I always thought it was a shame that transporation to Mt Adams from CBD was limited b/c of the highways and topography.  I realize a streetcar is practically impossible to consider but did anyone ever consider an Air tram i.e. a ski lift type mechanism.  There is one from Manhattan to Roosevelt island and it is always busy and works well.  I think it would work as far as connecting the visitors a bit more to Mt Adams, especially for out of towners and it seems like it could be a cool attraction for the city.  Was this ever explored or are there any viable reasons not to do it? 

I found reference in Clubbe's book "Cincinnati Observed" that $4 million was allocated to an ariel tram by the State of Ohio at some point.  Cannot find any other reference to that or what happened to the money.  I've looked . . but not super hard I guess.

Portland just built one.  John might know more.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram

 

http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=41095

The ride to Mt Adams would iterally be a minute long. Its such a shame it feels so disconnected b/c from a proximity standpoint, it is very close.

I distinctly remember a Jim Borgman cartoon making fun of this idea when it was floated once.  The cartoon showed downtown full of amusement rides going from building to building and a person saying " It all started with this one tram to Mt. Adams".  Seems like it was 15 or more years ago. 

 

I guess it might be possible to get into Mt. Adams via Gilbert and Eden Park, but it would be a roundabout way to go a few hundred yards.

I think the Bortzes at one pushed for a tram to Mt. Adams. It may one of the other developers active up there. Another cool option would be escalators. Italy has them for a number of its hill towns, basically it is big public escalators that allow you to go up pretty easy. Maybe one at the steps by the new Channel 9 studios would work.

I think the Bortzes at one pushed for a tram to Mt. Adams. It may one of the other developers active up there. Another cool option would be escalators. Italy has them for a number of its hill towns, basically it is big public escalators that allow you to go up pretty easy. Maybe one at the steps by the new Channel 9 studios would work.

 

Escalators would be very cool; of course it would have to go over the highways too.  The current walkways are too out of the way to truly conect these two key Cincinnati neghbhorhoods. I certainly realize  the banks and streetcar are of more priorty but as leaders aim to re-shape the city, direct connectivity of Mt Adams to CBD should be a key consideration.  the technolgy exists now that it can be done w/o some buly structure.  Archetechturally, it can be a very lean and modern structure, which IMo would enhance downtown quite a bit.   

tram would be the way to go, I would just guess the cost would be around $60 million

On one hand, it would be an awesome addition to the City.  that bing said, given the scope/costs of the other major projects, I don't see this on the horizon any time soon.

It wouldn't be worth it. It's a neighborhood of what, 2000-3000 people? That money is better spent on an expansion to the street car system, connecting uptown to downtown. If we were all swimming in pools of money, it would be a very cool idea though. Frankly there's probably a lot of people in Mt.Adams that like the fact it's cut off from downtown.

^ That's probably true.  Better walkways between Mt Adams and downtown would be nice though.  I'm a walker, mainly, and wouldn't mind the distance or incline, provided that there was a safe, direct, easy to locate path between the two.  Perhaps something like this already exists that I am unaware of.

Court St steps to Oregon St steps. Or out along Columbia Pkwy.

 

    From downtown, walk on the sidewalk on the north side of Sixth street. It looks like you are going to Columbia Parkway, but there's a sidewalk connection to Monastery Street in Mount Adams. It's the most direct walking route that I know of, and few use it. Of course, you have a very steep hill to climb once you cross I-71.

 

 

Portland just built one.  John might know more.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Aerial_Tram

 

http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=41095

 

 

Portland's Aerial Tram is the E-ticket. We always take people on it when we lead groups out there. It was expensive - a little under $60 million.

 

All during constructon, as costs escalated, elected officials lined up to take shots at it. Funny thing when it opened though -- people lined up two blocks long on the opening day to ride it, and every time I've been on it, it's been well-used. Hardly anyone says anything about it today. It's weird to see surgeons in their scrubs riding it down from the mountain to other medical office facilities on the banks fo the Willamette River.

 

But one thing to remember: its destination is the largest employer in the state of Oregon, the Health Sciences University atop a hill adjacent to downtown. The take-off point is Portland's "Banks" project, except that it's much larger. I don't think the Downtown to Mt. Adams route has that much juice.

 

An aerial tram from The Banks to Covington would be a better bet.

Court St steps to Oregon St steps. Or out along Columbia Pkwy.

 

I've done those before; it's a fun walk! It was hard as hell to find it though lol

After two flights of steps, I'm always tempted to stick out my thumb and hitch a ride up Monastery St. for the third leg. I don't, because the spectacular view from the bridge between the peaks revivifies me. Still, walking up Mt. Adams in July means a beer at Mt. Adams Bar & Grill or a gimlet at the Blind Lemon is an urgent necessity.

I had a REALLY bad experience after going to Longworth's a few nights ago. I won't be back in Mt. Adams for a while.

From downtown, walk on the sidewalk on the north side of Sixth street. It looks like you are going to Columbia Parkway, but there's a sidewalk connection to Monastery Street in Mount Adams. It's the most direct walking route that I know of, and few use it. Of course, you have a very steep hill to climb once you cross I-71.

 

Sixth Street?  Wow, I had no idea on that!  Just zoomed in on Google, and wow, how about that!  That looks EXCESSIVELY cool!  Thanks so much for the head's up!

 

^Thats usually the route I go when walking from Mt. Adams to downtown and vice versa. It's definitely not too hard, and when you get up by the rookwood pottery building there's another set of stairs that takes you to that parking structure by the Monestary.  If you cut through the parking, you're basically right at Teak.  Not a bad walk at all.

I had a REALLY bad experience after going to Longworth's a few nights ago. I won't be back in Mt. Adams for a while.

 

What happened?

 

    From downtown, walk on the sidewalk on the north side of Sixth street. It looks like you are going to Columbia Parkway, but there's a sidewalk connection to Monastery Street in Mount Adams. It's the most direct walking route that I know of, and few use it. Of course, you have a very steep hill to climb once you cross I-71.

 

 

 

That is pretty direct.  It may be a good idea to make the the sixt street overpass over I71 more pedestrian friendly.  Right now it still seems like a pseudo highway.  Maybe putting some red lights, speed bumps and maybe landscape it up w/ some greenery would make it feel more like a pedestrian walkway.  Labeling it better may work as well. 

I had a REALLY bad experience after going to Longworth's a few nights ago. I won't be back in Mt. Adams for a while.

 

What happened?

 

Nothing to do with the neighborhood,just the friends I went with. The neighborhood and bar scene itself are nice.

Just a reminder...please remember to put the city name in the thread title.

i went and walked around the east side of the basin yesterday, where some sort of transportation incline would go.  The area could totally support it, theres so many surface lots, etc there.  It would really spark investment in that area.  Plus, I saw a direct line that was only obstructed by one home.  So I say eminent domain that place and build it.  :lol:  It will take you up to porkopolis.  It would be nice. 

i went and walked around the east side of the basin yesterday, where some sort of transportation incline would go.  The area could totally support it, theres so many surface lots, etc there.  It would really spark investment in that area.  Plus, I saw a direct line that was only obstructed by one home.  So I say eminent domain that place and build it.  :lol:  It will take you up to porkopolis.  It would be nice. 

 

That's a good idea.  The surface space on low ground could be developed high-density, joining with Broadway Commons.  That would be really cool to see.

Rebuild the Incline! Nothing is built in it's old space...

Aerial Tram from the celestial's parking lot to 5th and eggleston.

Rebuild the Incline! Nothing is built in it's old space...

 

Actually, there are several building on the hillside in its original path.  Some added in the last few years.

^Also, isn't 71/471 in the way?