October 15, 200717 yr Big day tomorrow I'm optimistic. I wish I could go to the big meeting...I'm in training tomorrow with no control over breaks. :(
October 15, 200717 yr wish i could be there also. Alas, I have band rehearsal. ugh. Best of luck though!
October 15, 200717 yr Big day tomorrow I searched through past messages but didn't see anything. What's happening tomorrow? I wrote an article yesterday about this project for All Aboard Ohio's newsletter. Sounds like I will need to rewrite it? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 15, 200717 yr Author First and foremost, the plan to build the Cincinnati Streetcar will be in front of Cincinnati City Council's Economic Development Committee next Tuesday, October 16th at 1:00p in City Council Chambers on the Third Floor of City Hall, 801 Plum Street. Lots of cheap parking is available in the old Lazarus garage southeast of City Hall. This is a very important hearing, the first step in the approval process. Please try to attend and, if you wish, fill-out a Speaker's Card sign up to make comments.
October 16, 200717 yr I received an invite via Facebook but can't make it due to class all day Tuesday. Please keep me informed!
October 16, 200717 yr A streetcar to desire Money details come today BY MARGARET A. MCGURK | [email protected] Cincinnati today will unveil plans on how to pay for a four-mile, $100 million downtown streetcar line that advocates believe will contribute $2 billion to the city's economy and transform Over-the-Rhine. The plan's cheerleaders include politicians, transit activists and urban developers. So far, it seems to have no enemies, although that could change when the city explains where it will get the money to fund the plan. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS01/710160348 Streetcar proposal at a glance Details about the proposed streetcar system linking downtown and Over-the-Rhine, according to city officials: Time to build: Two to three years. Cost to build: $102 million in 2010 dollars*. Length: 3.9 miles with 18 stops. Cost to operate: $2 million to $2.8 million annually (not counting fare revenue). Proposed fare: 50 cents. Daily ridership: 4,600 in 2010; 6,400 in 2015. * Includes tracks, cars, maintenance facility and a 15-25 percent contingency allowance.
October 16, 200717 yr "We really tried to pick a layup here," said John Schneider, head of the Alliance for Regional Transit. Who does this cat think he is? :wink: Congrats John. I wish you all luck this afternoon! I expect a detailed report since I can't attend.
October 16, 200717 yr I would attend, but my prof won't let me out of class. I'll be cheering you guys on from the future Uptown connection of the streetcar route.
October 16, 200717 yr ^thomasbw, the helmet works on any kind of bike... but, yes, it's Italian too. Nolan though, not a Vespa. I had a conversation about the streetcar with a "decider" and that person thought the current idea to be "stupid" and was eager to see what the funding recommendations were. Could be a really interesting meeting today, though I'm not sure that these concerns will come out very at the meeting itself. You can kind of see from today's article the angle that concerned parties will have... the cost and where it goes. I think advocates need to be prepared to explain to the rest of the city why it makes sense to just have OTR and downtown first.
October 16, 200717 yr It might be overkill, but I could post updates here from the meeting if anyone is interested...
October 16, 200717 yr ^Hell yeah. Live Event Coverage updates via Wi-Fi. Your getting into Mac World territory. ;-)
October 16, 200717 yr It might be overkill, but I could post updates here from the meeting if anyone is interested... I'm trapped in my office, so I'd love to have updates. Could be a really interesting meeting today, though I'm not sure that these concerns will come out very at the meeting itself. You can kind of see from today's article the angle that concerned parties will have... the cost and where it goes. I think advocates need to be prepared to explain to the rest of the city why it makes sense to just have OTR and downtown first. I wonder if it even matters what the rest of the city thinks. Provided that the funding comes exclusively from increased revenue from property taxes due to values jumping near the line, grants, donations, or other sources within CBD & OTR, what valid opposition could anyone from outside of those neighborhoods have? Basically, if money isn't coming out of their pocket, it doesn't really effect them. I wouldn't be surprised to hear some hemming and hawing from outside CBD/OTR, but I'm not sure that they will be able to actually do anything about it. On a related note, most of the negative vibe I've heard regarding the streetcar has been from friends of mine who live in the suburbs, who are upset because it is totally contained within the city and won't do anything for them. I always wonder where these people were back in 2002, when we could have actually made light rail happen and included their precious neighborhoods in our urban planning. It's too late for that now, but at least the city can have a line to circulate people throughout downtown.
October 16, 200717 yr Cramer, I'll be there ... look for a guy with a blue button-up and khakis with brown shoes. You've met me before, but I doubt you remember what I look like?
October 16, 200717 yr Ok, I'm a bit late to the party, but hey I beat Berding to the meeting. I'm up in the peanut gallery, which is a great vantage point for seeing which members are paying attention. Speaking of which, we've got Bortz, Berding, Crowley, Qualls, Thomas. There's a lot of nodding while Moore is presenting the info that, by now, is familiar to all. Moore is talking about the public process and how the route was selected, answering a question from Bortz. 96 percent of respondents at meeting thought this is a good investment. Now discusing federal fundig sources. CMAQ, STP, enhancement funds, so on. FTA small starts is better option, Congress considering changes to make this a better fit. Federal funding not timely. Dohoney adds that to be up and running by 2010, no fed money. State capital funding. Several funding cycles as regions top priority. Local sources like TIF and SIDs.
October 16, 200717 yr Capital funding breakdown. TIF 25 mil citt capital 25 mil Blue ash 11 mil public private partnerships 20 mil private contributions 11 mil state capital 10 mil Additional 80m to get to uptown. Going to uptown makes this a better process, but not ideal for first stage. Operating projections fares: 1.1 m the rest sponsorships and SID. Missed the slide, but that 2.3 m total.
October 16, 200717 yr Wrapping up the presentation. Stressing the 14:1 benefit. dohoney talking about how this funding doesn't come from the operating budget. Making the point that doing nothing means going backwards. If the city is going to capture its potential, must step out big on this one. Seize the moment, must take risks. To delay is to kill the project. Act with confidence. Rando would explode if he heard this.
October 16, 200717 yr Dohoney speaking to address concerns he knows are coming. Now Bortz before questions. Props to all. Time for city to show that it can walk and chew gum at the same time. "we can't afford not to do this." City should move to make this happen now. Question about why not up Vine? Sounds like a 3CDC question. Moore answers that more development possibilities in OTR on that alignment. CBD route b/c of preexisting infrastructure of Main Walnut bridges.
October 16, 200717 yr Did I read that Blue ash will contribute $11 mil? Is this the money from the sale of land around the Blue Ash airport or is Blue Ash concerned with mass transit in Cincinnati? (If it is the latter, I am convinced that this is the first sign of the Apocalypse)
October 16, 200717 yr blue ash airport. Sorry unclear, trying to go quickly. Bortz points out that this isn't just about Portland. Little Rock has this fer crissakes! Going over the resolution to begin discussion. Resolution will allow the admin to get more specific with funding sources. Qualls up. Exciting to see vision that can generate economic development in neighborhoods and competitive advantage for city in the region. Concerned about what sacrifices will be made, what are the consequences of this decision. Not ready to vote on this resolution without further info on allocation from TIF and capital funding. Election season.
October 16, 200717 yr Bortz pushes back that it is proper to move on this resolution now. Recognizing that this is not an ordinance for specific allocation. Berding up. Request for clarification on next steps for council. How do we go from today to start of timeline. Dohoney responds that admin will present info on capital budget and TIF funding. Within 4 weeks on follow-up. Dohoney doesnt want to speculate about how uptown phase would work out feom a timing standpoint. Would have to get funding and political support from uptown interests. Federal process not a straight line. Commit to start right away on next phase once the first gets underway. Berding asks about NKY, are they interested? Dohoney hasn't talked with govt folks in NKY. Berding notes that the budget discussion has focused on expense side without considering how to increase revenue. Good point; one that Thomas echoes with his comments. "golden oportunity to grow economy"
October 16, 200717 yr Bortz pushes back that it is proper to move on this resolution now. Recognizing that this is not an ordinance for specific allocation. Berding up. Request for clarification on next steps for council. How do we go from today to start of timeline. Dohoney responds that admin will present info on capital budget and TIF funding. Within 4 weeks on follow-up. Dohoney doesnt want to speculate about how uptown phase would work out feom a timing standpoint. Would have to get funding and political support from uptown interests. Federal process not a straight line. Commit to start right away on next phase once the first gets underway. Berding asks about NKY, are they interested? Dohoney hasn't talked with govt folks in NKY. Berding notes that the budget discussion has focused on expense side without considering how to increase revenue. Good point; one that Thomas echoes with his comments. "golden oportunity to grow economy" Good point, usually you have to spend money to make money.
October 16, 200717 yr Thomas does not want to wait. Sick of hearing about dwcelopment accross the river. Need to make moves to be a progressive city. Strange but valid closing note about protecting blind folks from quiet cars. Qualls offers amendment to direct administration to continue streetcar plan, and report back to council within 4 weeks on sources of funds and impact on capital budget and city and neighborhood projects. She's making sure to stress the neighborhood bit. Election season.
October 16, 200717 yr I'm too young to remember much about Qualls as mayor, but I thought that I would be pleased with her performance on council, based on what I had read about her. But between her casting doubt on The Banks and hedging on this streetcar plan, I'm starting to get pretty annoyed with her. On the flip side, Bortz and Thomas sound like they're ready to start digging up streets tomorrow, which is great to see!
October 16, 200717 yr Request for changes to language of ordinance while Crowley buys them time for revision. Crowley is for it as well, but wants more info. Crowley: seems to him that we meet needs for current movement while influencing new development and movement patterns. Moore responds that its about serving existing assets while unlocking underutilized resources.
October 16, 200717 yr Qualls isn't throwing as muxh cold water on this as I am maybe suggesting. She's just being cautious. I think all agree that they want to have more info, and, as Bortz says, have several more bites at this thing.
October 16, 200717 yr Thank you cramer for the live action!! I am sick with the flu and couldn't go. I am going to take cecil thomas off my signature, he is for this moment forgiven.
October 16, 200717 yr Crowley knows the score. "We're going to get pushback from folks that dont like the route and from other neighborhoods that feel like they aren't seeing the same investment as downtown. Someone upthread said that shouldn't matter but it does to councilmen. Crowley now cautioning that we much make sound comparisons qith other places like Portland. Moore replies that this is based on Cincinnati and it's situation, not just dropping Portland's plan into the basin.
October 16, 200717 yr Qualls is talking about routes on Madison to Madisonville, Hamilton to College Hill, Glenway to wherever that goes. Again, concern about neighborhood access. In long term interest to strengthen every neighborhood as a transit oriented, pedestrian area where people want to live. Making the point that Portland looked at this as a bigger scale issue, a comprehensive plan. Dohoney responds that this is taking place as part of a holistic approach to revitalizing City.
October 16, 200717 yr Dohoney talking about importance of reconstituted planning department. Job creation, workforce development, waterfront development, housing attractive to several income levels. Dohoney kicks ass.
October 16, 200717 yr Amended resolution passes unanimously. Public comment time. Two week resident up first, here from NYC. Demystify OTR and downtown, and attract more young professionals. Some dude named Brad Thomas droned on for a few minutes, urging that we move forward. Wasn't paying attention. Julie kept it under two minutes. Don't think that will hold for Mr Cincinnati. Tarbell makes the good point that we spent 300m on reconfiguring Fort Washington Way. Point two about strength of city built on rail transit. Times up and there's no stopping Jim.
October 16, 200717 yr Some lady says that this is overpromising, that this will serve only rich, and that she wouldn't trust Bortz with $1 of her money. Nice.
October 16, 200717 yr Bortz closes sqying that this is the most important project in Cincinnati in 75 years. And I'm spent.
October 16, 200717 yr http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/10/15/daily18.html Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 4:17 PM EDT City manager proposes financing for streetcar lineBusiness Courier of Cincinnati - by Dan Monk Senior staff reporter Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney on Tuesday urged City Council to quickly approve a financing plan for a $102 million streetcar system that would link Over-the-Rhine's Findlay Market to Great American Ball Park by 2010. "We have to seize the momentum when it's there," Dohoney told members of council's economic development committee. "It's there now."
October 16, 200717 yr Author Greg Harris: Bring Back Street Cars Today's Enquirer asks readers to contribute our thoughts about bringing back street cars in Cincinnati. I strongly believe Cincinnati should implement cost effective transportation alternatives that in other metro-areas have proven pennies to the dollars in terms of their return on investment. As your Councilman, I will advocate for the re-implementation of a street car system in Cincinnati. Other medium-sized cities (with less assets than Cincinnati) like Tucson, AZ., Little Rock, AK., Birmingham AL., and Trenton, N.J., have enjoyed tremendous dividends through adoption of streetcars. A recent USA Today article (see below link) states that their charm and cost effectiveness is “so appealing that some developers are helping pay for the systems.” In Cincinnati, similar public-private partnerships should be pursued to leverage our compactness as a city by re-activating street car lines that will make transportation safe and seamless and will dramatically spur economic development. In fact, a recent estimate projects $15 in new economic activity for every $1 invested(see second link below). Street cars are good for the environment, good for the economy, and will help counteract years of sprawling development trends by unleashing new development and new wealth in the urban core. Cincinnati can and must recapture the boldness and confidence of those who built this city. The symbols of the Queen City’s “can-do” spirit abound, including wonderful neighborhoods, incredible arts and culture, a great parks system, and historically significant architecture. Street cars will help us leverage and inter-connect these tremendous assets, harnesses our rich past, and become a Can Do Cincinnati again. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-08-streetcars_x.htm http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/city/downloads/city_pdf16341.pdf posted by Harris for Council at 6:38 AM 1 comments links to this post
October 16, 200717 yr Author John Eby on Streetcars Sometimes, when you are planning for the future you have to reach into the past. My late father used to tell stories of riding the streetcars and inclines in Cincinnati when he was a boy. He loved the streetcar and was passionate about them. When the decision was made to turn away from streetcars and they tore down the inclines my father was heart broken. He never rode public transportation again. I'm really not supposed to do this, but I think that Chris Bortz really hit the nail on the head with proposing streetcars in Cincinnati. I love the idea. It is bold, exciting and "do-able". It is so "Cincinnati". Streetcars are a great investment in our future as a city. The slow moving cars will spur economic and housing development. They will help redefine our city. When I am elected to city council I look forward to working with Mr. Bortz to develop a multi-generational vision that focuses on Building Bridges across the three “rivers” that divide our city, I-75/I-71/ and Ft. Washington Way. [youtube=425,350]
October 16, 200717 yr And the unreported news today? Melody Sawyer Richardson was elected chairman of the board of SORTA this morning. She was a co-chairman of the 2002 campaign for better public transportation in Cincinnati. In its own way, this was just as important as the vote at City Hall today. Let the good times roll!
October 16, 200717 yr Five members of council voted in favor of a resolution advising Dohoney to report back within four weeks on the fiscal impact that the financing plan will have on other capital projects planned by the city. Ok, who were the council members that did not vote or vote against? I am still trying to widdle down who to vote for on Nov. 6th.
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