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Has anybody heard anything about this public meeting?!?!?

 

Columbus — Concept of Street Cars Moves Forward

Public Meeting Set to Include Public Opinion

nbc4i.com, March 22, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Could there soon be a new, yet old way to get around downtown? Mayor Michael Coleman first brought up the idea of rail street cars in downtown Columbus in his State of the City address a few weeks ago.

 

Columbus could end up with a street car system on Broad and High streets, NBC 4's Elizabeth Scarborough reported.

 

Coleman announced Wednesday that the Streetcar Working Group -- made up of about 40 area leaders -- will be investigating the viability of street cars in Columbus.

 

About $250,000 has been invested from various businesses and the city. The group will take the next six months to determine if the street cars are feasible.

 

Five goals for the working group include examining the economic impact of street cars, the possibility of financing the street cars without a city-wide tax, the structure, and the cost of building and maintaining the concept.

 

"Reconnecting our neighborhoods, attractions and jobs back downtown," Coleman said.

 

The group will be applying for a federal grant that could pay as much as a third of the cost.

 

"We'll be working with experts and consultants in these fields to give us information that will help us reach a consensus about how to move forward," said Adm. Dennis McGinn, chair of the Streetcar Working Group.

 

Officials said they want the process to be public, and they hope to come to a community consensus in six months. The first public meeting is scheduled for the week of April 17.

http://www.heritagetrolley.org/planColumbus01.htm

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TASK-FORCE MEETING

Streetcars help bring in business, expert says

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Mark Ferenchik

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Here’s the pitch: If you go to Portland, Ore., and ride its streetcar line through the central city, you’ll see the $1.4 billion in development that has sprouted along the route since the 1997 announcement that trolleys were coming. "Streetcars are powerful redevelopment tools," said Jeff Boothe, a Washington, D.C., lawyer and lobbyist who helps public transit systems secure federal funding. He spoke yesterday to the first meeting of a group of Columbus leaders studying whether streetcars will work here.

 

Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/04/26/20060426-C7-00.html

  • 2 weeks later...

City could ride rails to prosperity, trolley advocate says

Streetcar lines might not be self-sustaining, but their impact justifies their cost, he says.

By JENNIFER WRAY

 

Streetcars could help drive economic development in Columbus, according to a consultant who spoke to local leaders last week.  Jeff Boothe, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer and advocate for the rail systems, made the comment during the first meeting of a group formed to study the viability of Downtown trolleys. The streetcar panel is charged with determining the costs, benefits and challenges associated with building and operating such a system.

 

More at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS5-3/5-3_colstreetcar.htm

I had the opportunity to sit in on a meeting of the Mayor's Streetcar Task Force and it's worth noting that this process is moving along very much on the (no pun intended) "fast track".  They are already scheduling visits for the task force to Portland, Oregon and Memphis, Tennessee to look at their downtown streetcars.

 

Today's meeting included a presentation from two of the key people involved in the development of the Portland streetcar line.... which is about to open a major extension and expansion of service.  Here are some interesting factoids from thei presentation:

 

Revenues are at least partly generated by parking meters in the designated streetcar line neighborhoods, as are any revenues from parking ticket fines.  That is the City of Portland contribution to the funding of the line

 

$2.28-Billion dollars in private investment has taken place along the streetcar routes: that includes 7,295 new housing units in the last two years

 

57% of of all development citywide has taken place within one block of the streetcar line

 

They now average 9,000 riders a day

 

The level of new housing has the estimated impact of 1,000,000 fewer auto trips in the region

 

They estimate 25,000 to 30,000 full-time downtown residents and there is an almost "zero" percent vacancy rate.

 

The streetcar system has automatic stoplight control (it piggybacks on the same system used by the Portland Fire department), allowing streetcars the right of way in all traffic.  This is an almost entirely street-running system.

 

They have a $4.2 million dollar operating budget: 2/3rds of which comes from the local transit authority in exchange for "free" fares for all Tri-Met passengers who transfer to the streetcars.  the remaining one-third comes from the City of Portland's contribution of parking and parking ticket fees.

 

There will be a public meeting on June 14th at 300 East Broad Street, which is the State Employees Retirement System headquarters.  A time was not announced.  But info on the streetcar plan and any updates can be had at the following website:

 

www.downtowncolumbus.com  Go to the link for "News & Announcements".

 

Thanks for the update Noozer!  What was the outcome of the "routing exercise" on the agenda?

 

I've got to say, I'm a much bigger fan of Portland's modern streetcars than the antique looking ones.  They'd be much more fitting for "America's 21st Century City".   :roll:

Most everyone drew a good downtown system that would serve the area well, but what was interesting is that virtually all added in potential extensions that would reach deep into the OSU campus, East on Broad as far as the Franklin park Conservatory, West on Broad to at least Mount Carmel Hospital, South on High Street to at least Whittier with loops into the Whittier Peninsula and German Village/Brewery District, and finally through the Arena District and well into Victorian Village/Harrison West and even into Grandview.

 

Clearly they see that there will be demand to build a larger system.

sounds like a good update, thanks stu

I think High and Front/Neil have to be the main corridors for the North/South loop.  Whittier can create the southernmost stop, and Lane Ave. can bound things at the north.  Front dead-ends at Buttles, so the streetcar can make a turn at Goodale Park to Neil, and serve Victorian Village on it's way to OSU.  By my rough estimations, that's about an 8-9 mile loop.

 

The east/west line are much easier as you said.  Just connect the Conservatory with Mt. Carmel.  I'm not really even sure that we need this one initially, and could probably be built after the north/south line is proven to be a huge sucess.  This would be about a 6 mile loop.

 

Grandview has to be the odd man out here.  It just doesn't make sense to build something all the way out there unless it's a seperate line.

To those of you who are going to OSU (and I have no clue as to the class scheduling schedule), try to get into one of the GIS courses (primarily a function of the Geography dept). That way you can "virtually" play streetcar route designer at some point during the fall quarter.

If the "schedule computer" won't let you take any of the classes, go see Mae Po Kwan or Alan Murray.

 

 

Portland streetcars rely on private, university money

Columbus study group hears that public-private partnership paid for Oregon city line.

By JENNIFER WRAY

 

Investing in a streetcar line can pay off, as evidenced by Portland's highly regarded streetcar project.  The Oregon city system cost millions of dollars in capital costs, but has generated billions of dollars in private investments. So said representatives of the project, who spoke to the members of Columbus' Downtown Streetcar Working Group on Monday.  The discussion was part of the local group's continuing effort to determine the costs, benefits and challenges associated with building and operating such a system.

 

The Portland Streetcar Project received the 2005 Rudy Bruner Foundation Gold Award. The honor recognized the project for its public-private partnership, effective means of using transit to reclaim disconnected parts of the city and ability to provide incentives for new development, as well as the line's environmentally friendly nature and accessibility.

 

Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS5-10/5-10_allstreetcars.htm

Jennifer Wray has done a great job of covering this story.

I hope the talk about streetcars isn't too optimistic. IMO the project would be a big breakthrough for Columbus' image.

 

I need to visit Portland again; it's been about ten years since I spent a few weeks working there. The light rail system has expanded since then, and at that time the only streetcars were some replicas of vintage cars (very authentic-appearing and well-crafted) that operated on a segment of the light rail track downtown. I think they had just completed a major tunnel project on the light rail, but hadn't yet finished installing the tracks.

  • 3 weeks later...

1000 Friends of Central Ohio's

Moving Smarter (aka Bacon, Eggs and Rail) Breakfast

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

"Why a Streetcar in Downtown Columbus?"

Bob McLaughlin

City of Columbus Downtown Development

 

Downtown Columbus Streetcar Working Group is studying the feasibility of returning streetcars to downtown Columbus, including their economic development potential, ridership, construction and operation costs, and funding. 

 

This effort is being funded through a partnership of private companies and the City of Columbus. 

 

Come hear about the process and the potential streetcars have for Columbus.

 

This presentation will be much more inclusive than other public presentations as it is designed specifically for the Moving Smarter audience.

 

Upstairs at the North Market

7:30 am -  9:00 am

$10 for Members of 1000 Friends of Central Ohio

$15 for general public

http://www.1kco.org

 

 

Noozer...

 

Let us know what transpires. Also, if you get a map of where this is supposed to run, that would be great.

I don't think there will be a map for a few weeks, as that process will be driven in part by the market & neighborhoods involved.  But if the mapping exercize I participated in a few weeks ago is any indication, the initial system will draw together the downtown and near-downtown areas pretty well.  And, of course, it is an eminently expandable system.

This article said it quite well.

 

Cincy's got a ton going for it.  Even as a staunch Clevelander, I'll admit that Cincy's got the most architecturally historic/significant buildings, esp residential buildings,... and (potential) walking districts.  And yet, the streets are often empty.  You guys should hammer this Steve Chabot guy.  Everybody knows quality mass transit is the missing link holding Cincinnati back from true greatness, and yet this clown blocks transit $$ for his hometown and sends it elsewhere, creating the Portlands and Seattles for the nation/world to fawn over. 

 

Vote this guy outta there, if you know what's good for your city.

I guess this shouldn't be a surprise, but it is sad nonetheless.  I hope this starts some talk about replacing COTA.  A bus-only transit systen is not what a city the size of Columbus needs or wants.  If you attended any of the public meetings, they were clearly set up to discourage any support for light rail.  Lhota & his team pretty much stacked the deck.  At best, they damned light rail with faint praise and the turnout at the meetings demonstrated their own lack of enthusiasm.  Their public involvement process was an exercise with a predetermined outcome.

 

What I dislike about Doulin's article is that it implies that COTA's decision somehow impacts the Mayor's streetcar plan (note the opening line and the accompanying photo.  Only when you read down to almost the end does it say COTA's study is "separate" from the streetcar plan.

 

COTA  was in danger of losing my vote in November.  Now, that is a certainty.

 

COTA to slam brakes on transit options

By Tim Doulin

The Columbus Dispatch

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 12:11 AM

 

COTA might abandon any attempt to add light rail, streetcars or bus rapid transit.  The Central Ohio Transit Authority has been studying all three, but none qualifies for federal funding right now, officials said.  COTA President William Lhota will share today with the agency's board preliminary findings of a study that looked at how much each option would cost and how each would affect such things as noise, traffic, parking and the environment.

 

Read more at http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=190747

Fortunately Coleman's streetcar plan is independant of COTA.  Therefore, this really does not have an impact on streetcar development in Columbus.  Coleman stopped counting on COTA quite some time ago... rightfully so...

^ That's why I'm so disappointed in the Dispatch's coverage of this story.  It was on the front page with the caption "It may be a long time, if ever, before Columbus streets see trolleys like this one, which recently began service in Tampa."

 

Ummmm...the writer conveniently left out any mention of the real transit plan for downtown that is completely independant of COTA!

Good luck, Columbus! I, for one, think real street cars are an awesome idea. That city needs some rail!

 

I was at this morning's meeting of the Streetcar Working Group and the first topic of discussion was this morning's article in the Dispatch.  In fact, the reporter who did the story was also there and got a polite earful from several of the key leaders of the SWG. It will be interesting to see if there is any follow-up in tomorrow's edition of the Big D.  Admiral Dennis McGinn, who heads up the SWG had a great quote that took a back-handed swipe at the Dispatch story: (quote) "We're not slammin' on the brakes.... in fact, we're steppin' on the accelerator."

 

Spoken like a true old Navy guy.... full speed ahead!

 

BTW:  the first public meetings on the Downtown Streetcar Plan are coming up. Here's the link to the schedule....

 

http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/publications/DCSWGpublicmeetings.pdf

 

and a second link to a backgrounder on the Streetcar plan:

 

http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/publications/DCSWGFactSheet.pdf

I find the story even more strange seeing as how The Dispatch is one of the companies bringing money to the table.

Task force still examining feasibility of city streetcars

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Tim Doulin

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

While COTA appears ready to shelve plans for alternative transit, a city task force says it continues to look at adding Downtown streetcars.

 

The group — 42 community leaders appointed in March by Mayor Michael B. Coleman — met yesterday to review and evaluate possible routes.

 

Some members of the task force will travel to Portland, Ore., this weekend to check out its streetcar system.

 

And next week, the public will be invited to a meeting to learn more about the plans.

 

"We are not slamming on the brakes. We are stepping on the accelerator," said Dennis McGinn, chairman of the task force.

 

...

 

[email protected]

 

http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/07/20060607-E6-00.html

 

Here's a link to a series of possible route maps:

http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/07/20060607-E6-01.html

Way to make up for that article Mr. Doulin!!!  :)

 

Seeing that North/South route got me all excited!

1000 Friends of Central Ohio's

Moving Smarter (aka Bacon, Eggs and Rail) Breakfast

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

"Why a Streetcar in Downtown Columbus?"

Bob McLaughlin

City of Columbus Downtown Development

 

Downtown Columbus Streetcar Working Group is studying the feasibility of returning streetcars to downtown Columbus, including their economic development potential, ridership, construction and operation costs, and funding. 

 

This effort is being funded through a partnership of private companies and the City of Columbus. 

 

Come hear about the process and the potential streetcars have for Columbus.

 

This presentation will be much more inclusive than other public presentations as it is designed specifically for the Moving Smarter audience.

 

Upstairs at the North Market

7:30 am -  9:00 am

$10 for Members of 1000 Friends of Central Ohio

$15 for general public

http://www.1kco.org

 

 

 

Please RSVP by Tuesday

 

[email protected]

Go with the numbers

Light rail doesn’t make sense for COTA, but city streetcars might ring the bell

Monday, June 12, 2006

 

Bus service remains in dire need of improvement, and the prospects of federal funding for light rail in Columbus grow ever dimmer. So Central Ohio Transit Authority President William Lhota is right to recommend that the system’s board focus on buses and drop the expensive light-rail planning effort.

 

By the same token, the numbers may turn out differently for the city’s proposed system of Downtown streetcar routes, so that idea deserves further study.

 

...

 

http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/12/20060612-A6-00.html

^^ I was going to go, but not for $15.

About the possible streetcar routes, What's the deal with the red and green ones both on high with one going up to Goodale and the other campus? I fail to see the need for that. For the West-East going from Mount Carmel West to Wshington, I just wouldn't see many people using that. I think starting at Broad and High going east to Franklin Park would be much better.

The $15 helps support 1-Thousand Friends of Central Ohio, which advocates for better and more transportation options, and you get breakfast out of it and usually a good speaker.  Wish you'd give it a try. It's a good forum and an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed streetcar system.  Also a good place to network with everyone from transit adovcates to engineers and architects.

 

If you can't make this one, the www.1kco.org website keeps posting future breakfasts.

If you can't make the Rail Breakfast in the morning.... here's a second chance at making public comment on the Columbus Downtown Streetcar Plan.  This is worth attending, because most of the members of the Mayor's working group who went to Portland, Oregon to see their trolly system will be reporting back what they saw.

 

The following was sent by 1-Thousand Friends of Central Ohio:

 

1000 Friends of Central Ohio's

Moving Smarter (aka Bacon, Eggs and Rail) Breakfast

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

"Please join us for a public meeting on the streetcar feasibility study. 

 

This is an opportunity to give your input on

 

the streetcar route, funding and impact on downtown revitalization.

 

 

 

Streetcar Public Meeting Open House

 

Wednesday, June 14

 

6 – 8 p.m.

 

SERS Building, 300 E. Broad Street

 

O'Keefe Conference Center, 1st floor

 

Free parking in attached garage

 

 

 

RSVP at 645-5003 or [email protected]

 

 

http://www.snponline.com/NEWS6-14/6-14_colstreetcars.htm

 

Streetcar lines could extend well outside Downtown

 

Lines should run to "visually rewarding" places to attract riders, an official said.

 

By JENNIFER WRAY

 

Although it's described as a Downtown system, early visions of a streetcar system in Columbus have it operating as far north as the Ohio State University area, south past German Village, into the Arena District and on the city's West Side.

 

Franklin Conaway, project supervisor for the Downtown Streetcar Working Group, presented a collection of routes fashioned from the members' suggestions during the group's June 6 meeting.

 

Members then rated each of the potential routes. The scorecards will be discussed at the group's next meeting, scheduled for later this month.

 

...

How do I know the name Jennifer Wray? Wasn't she just hired for some new position somewhere? Mind getting foggy here....

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I think she used to be a spokesperson for ODOT a while back.

This is good news.  I would have preferred, and believe Columbus needs, the full light rail plan, but this is a good start.  And yes, hopefully this plan can be the seed of an expanded light rail system a la Denver or Salt Lake City...

 

... one note of caution, though.  I'm slightly leery of the north High Street plan as that line goes directly through the thriving Short North area as well as, farther north, OSU's U District.  While this sounds counterintutive, consider that in a couple cities where light light rail have been introduced into crowded/lively urban streets, the retail, street and foot-traffic has been seriously harmed as street parking has become limited or eliminated-- people and businesses migrate elsewhere.  People/businesses start avoiding these streets as the perception of them has become passenger depots and/or rail yards.  This esp seems true when multiple-unit trains are run -- obviously this won't be an issue in Columbus' streetcar incarnation, but when/if it expands to light rail...?

 

The worst example of this is Baltimore's Howard Street.  I've read this has happened on Buffalo's Main Street, although I've admittedly not seen this first hand.

  • 3 weeks later...

Task force prefers High Street route for first streetcars

 

By JENNIFER WRAY

Suburban News Reporter

 

A route taking travelers on a north-south journey along High Street has scored highest among members of the Streetcar Working Group.

 

The High Street route would take riders from Buttles Avenue south as far as Whittier Street or Deshler Avenue.

 

This would allow passengers to ride from the Goodale Park area in the Short North to the German Village and Brewery District areas south of Downtown.

 

The preliminary ratings were based on task force members' perceptions of how well they met the group's goals and objectives, said Stephanie Tresso, a spokeswoman for the working group.

 

 

...

 

http://www.snponline.com/NEWS7-5/7-5_colstreetcars.htm

YES!  I'm glad thier complex scoring process came through with the no-brainer answer.  Sometimes I get worried that organizations with so many cooks in the kitchen will overthink things. 

 

Good first decision...now find out how much it'll cost and get that grant!  :)

Yeah, provided we can get Congress to restore full funding to the FTA's "Small Starts" program.  The U.S. House Appropriations Committee zeroed out the program's budget in the House budget bill.  Make sure you remember that in the November elections for Congress.  Damn short-sighted of them when we face $3.00 a gallon gasoline and are left (again) with fewer options to driving.

 

The only hope is if the Senate restore funding and suceeds in getting it through Conference Committee of both houses.  E-mails to Senator's DeWine and Voinovich would be in order now.

I have to disagree with the north-south route. I'll just sum up what I said on Columbus Retrometro ("Hot or Not?"); that strip is already developed and healthy. A route going between the Franklinton area near downtown on Broad to High & Buttles, in conjunction with high density, less expensive housing in the Franklinton area on Broad near downtown would be best for a starting route. There are lot's of people who would like to live downtown, but the prices are just too high. This is where we'll get our "critical mass" of people, not from downtown, but just outside of it with plenty of affordable high density, mixed use, mixed income, transit friendly developments (whew! try saying that 3x fast!).

 

Let's not forget that this system is designed to be expanded. So don't get disappointed that these othere routes didn't make the first cut.  No doubt they will all generate riders, but the High Street route has destination points at both ends and that is key in creating an initial success.  If this doesn't succeed right off the bat, any talk of other routes is a moot point. If it does get off to a good start, I feel safe in saying expansion of the route system will take relatively little time, including into the near-downtown neighborhoods.

I'm well aware that it will expand, but how many years in between each expansion are we going to have to wait? The north-south would at least go through one area that needs development; downtown.

COTA quashes plans to develop light-rail system

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Tim Doulin

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

The latest attempt to bring light rail to central Ohio was laid to rest yesterday.

 

Citing an inability to qualify for federal funding, the Central Ohio Transit Authority board of trustees approved a resolution that effectively discontinues the project.

 

"COTA and central Ohio have been looking at a light-rail option for years and years and years," said William Porter, board chairman.

 

...

 

 

[email protected]

 

http://dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/11/20060711-B1-02.html

 

It's official...I'll be voting NO to COTA's levy increase.  I'd rather wait until we see $4-5 gas and force COTA to put the light rail option back on the table for voters to pay for.

Don't let Paul Bonneville's pessimism get to you Columbusite.  Like Noozer said, you have to start out with the routes that will be the most successful first.  Otherwise, you run the risk of the system being dubbed a failure, or having the stigma of only being used by bums and scary, smelly people (COTA busses?).  If the system is dubbed a failure, the likelihood of getting that North/South route ever built are slim.

 

I also disagree with your comment on the areas on the North/South route being well developed.  This line could be a catalyst for City Center, RiverSouth, and quite a few surface lots within 2-3 blocks of High St. downtown.  We need to utilize the existing residents of GV, Short North, and downtown to sustain the line until the entire corridor gets well developed.

I don't see any reason to vote for COTA's levy increase either. The authority is incompetant and ineffective, and I simply won't support it; nor do I think the majority of voters will either. The sentiment has been echoed here before, but now is definitely the time to dissolve COTA and create a true regional, multi-modal transportation network for Central Ohio. I think a fresh face and a new look at transportation in our region would help stimulate a broader interest in public transit, especially in the face of high gas prices. It would be nice if the Downtown Streetcar Working Group could somehow either force the demise of COTA or merge with the authority and create a new transit group. Either way, something has to be done, or Columbus will severely lag behind the rest of the nation as more cities our size see the usefulness of rail transit and embrace its advantages.

Business First gives a little more insight into what COTA wishes to do with the bus service if their levy passes (I don't think increased hours warrants an extra $44 million a year):

 

COTA drops plan for light rail

Business First of Columbus - 12:18 PM EDT Tuesday

by Saleha N. Ghani Business First

 

After failing to receive federal funding for a light-rail transit system, the Central Ohio Transit Authority is going with a simpler alternative to improve public transportation in Columbus.

 

The Federal Transit Authority rejected the funding request for light rail because COTA's plans did not fit with its cost effectiveness index, which measures the benefits of the system against cost.

 

...

 

http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2006/07/10/daily12.html

Board member William A. Anthony Jr. said dumping light rail will help COTA’s chances to get a levy approved in the fall.

 

Is there survey data to support this view?

 

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

I guess Cincinnatians aren't alone in their apparent hatred for rail and mass transit...I just don't get it?!?!?!?!

How did Charlotte fund it's kight rail. Why couldn't Columbus get federal funding but Charlotte can??????

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