I can't remember, is there going to be a non-revenue connector in the CBD between Walnut and Main?  Did that get trimmed at some point or am I imagining that it was ever part of the plan?

1,001 Streetcar "Founders' Club" Cards Sold

 

Dec 15, 2014 - News Releases 2014

 

$42,000+ in streetcar fare revenue from sales in less than a week

 

CINCINNATI – Looks like a lot of people are putting a really big train under the tree this year.

 

Since last Tuesday, 1,001 Cincinnati Streetcar “Founders’ Club” cards have been sold, generating more than $42,000 in fare revenue for the streetcar.

 

The limited-edition, commemorative metal “Founders’ Club” cards and matching metal cases cards are good for unlimited rides when the streetcar begins operating in 2016.

 

Three card options are available ($25, $50 and $100).  Only 1,500 cards were produced.  When they’re gone, they’re gone!           

 

First 15 days of service:        $25                  Only 113 left

First 30 days of service:        $50                  Only 197 left

First 60 days of service          $100                Only 189 left

 

Founders’ Club cards are available for sale at:

City of Cincinnati  - 2nd floor cashier’s office

Metro’s sales office, Mercantile arcade across from Government Square

On-line at www.go-metro.com (link on Metro’s homepage)

 

About The Cincinnati Streetcar: The Cincinnati Streetcar will expand transportation options, stimulate development, and enhance livability in and around the center city.  The first phase of the system, which is scheduled to open in September 2016, consists of a 3.6-mile loop extending from The Banks to Findlay Market through Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. The Cincinnati Streetcar is owned by the City of Cincinnati and will be operated by Metro.

 

I can't remember, is there going to be a non-revenue connector in the CBD between Walnut and Main?  Did that get trimmed at some point or am I imagining that it was ever part of the plan?

 

I think that got trimmed.  The trackwork at 12th & Race permits streetcars to turn around in either half of the line. 

 

For those who haven't been to OTR in a few weeks, the new overhead traffic lights and new streetscaping look great.  Race St. has been resurfaced. 

 

^They're really going to town rebuilding sidewalks, curbs, installing the new streetlights, etc. It's starting to look a lot more cohesive. Still sucks that the utilities couldn't be buried but the new poles are tall enough that you basically won't notice the power lines when walking down the sidewalk.

 

It's starting to really feel like certain aspects are reaching completion. It doesn't feel like it has been that long since construction started yet here we are with the OTR loop almost ready to carry trains when they arrive. It's getting exciting.

I can't remember, is there going to be a non-revenue connector in the CBD between Walnut and Main?  Did that get trimmed at some point or am I imagining that it was ever part of the plan?

 

There is no additional connector in the CBD. The design allows for one at Fifth Street but it is not being built for budgetary reasons. (This would've been the southern terminus for the Findlay Market-to-Fifth Street route that was briefly being considered.) I think it's a mistake to eliminate this connector, because it would allow streetcars to "turn back" at Fifth Street if there were some sort of accident south of Fifth.

^They're really going to town rebuilding sidewalks, curbs, installing the new streetlights, etc. It's starting to look a lot more cohesive. Still sucks that the utilities couldn't be buried but the new poles are tall enough that you basically won't notice the power lines when walking down the sidewalk.

 

It's starting to really feel like certain aspects are reaching completion. It doesn't feel like it has been that long since construction started yet here we are with the OTR loop almost ready to carry trains when they arrive. It's getting exciting.

 

Just a note...sidewalks and streetlights along Race St are streetscaping improvements being made by 3CDC and are not related to the streetcar.  We won't be seeing these kinds of improvements along the entire route.  New paving will be laid from curb to curb for the entire route and new stoplights will be added at most intersections, but that's it.

While we're on the subject...

Apparently the wiring will be going up in the next few months on the entire OTR route.  The OCS braces will be up to Wade St south of Liberty (coming from the north) in the next two weeks. I think the entire OTR loop OCS will be completed by Spring. I wish so badly that a Streetcar could arrive next summer!!!! unfortunately, we have to wait until September for car #1 to arrive and shortly there after begin some testing.  I've heard there are slim chances if all goes well it could arrive in August.

The latest Google Street View imagery for all of Elm Street, most of Race Street, and Central Parkway is from 2014 and includes the completed track work.

 

However, the newest imagery for Race Street south of 14th is from 2011 (during the renovation of Washington Park). Most of 12th Street's imagery is from 2011 as well, except for the section of between Clay and Republic.

Apparently the wiring will be going up in the next few months on the entire OTR route.  The OCS braces will be up to Wade St south of Liberty (coming from the north) in the next two weeks. I think the entire OTR loop OCS will be completed by Spring. I wish so badly that a Streetcar could arrive next summer!!!! unfortunately, we have to wait until September for car #1 to arrive and shortly there after begin some testing.  I've heard there are slim chances if all goes well it could arrive in August.

 

Makes me nervous to have all that unenergized copper up there for that long.

Apparently the wiring will be going up in the next few months on the entire OTR route.  The OCS braces will be up to Wade St south of Liberty (coming from the north) in the next two weeks. I think the entire OTR loop OCS will be completed by Spring. I wish so badly that a Streetcar could arrive next summer!!!! unfortunately, we have to wait until September for car #1 to arrive and shortly there after begin some testing.  I've heard there are slim chances if all goes well it could arrive in August.

 

Makes me nervous to have all that unenergized copper up there for that long.

All they need is danger signs just  in-case someone tries to steal it. They won't know it's not charged. Then again most thieves are dumb to begin with.

I'd suggest running a circuit through those wires -- set for "low bake."

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

 

In the early streetcar years Kevin Flynn was a known streetcar supporter who showed up to a variety of pro-streetcar events.  Why someone who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of a high speed car accident (link: http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/02/23/loc_crash_leaves_one.html) would oppose a transportation mode with the best ADA characteristics is baffling. 

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

 

In the early streetcar years Kevin Flynn was a known streetcar supporter who showed up to a variety of pro-streetcar events.  Why someone who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of a high speed car accident (link: http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/02/23/loc_crash_leaves_one.html) would oppose a transportation mode with the best ADA characteristics is baffling. 

 

I think he's playing politics, we'll see how he performs come decision time ;)

 

WLW is a plague on your city.

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

 

In the early streetcar years Kevin Flynn was a known streetcar supporter who showed up to a variety of pro-streetcar events.  Why someone who is confined to a wheelchair as a result of a high speed car accident (link: http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/02/23/loc_crash_leaves_one.html) would oppose a transportation mode with the best ADA characteristics is baffling. 

 

It is mind-boggling. I had no idea that's how he ended up in the wheelchair. He "lost control" on 74, crossed the median, and hit another car head-on. Wow. A miracle no one died.

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

 

While its good to know the kind of bs being spewed out of this radio station, I think its a heck of a lot more productive to summarize basic points instead of going crazy every time some petty little drama is stirred up by them.  I'm kind of getting sick of these sorts of posts.

The power substation has been installed next to Findlay Market, at the corner of Race and Findlay. This location is even more annoying than the Court St substation... because the Streetcar Maintenance Facility is only 1 block away! I don't understand why they put this huge eyesore on a high visibility corner when they should have found a place for it inside the maintenance facility lot. Now that corner is basically ruined as a site for redevelopment, which is such a shame since it's such a important strategic location: immediately adjacent to Findlay Market, high visibility corner, large empty surface lot. There are so few large, empty parcels in OTR, it's just a shame to see one give up its corner real estate for this... hideous eyesore.

 

Who is making decisions about where to place these things?? Imagine if a private developer bought a high visibility empty lot and simply plopped down a windowless trailer, there'd be a justified uproar! It's probably too late to move this substation, but it's totally crazy to me that these decisions aren't being thought through more carefully.

 

 

^ There are two power substations near the north end of Phase 1. One is at the MOF and the other is at Findlay. I believe two were needed in this area so that Phase 1B could be powered.

Kevin Flynn was on 700wlw last night

 

The good news: he said 5 or 6 other individuals are now asking about how they can help pay for streetcar operations After RhineGeist example

 

The bad news: sounded decisively anti rail.  Said you can drive anywhere in this city from his home in less than 15 min. Said trains make sense in Chicago and that Cincinnatians value their time. 

 

I don't think the 6 votes will be there to even study phase 2 of the streetcar unless Murray has a 180 change of heart

 

The host went on to bash millennial saying essentially no one is deciding not to come to Cincinnati because of public transit.  Said Cincinnatians love to drive and that he's afraid were trying to be like nyc, Chicago and Austin.  Said cincinnatians are not environmental 'granola munchers'

 

While its good to know the kind of bs being spewed out of this radio station, I think its a heck of a lot more productive to summarize basic points instead of going crazy every time some petty little drama is stirred up by them.  I'm kind of getting sick of these sorts of posts.

 

Here's why I think it's important.  Certain City council members are flocking to am radio to say things they won't necessarily say at council meetings. In a sense they are more honest and often times the host gets them to let their guard down. 

 

As for the hosts you're probably right. It's about drama and ratings

Hmm so all the sewers must be replaced. Why not replace the sewers to uptown to avoid paying moving of utilities since it will have to be all fixed any way. Will they come back year later and replace sewer lines under the current streetcar path? This is thought out right?

Finally took some time to do it- 60-day Founders is mine.  Maybe I should donate it to a naysaying council memeber with the promise they'll use it?????

Hmm so all the sewers must be replaced. Why not replace the sewers to uptown to avoid paying moving of utilities since it will have to be all fixed any way. Will they come back year later and replace sewer lines under the current streetcar path? This is thought out right?

 

The sewers beneath the streetcar have all been lined with a rosin that creates a pipe within a pipe.  Think of it like a giant long sock you pull through a pipe and then once you've pulled it all the way to the other end you heat it and it turns into hard plastic that lines the inside smoothly.  It shrinks the diameter of the pipe a mere 1/8 of an inch, yet adds another 50-75 years onto the life of the pipe. That's what they did since the County wouldn't move and rebuild the sewers underneath the streetcar. They also rebuilt a few manhole covers.  If you ever walked by streetcar construction in OTR this past summer and smelt a horrendous strong plastic smell they were lining the pipes.

Please take the Business Courier's poll: Are you for or against a plan to study streetcar expansion from OTR to Uptown?

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/pulse/poll/are-you-for-or-against-a-plan-to-study-streetcar-expansion-from-otr-to-uptown/16211781

^They're really going to town rebuilding sidewalks, curbs, installing the new streetlights, etc. It's starting to look a lot more cohesive. Still sucks that the utilities couldn't be buried but the new poles are tall enough that you basically won't notice the power lines when walking down the sidewalk.

 

It's starting to really feel like certain aspects are reaching completion. It doesn't feel like it has been that long since construction started yet here we are with the OTR loop almost ready to carry trains when they arrive. It's getting exciting.

 

Just a note...sidewalks and streetlights along Race St are streetscaping improvements being made by 3CDC and are not related to the streetcar.  We won't be seeing these kinds of improvements along the entire route.  New paving will be laid from curb to curb for the entire route and new stoplights will be added at most intersections, but that's it.

 

New sidewalks are going in but it does not look like they made any provision for improved lighting.  I don't see bases for light poles.  Just 3 cobraheads on wood poles lighting the street still. 

On Race, South of Liberty, all the utilities are underground with one exception... the streetlights, which are cobrahead on wood poles with above-ground wires.  I asked Deatrick about this and he said it would have added $300,000 to the job to replace the cobraheads.

As a resident of Race south of Liberty...ugh. If I had 300k I'd give it to them. It would look so much cleaner if they were underground.

Time-lapse diamond track construction @ 12th and Race: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006774138073

That video is fantastic. Construction in time-lapse and streetcars are two of my favorite things. Combined is even better. Thanks for sharing.

Time-lapse diamond track construction @ 12th and Race: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006774138073

 

John, do you have another link to see video? I cancelled my facebook and I don't see anything without logging in? Thanks.

Time-lapse diamond track construction @ 12th and Race: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006774138073

 

John, do you have another link to see video? I cancelled my facebook and I don't see anything without logging in? Thanks.

 

Time-lapse diamond track construction @ 12th and Race: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006774138073

 

John, do you have another link to see video? I cancelled my facebook and I don't see anything without logging in? Thanks.

 

 

Awesome vid, thanks!

John, thanks for posting.  Fascinating!

^ Got it from Eric Avner who got it from the city's streetcar team.

Crews were able to install the straight track over the FWW bridges this month. Construction will resume in the CBD next year.

 

 

 

The Atlanta Streetcar opened today.  The Journal-Constitution's website had a pretty funny video of a (freelance?) photographer trying to race the streetcar.  I wonder if someone there had said that it would be faster to walk/run than to ride it. 

 

That's priceless. A former Enquirer reporter insisted he could speed walk faster than the streetcar.

 

http://www.ajc.com/videos/news/photojournalist-gets-schooled-by-the-atlanta/vC8Jtg/

Here is the Atlanta streetcar route:

Well the winter break sure went by fast!!! 

 

WALNUT:

I've been told that in the week of January 12 Walnut Street construction will return at 6th street, tying into 3rd around Opening Day (April 6)

MAIN:

Also, Main street will begin at 12th Street in Early March, going southward.  My prediction is track work & station stops are completed on Main Street by November 30.

2ND:

The two curved pieces of 2nd Street will begin at the end of the Reds season, so likely mid-late October, meaning they could also be completed around November 30.

 

STREETCAR DELIVERY:

Vehicle delivery seems to still be on pace for early September 2015, with one vehicle arriving per month through December, where two will arrive in the final month.

 

Atlanta just opened today, One year late according to their construction schedule.  Kansas City says they will receive their vehicles at the same time as us (they are only getting 4) but that they will open before the end of 2015.  That is absolutely impossible.  I would bet Kansas City doesn't start revenue service until June of 2016.  DC has been delayed 2+ years.  The largest delays involve the systems testing and driver training.  FTA is insanely cautious about these things and they are indeed very complicated systems.  FTA approvals are what held Atlanta back by at least 3 months of their 1 year delay and DC is still waiting on FTA approvals (literally any day now)

 

I think we can hit Sept 16, and we would be one of the few systems to come in on time, but that's also why our projects "seems" so much longer than everyone else's. 

Streetcar contingency budget won't land in worst-case scenario

Jan 6, 2015, 2:59pm EST Updated: Jan 6, 2015, 3:26pm EST

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

The Cincinnati streetcar project's contingency budget is up to $1.3 million a month after project leaders reported that in a worst-case scenario the fund could be depleted to about $80,000 by the end of the project.

 

Project executive John Deatrick and project manager Chris Eilerman told Cincinnati City Council's transportation committee that they had refined the budget, renegotiated pricing on some items and changed the design for fencing that will surround the electric substations that power the streetcar.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2015/01/06/streetcar-contingency-budget-wont-land-in-worst.html

The Atlanta streetcar is roughly the same length as Cincinnati's right? I ask because I see that they only have 12 stops, while we have 18.  I've thought from the beginning that Cincinnati's system has way too many stops for the amount of ground it covers.  In the video where the reporter is racing the streetcar, you can see the train picks up a decent amount of speed because the train doesn't have to stop every other block.  I worry that our system will be less than optimal because it will be so stop and go, which will slow down service, much as it does for the bus.  I wish we could have removed a few stops, and spent the resulting cost savings on under grounding utilities or other aesthetic improvements.

^The ATL streetcar is significantly shorter.  Only about 1.25 miles (one way).

Atlanta's is smaller. 2.7 track miles compared to our 3.6 miles.

 

I actually think we could use another northbound stop along the south edge of Washington Park.  You could catch some walkshed area there because its at the corner of the route. Then maybe perhaps another southbound one in the vicinity of 14th and Race to serve the Vine St. restaurants. 

I think our stop spacing is pretty good. The only weird stop spacing is on Walnut where there are two stops only 1 block apart. It's not a huge deal to add or remove stops over time, though. Tacoma is planning to remove an existing stop when they expand their modern streetcar system. John Schneider[/member] has mentioned that he thinks more stops could be added over time to our Phase 1A.

Aren't our stops more complicated than other streetcars? Since we have the level-boarding platforms, a whole platform would have to be demolished or built to accommodate those in wheelchairs. And depending on the size of the sidewalk at a certain location, it may not be as easy as it sounds.

 

Unless we want to just stop the streetcar on the curb and have inaccessible stops for the elderly/handicapped. But I think that's a bad idea. Having a uniform stop design is important so people know where and how to get on, too.

^ The one thing that kind of irks me about the stops is that the tracks swing over to the curb by about a foot or so, rather than the curb jutting out into the street and keeping the tracks straight.  I can understand why they did this, since some of the stops have already been hit by cars as it is.  Nevertheless, while it would be easy enough to decommission a stop, to add a new one and "meet the standard" would require tearing up and rebuilding the tracks out front. 

^ The one thing that kind of irks me about the stops is that the tracks swing over to the curb by about a foot or so, rather than the curb jutting out into the street and keeping the tracks straight.  I can understand why they did this, since some of the stops have already been hit by cars as it is.  Nevertheless, while it would be easy enough to decommission a stop, to add a new one and "meet the standard" would require tearing up and rebuilding the tracks out front. 

 

If an additional stop were to be added, I bet we would just build the new station farther out to meet the existing tracks. I doubt we would go through the trouble of ripping out the tracks and making them swing over to meet the stop.

Will they bring back the downtowner to help feed the streetcar?

Adding more stops is very unlikely, nor would it help the system.  I think the Stops are essentially where they should go, with one major exception.  The 9th and Walnut stop should have been up at Court & Walnut. It was put on the southside of 9th so that the right lane of walnut could be a continuous through lane from Central Parkway to 9th street between 7 and 9am.  No idea why that's considered important, but that's why it was done.

 

Adding more stops won't happen. This is a small circulator, these stops are generally only 1-3 blocks apart from each other anyway.  More stops slows the system down even further.  18 is plenty for a 1.8 mile in each direction route.  You could argue that some of the 18 should be moved a bit, but there's 0 chance, nor should we, add more stops.

Adding more stops is very unlikely, nor would it help the system.  I think the Stops are essentially where they should go, with one major exception.  The 9th and Walnut stop should have been up at Court & Walnut. It was put on the southside of 9th so that the right lane of walnut could be a continuous through lane from Central Parkway to 9th street between 7 and 9am.  No idea why that's considered important, but that's why it was done.

 

Probably because a lot of people use Walnut and 9th to get to I-75. That also explains why there are two turn lanes from Central Parkway WB to Walnut Street (compared to only one turn lane at every other cross street).

I think our stop spacing is pretty good. The only weird stop spacing is on Walnut where there are two stops only 1 block apart. It's not a huge deal to add or remove stops over time, though. Tacoma is planning to remove an existing stop when they expand their modern streetcar system. John Schneider[/member] has mentioned that he thinks more stops could be added over time to our Phase 1A.

 

When I had a group in Portland last spring, I brought up this question to Chris Smith, who's on the board of Portland Streetcar Inc. and has a popular transportation blog. Before the streetcar was extended east across the Willamette River, where the stops are farther apart, I calculated that Portland's westside loop had 50% more stops per mile than Cincinnati's system. Chris asked me how many stops we had, and I told him 18 in 3.6 miles. He thought for a minute and then said, "Two-tenths of a mile between stops on average -- that's perfect." He went on to say that Portland now thinks the stops on the westside were built too close together.

 

I agree will Bill that we could use a stop on the south side of Washington Park. I asked them to add the stop @ 12th and Main to serve Upper Main Street better -- it was kind of left out in the planning process. I think the stop at Ninth and Walnut was mainly meant to serve the Library.

 

Stops can definitely be added. Tacoma added two stops on each side of Commerce Street a couple of years ago to facilitate new development there, eight or nine years after Tacoma's streetcar opened for business.

 

I'm not crazy about how the trackway moves in to meet the stops. It's going to cause some unnecessary swaying and make the ride less pleasant. When the streetcar pulls up to dock at a stop and then depart a few seconds later, people de-boarding and boarding are going to get a bit of a jolt.

 

By the way, I'm leading another trip out to Portland in March if anyone wants to go.