property tax that's spent on road maintenance and spend part of it on streetcar operations instead -- wouldn't that be fair? Even though someone does not own a car that means they do not benefit from well maintained, passable streets and highways

Current locations with the 45 degree imagery: Lots in the USA http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=202754851668298126921.00048ad05c320f746f5c2

I looked for a typical section of the roadway in the environmental documentation, so far I haven't found one. Hopefully a little better outreach will happen so that folks know what exactly is being proposed, as it heads into Tier 2

That's your supposition, if what you say happens; then the project will be in violation of the R.O.D. In other words, that can't happen w/o a re-evaluation of the Environmental Clearance I am running out of air by restating this. SR 32 relocated and Red Bank Road are NOT being constructed to freeway standards. They are being constructed to somewhat a "high class status arterial"; such as a souped up Reed Hartman Highway or what is currently happening on Bypass 4 in Butler County. It will generally be an at-grade facility; boulevard type type road, with a grade separation at Madison Rd (I think), and a a grade separation @ US 50 where there is one currently. The Red Bank/SR 32 facility cannot be converted to an interstate simply by slapping shields on it. Nor can the Nor wood Lateral without major geometric improvements. The I-74 extension you state simply cannot happen under the auspices of the current programmed projects and accepted and approved NEPA documents (ROD And EIS). If it happens, then more projects will be needed in the future as well as new Environmental Documentation will need to be cleared. That won't happen.

John, The bridge over the L.M river is 4 lanes (2 each direction) Red Bank Expressway has been called that for some time, perhaps since the relocated road was built. Old Red Bank still exists (Behind Gorilla Glue, dead-ending into UDF; and thence north of Duck Creek Road). I think it was named Red Bank Expressway to not confuse with the old road. I do think there is an interchange of some sorts proposed @ Madison Road with access road. Its associated with the re-dev. of the Nutone Plant. I cannot speak for what that is. The 75 improvements are part of separate project. Norwood Lateral would be a PITA to expand to interstate status. The I-74 project in NC is separate and will end in that state for the foreseeable future. The WvA projects were supposed to be part of I-74, but are scaled back to be WVa-style corridor roads (Think divided 4 lanes with minimal at-grade access). What has happened is embellished information in a blog post @ Urban Cincy has been taken for fact

ADA allows the grade of the walk to follow the (longitudinal) grade of the road if the grade of the road is steeper than 8%, for walks that are parallel to the road as part of the road section

^If ODOT wants it to be I-74, then a lot more than $809 million needs to be found. They also cannot go against the ROD, its legally binding to the project per NEPA. If they change it to a limited access freeway they will have to re-do the environmental clearance for the project. Little Miami Inc will never sign off on a freeway.

Record of Decision (ROD) for the EC project (Bold Emphasis mine). The document is legally binding for project(s) that encompass the Eastern Corridor. Non-interstate facility is a definable engineering standard, and the SR32 project is going to be "controlled-access" not "limited access" as Sherman pointed out. Not saying that it cannot be upgraded to interstate standards (with great costs) in the future. http://www.easterncorridor.org/pdfs/ROD_06_07_06.pdf edit: http://www.easterncorridor.org/pdf%20milestones%20archive/Eastern%20Corridor%20Tier%201%20ROD%202006.pdf Page 25:

Ah a Facebook campaign, that'll show'em

I can only speak to Ohio. It typically takes a year from start to finish to fire a teacher with tenure, implied or not. Again, this is mostly to due process. Generally the system works, teachers are identified and the problems can be corrected. Sometimes it doesn't and those are the rare cases you hear about. If there is a "rubber room" in Ohio it is because of a terrible, terrible, terrible administrator. could be worse, look at Chicago Public Schools http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-0230-cps-dismissal-gfx.eps-20110226,0,3378793.graphic

OK maybe I was off base that teachers almost have to commit a crime to be fired ..... But as I understand it, doesn't it take a long time to fire a teacher given the administrative hassles, etc.? Do 'Rubber Rooms' exist?

That's because right now a cop or a teacher has to practically break the law before they can get fired...

Collective bargaining reform must avoid overreach http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110301/EDIT02/103020307/Collective-bargaining-reform-must-avoid-overreach?odyssey=mod

Five myths about the suburbs http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021102615.html