In terms of national events, Hopefully Cincinnati lands an all star game soon. Next NL one is 2013 but I believe that's going to NYC. 2015? Banks really hopping, streetcar in action and the MLB All Stars Game at GABP?

In terms of national events, Hopefully Cincinnati lands an all star game soon. Next NL one is 2013 but I believe that's going to NYC. 2015? Banks really hopping, streetcar in action and the MLB All Stars Game at GABP?

 

GABP is now the 2nd oldest stadium to never have held an All Star Game. Tropicana Field is the only stadium older than GABP to never have hosted an All star game.

 

Speaking of The streetcar & Baseball.  At Bockfest last night I was told by a friend with close knowledge of the project that the streetcar stop would indeed by on the South side of 2nd street and not the north side as had been rumored.  So the stop would be right in front of Toby Keith's.

 

 

GABP is now the 2nd oldest stadium to never have held an All Star Game. Tropicana Field is the only stadium older than GABP to never have hosted an All star game.

 

That's not very good company.

Also-  construction on the water main between 12th and Memorial Hall seems to be complete-  Was patched solid with asphalt Friday. I'm guessing they'll be moving on to Memorial Hall to Music Hall next?

Besides the World Choir Games this summer, are there any other big events Cincinnati is looking to host in the coming years to show off its new streetcar?

The ever expanding comic book convention

Well we get at least 3 night national  football games every year now.

 

Wait, what?  I don't think that's the set up.  Everyone is guaranteed to be on a night game at least once each year with the addition of the Thursday night games, but I don't think there's any guarantee about 3. 

^ Well until we start to lose again.

I just started re-reading John Hauck's book Narrow Gauge in Ohio:  The Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railway and came across this 1875 quote from Lebanon's The Western Star newspaper regarding support for the CL&N's predecessor, the Miami Valley Narrow Gauge Railway.

 

The patriotic impulses of the citizen, attaching as well to local as to the general welfare, should impel him to have his first care for the best interests of his own community.  Lebanon has been a laughing stock and a by-word on account of her conservatism and slowness long enough.  Let us arouse from our lethargy and take a step; not "down and out," but upward and forward in the march of improvement, and with the pace of the times.  In order to do this it becomes necessary that each citizen should do his part; not reluctantly, nor tardily, but with energy and promptness.  Every impediment helps to retard motion, and it takes but few drags and little friction to overcome impellent power and stop or prevent action.  Who will say that the proposed "Narrow Gauge Railroad" will not be a public blessing and convenience?  And who is willing to be the drag, the impediment that will, perhaps inertly, but none the less certainly, retard or help to prevent the success of this enterprise?  Are we lacking in patriotism?  God forbid.

 

Just substitute Lebanon with Cincinnati, and Narrow Gauge Railroad with streetcar, and you have basically a verbatim account of today's situation.  Fortunately Lebanon persevered, and continues to support the successor to the C&LN in whatever capacity it can.  I do believe Cincinnati will persevere as well, I only wish today's media was as supportive and eloquent as those of a small town 137 years ago. 

But the Narrow Gauge Railroad was patriotic and the streetcar is communist. ;-)

Just substitute Lebanon with Cincinnati, and Narrow Gauge Railroad with streetcar, and you have basically a verbatim account of today's situation.  Fortunately Lebanon persevered, and continues to support the successor to the C&LN in whatever capacity it can.  I do believe Cincinnati will persevere as well, I only wish today's media was as supportive and eloquent as those of a small town 137 years ago.

People argued that a bridge over the Ohio was a nothing but a boondoggle 175 years ago. Same people today think a 9 zillion dollar replacement is absolutely necessary.

 

It's not zillion dollars, it's ka-gillion. 

Maybe Duke should update all the gas lines in downtown.

 

http://www.fox19.com/story/17089352/underground-explosion-in-downtown-cincinnati

Turns out it was electric & not gas, but still- shows that Duke's infrastructure in the City is very old. Scary.

The Great Eight Debate

City, Duke Energy spar over streetcar construction technicality

By Kevin Osborne · March 6th, 2012

 

If you listen to many native Cincinnatians, they will tell you their hometown is different from other cities. Special. Unique even. What works everywhere else doesn’t always work in the Queen City, and vice-versa.

 

Whether the provincial attitude is due to a sense of pride or a neurotic inferiority complex, its accuracy ultimately is a matter of personal opinion. But the assertion is holding true so far when it comes to constructing a streetcar system.

 

Despite three other U.S. cities having already built similar projects with little or no trouble involving their local utility providers — and several other cities in various stages of planning, also with no significant utility-related problems — a dispute involving a difference of five feet threatens to delay Cincinnati’s long-planned streetcar system.

 

That’s right: The latest hurdle to the $110 million-plus project involves a spat over just 60 inches.

 

Cont

Fantastic article, full of information.

 

 

Water Main now complete from 12th to 14th.  Parking in front of City Gospel Mission and neighboring buildings has no parking signs in front of them now with lines drawn on the ground for continued water main replacement.

amazing - in depth articles from such disparate sources as the Business Courier & the entertainment paper, City Beat, but the Fishwarp and ALL the broadcast sources are silent.

Restored Streetcars Now Desirable: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-restored-streetcars-now-desirable.html

amazing - in depth articles from such disparate sources as the Business Courier & the entertainment paper, City Beat, but the Fishwarp and ALL the broadcast sources are silent.

 

Too complicated for electronic media.

Lets Talk Streetcar....

 

.....in another post I mentioned my recent visit to Bockfest with my folks and that we spend a lot of time walking up and down OTR (Vine and Main, mostly, but also on Race).  I'd occasionally see the streetcar stop signs and told my folks that when this is open we'd be able to hop on and quickly get downtown (or Findlay Market) without all the walking. 

 

Which brings up a question on fares.  Is there a plan to make paying easy.  Like maybe a swipecard system for ATM or credit cards if you dont have exact fare? 

Lets Talk Streetcar....

 

.....in another post I mentioned my recent visit to Bockfest with my folks and that we spend a lot of time walking up and down OTR (Vine and Main, mostly, but also on Race).  I'd occasionally see the streetcar stop signs and told my folks that when this is open we'd be able to hop on and quickly get downtown (or Findlay Market) without all the walking. 

 

Which brings up a question on fares.  Is there a plan to make paying easy.  Like maybe a swipecard system for ATM or credit cards if you dont have exact fare? 

 

yes, there will be ticket machines on each vehicle and at most stops. probably similar to the new fare machine metro is going to install at gov't square.

For streetcar, I'm betting $2 for a day pass.

Twice in the last week now I've walked from my place around 12th and Vine all the way down to the new Lager house at the Banks and both times my friends and I commented on how nice its going to be to have the streetcar in place to take us that route.  It doesn't seem like that long of a walk, but its actually a decent little trek all the way there and back.  Especially if you're hungry or in a hurry.

 

Great article by the way!  Congrats to Kevin Osborne for such an informative, factual write up!

A little off topic, but you can see what great things can happen with a streetcar (lots of pics too)!

 

Hop aboard the Portland Streetcar to discover the city's hidden gems

Published: Friday, March 09, 2012, 5:55 AM    Updated: Friday, March 09, 2012, 11:35 AM

By D.K. Row, The Oregonian The Oregonian

 

A history lesson can happen anywhere. Even in motion. And even when riding the slow-motion Portland Streetcar.

 

 

The 8-mile loop is, in one sense, an oh-so-relaxed, car-free way to get around Portland's urban center. But for the price of a fare, streetcar riders get much more than a commute.

 

Stop checking messages on your smartphone and look out the window -- you'll witness a fascinating visual history of Portland's architecture and urban development in the past two decades.

 

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/03/hop_aboard_the_portland_street.html

Does the streetcar push Cincinnati up a notch in the tier or league of cities?

Does the streetcar push Cincinnati up a notch in the tier or league of cities?

 

I rather think that it keeps us out of a dubious list, large cities that don't have transit.

 

In addition to all the wonderful benefits it will provide, of course.

^ I think it's a big deal.

 

Not sure why, but I'm a member of a list of rail system managers, designers and advocates from around the world. It's an amazing group -- I can put up any question and get an answer within minutes. Soon after the Groundbreaking, a guy from Baltimore, an old pro who's seen it all, said he thought the Cincinnati Streetcar would be the "most watched" rail project in the United States for the next couple of years. No one disagreed.

In a loosely related topic:

 

Barry Hortsman, famous for his 9 mile an hour walk and his rampant anti-streetcar news articles, apparently doesn't just like lying/sensationalism against the streetcar. 

 

His New "Frito-Lay Hall" Music Hall article claims the group buying music hall is going to rename it for $.  The rgoup says they were telling him about naming things like a restaurant inside the place (like the current Critics Club) after a donor or naming the Ballroom or a new VIP lounge, and were NOT talking about naming Music Hall Barry Hortsman Hall.  They've said they are not in anyway going to consider renaming the actual building.  But he seemed to forget to mention that in his article.

 

I can't tell if it makes me feel BETTER knowing he doesn't just lie/exaggerate about the Streetcar or WORSE that he's their top writer and he is constantly over the top and borderline lying in many of his articles.

 

 

 

Anyone know when bids might go out for streetcars?  If it's a 12-18 month lead time necessary, shouldn't it be in the next 3-4 months?

It tells you everything you need to know about the Enquirer when some very talented journalists (several of whom are friends of mine) get laid off or are otherwise running for the doors, and somebody like Horstman is allowed to keep his job and is consistently given plum assignments.

The rgoup says they were telling him about naming things like a restaurant inside the place (like the current Critics Club) after a donor or naming the Ballroom or a new VIP lounge, and were NOT talking about naming Music Hall Barry Hortsman Hall.  They've said they are not in anyway going to consider renaming the actual building.  But he seemed to forget to mention that in his article.

 

Do you have a source for that? Have they stated that publicly?

^- The article:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120311/NEWS/303100097/

 

Comments section, there appears to be an official affiliated with the symphony or this non-profit talking responding to the poor reporting:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/comments/article/20120311/NEWS/303100097/Enquirer-Exclusive-Music-your-name-here-Hall-rings-sour-some

^thanks. I never read the comments. Nice to see something constructive was shared and the Enquirer now uses facebook for comments. I wonder if Horstman took note of Mr. Shields' comment.

City of Cincinnati going old school. Want streetcar updates call 513-352-3333. (50¢ a minute)

SORTA is hiring a Manager of Rail Service.

 

Job Posting: http://go-metro.iapplicants.com/ViewJob-283435.html

 

It would be awesome if someone from/in Cincinnati got the job.

^ unless someone recently moved here from a great job I'm a rail city, I'd rather have them bring in someone with experience.

Cincinnati has notified the FAA that it will close the Blue Ash Airport within 90 days.  I'm wondering how this affects the money from the sale of the airport that was originally supposed to go toward the streetcar.  I know there was a problem with the money having to go toward further air operations of some kind.  Would the closure of the airport circumvent this regulation?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2012/03/13/cincinnati-intends-to-close-blue-ash.html

City of Cincinnati going old school. Want streetcar updates call 513-352-3333. (50¢ a minute)

 

http://blip.tv/play/hLEMgbz8BgI.html?p=1

Also-  construction on the water main between 12th and Memorial Hall seems to be complete-  Was patched solid with asphalt Friday. I'm guessing they'll be moving on to Memorial Hall to Music Hall next?

 

Water main relocation has now reached 14th.

via a twitter user:

 

^Cincinnati captured in pictures looks ancient, and it's all in the craftsmanship.  That and the brick.  Even St. Louis' central areas don't scream historic like Cincinnati's.  The streetcar will make the city too romantic to ignore.

Wait, I hope you aren't referring to the stamped concrete in front of Memorial Hall... :)

Wait, I hope you aren't referring to the stamped concrete in front of Memorial Hall... :)

 

Well, you have to admit it's better than just plain ol' concrete.

'Duke's streetcar claim might be crumbling'

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-3126-dukes_streetcar_claim_might_be_crumbling.html

^ Very nice. The article basically cites the Ohio Revised Code to debunk the notion that the streetcar is a public utility, which is central to Duke's claim that the city needs to pick up the tab for all relocation work, since utility locations are prioritized on a first-come-first-served basis. (If I got that wrong, please someone correct me.)

 

The conclusion: Either “motor-propelled vehicles” mean the same as “motor vehicles” (in which case it doesn’t apply to streetcars) or “motor-propelled” is an adjective to “vehicle” (which also doesn’t apply, as streetcars aren’t vehicles).

 

In each instance, a streetcar system doesn’t fall into the legal realm of a “motor transportation company” and therefore isn’t a “public utility.”

 

Being powered by "overhead electric trolley wires" exempts the streetcar from being a motor vehicle and both being powered by wires and running exclusively on rails exempts the streetcar from being a vehicle.

^Good news for us, but I can't help but think about how ridiculous this whole thing is.  What a sad state of affairs, when you have to publicy debate what is and is not considered to be a vehicle with a firm that is supposed to be a community partner.  This is Duke's fault, but it makes everyone look bad.

>exempts the streetcar from being a motor vehicle and both being powered by wires and running exclusively on rails exempts the streetcar from being a vehicle.

 

Incidentally, a non-motorized bicycle *is* a motor vehicle under Ohio law, yet a Segway scooter, which has motors, is *not* a motor vehicle.  This means you can get a DUI on a bicycle but not on a Segway. 

 

There is a comment on the CityBeat website that refutes the article's premise and states the following:

 

"You wrote: "A close reading of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), however, reveals it is unlikely that a streetcar system qualifies as a '“public utility.'"

This is wrong.  You quote at some length from R.C. 4905.03, but somehow you missed division (A)(10), which includes within the definition of "public utility" the following:

"(10) A street railway company, when engaged in the business of operating as a common carrier, a railway, wholly or partly within this state, with one or more tracks upon, along, above, or below any public road, street, alleyway, or ground, within any municipal corporation, operated by any motive power other than steam and not a part of an interurban railroad, whether the railway is termed street, inclined-plane, elevated, or underground railway;"

Based on subdivision (A)(10), it seems pretty clear that a streetcar is a "public utility."

Also, you wrote that "motor-propelled vehicles aren’t defined under Ohio law."  This is also wrong.  R.C. 4905.03(B) says: "'Motor-propelled vehicle' means any automobile, automobile truck, motor bus, or any other self-propelled vehicle not operated or driven upon fixed rails or tracks."

 

This is all very strong support for why I didn't go to law school, but can anyone confirm or deny that this is actually in the revised code?

^Cincinnati captured in pictures looks ancient, and it's all in the craftsmanship.  That and the brick.  Even St. Louis' central areas don't scream historic like Cincinnati's.  The streetcar will make the city too romantic to ignore.

 

Am I wrong here, or does Cincinnati "scream" Philadelphia when you look in certain neighborhoods?  As far as St. Louis, the city is amazing, but I think Cincinnati's topography puts it a bit up on St. Louis when it comes to the overall historic atmosphere/feel/attractiveness to the city.

This is all very strong support for why I didn't go to law school, but can anyone confirm or deny that this is actually in the revised code?

 

It is in the Ohio Revised Code.

 

 

^Cincinnati captured in pictures looks ancient, and it's all in the craftsmanship.  That and the brick.  Even St. Louis' central areas don't scream historic like Cincinnati's.  The streetcar will make the city too romantic to ignore.

 

Am I wrong here, or does Cincinnati "scream" Philadelphia when you look in certain neighborhoods?  As far as St. Louis, the city is amazing, but I think Cincinnati's topography puts it a bit up on St. Louis when it comes to the overall historic atmosphere/feel/attractiveness to the city.

You're right on it, Philadelphia is a closer relative to Cincinnati than St. Louis.  The two cities share Italianate, a plethora of rows dating from 1850-80 whereas the vast majority of St. Louis' rows are 1880-on, a legacy of soul music, the first two municipal zoos in the country, etc.  Cincinnati's architecture and commercial districts are also of a larger scale than two very similar cities, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.  It's one reason the Queen City moniker really fit for Cinti.  There were other major cities developing in the Middle West, but the scale of old Cincinnati clearly shows its influence at an early age.