Cincinnati Water Taxis?

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/02/cincinnati-water-taxis.html

 

Cincinnati is a river town. We developed as a major city because of the Ohio River. Multiple satellite cities developed as a result of the several Ohio River tributaries (Little Miami, Great Miami, Licking). These cities have become an integral part of our region and have greatly influenced the population distribution we see today.

 

Steamboats once darted all over the mighty Ohio River taking people to/from nearby cities and within our own to special destinations like Coney Island. Aside from the historic Anderson Ferry operation there is nothing left to speak of in terms of human transportation along our rivers.

 

Why not once again tap one of the biggest natural resources our community has as a means for transporting people?

 

Cincinnati could set up a Central Riverfront water taxi loop that would make stops at Cincinnati’s Central Riverfront Park, Newport on the Levee, and Covington Landing. This 1.65 mile loop could operate daily with one 12 passenger boat running the loop (15min). On the weekends, and for sporting events, a second 12 passenger boat could be deployed to handle greater demand for a route geared towards tourists and special event patrons. The water taxi loop’s reach would be extended with Cincinnati’s proposed streetcar system – making a car-free trip both easy and possible from downtown Covington and Newport all the way to the University of Cincinnati.

 

Linear routes could then be set up to run to the Central Riverfront Park terminal from the current Anderson Ferry terminal (6.88miles, 28min) to the west and new stops in Columbia Tusculum (4.66miles, 21min) and Coney Island to the east. The Anderson Ferry and Columbia Tusculum docking points would operate daily for commuter traffic, with the additional eastern leg to Coney Island operating on weekends and during special events at Riverbend and Riverdowns - similar to the function of the old "Island Queen" that operated between Coney Island and Downtown Cincinnati.

 

The water taxis used for the linear routes would hold 27 passengers seated and up to 6 additional standing passengers. Peak operating hours would be during daily commute periods for the Anderson Ferry and Columbia Tusculum terminals with 1 boat operating on each respective leg making for new departures every 40min to 1hr.

 

Too often we seem to forget how our city and region once functioned when it operated out of a manner of necessity. Riverdowns is feeling the pinch and Coney Island isn't what it once was prior to the opening of Kings Island. Riverbend has opened a new pavilion and continues to draw big names, but additional service to the concert venue probably wouldn't hurt.

Here's the link to the map embedded in the post on UrbanCincy. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on something like this.

 

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&source=embed&msa=0&msid=108249158406108038803.00046102fa0c115b0ff0a&ll=39.082106,-84.528809&spn=0.097806,0.240326&z=13

This is one of the best ideas posted one this board.  A water taxi loop between Cincy and the two NKY places would be a lot more appealing than "South Bank Shuttle".  Im thinking this would be a good tourist/recreational draw connecting up the Cincy riverfront with NotL

 

Only issue is the Covington waterfront is pretty bleak.  A landing closer to the Robeling Bridge and the "Point" neighborhood might be nicer than that deserted area around the floodwall where all that new stuff is at (Ashland Oil HQ?)

 

On the Cincy side a good secondary landing during events would be Sawyer Point/Yeatmans Cove as I recall this area was pretty busy during Tall Stacks. 

hey i'm a huge water taxi fan. they were awesome in the heyday of the flats in cleveland and they offer one helluva fun ride and killer views in nyc. it's a good idea for cinci for sure. maybe even worth supporting via a try at a bi-state tax levy?

I spoke with a Cincinnati Park Board official about their plans for the new Central Riverfront Park and whether or not water taxis were a part of those plans...here is his response:

 

We have always planned on having river taxis as part of the mix - ever since we started planning the park in 1997-98. The park design allows for this but it would be up to private operators to make it work. We were planning on a river taxi stand at the foot of Main Street to serve the Great American Ballpark and points east, and another one at the foot of Race Street serving Paul Brown Stadium and points west.

 

He plans on keeping me in the loop for any future developments on this front.  I'll be sure to keep everyone here posted.

Umm, I guess it could be fun, but wouldn't it be faster to walk across one of the bridges? The L&N, Roebling, and Clay Wade Bailey bridges each have sidewalks.

 

  On another note, has anyone else noticed the amphibious vehicle making tours from the public landing? What an odd watercraft.

it's called a duck, they have them in several other cities as well, i think they're ex-military craft

This is one of the best ideas posted one this board. A water taxi loop between Cincy and the two NKY places would be a lot more appealing than "South Bank Shuttle".   Im thinking this would be a good tourist/recreational draw connecting up the Cincy riverfront with NotL

 

The SouthBank Shuttle is actually pretty great if you live in Newport, Covington, or Bellevue.  It's a great connector to downtown Cincinnati and does a decent job of connecting the NKY river cities.  That said, I'd rather have a KY section of the streetcar system.

That said, I'd rather have a KY section of the streetcar system.

 

Wouldn't we all.

On another note, has anyone else noticed the amphibious vehicle making tours from the public landing? What an odd watercraft.

http://newportducks.com/tour-boarding-locations/

Cincinnati can't even save a steam boat.

Yep, that's a relevant comment

it's called a duck, they have them in several other cities as well, i think they're ex-military craft

 

Those ducks are ancient military surplus, and I doubt if very many owners know how to maintain them, or have a mechanic on staff who does. I've read a couple of accounts of them sinking suddenly, with significant loss of life in one case.

Cincinnati can't even save a steam boat.

 

It's not really up to Cincinnati to save the Delta Queen.  The temporary docking of it in Chattanooga is the result of a local businessman there who wanted to pony up the money and his expertise.  You can't blame the City of Cincinnati for not having the business community willing to step up and do the same.

A sitting boat doesn't do much for me. Keep them working and moving - water taxis seem like something that would infrequently valuable.