It will certainly be interesting to see his reaction. Either the NAACP renounces their support of the charter amendment, or there will be a very awkward Thanksgiving dinner at the Smitherman estate this year.

 

Parsons Brinkerhoff is a huge engineering firm with tons of experience in major transportation projects. My own firm has worked with them on multiple occasions for various NYC subway projects.

 

I met one of the partners of DNK Architects last fall at a DAAP open house. They seem like a competent firm with a strong commitment to the community.

 

Sounds like they have a solid team on board (even if the city decided to throw a bone to the Smitherman concrete interest). Here's hoping this thing continues to move forward.

Unless the whole point of Smitherman's opposition was to help his family's business get a piece of the contract, in exchange for the quiet death of that goofy charter resolution.  I know, I know, let the conspiracy theories begin.

I thought the same might be true...But him taking NAACP support away from the Anti-Progress amendment would totally make it obvious that he blatantly misused his power to make money for his family. I don't know how (if the conspiracy is true) he would back out of what he's gotten himself into.

Another interesting note, DNK is also a minority owned business. I'm sure the exact numbers will come out soon, but I think their team leader said the group had 10 minority and small business member companies on it. TAKE THAT NAACP!!  :wave:

Sounds like they have a solid team on board (even if the city decided to throw a bone to the Smitherman concrete interest). Here's hoping this thing continues to move forward.

 

As long as they're competent (I know nothing of the company, nor the concrete industry), I've got no problem with it either.

Smitherman has an out - he can say he was duped by COAST and doesn't intend on opposing all rail transit but just the streetcar

 

This sounds like a "kill em with kindness" gesture by mallory

Interesting turn of events.  Does anyone have any more information about what was said today?  There's nothing on the city's website, and no coverage from any of the big media in town (if they even bothered to show up).

 

Strike that -- One article from Business Courier:

 

Cincinnati names streetcar project manager

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/06/08/daily50.html

 

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney said Wednesday that Cincinnati Streetcar Development Partners, a consortium of 12 companies, will serve as project manager to bring the city's controversial streetcar concept to fruition.

 

The consortium includes: Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc., Burgess & Niple Ltd., DNK Architects, G.J. Berding Inc., Wordsworth Communications, PNC Capital Markets, Property Advisors, Stacy & Witbeck Inc., RailWorks Corp., Megen Construction Co. and Josten Concrete Construction and its subsidiary, Brewster Pumping.

Smitherman has an out - he can say he was duped by COAST and doesn't intend on opposing all rail transit but just the streetcar

 

This sounds like a "kill em with kindness" gesture by mallory

 

That might work... It would still be transparently self-serving on Smitherman's part, but at least it has an element of plausible deniability. Potentially brilliant move by Mallory if it works.

 

Hopefully we'll see some sort of official press release within the next day or so.

When they were introducing the various representatives of the construction groups and design firms I heard them say Smitherman and I honestly thought I was either hearing things or that what I heard was just a coincidence.  Sounds like its not!  I don't really care what the NAACPs intentions are.  I just hope this stupid petition dies and the streetcars are built.

Oh and there were all three local news channels there for the event and a host of other photographers. 

There were actually a ton of cameras there, so keep an eye on the TV news for a bit of coverage.

What happend to Veolia?

 

If they are to operate and maintain the streetcar system as reported earlier this year I would have thought they would have been announced as part of the team.

Today was a good day. We have momentum.

Today was a good day. We have momentum.

 

indeed....as long as we ignore the Enq's comments board

Sneak peak of tomorrow morning's UrbanCincy article...

 

Cincinnati selects streetcar development team

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/06/cincinnati-selects-streetcar.html

 

Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney announced that the City has selected the Cincinnati Streetcar Development Partners as the team that will help finance, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain Cincinnati's modern streetcar system.

 

The announcement was made at the new Rookwood Pottery headquarters in historic Over-the-Rhine. The location is at what will be the northern end of the Downtown/OTR circulator which will then head Uptown from there. Rookwood Pottery is an "enthusiastic" supporter of the Cincinnati Streetcar project and was more than happy to welcome the couple hundred people that showed up to hear the news.

 

The crowd was not only robust, but diverse as well. Representatives from the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, various City of Cincinnati departments, Model Group, Cincinnati Beer Company, Metro, Cincy Energy Alliance, Mercantile Library, Hodges Law Group, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and a slew of local business owners and investors.

 

The excitement was notable as Mayor Mallory and City Manager Dohoney arrived. The crowd was buzzing in anticipation of what was to be announced. This excitement continued as a large group of attendees walked over to Market Wines at Findlay Market to continue the conversation.

 

Development Team:

Cincinnati Streetcar Development Partners is made up of 12 companies that each specialize in a different aspect that will help lead to the successful implementation of the streetcar system. The team is made up of local and non-local companies that have been involved with roughly 80% of all recent streetcar and light rail projects in the United States, including projects in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle and Cleveland.

 

Members of the team have also been involved with local projects like Great American Ballpark, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the restructuring of Fort Washington Way that came in on time and under budget.

 

One of the companies is Stacy and Witbeck Inc. (SWI) who is considered to be the "premier streetcar and passenger transit rail construction company in the United States." There involvement in the Cincinnati Streetcar project will be their first in the Midwest. As a result, SWI will be opening a new office downtown and will be relocating their executives to Cincinnati specifically for this project.

 

The team will also consist of local companies like Josten Concrete Construction, DNK Architects, Megan Construction Company, Property Advisors, Wordsworth Communications and G.J. Berding Inc. The Cincinnati Streetcar Development Partners will be led by Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. (PB) who will also serve as the project manager. PB has led several local transit projects in the past and has a sterling record.

 

Funding:

The City currently has $78 million in requests to the federal government, who City Manager Dohoney says will be absolutely necessary in the implementation of the Cincinnati Streetcar system.

 

Explore Cincinnati reported in April that millions of private dollars have been raised thus far. According to the City's Budget Director, Explore Cincinnati also found out that several organizations have been raising private funds that have not yet been deposited into the City's account for the project.

 

This revised funding strategy is a response to the national economic downturn say City officials. The City has also established a new and more comprehensive website for the Cincinnati Streetcar that also includes an online location where streetcar supporters can make private contributions to the project.

 

What's Next:

The selection of the team that will design, build and operate the Cincinnati Streetcar system is a major step forward for the project.

 

"The leaders of this city are taking this city's future seriously," says program manager Fred Craig who continues, "we are seeing a new generation working to make Cincinnati a better place."

 

Craig went on to say that he and the development team welcome community input and emphasized that this is a project that should be driven by the community. Craig went as far as to say that if you have any suggestions regarding the project that you should call him personally and let him know (513-639-2100 - still trying to track down direct phone line).

 

Cincinnati Streetcar Development Partners

 

City Manager Dohoney

 

City Manager Dohoney starts to sing to us with Mayor Mallory looking on

 

Mayor Mallory gets ready to address the crowd

 

Mayor Mallory

 

Some of the media on hand

 

Some crowd shots

 

 

 

 

Nice job, Rando.

 

One of the companies is Stacy and Witbeck Inc. (SWI) who is considered to be the "premier streetcar and passenger transit rail construction company in the United States." There involvement in the Cincinnati Streetcar project will be their first in the Midwest. As a result, SWI will be opening a new office downtown and will be relocating their executives to Cincinnati specifically for this project.

 

This is what economic stimulus looks like. Suck on it, COAST!

As a result, SWI will be opening a new office downtown and will be relocating their executives to Cincinnati specifically for this project.

 

So, that's a temporary office?  Or a permanent one?  With more and more cities planning streetcar projects, this could be a huge development if it is permanent.

My assumption would be that it's solely to oversee this build and then move on to the next city.

As a result, SWI will be opening a new office downtown and will be relocating their executives to Cincinnati specifically for this project.

 

So, that's a temporary office?  Or a permanent one?  With more and more cities planning streetcar projects, this could be a huge development if it is permanent.

 

Could be wrong, but I understood it to be that it was going to be the Midwest HQ, that they anticipate doing more Midwest cities after Cincy, and run them out of this office (obviously with satellite offices in the project cities).  I also heard that the president of SWI (name?) was moving here as well.  Again, this was just my understanding.

That's potentially big news if this is to be a permanent move. In addition to other Midwestern cities, hopefully SWI will also have future projects in Cincinnati as the streetcar is expanded to other neighborhoods.

It's worth noting that Parsons Brinkerhoff's first-ever project was the design of the original IRT subway line in New York City in the late 1800's. Now they're a worldwide civil engineering conglomerate. You might say they have a pretty good track record on these types of projects.

Anyone claiming that the Cincinnati Streetcar will fail and pointing to Memphis as an example needs to read this carefully and learn the difference between the two systems.

 

 

Will Memphis Rise to the Transit Challenge?

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/06/11/will-memphis-rise-to-the-transit-challenge/

 

A few months ago, I went to Memphis for a wedding. I asked the people at my downtown hotel how I should get to the venue, which was also downtown, on South Main Street. They told me it would be about a ten-minute drive. Which let me know it couldn't be that far away.

 

I decided to look at a map, and discovered that it would actually about a fifteen-minute walk, so we set out happily on foot. Imagine my surprise when I saw vintage trolley cars running along the precise route that I was walking (and would have driven if I'd listened to the hotel's advice). Trolley cars that cost just a buck to ride. [glow=yellow,2,300]Why hadn't the people at the hotel mentioned that I could get there on public transit?

 

Maybe because these trolleys, at least on first inspection, are presented as a quaint tourist ride rather than as functional public transportation.[/glow] It's too bad, because -- as I discovered when riding home after the party -- they are indeed a cheap and efficient way to get from point A to point B on their admittedly limited route.

 

[Article continued at original URL.]

A response from Smitherman...Christopher that is....hopefully you haven't had lunch yet.

 

Yesterday, Wednesday, June 10, 2009, near the end of the Cincinnati City Council meeting eight

 

Council members voted to cut retiree benefits.  This item was not on the agenda, but was introduced as a by-leave.  Council member Jeff Berding, Chair of the Rules Committee, banned by-leaves two years ago.  It is quite obvious that this was a strategy to cut retiree benefits without notice and without retirees being present.  The eight Council members that approved cutting benefits did so prior to the City meeting its own legal financial contribution to the Retirement System.  Council members that voted for cutting benefits were Berding, Bortz, Cole, Crowley, Harris, Monzel, Qualls and Ghiz.  After they made the decision to cut retiree benefits, they went across town to hold a press conference related to the streetcar.  Mayor Mark Mallory announced at the press conference that he's moving forward with his number one priority for the City: the streetcar project. 

 

The Cincinnati NAACP and its partners are confident that voters will get to decide the destiny of the streetcar in November 2009.  On Friday, June 12, the Cincinnati NAACP will release an updated signature count for the streetcar petition.  The number of signatures needed to place the issue on the ballot is 6,150.  President Smitherman says, "To build five miles of track and spend $200 million while breaking promises to City retirees and citizens all on the same day is reckless and self-serving."   The Cincinnati NAACP has been briefed that Jostin Concrete has joined the Mayor's streetcar team.  The owner of Jostin Concrete is the brother of Cincinnati NAACP President, Christopher Smitherman.  Citizens will have the opportunity to witness the integrity and commitment of President Smitherman, the Cincinnati NAACP leadership and membership.  Jostin Concrete may have a great opportunity, however, building a "choo-choo" train is the wrong public policy direction for the masses of Cincinnatians.  Smitherman says, "I deeply respect the independence of my brother's company.  I am confident that the issue will be rejected in November." 

 

The Cincinnati NAACP will continue to collect signatures for its streetcar petition and its water system petition with the same level of resolve.  The local NAACP Branch has been successful in getting three issues on the ballot through the petition process.  Two of the three were passed overwhelming by voters.  The third issue lost by a very narrow margin. 

 

http://naacpcincinnati.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=229&Itemid=1

This is the same crackpot who thinks the water district proposal is an effort by the city to put syphilis into the water supply, and he's repeatedly proven himself to be a willing tool of right-wing extremists. Why anybody still takes him seriously is beyond my comprehension.

Probably because not supporting smitherman is akin to not supporting the NAACP in the views of most NAACP'ers

I am surprised that at 1:49pm, the day after a press conference from the City Mayor, the CITY NEWSPAPER does not have a single article up.... unless I'm missing it somewhere

It was up yesterday.

9 and 12 had it last night.  This don't need to become an issue right now.  Sure this is big news, but until it's out of planning and on the ground, it might be best to stay on the down low.

9 and 12 had it last night.   This don't need to become an issue right now.  Sure this is big news, but until it's out of planning and on the ground, it might be best to stay on the down low.

 

I agree... I was just surprised to not have seen anything...

I just looked for the video but either missed it or they took it off.  I wish I could have been there and seen it all, but it sounds like Dahoney and Mallory got their heads where they need to be right now with this issue and the federal govt. 

 

It won't be long.... 

I am surprised that at 1:49pm, the day after a press conference from the City Mayor, the CITY NEWSPAPER does not have a single article up.... unless I'm missing it somewhere

 

re the print edition, they kind of buried it on page 3 of Local.  The comments on the web page last night were the usual, knuckle-dragging, clay eating dump truck full of stupid.

Yeah... I wasn't able to make it, so I've been looking for anything on it.. video, print, anything. The articles posted here are good, though

I am surprised that at 1:49pm, the day after a press conference from the City Mayor, the CITY NEWSPAPER does not have a single article up.... unless I'm missing it somewhere

 

Jim Wellman, one of All Aboard Ohio's board members, was interviewed by the Enquirer. So a reporter did do interviews for an article, but the Enquirer's editors apparently aren't very time-efficient at censoring their reporters articles before getting them published. Anyway, Mr. Wellman was at the announcement (man in purple shirt on the right side of this crowd shot).

 

The Enquirer is Exhibit A of why newspapers are a rapidly-dying breed, but that's a topic for another thread.

I think the top story today was the shooting in Washington, DC.  Local dailies need to stop wasting space with national wire stories.  Everybody already gets that news online or on TV.   

It looks as though the House of Representatives "Federal Streetcar Revitalization Act of 2009" entered committee almost six weeks ago and has yet to make it to the floor.  Considering when these types of things get out of committee they then get voted by the House, then shuttled to the Senate, changed by the Senate, put into committee to resolve differences... it seems like the process of getting Federal dollars from this Act may be a long way off.  Where else could the dollars come from (stimulus funds?)?  Any thoughts?

 

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2164/show

There are still a few funding programs under the ARRA (stimulus) which could fund the project at least partially but its very competitive.  The new transportation authorization bill is at least a year away if not longer.

 

I doubt that SWI will establish an office locally  until construction funding in place.  I'm not clear on who will operate and maintain the streetcar system. 

 

The project still has a way to go before its becomes a reality but let hope progress will be made over the next couple of years so the project is positioned to receive funding when it may be available. 

 

 

Please vote! The current tally is 36% for, 64% against.

 

More money for public transit?

http://www.parade.com/news/intelligence-report/archive/more-money-for-public-transit.html

300 grand to park

A resident of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood pays $300,000 for a parking spot. WCVB's Cheryl Fiandaca has the story.

 

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/06/13/fiandaca.300k.parking.space.wcvb

Nate Livingston is reporting that Justin Jeffre claims that Smitherman met with Mallory at some point months ago regarding the streetcar, to lobby against the project and/or arrange kickbacks for his brother's company:

 

http://www.blackcincinnati.blogspot.com

 

That an uneducated former boy band singer is in any way involved with the effort to derail this project illustrates just how thin the opposition's ranks are. 

Nate Livingston is reporting that Justin Jeffre claims that Smitherman met with Mallory at some point months ago regarding the streetcar, to lobby against the project and/or arrange kickbacks for his brother's company:

 

http://www.blackcincinnati.blogspot.com

 

That an uneducated former boy band singer is in any way involved with the effort to derail this project illustrates just how thin the opposition's ranks are.  

 

So, is Nate for the Streetcar?

 

*If the post above jmeck's is too off topic then feel free to remove it. I think its relevant.

I don't know if Nate is pro streetcar or anti-streetcar.

 

The parking spot issue is relevant.  I know a married couple who lived in Loveland who ditched their cars and moved to Back Bay when they moved to Boston. Professionals don't have to defend their choice to live in the city in Boston.

http://eviljwinter.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/no-mtm-today-but-a-modest-proposal-for-the-city-of-cincinnati/

"Professionals don't have to defend their choice to live in the city in Boston. "

 

EXACTLY...Why do I always feel like I have to defend myself for choosing to live where I do....its almost like people think you are doing something wrong

Ask them how much they spend on being forced to drive everywhere. Then again, I doubt they even know the answer.

>its almost like people think you are doing something wrong

 

They absolutely certain that you're doing something wrong, even know they don't know what they're talking about. The biggest city-haters are the ones who know the least about it.

 

There are a lot of people around town who lived "down by UC" when they went to UC, and will claim that there was nonstop violence.  If they say this, it means they were involved in drugs, and so very well were witness to periodic shouting matches, violence, and had things stolen from their apartment.     

^ This thread always resorts to a city vs suburbs and/or a mass transit vs car debate, and if that ever happens at a larger scale mass transit in Cincinnati is doomed.

 

By the way, I live "down by UC" and have never done drugs of any type in my life.  I have still been witness to a few robberies, they could have been drug related, but two friends of mine who are clean cut were also mugged for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  In my 18 years in Loveland before i moved here, I never once knew someone who was mugged because they were walking down the street to late at night.  The city has plenty of high points, and once I graduate I'm likely moving to OTR, but trying to say it's safe (when you're comparing it to suburbs) is not an argument you're ever going to be able to win. 

I was jumped inside a pizza shop in Morgantown WV with security in there. It can happen anywhere.

>In my 18 years in Loveland before i moved here, I never once knew someone who was mugged because they were walking down the street to late at night. 

 

Is there actually somewhere worth walking to in Loveland?  And isn't there a teen curfew?

 

 

In the suburbs all you buy yourself is that someone isn't going to rob you but rather rob your property while you're unaware or not around.  In an urban environment you're the target because you have what they want, and not your unlocked car in the driveway, items of value laying around the yard/shed/garage and so on.

 

For the sake of trauma the suburban method is preferable, but someone still stole your stereo or whatever.

In my 18 years in Loveland before i moved here, I never once knew someone who was mugged because they were walking down the street to late at night. The city has plenty of high points, and once I graduate I'm likely moving to OTR, but trying to say it's safe (when you're comparing it to suburbs) is not an argument you're ever going to be able to win.

 

Unfortunately, the statistics don't lie. Muggings, robberies and the like are much higher per capita in OTR than in say, Mason even though we have a fraction of the population. While they are vastly down from five years ago, it is still a paramount issue that isn't being resolved by having a major jail closed with the prisoners being released back onto the streets.

 

Crime occurs everywhere, but yes, it happens with greater frequency in OTR -- and that's a fact, not a myth unfortunately.