Also, Cranley and Monzel have declared that Union Terminal is deteriorating because of the streetcar.  The terminal is city-owned but supported by the county.  What they are trying to do is to shove the burden of repairing union terminal onto the city, which will limit its ability to do other things under a presumed Qualls mayoral term.  The county commissioners have the power to keep a union terminal bond issue off the county ballot, and in fact they have done so for several years, worsening the deterioration of the building and the severity of the problem.

 

The City owns Union Terminal; I believe the county contribution is Museum Center specific.  Obviously, there is little practical difference.  Nevertheless, the Union Terminal problems have been known since at least 2009; I know the Museum Center wanted to get a complete refurbishment levy that year but the Commissioners didn't want to raise the total tax burden during that year, which also happened to be the same year that the library first got a levy.  Kasich & company taking local government funds haven't helped the situation.

 

There's no way Monzel & Hartmann will pass a levy to fix Union Terminal, so it may be down to the City to take care of it.

 

Oh, and Streetcar.

Ok I just heard Todd Portune's explanation of "Hop on Cincinnati Trackless streetcars".  Call me paranoid but I am firmly convinced this is a well funded, well calculated opposition project to the streetcar in an attempt to undercut the potential success of the streetcar project and to prevent future legs going to uptown/other parts.  It sounds like the county will be pushing the "Hop on Cincinnati" idea very hard

 

(Paraphrased below)

 

Portune said specifically the trolley will start from The Banks and go to OTR.  He said it will continue to Uptown, UC and the Zoo("Where people want to go").  He continued about how "The streetcar is limited because its on tracks and the route is limited"

 

Scott Sloan asked him if the supporters of Hop on Cincinnati are trying to "Cut out the legs of the Streetcar".  Portune  said

 

"It's designed to be complimentary.  It's 1/10th of the cost of the streetcar and no tax payer money will be used.  The idea is it will be all privately funded"

 

Sloan responded by saying "If I'm the city manager or Qualls, I would be upset at the timing of this proposal and the route"

 

 

 

No taxpayer money? Awesome. Best of luck. $50 says they don't get any money to do this. It's just trying to freak people out. Not gonna happen: so let's ignore it.

Ok I just heard Todd Portune's explanation of "Hop on Cincinnati Trackless streetcars".  Call me paranoid but I am firmly convinced this is a well funded, well calculated opposition project to the streetcar in an attempt to undercut the potential success of the streetcar project and to prevent future legs going to uptown/other parts.  It sounds like the county will be pushing the "Hop on Cincinnati" idea very hard

 

(Paraphrased below)

 

Portune said specifically the trolley will start from The Banks and go to OTR.  He said it will continue to Uptown, UC and the Zoo("Where people want to go").  He continued about how "The streetcar is limited because its on tracks and the route is limited"

 

Scott Sloan asked him if the supporters of Hop on Cincinnati are trying to "Cut out the legs of the Streetcar".  Portune  said

 

"It's designed to be complimentary.  It's 1/10th of the cost of the streetcar and no tax payer money will be used.  The idea is it will be all privately funded"

 

Sloan responded by saying "If I'm the city manager or Qualls, I would be upset at the timing of this proposal and the route"

 

 

 

 

^ "This too shall pass."

The Cleveland trolley buses that circulate around its downtown need significant subsidies. If someone is trying to sell you something by telling you it won't cost you anything, question the seller as much as you do the product.

The Cleveland trolley buses that circulate around its downtown need significant subsidies. If someone is trying to sell you something by telling you it won't cost you anything, question the seller as much as you do the product.

Given the streetcar's inability to attract private investment & the Freedom Center's inability to be self sufficient, I would imagine most Cincinnatians would be pretty skeptical of the Hopper's' claims.

City of Cincinnati ‏@CityOfCincy 46m

Did a walk-through of 2 buildings to be demolished for streetcar facility at Henry/Race. Demolition starts Monday. pic.twitter.com/8eBPTBaVq9

Great news for supporters.  Deatrick has said that the first rail will arrive in Cincinnati sometime in October.

 

 

Now we have to do our part and vote. 

 

Unfortunately Winburn and PG Sittenfeld are probably going to re-elected pretty easily.  That's two anti streetcar people on council right off the bat.  So we need to really focus on this election.  4 year mayoral and council terms are crucial if we ever want to see an uptown link

 

 

From Cincinnatian's For Progress Facebook Page:

 

Mayor Mallory-Vice Mayor Qualls press conference announcing the construction of the Maintenance Facility.

 

 

 

Also, these markings are new since Friday; sidewalk on east side of Elm St. from 12th to Liberty:

Does anyone know if they're tearing down 1909 Race too?  That's actually a really nice building. From Satellite view it looks like its part if the same lot.

Great news for supporters.  Deatrick has said that the first rail will arrive in Cincinnati sometime in October.

 

 

Now we have to do our part and vote. 

 

Unfortunately Winburn and PG Sittenfeld are probably going to re-elected pretty easily.  That's two anti streetcar people on council right off the bat.  So we need to really focus on this election.  4 year mayoral and council terms are crucial if we ever want to see an uptown link

 

Don't get your cart before the horse. Get the downtown section actually built and operating before you get excited about the uptown link. In case you haven't noticed there is still a contingent who would like to kill it in its tracks (or lack of) right where it is. I believe the uptown link is going to be a bigger fight.

Does anyone know if they're tearing down 1909 Race too?  That's actually a really nice building. From Satellite view it looks like its part if the same lot.

 

1909 is staying

Great news for supporters.  Deatrick has said that the first rail will arrive in Cincinnati sometime in October.

 

 

Now we have to do our part and vote. 

 

Unfortunately Winburn and PG Sittenfeld are probably going to re-elected pretty easily.  That's two anti streetcar people on council right off the bat.  So we need to really focus on this election.  4 year mayoral and council terms are crucial if we ever want to see an uptown link

 

Don't get your cart before the horse. Get the downtown section actually built and operating before you get excited about the uptown link. In case you haven't noticed there is still a contingent who would like to kill it in its tracks (or lack of) right where it is. I believe the uptown link is going to be a bigger fight.

 

I actually believe the opposite. Once the downtown section is open, the uptown section will get more support. UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon. I'd bet you could see Uptown Consortium become a funding partner in the next phase.

 

Yes, Cranley still wants to kill it, and it's technically possible (yet now incredibly unlikely that it will be stopped).  But waiting until 2016 to start the planning for the next phase is a waste of time. Ideally, you would start construction at the same time, but more likely it would be a couple years later.

Great news for supporters.  Deatrick has said that the first rail will arrive in Cincinnati sometime in October.

 

 

Now we have to do our part and vote. 

 

Unfortunately Winburn and PG Sittenfeld are probably going to re-elected pretty easily.  That's two anti streetcar people on council right off the bat.  So we need to really focus on this election.  4 year mayoral and council terms are crucial if we ever want to see an uptown link

 

Don't get your cart before the horse. Get the downtown section actually built and operating before you get excited about the uptown link. In case you haven't noticed there is still a contingent who would like to kill it in its tracks (or lack of) right where it is. I believe the uptown link is going to be a bigger fight.

 

I actually believe the opposite. Once the downtown section is open, the uptown section will get more support. UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon. I'd bet you could see Uptown Consortium become a funding partner in the next phase.

 

Yes, Cranley still wants to kill it, and it's technically possible (yet now incredibly unlikely that it will be stopped).  But waiting until 2016 to start the planning for the next phase is a waste of time. Ideally, you would start construction at the same time, but more likely it would be a couple years later.

 

I didn't mean to sound overconfident.  Just emphasizing what we already know about this november.  The stakes are high.  If Cranley wins and Smitherman/murray/pg/winburn/thomas get elected, there will be no 2nd phase and possibly no first phase.  I firmly believe Qualls and a pro streetcar majority council can get the streetcar to uptown going

Agreed.

>UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon.

 

Also, the connection was 2/3rds through the design phase when the funding was yanked and redirected to railroad overpass projects in Northern Ohio that still haven't broken ground more than two years later.  This means ground could be broken on the project relatively quickly if funding is secured. 

>UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon.

 

Also, the connection was 2/3rds through the design phase when the funding was yanked and redirected to railroad overpass projects in Northern Ohio that still haven't broken ground more than two years later.  This means ground could be broken on the project relatively quickly if funding is secured. 

 

Do you know what railroad overpasses these funds were to be used for? I'm sure KJP would be interested in this.

>UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon.

 

Also, the connection was 2/3rds through the design phase when the funding was yanked and redirected to railroad overpass projects in Northern Ohio that still haven't broken ground more than two years later.  This means ground could be broken on the project relatively quickly if funding is secured. 

 

There were actually four projects that received the Cincy Streetcar funding from the state, only two of which were RR grade crossing separations, but all are in Northern Ohio:

 

1. CR-73 (McCord Rd.) separation of NS/Amtrak RR in Holland

2. SR-58 separation of CSX RR (ironically, the 3C line) in Wellington

3. Mahoning Rd. SARTA Transit Corridor in Canton (there is some doubt as to whether this project will happen)

4. Widen U-42 (Pearl Rd.) in Strongsville

 

SOURCE: (Page 1) http://www.dot.state.oh.us/trac/TRAC%20List/2011-2015%20Major%20New%20Program_April%2012%202010.pdf

^Thanks for that clarification.  The project in Toledo appeared to have more justification than the one in Wellington, however, neither appear to be in areas that are experiencing much private investment, nor is there any reason to anticipate that these grade separations will attract private investment.  So they were safety improvements, and nothing more.

 

This morning Brian Thomas asked PG Sittenfeld point blank if he would help Cranley stop the streetcar project if both are reelected.  To his credit Sittenfeld basically said no.  Not explicitly, but it wasn't tough to tell that he thinks Cranley's not going to actually stop it if he's elected. 

Demolition for streetcar facility begins in OTR: SLIDESHOW

Erin Caproni Digital Producer- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

Workers began tearing down abandoned buildings in Over-the-Rhine on Monday to make way for Cincinnati’s streetcar.

 

The buildings at Race and Henry streets are being demolished so a maintenance facility for the system’s five streetcars can be constructed.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2013/08/demolition-for-streetcar-facility.html

>UC, Uptown Consortium and UC Health are likely to publicly announce support for an uptown connection soon.

 

 

Jake, I checked with a source in Uptown who says he would certainly know if this were happening. He said it's not happening soon. They are focused on the MLK interchange. They're supportive, but just too many other fish to fry right now. We really need a champion up there to move this forward at a quicker pace.

 

You'll soon see more Council candidates start to fall in line in support of the streetcar -- at least saying they won't stop it. Cranley will start to look pretty lonely out there come October, when it matters. And when people fully come to understand what it would cost to stop the project, he'll look pretty foolish too.

Demolition for streetcar facility begins in OTR

Any renderings of the COAST facility?

You'll soon see more Council candidates start to fall in line in support of the streetcar -- at least saying they won't stop it.

 

PG was on 55KRC at 8AM and wouldn't commit to Cranley's cancellation plan until he could review all the numbers. Brian Thomas was really pressuring him to say he would support it.

Demolition for streetcar facility begins in OTR

Any renderings of the COAST facility?

There is a rendering here in this Cincystreetcar blog post. http://cincystreetcar.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/work-begins-on-11-9m-cincinnati-streetcar-maintenance-operations-facility/

 

Let me take a moment to invite everyone to our Roxanne/Wendell event at El Coyote tomorrow night. It looks like we'll be having a great crowd but as everyone here knows, there is nothing more important to the streetcar system going forward than Roxanne being elected mayor. Please join us and bring a couple dozen of your closest friends! https://www.facebook.com/events/465745106867127/

Cincy4Progress @Cincy4Progress

Amazon has located their headquarters directly on Seattle's streetcar line and is puchasing a streetcar for the city. http://fb.me/2hEcTl3HZ

Two pics from Tuesday & Wednesday and one from today:

CBC is reporting that Detroit might piggyback off our streetcar order. This is very good news for several reasons, but one people  might not think of is that it creates another spare parts depot within about four hours of Cincinnati.

 

Also the more CAF cars there are in the US the better for economy of scale reasons.

CBC is reporting that Detroit might piggyback off our streetcar order. This is very good news for several reasons, but one people  might not think of is that it creates another spare parts depot within about four hours of Cincinnati.

 

Also the more CAF cars there are in the US the better for economy of scale reasons.

jobs

Some news was made tonight at the fundraiser that streetcar supporters put on for Roxanne Qualls and Wendell Young.

 

Vice Mayor Qualls said that, if elected, she would appoint Wendell Young as Vice Mayor.

Why can't people just be a Cincinnati supporter? Squash all the negativity and focus on the city and it's assets. It's newest asset is the Streetcar.

CBC is reporting that Detroit might piggyback off our streetcar order. This is very good news for several reasons, but one people  might not think of is that it creates another spare parts depot within about four hours of Cincinnati.

 

Also the more CAF cars there are in the US the better for economy of scale reasons.

jobs

And more streetcar lines. In Cincy, Detroit, and cities elsewhere in the region hopefully.

Greg Landsman has come out in support of the streetcar:

 

http://www.urbancincy.com/2013/08/greg-landsman-riding-the-cincinnati-streetcar-to-success/

 

 

Here's the field of 22

http://wvxu.org/post/field-22-file-nine-cincinnati-city-council-seats

 

 

Streetcar supporters running for Council:

 

-Greg Landsman

-Mike Moroski

-Chris Seelbach

-Yvette Simpson

-Wendell Young

-Laure Quinlivan

-Michelle Dillingham

 

 

Anti Streetcar Candidates:

-Christopher Smitherman

-Amy Murray

-Pamula Thomas

-PG Sittenfeld

-Charlie Winburn

-Kevin Flynn

-David Mann

-Sam Malone

-Melissa Wegman

-Vanessa White

 

Positions I haven't heard anything about:

-Kevin Johnson

-Vanessa White

Also, we need to get the word out before the November election just how disastrous John Cranley's plan to stop the streetcar project at this point would be.  We need specific numbers and scenarios to showcase how idiotic his position would be at this stage of construction to future potentialvoters

From the Business Courier's Chris Wetterich via twitter:

 

"As Joe Biden would say, pretty BFD: Council candidate Greg Landsman says his goal is to get the streetcar to Uptown. Reason it's a big deal? A lot of people think Landsman will be the non-incumbent elected in November."

 

I think that now that the funding has been appropriated, contracts signed, and construction has started smart candidates like Landsman sense that there's a change in the air regarding public opinions about the streetcar and are evolving their opinions accordingly. I think that the resounding success of LumenoCity might play into this equation of changing opinions as well.

 

Typical let's put the cart before the horse. Start ballyhooing the uptown streetcar before the downtown version is physically off the ground. I keep following the progress claims on the Cincinnati Streetcar website and at this rate we will be lucky to see any cars running in 2015.

 

All I see is utility work continues, exploratory digging (what are they exploring?), etc. The progress is still painfully slow. If the good people of Cincinnati give the go ahead on the uptown link in this environment they are stupidier than I give them credit for.

Typical let's put the cart before the horse. Start ballyhooing the uptown streetcar before the downtown version is physically off the ground. I keep following the progress claims on the Cincinnati Streetcar website and at this rate we will be lucky to see any cars running in 2015.

 

All I see is utility work continues, exploratory digging (what are they exploring?), etc. The progress is still painfully slow. If the good people of Cincinnati give the go ahead on the uptown link in this environment they are stupidier than I give them credit for.

 

As stupid as your comment?

 

Kjbrill you are a non-factor. Im not sure why you still comment on this project.

Received an informative piece of literature in the mail today from the city with a route map and construction update and other info. To my knowledge this is the first time this has been done and I applaud the city for getting on point with the P.R. We're rolling! FYI I am 45202. Did anyone else receive one and if so what neighborhood are you?

45202 as well but nothing in today's mail

I'm in 45202, and I got it. You'll see a big change in all aspects of the project now that John Deatrick is in charge.

Apparently Darryl parks on 700wlw today said that the reason Detroit is bankrupt is because they spent $24mil on a streetcar

 

I haven't heard it yet but if this is true, they are reaching new heights of propaganda.

 

They've already linked the cincy streetcar to racism(smitherman "young black men will not be allowed to ride the streetcar") &  obamacare("being shoved down our throats"). They've also suggested that this streetcar Is somehow "not American" (implying socialism)

 

 

Typical let's put the cart before the horse. Start ballyhooing the uptown streetcar before the downtown version is physically off the ground. I keep following the progress claims on the Cincinnati Streetcar website and at this rate we will be lucky to see any cars running in 2015.

 

All I see is utility work continues, exploratory digging (what are they exploring?), etc. The progress is still painfully slow. If the good people of Cincinnati give the go ahead on the uptown link in this environment they are stupidier than I give them credit for.

 

^ What makes you think the several utility companies working all along the streetcar line are merely undertaking "exploratory digging?" Every day, I see manholes and vaults being rebuilt and loads of new pipe and conduit being installed.

 

"Whaaaat is the deal with all this exploratory digging?"

Typical let's put the cart before the horse. Start ballyhooing the uptown streetcar before the downtown version is physically off the ground. I keep following the progress claims on the Cincinnati Streetcar website and at this rate we will be lucky to see any cars running in 2015.

 

All I see is utility work continues, exploratory digging (what are they exploring?), etc. The progress is still painfully slow. If the good people of Cincinnati give the go ahead on the uptown link in this environment they are stupidier than I give them credit for.

 

The company I work for is in the beginning stages of fabricating and shipping what will ultimately be 420 tons of rebar for this project.  I assure you, this project is going to start moving at a pretty impressive pace here VERY SOON!

Typical let's put the cart before the horse. Start ballyhooing the uptown streetcar before the downtown version is physically off the ground. I keep following the progress claims on the Cincinnati Streetcar website and at this rate we will be lucky to see any cars running in 2015.

 

All I see is utility work continues, exploratory digging (what are they exploring?), etc. The progress is still painfully slow. If the good people of Cincinnati give the go ahead on the uptown link in this environment they are stupidier than I give them credit for.

 

These are the official project dates:

 

Test track & MOF substantial completion: MARCH 1, 2015

Sustantial completion of OTR Loop: JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work: MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service: SEPT. 15, 2016

 

 

As someone who lives in OTR and sees all the utility work as a walk around the neighborhood, I have no reason to believe that they are behind schedule in any way.

 

^For those that have been following this board for years, you may remember that I made a prediction: The streetcar will not be operational before 2017.

 

Well, the official schedule has the streetcar operation operational by 2017, but only by 3 months. So, I was pretty close. If there are any delays, I might still be right. If it does in fact open on time, then I stand corrected.

 

I took a lot of flak on this board for my original point: this project is more complicated, both technically and politically, than it is given credit for, and it's going to take at least 10 years, using the 2007 feasibility study as a starting point.

 

:-)

Eighth, I agree that the project is more complicated politically than some people expected. But I completely disagree that it's more complicated technically. The Cincinnati Streetcar is using the same rail technology that is in use all around the world today. Modern streetcars are more than capable of making it around corners, and making it up the Vine Street hill when the time comes. The contractors are not going to run into any major problems when manufacturing the vehicles or the rail. It's all standard stuff.

 

^ Laying the rail and ordering vehicles is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out what to do with all of the stuff that's already in the street and is in the way. The Duke issue alone has added at least a year to the project.

 

^ Laying the rail and ordering vehicles is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out what to do with all of the stuff that's already in the street and is in the way. The Duke issue alone has added at least a year to the project.

 

But not due to technical issues, but rather, Duke's politicking.

 

^ Laying the rail and ordering vehicles is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out what to do with all of the stuff that's already in the street and is in the way. The Duke issue alone has added at least a year to the project.

Really? How many streetcar systems have you designed?