How is a ferry boat a "fixed guidway?"  :roll:

 

I imagine it has something to do with the ferryboat only being able to dock at certain locations. The river is a line (for the most part) and the ferryboat won't just change direction and start travelling upstream or anything. That's how I see it. Just as BRT has the ability to move off of the designated ROW, they won't do it.

5chw4r7z is the man.  The Enquirer just sucks...all around.

 

Here they have a story GUARANTEED to get hits (I told Weiser that), and they brush it off.  Just pure laziness, incompetence, or both

^I wouldn't worry about Amtrak. The Chabot amendment says "fixed guideway." The FRA definiation of "fixed guideway" specifies transit. Is Amtrak transit?

 

The FTA (not FRA) description on its website describes what modes are included as part of its "fixed guideway" responsibilities. Those are mass transit modes. Admittedly, most fixed guideways are, in practice, mass transit related. But that is not what the law (Title 49, Sec. 5302 of the U.S. Code) says a fixed guideway is limited to. Its definition is very broad. It can be interpreted to be many things. I can't speak for Amtrak on how their lawyers would interpret it, but it is possible that they could interpret it either way. If the Chabot amendment stays in the bill and it becomes law, someone could file a lawsuit with a restraining order against Amtrak on Oct. 1, 2012 arguing they are in violation of the Chabot amendment. How that then plays out in court is anyone's guess. Who here wants to take that risk?

 

Even if the amendment does apply to Amtrak, do you think that Amtrak will really avoid Cincinnati just because a politician threw a reverse earmark into the law?

 

Depends on if Amtrak wants to use this as an excuse to cancel the Cardinal service, restructure it and/or relocate its Beech Grove maintenance facilities. I doubt any of this is their first choice. They have enough on their plate on any given day. But if push comes to shove, they may push back, cancel the train and throw this all on shoulders of the gentleman from Cincinnati.

 

Now if that proposed hovercraft Ferry Boat on the Ohio River from Anderson Township to downtown ever gets denied by the Chabot Amendment, then we would have something to talk about. (kidding  :wink:) How is a ferry boat a "fixed guidway?"  :roll:

 

A vehicle is not a guideway. A guideway is a controlled right of way. Stop thinking of vehicles.

Just to be clear, Chabot insterted this amendment into the THUD appropriations bill that passed the House but has yet to pass the Senate or go through conference, not the transportation authorization conference report that passed yesterday and is on its way to the President.  These are two distinctly different bills.

 

Brian Thomas this morning, he's been telling his listeners that it's been passed, it essentially defunds the project, and that there will be no streetcar.

 

Dusty Rhodes was on at 7:30 and believes the same, but he thinks there possibly could be ways around it. Then he went on to rip the Enquirer editorial on Chabot's actions.

Just to be clear, Chabot insterted this amendment into the THUD appropriations bill that passed the House but has yet to pass the Senate or go through conference, not the transportation authorization conference report that passed yesterday and is on its way to the President.  These are two distinctly different bills.

 

Brian Thomas this morning, he's been telling his listeners that it's been passed, it essentially defunds the project, and that there will be no streetcar.

 

Dusty Rhodes was on at 7:30 and believes the same, but he thinks there possibly could be ways around it. Then he went on to rip the Enquirer editorial on Chabot's actions.

 

Would love to see the look on Thomas's face when he finds out he's completely wrong.  He just pulled a Jean Schmidt

Apparently there's a couple of other similar amendments from an anti-rail representative in California, one that would cut off federal funding for a light rail subway for San Francisco's Muni Metro system, and other that would cut off federal funding for California's proposed high-speed rail system. If these amendments, along with Chabot's, make it into the final conference report, then a presidential veto wouldn't be surprising.

Correct:

 

McClintock (R-CA) – The amendment prohibits funds for phase two of the “Third Street Light Rail Central Subway” project in San Francisco. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 235-136.

 

Denham (R-CA) – The amendment prohibits funding for any high speed rail project in California. There are currently no funds in the bill for high speed rail. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 239-185.

 

 

List of the 21 floor adopted amendments can be found here: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/06_29_12_thud_floor_adopted_amendments.pdf

^^Actually, I think you're looking at the next stage of their misinformation war.  This is a confusing enough issue, where if they say that this bill makes federal funding of the streetcar illegal enough times, many people will believe it.  After all, they heard it on 700 or in the Enquirer.  Eventually, federal dollars do get spent on the Streetcar, and then they start talking about how Mallory, Dohoney, etc. are doing something illegal or at least unethical.

Would love to see the look on Thomas's face when he finds out he's completely wrong.  He just pulled a Jean Schmidt

 

Guys like Thomas are never wrong. Just ask him.

 

I'm hopeful that there will be some other media coverage on this issue soon.

^ Doubtful, since Kevin Osborne got sacked from CityBeat. Decent journalism no longer exists in Cincinnati.

Let Brian Thomas, Cunningham, Smitherman, COAST etc think they are right.  It will be hilarious when they find out that they are completely wrong

good article on the streetsblog:

 

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/07/02/ohio-reps-rider-would-block-cincinnnati-streetcar-from-receiving-funds/

 

i'm glad to hear that it wasnt in the bill that passed on friday, i was panicking!

Not sure if this was posted yet, but here is a decent review of the bill that was passed the other day (I don't believe it was the streetcar-rider bill).

 

 

How the Transportation Bill Failed America

Judith RodinJun 30, 2012

 

Whether you drive to work every morning, hop on a subway or bus, or just pull the bike out for a ride around town, you need to pay attention to the transportation bill that Congress finally passed this week. The bill is a significant step backward and falls woefully short of creating a balanced system that serves all Americans and invests adequately in options and our growing metros.

 

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/06/how-transportation-bill-failed-america/2431/

Its been way too quiet.  Last time it was this quiet from the anti-rail/city opponents, Chabot inserted that rider at the last second.  I think COAST and the gang have realized their Combover Silver Bullet is a long shot. 

 

Mark Miller hasn't been tweeting away about nonsense 24/7, Chris Smitherman hasn't been on radio stations, Luken hasn't been yelling at old kids to get off his lawn.  The only consistent thing is Brian Thomas being completely wrong.  Heck, Dusty Rhodes isn't even arguing with Rob anymore. 

 

^ I was beginning to wonder if Mark Miller was even the guy sending the COAST tweets. They are way too juvenile. I suspect that his kid is (was) sending them -- at least the re-tweets from Toronto where Mayor Ford is trying to make the case, so far without result, to convert streetcar lines into subways.

From the City's Streetcar mail-list. . .

 

Meet Paul Grether

Metro's New Rail Manager

 

Just a few weeks ago, Metro named Paul Grether as its new rail manager. We caught up with him to learn a little bit more about what he'll bring to the Cincinnati Streetcar project:

 

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I have always been interested in public transportation. I am a graduate of Georgia Tech, with a Masters in City and Regional planning specializing in transportation. Public Transportation is not only my vocation but also my avocation: It has a long and storied history that helped shape cities across the country, and I believe investment in transit is a critical local and national priority. I had the opportunity to go to high school in Europe which exposed me to a very different transportation experience and solidified my interest in transit.

 

What experience do you have working with streetcars?

In my previous job, I worked for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority as the Manager of Streetcar Development. I worked on the development of the Atlanta Streetcar project, including grant funding, environmental clearances and planning, vehicle procurement, and program management. I also serve on the American Public Transportation Association's Streetcar Subcommittee, which is the national group engaged with developing technical guidelines and standards for streetcars.

 

What is your role in the Cincinnati Streetcar Project?

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Metro) will be operating the streetcar once it is built. As rail projects are developed, it is important that the operator is represented in the design and development of the project, since the decisions made during the design will last for the entire life of the infrastructure. Once the construction is advanced, my role will change to safely starting up operations to support the testing and commissioning of the system. Finally, once revenue service for the public starts, my role will be managing the day-to-day operations, including transportation, maintenance and facilities functions.

 

What excites you about the Cincinnati Streetcar?

The City of Cincinnati has the type of transit-oriented land-use and great neighborhoods that are perfectly set up to capitalize on investments in streetcars. Many cities tore down all of their older buildings and housing, Cincinnati has retained much of its historic fabric and character. With national trends showing that people are moving back into cities, Cincinnati has the "stuff" that many people are looking for to have an authentic, quality urban lifestyle. The streetcar project in Cincinnati will be a national model and will create economic opportunity for the region.

 

Why do you think the Streetcar project is important to Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has a great downtown that has maintained itself as the major employment and entertainment center for the region. The Streetcar will reinforce this, as well as give the City a competitive edge over other regions. The streetcar will not only be an important transportation investment, but will promote sustainable urban growth for Cincinnati.

 

What do you see as the opportunities and challenges associated with the Streetcar?

The short-term opportunity is supporting the redevelopment of the various neighborhoods and districts such as The Banks and Over-the-Rhine and providing connections to these emerging districts from downtown for visitors, residents and commuters. The longer-term opportunity is to connect Uptown, with the huge academic student, faculty and health care populations there. As the future streetcar operator, a challenge with streetcars is balancing the need to keep the project "lean and mean" in terms of budget, but at the same time integrating the service seamlessly into the existing and future transit services, including existing bus and future rail.

 

STREETCAR HOTLINE - 513-352-3333

 

^I've met with him several times, he knows his stuff.

Enquirer confirms Chabot amendment is overbroad.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120705/NEWS/307050088/

You can post more than the link -- if you want... ;)

 

Chabot's shot at streetcar funding could hit other transit targets

2:33 PM, Jul. 5, 2012

Written by Deirdre Shesgreen

 

WASHINGTON — Critics of Rep. Steve Chabot’s proposal to bar federal funds for Cincinnati’s streetcar project say it’s an overreach that could block money for other initiatives – from bus lanes to ferry ways.

 

“Chabot’s amendment is not going to stop the streetcar,” said Ken Prendergast, executive director of All Aboard Ohio, a public transit advocacy group. But the measure is so “broadly written” that it could crimp the city’s efforts to win funds for other mass transit projects.

 

“This thing goes beyond impacting rail transit, to rubber tire and water modes,” Prendergast said.

 

Chabot, R-Westwood, staunchly defended his proposal, saying he had vetted it with federal Department of Transportation officials and House legislative analysts to make sure it didn’t go too far.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120705/NEWS/307050088/

Just saw the end of a fairly slick video promo for the streetcar with some chick announcer on City Cable. She used the word "progressive" about a hundred times in just the little bit I saw.

Is this new? Is it on the intertubes at all?

I realize I am one of the few who actually watches that cable channel.....

Jerry Thomas filling in for his son Brian today (and next week) reviews the Enquirer article on Chabot's proposal in the 5AM hour - KJP gets a shout out. Jerry is starting to sound like Tom Luken:

 

Doesn't understand why it won't stop the streetcar. It's passed the House and the Senate. Either the amendment is written wrong or the city found money from another source.

 

Goes on to say the city got either $7M or $10M to get the project off the ground. Then focuses on ferries asking why would there need to be new ferry routes. Completely ignores buses.

 

Can't remember the route. Asks who would go to/leave the casino with a pocket full of money and ride the slow streetcar past people looking to rob you?

 

Gets funny in the 6AM hour when he starts talking about uninformed/mis-informed people. Which is exactly what he's creating via his radio program...

The Urbanophile chimes in, and nails it:

 

Cincinnati vs. Cincinnati

 

In a post on Cincinnati called “A Midwest Conundrum” I noted the apparent disconnect between a place that has probably the best collection of assets of any city/region its size in America, and the long term stagnation the region has experienced.

 

What’s caused that? The reasons are complex, but something that I’ve long noticed is that Cincinnati is one of the most socially fragmented cities I’ve seen, and among other things has one of the worst city-suburb divides in America. I’ve rarely seen a place where suburbanites so openly brag about how they never come into the city like they do in Cincinnati.

 

[...]

 

In any event, when your own US and state representatives are trying to actively undermine the policy of the city government – regardless of policy or party – that’s a recipe for regional trouble. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Alas, that seems to describe Cincinnati all too well.

Man, what a dour article.  He's right that this conflict is a problem, but he neglects to lay the blame squarely on where it belongs: the modern Republican party, which has apparently decided that all pro-urban policies are somehow redolent of socialism.  He's also really quick to become pessimistic about the progress of the city based on the streetcar's troubles, when the streetcar is in fact a unique target of opportunity because so many of the funding streams for it are from outside of the city.

I agree that the article has a little too much of the "both sides do it" air, which glosses over how the modern-day Republican party has essentially abandoned any pretense of sanity in favor of pandering to hard-right extremists and conspiracy-theory nutjobs.

 

As for the dour tone, I happen to agree with Aaron. I'm more supportive of the streetcar project than he is, but he is correct in pointing out some major structural challenges that Cincinnati will continue to face even after the streetcar is up and running. IMO, glossing over those challenges in favor of uncritical boosterism is every bit as damaging to Cincinnati as the anti-city hate speech found in the Enquirer's articles and comments.

oh, I agree that uncritical boosterism isn't what's called for, and I totally agree that the streetcar still faces a LOT of hurdles and opposition.  I just think that the streetcar is especially vulnerable to shenanigans by anti-urban forces, and that holding up the streetcar's woes as a symbol of why Cincinnati's not actually going to go anywhere seems a bit myopic. 

Anyone know whats going on with construction?  I haven't heard many updates recently. 

 

Also the Duke negotiations?  What is the current holdup there?  I thought everything was pretty much agreed upon

 

Whats the projected date for operation? 

 

Man, what a dour article.  He's right that this conflict is a problem, but he neglects to lay the blame squarely on where it belongs: the modern Republican party

 

Not all Republicans are anti-Streetcar. One of the biggest boosters of the project is a Republican: United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Anyone know whats going on with construction?  I haven't heard many updates recently. 

 

Also the Duke negotiations?  What is the current holdup there?  I thought everything was pretty much agreed upon

 

Whats the projected date for operation?

 

Money is still not agreed upon. But the distance has supposedly been dropped to 3 feet.

Man, what a dour article.  He's right that this conflict is a problem, but he neglects to lay the blame squarely on where it belongs: the modern Republican party

 

Not all Republicans are anti-Streetcar. One of the biggest boosters of the project is a Republican: United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

& William Lind

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Lind

But yeah, generally the neocon leaders of the Republican party are an issue.

Not all Republicans are anti-Streetcar. One of the biggest boosters of the project is a Republican: United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

 

True.  But the problem is that mass transit is the #1 issue for virtually no one.  It's barely on most politicians' radar, let alone the public's.  So no matter how much an individual politician cares about improving the state of mass transit in this country, it will almost always be sacrificed to get another, "more important" issue through.

And since LaHood is an appointee of the Obama administration, he's as good as dead to the GOP heirarchy and wouldn't stand a chance of moving on to any sort of elected office without becoming a Democrat. The only thing the neocons hate worse than a liberal is a "turncoat" conservative. Just ask John Roberts.

And just as not all Democrats are supporters, namely Smitherman who has been launching spitballs at Mallory since they were kids in school together.

 

Everyone has their reasons for opposing or supporting something, then uses statistics to make their case. Ultimately, an issue comes down to emotion. Either it turns your heartcrank to happy, mad or indifferent. Statistics can make an impression, but they don't sustain change like emotion does. And that's why the opponents will lose. The world is changing around them, and they don't have anything exciting to sell except the status quo.

Excellent Opinion piece by our own John Schneider. Excellent work, sir!  :clap:

 

 

Why we love living Downtown

 

John Schneider and his wife, April, have lived Downtown for 33 years.

 

When I’m asked, “What do you most like about living Downtown?” I’m kind of stumped. I’ve lived here so long, Downtown’s resurgence no longer seems remarkable. These days, it’s just home.

 

But I can reduce it to one word: convenience.

 

First things first: April and I were married in Arnold’s courtyard – across the street from our home of 33 years. The morning of our wedding, Jim Tarbell installed garlands of colored lights criss-crossing the courtyard. They’re still there.

 

We can also walk across Main Street and get a pizza at Donato’s, a handy thing. Or venture further to a growing number of great restaurants; so many new ones we’ll probably never visit all of them.

 

Cont

Smitherman was not endorsed by the Democratic party

Why does everyone claim Smitherman is a Democrat? He is an independent. He usually leans right except for a handful of social issues (from my observations).

Speaking of Republicans for the streetcar, isn't its biggest proponent, John Schneider, a Republican?

Speaking of Republicans for the streetcar, isn't its biggest proponent, John Schneider, a Republican?

 

Speaking of John Schneider, dusty Rhodes just called him and his wife out on twitter.

 

 

Really fine piece John! Well played

Speaking of John Schneider, dusty Rhodes just called him and his wife out on twitter.

 

Dusty's a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing.  I'm shocked the Democratic party keeps endorsing his curmudgeonly, double-dipping rump.

Speaking of Republicans for the streetcar, isn't its biggest proponent, John Schneider, a Republican?

 

Speaking of John Schneider, dusty Rhodes just called him and his wife out on twitter.

 

 

 

So what did he say? I gots to know.

Speaking of Republicans for the streetcar, isn't its biggest proponent, John Schneider, a Republican?

 

Speaking of John Schneider, dusty Rhodes just called him and his wife out on twitter.

 

 

 

 

So what did he say? I gots to know.

 

https://twitter.com/AuditorRhodes

 

Dusty Rhodes ‏@AuditorRhodes

Now we know why the City of Cincinnati is spending millions on a streetcar. So John Schneider and his wife can have a ride to Music Hall.

 

Dusty Rhodes ‏@AuditorRhodes

I'd say that's a good reason to spend over $160 million even if Cincinnati's budget for next year is over $30 million in the red.

He said, "Now we know why the City of Cincinnati is spending millions on a streetcar. So John Schneider and his wife can have a ride to Music Hall."

 

He's @AuditorRhodes on twitter, and reading his feed is like being seated at Thanksgiving next to your cranky great-uncle who really, really loves Fox news. 

^ and back from Findlay Market too!

Dusty's a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing.  I'm shocked the Democratic party keeps endorsing his curmudgeonly, double-dipping rump.

 

He has to have something over someone's head in the Democratic Party to keep getting endorsed. He's practically a Tea Party supporter (actually goes to their rallies to speak) and only says negative things about the city's policies (yet remains suspiciously silent about county issues). And he double dips after saying negative things about that practice for years...

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20100928/NEWS0108/9290336/Rhodes-takes-steps-double-dip-

>and only says negative things about the city's policies

 

He also gets on the radio to alternately lob mud at the Kenton County Airport Board or insinuate that he booked The Beatles at Crosley Field back in 1964.

Why does everyone claim Smitherman is a Democrat? He is an independent. He usually leans right except for a handful of social issues (from my observations).

He ran as an an independent for council

from his HmCo BOE file:

D,X,,X,D,X,X,X,D,X,,,,X,,D,X,,,X,,,D,,X,,,,,,X,D,,,X,,,X

Mine:

R,X,,X,,X,,X,,X,,,,X,,R,X,,,X,,,R,,X,,,,,,X,R,,,X,,,X

Duke Energy CEO Bill Johnson resigns after one day, gets $44 million in severance:

 

http://grist.org/news/duke-ceo-bill-johnson-resigns-after-one-day-gets-44-million-in-severance/

 

"So assuming that he worked for a full eight hours on Monday, that comes out to a nice $5.5 million an hour — some 765,000 times the national minimum wage."

 

And this is the company haggling with the city over who's going to pay for utility relocation?

 

^Wow that's insane and we wonder why our rates are so high.

Read today's front-page WSJ article on Duke.

^ Here's the link to a preview of the article. The rest is behind a paywall.

Maybe Duke had in mind to get rid of Johnson all along, and considered the $33 million part of the cost of acquiring the other company.

 

The Bill Johnson story reminds me of the story of Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson:

 

"I think we were all pleased to be so cheaply quit of him."