^ Actually, it starts at 5:30p. Speakers will start at 6:45p. It's going to be a crowd.

I agree with natininja, the west side eventually has to be placated. Yes, it is tough because of the low density of the Queensgate area, but to get their support, they need to be included. Lower Price Hill and Price Hill itself, are dense, beautiful, historic areas that would be served well by mass transit. Also, pride of community is huge to westsiders. If revitalization and development can take place, with the help of mass transit, in areas currently believed by them to be rapidly declining, then you will see adamant support for a transit system.

 

We have discussed on here before about the complications of getting mass transit up to Price Hill. However, I'm sure it can be figured out, and eventually it will need to be done. A transit system cannot be built by excluding two of the city's largest neighborhoods.

City unveils streetcar route

 

The Cincinnati streetcar will feature 21 stops, including stations by Great American Ball Park, Fountain and Government squares, Music Hall and Findlay Market, on a 4.9-mile loop stretching from Downtown to Uptown, a new map to be released today shows.

 

Looks like the stops have been set. I'm sort of surprised there isn't a single stop between Vine/W Clifton and Vine/Corry. I like the locations though.

^ I think they need another one on Main between The Banks and 5th Street, perhaps on the bridge over FWW.

^Agreed.

 

Missed this Enquirer article yesterday...

 

 

Mallory, Biden discuss streetcars

 

With groundbreaking on the Cincinnati streetcar perhaps only weeks away, Mayor Mark Mallory met Tuesday night in Washington with Vice President Joe Biden to "tell our story" - and to gently lobby for future funding for the $128 million-plus project.

 

Mallory, in Washington with City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. for a conference with officials from other cities building streetcar systems to share strategies and review federal funding opportunities, was part of a group of elected black officials that met with Biden at the vice president's house.

 

Each official had an opportunity to discuss an issue of local interest with the vice president, with Mallory using his time to discuss the streetcar project's importance to Cincinnati.

 

cont

City unveils streetcar route

 

Written by

Barry M. Horstman

[email protected]

6:11 AM, Feb. 16, 2011|

 

The Cincinnati streetcar will feature 21

stops, including stations by Great American

Ball Park, Fountain and Government

squares, Music Hall and Findlay Market, on

a 4.9-mile loop stretching from Downtown

to Uptown, a new map to be released

today shows.

 

The map details a trip in which

Cincinnatians, starting sometime in 2013,

could board a sleek new streetcar on the c

entral riverfront, sit back as the center city

and Over-the-Rhine roll by, and after a

smooth climb uphill to Uptown, hop off

about 20 minutes later on the fringes of the

University of Cincinnati.

 

Read more at: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20110216&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=102160346&Ref=AR

^ I think they need another one on Main between The Banks and 5th Street, perhaps on the bridge over FWW.

 

Just curious, what would be the point of having a stop on the bridge?  No matter what when they get off they'd have to cross either 2nd st. or 3rd. st to get to where they are going.  If anything I would think you'd put one on the north side of 3rd st. since there is already one planned by GABP and that would cover everyone going that direction.  I don't know nearly as much about this as you so that's why I was wondering.

City unveils streetcar route

 

Written by

Barry M. Horstman

[email protected]

6:11 AM, Feb. 16, 2011|

 

The Cincinnati streetcar will feature 21

stops, including stations by Great American

Ball Park, Fountain and Government

squares, Music Hall and Findlay Market, on

a 4.9-mile loop stretching from Downtown

to Uptown, a new map to be released

today shows.

 

The map details a trip in which

Cincinnatians, starting sometime in 2013,

could board a sleek new streetcar on the c

entral riverfront, sit back as the center city

and Over-the-Rhine roll by, and after a

smooth climb uphill to Uptown, hop off

about 20 minutes later on the fringes of the

University of Cincinnati.

 

Read more at: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20110216&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=102160346&Ref=AR

 

Anyone else notice this "slipup" in the article?

 

"the streetcar project also faces several other potential obstacles, the most notable being opponents' plans to place a charter amendment on the November ballot that would forbid the city from building or operating the system."

 

Now I could be reading too much into this, but I believe this reveals some insight:

1) It could be a misprint(which I find not possible because the opposition and the Enquirer are in constant contact.  They'd get an important fact like "ballot initiative in may" right)

2) The opposition is having a real tough time getting enough signatures in the time period stated

3) It's all smoke and mirrors from the opposition

 

Regardless, CFP - John - and the rest are doing a great job being prepared for any and every situation.  I wish I could be at the party tonight.  Can't wait to see the video

is there going to be any food provided at the event tonight? Sorry everyone i invited keeps asking me..

^ They are definitely getting signatures, and CFP has been meeting continuously to defeat a May ballot initiative. A good deal of money has been raised already, and the networks so carefully developed in 2009 have been re-activated. Actually, I think streetcar supporters are even more engaged now than they were then.

 

Consider where we were in November 2009: the route was still undetermined, there was no engineering, and we didn't have the $80 million in Federal, state and private grants that we have today. Plus the ballot language this time is much, much more offensive. People just haven't focused on that yet, but they will.

 

We've come a long way. And we'll beat them again.

I think Brad has arranged for one or more food trucks to be there. Might be a good time to patronize all the OTR restaurantsl

^ I think they need another one on Main between The Banks and 5th Street, perhaps on the bridge over FWW.

 

Just curious, what would be the point of having a stop on the bridge?  No matter what when they get off they'd have to cross either 2nd st. or 3rd. st to get to where they are going.  If anything I would think you'd put one on the north side of 3rd st. since there is already one planned by GABP and that would cover everyone going that direction.  I don't know nearly as much about this as you so that's why I was wondering.

 

As strange as that large gap looks... when looking at it, until FWW gets capped and something gets built on top, there's no point to putting a stop between there.  If you're at 3rd, cross FWW and walk towards the freedom center and you'll hit a stop.  If you're at 4th 1 block up gets you to 5th.  Plus, since only one side of 3rd is developed, it lowers the demand potential for that intersection.  They can add a stop to FWW whenever the caps get built and they structures go up. 

Pretty exciting stuff. Here's link to an interactive map.

 

http://cincinnati-oh.gov/noncms/projects/streetcar/stops/streetcar_stops.cfm

 

Attached a screenshot of a more detailed map.

John, I couldn't make the meeting so I made a donation last night.  Many of us applaud your efforts to bring Streetcars to Cincinnati.

 

Here is the link for others that would like to donate to a worthy cause.

https://secure.pledgeconnect.com/donation.aspx?cincinnatiansforprogress

Thanks. This has been pretty amazing. The credit goes to two really hard-working event planners on the campaign committee who put this together in a very short time. But the best part is, in the process of rounding up hosts for the event, we now have offers from others who want to put on fund-raisers for us, and they will do a lot of the work.

 

If you plan to pay at the door, I'd get there early.

Thanks for the donation link......  just completed mine.

Check out the 251 Walnut stop.  There's half a person standing in the middle of the roadway :).

 

http://cincinnati-oh.gov/noncms/projects/streetcar/stops/streetcar_stops.cfm

HUGE HUGE crowd at Grammer's tonight!

HUGE crowd at Grammer's tonight! Met John Schneider and a rep from Parson Brinckerhoff, saw Vice Mayor Qualls and Laure Quinlivan. Estimate 200-300 people in attendance.

Fantastic turn out! After party has spread through OTR.  MOTR, Neon's...

Enquirer article is up.

 

Streetcar backers prepare 'round two'

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110216/NEWS0108/102170336/Streetcar-backers-prepare-round-two-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

 

Streetcar backers prepare 'round two'

By Barry M. Horstman, 8:09 PM, Feb. 16, 2011

 

Calling the task ahead "round two" - an annoying reality in that he thought round one had ended in a knockout win for his side - Rob Richardson vowed before an enthusiastic Over-the-Rhine audience Wednesday night to "beat them again" so Cincinnati can move forward with its $128 million-plus streetcar plan.

 

At a historic Over-the-Rhine bar only blocks from the streetcar's route, Richardson and more than 200 supporters eagerly climbed back into the ring to again take on opponents doggedly trying to derail an ambitious plan alternately hailed as a linchpin of Cincinnati's future and decried as an ill-timed waste of money.

Streetcar backers prepare 'round two'

By Barry M. Horstman, 8:09 PM, Feb. 16, 2011

 

Calling the task ahead "round two" - an annoying reality in that he thought round one had ended in a knockout win for his side - Rob Richardson vowed before an enthusiastic Over-the-Rhine audience Wednesday night to "beat them again" so Cincinnati can move forward with its $128 million-plus streetcar plan.

 

At a historic Over-the-Rhine bar only blocks from the streetcar's route, Richardson and more than 200 supporters eagerly climbed back into the ring to again take on opponents doggedly trying to derail an ambitious plan alternately hailed as a linchpin of Cincinnati's future and decried as an ill-timed waste of money.

 

So opponents are officially waiting until November.  The legality of this now comes into play.  Construction on the streetcar will be under way for many months before this is even put to the vote. 

 

Anyone have pics or videos of the event tonight?

I put a pic on my twitter feed: @rob_jaques and if you search the Hash tag (#StreetcarRally) other people put some pics up.

We raised 250% of our goal this evening, and more checks will be coming in over the next few days. We have now have enough money in the bank to hire a top-flight campaign manager for a May campaign.

 

Lots of new faces, lots of new email addresses.

 

I still think they're on the ballot in May. Can't imagine they really want to delay it -- the only reason would be that they can't get the signatures. A november ballot just gives us more time to organize.

 

Nice job, everyone. Onward and upward.

 

 

^ I think they need another one on Main between The Banks and 5th Street, perhaps on the bridge over FWW.

 

I have to disagree. The difference in speed & accessibility & efficiency is not aided by another stop at this location.  John, while I know you have a lot of experience with this I would defer to the planning of the DC H Street streetcar (currently still in progress), and existing lines internationally etc:  Streetcars are not like local buses with regards to stops as well meaning that the tracks and understanding of the system (sight of tracks and notability of stops) allows the stops to be effective/present while not being immediately accessible (meaning every block) . 

(ie 1 stop every 2 blocks = a system 50% slower than one stop every 3 blocks while also allowing the identification of the stop location to be 50% more notable)

>Lots of new faces

 

I think a stop on the Main Street bridge over FWW would be a "call stop" where the vehicle doesn't stop unless someone is waiting at the stop or if someone signals they want to get off. Otherwise, it skips the stop. I imagine there would be long periods of a typical day where the stop would be skipped.

 

But imagine if you park in one of the new garages along Second Street or live in one of new apartments on the north edge of the Banks and you work around Fountain Square. You're not going to want to backtrack to Freedom Way to catch the streetcar. People hate to go out of direction to get to their destinations.

 

And a lot of people would like to catch a ride up the hill between Third and Fourth or in bad weather.

 

Then there are Reds games ...

Brace yourself.  The worst poll in the history of polls has just come out.  Given to the enquirer by Finney

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/10/a-new-streetcar-survey/

More on that poll from City Beat

"CityBeat was contacted by a woman who was called to participate in the poll. Although she asked that her name not be used, she is a 58-year-old, recently retired credit union manager who lives in College Hill."

"It didn't seem to me that it was a poll. It seemed to me like propaganda.."

 

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-1773-polls-questions-and-minimum-standards.html

^ Can someone tweet this or put in on Facebook? Or both?

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Cincinnati-Streetcar-Stops-Announced/0JnvYqyEz0mcphyHwgW61Q.cspx

 

Good video from Channel 12 on the streetcar stops.

 

Thanks for the info Quimbob!  We should send it to Horstman and the editors at the Enquirer

Done.

Transportation officials readying stance on streetcars

Business Courier - by Dan Monk - Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 11:35am EST

 

The Ohio Department of Transportation is developing a statewide policy on streetcars, a document that is likely to influence future funding decisions on urban circulators in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.

 

"We're going to begin working on the policy soon," said Greg Murphy, assistant chief of staff for ODOT Director Jerry Wray. "Maybe in 45 days, six weeks or so, we'll release something on what our stance is on streetcars."

 

cont

 

 

Note: At the end of the article there is a survey...

 

The Business Courier wants to know what you think. Please click here to take our streetcar survey. It's only six questions, intended to measure whether the Cincinnati business community believes in the project.

 

 

 

 

"We're going to begin working on the policy soon," said Greg Murphy, assistant chief of staff for ODOT Director Jerry Wray. "Maybe in 45 days, six weeks or so, we'll release something on what our stance is on streetcars."

 

 

Does this complicate a Spring(March) ground breaking?

Fun fact for today: in the state of Ohio, it is illegal for a person to collect signatures to place an issue on the ballot unless that person is an qualified elector, i.e. a properly registered voter who lives within the jurisdiction where the issue will be voted on.

 

So, if you see someone gathering signatures for the anti-rail ballot issue who you know is not a Cincinnati resident or who is otherwise not legally able to vote in Cincinnati, note the date and time, get their name and take a picture. Send all of the information to Cincinnatians for Progress @ 417 Vine Street, #202, Cincinnati 45202.

^ Awesome!!!  Where does Chris Finney live.... is he collecting signatures?! 

^I hope you guys can fill their lawyer's plates with all kinds of infractions and legal questions that need to be answered. Time to play hardball...

Done.

?

^ He was referring to

 

^ Can someone tweet this or put in on Facebook? Or both?

Don’t give up now on streetcar plan

Business Courier - by Doug Bolton, Courier Publisher

Date: Friday, February 18, 2011, 6:00am EST

 

The streetcar plan is not perfect, but it remains critically necessary for our city to advance.  Despite how easy it would be to join its detractors, I remain a supporter, as I was long ago when I wrote my first pro-streetcar column about the streetcar in July 2009.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2011/02/18/dont-give-up-now-on-streetcar-plan.html

 

 

 

 

Fun fact for today: in the state of Ohio, it is illegal for a person to collect signatures to place an issue on the ballot unless that person is an qualified elector, i.e. a properly registered voter who lives within the jurisdiction where the issue will be voted on.

 

So, if you see someone gathering signatures for the anti-rail ballot issue who you know is not a Cincinnati resident or who is otherwise not legally able to vote in Cincinnati, note the date and time, get their name and take a picture. Send all of the information to Cincinnatians for Progress @ 417 Vine Street, #202, Cincinnati 45202.

 

During the Issue 9 campaign I was personally stopped by Chris Finney in Northside and asked to sign the "streetcar petition."  Of course, he got quite a mouthful from me after that, but I didn't know it was illegal for him to do so.  I will be keeping my eyes peeled from this point on.

^ Get a pic of him and the petition if you can.

I won't be able to recognize this city in 12 years with streetcars linking the inner city and all of the density that will accompany it downtown, uptown and Walnut Hills.  Can you guys imagine driving down Liberty and not seeing lots and falling down buildings, but rows lining the street, giving the area a majestic feel on that broad avenue?  If I live to see it a tear will come to my eye, guranteed.

I would have a tear in my eye, too, because you will be driving rather than riding on the streetcar! Driving? Really?

^ hahaha. 

I would have a tear in my eye, too, because you will be driving rather than riding on the streetcar! Driving? Really?

 

 

Damn skippy I'd be driving.  I enjoy the freedom of seeing Cincinnati the way I want to see it, taking particular routes and a vehicle facilitates this much better than fixed rail transit.  I wouldn't really know how much impact the streetcar network had unless I navigated the surrounding blocks and areas in an auto.

I guess you haven't been to too many places with streetcars.

I guess you haven't been to too many places with streetcars.

 

Like Philly which plans on restoring at least 52 miles of Streetcar over the next 2 decades and expanding there network by another 57 miles.    Business's and residents alike are eagerly waiting for the restorations...... since it would help struggling neighborhoods and add capacity to congested bus routes.    The Restored routes would connect the Southern areas of the city with the Core , and the Northwestern parts of the city with the core.    Also service the waterfront area which along with the southern area will be redeveloped into a Massive Dense Development.    Streetcars also go outside Philly into Media , Drexel Hill , Clifton Heights , Darby.....

I guess you haven't been to too many places with streetcars.

 

Certainly not Cincinnati.

 

I've been to a ton of cities, domestic and abroad with great transit.  Unless Cincinnati is going to transform into a subway system comparable to South Korea or Western Europe, I think seeing the city in a car still is advantageous to doing what I would like to do, which is see the city for myself.  Live in reality.