February 19, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much?
February 19, 201114 yr Live in reality. Reality is a constantly changing thing. How it changes tomorrow depends upon our actions today. And since people have the greatest effect on the physical form of a city, lets influence it as we envision it should be. You are not a powerless witness. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 20, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much? Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink:
February 20, 201114 yr Live in reality. Reality is a constantly changing thing. How it changes tomorrow depends upon our actions today. And since people have the greatest effect on the physical form of a city, lets influence it as we envision it should be. You are not a powerless witness. The vision and the reality are ALWAYS different. Uncle Drunkie wouldn't support a lick of rail during his rule. Neither would Qualls, who is an opponent of sweeping change in regard to public transit. My lobbying meant nothing. The City merely hit the lottery when Mark was elected. Now it's up to us to keep the stone turning.
February 20, 201114 yr Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: No, I think many of us believe that in most of America, cars are overused to a near-fanatical level. Anything that is good in moderation -- medicine, water, food -- can become a serious problem if used too much. Sadly, those of us who espouse a more balanced transportation system in this country are referred to as fanatics or cultists by the very people who want to keep us addicted to an over-indulgence of cars, oil, sprawl, etc. But over-indulgences invariably carry costs that cannot be afforded and result in the excessive behavior collapsing of it own weight. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 21, 201114 yr Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: No, I think many of us believe that in most of America, cars are overused to a near-fanatical level. Anything that is good in moderation -- medicine, water, food -- can become a serious problem if used too much. Sadly, those of us who espouse a more balanced transportation system in this country are referred to as fanatics or cultists by the very people who want to keep us addicted to an over-indulgence of cars, oil, sprawl, etc. But over-indulgences invariably carry costs that cannot be afforded and result in the excessive behavior collapsing of it own weight. I agree. I haven't rode in a car in months, but my location facilitates that. I believe the destruction of downtown due to racially-inspired public housing (Lincoln Court) and the Master Plan of 1948 were the biggest whiffs in Cincinnati history outside of the Subway boondoggle.
February 21, 201114 yr Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: No, I think many of us believe that in most of America, cars are overused to a near-fanatical level. Anything that is good in moderation -- medicine, water, food -- can become a serious problem if used too much. Sadly, those of us who espouse a more balanced transportation system in this country are referred to as fanatics or cultists by the very people who want to keep us addicted to an over-indulgence of cars, oil, sprawl, etc. But over-indulgences invariably carry costs that cannot be afforded and result in the excessive behavior collapsing of it own weight. I agree. I haven't rode in a car in months, but my location facilitates that. I believe the destruction of downtown due to racially-inspired public housing (Lincoln Court) and the Master Plan of 1948 were the biggest whiffs in Cincinnati history outside of the Subway boondoggle. ??? Lincoln Court wasn't in downtown. It was in the West End. Downtown's 'destruction' was more facilitated by, first, the streetcars and, later, the highways as they made it easier for people to live outside the center city and commute to work. So, I would definitely agree about the 1948 Master Plan, as it laid out all the highways, bypasses, and other arterials that ripped apart neighborhoods in downtown/OTR/West End.
February 21, 201114 yr Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: No, I think many of us believe that in most of America, cars are overused to a near-fanatical level. Anything that is good in moderation -- medicine, water, food -- can become a serious problem if used too much. Sadly, those of us who espouse a more balanced transportation system in this country are referred to as fanatics or cultists by the very people who want to keep us addicted to an over-indulgence of cars, oil, sprawl, etc. But over-indulgences invariably carry costs that cannot be afforded and result in the excessive behavior collapsing of it own weight. I agree. I haven't rode in a car in months, but my location facilitates that. I believe the destruction of downtown due to racially-inspired public housing (Lincoln Court) and the Master Plan of 1948 were the biggest whiffs in Cincinnati history outside of the Subway boondoggle. ??? Lincoln Court wasn't in downtown. It was in the West End. Downtown's 'destruction' was more facilitated by, first, the streetcars and, later, the highways as they made it easier for people to live outside the center city and commute to work. So, I would definitely agree about the 1948 Master Plan, as it laid out all the highways, bypasses, and other arterials that ripped apart neighborhoods in downtown/OTR/West End. OTR and the West End ARE downtown to me.
February 21, 201114 yr ^ I actually agree on this- Just like uptown is bunch of neighborhoods (CUF, Corryville, Mt. Auburn, etc), "little d" downtown is Queensgate, CBD/Riverfront, Pendleton, OTR & the West End. "Capital D" Downtown is basically what most people (including myself) refer to as the CBD. But that's semantics... So, about the streetcar... I love the whole "we had streetcars and we got rid of them"- Brad had a great point recently- The last streetcars basically ended in the 50's. The 50's were the beginning of a 4 decade long trend in population declines. I guess all this ties back to that stupid 1948 master plan...
February 21, 201114 yr Pshhh- all that growth through government subsidies*... what a welfare society the suburbs are!!!! *Interstate system
February 21, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much? Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: Who said anything about exercise? A bike offers more flexible mobility than a car for checking out the CBD/OTR areas around the streetcar route.
February 21, 201114 yr Who said anything about exercise? A bike offers more flexible mobility than a car for checking out the CBD/OTR areas around the streetcar route. I thought the same thing
February 21, 201114 yr In Brad's graph if you break apart NKY into areas formerly-served-by-streetcars vs. not, I'd wager it would mirror Cincinnati/the rest quite nicely.
February 22, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much? Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: Who said anything about exercise? A bike offers more flexible mobility than a car for checking out the CBD/OTR areas around the streetcar route. No it doesn't. The original post says "12 years from now when Walnut Hills has a streetcar loop". Why would I ride a bicycle around the hilly and dangerous terrain that is the Vine Street Hill, or try to tour an area that large when I could drive to my destinations as well as cover as much ground as I would like to. My intent would be to see a nice chunk of the city, not just Phase 1 and Phase 2. You know, with a vehicle, you CAN park and get out at some point if it tickles your fancy :wink: Did you grow up in the City? :wtf:
February 22, 201114 yr In 10 years, with transit-oriented development resulting from the streetcar, downtown Cincinnati will be an even more vibrant place, with more pedestrians and fewer open parking spaces. And we will be in a very different world than today's. By the time you find a $10 parking space a quarter-mile away burning $6 gas driving around the block four times, I could unload my bicycle from the streetcar and ride my bike to see the neighborhood, smell a few restaurants, exchange a few greetings with familiar pedestrians and other cyclists, and truly experience the neighborhood rather than "watch it on TV" through my car's windows. In short, it's time to the reverse the actions sought in 70 years ago by America's automotive titans, including Studebaker President Paul Hoffman.... "(New roads) must gash ruthlessly through built-up sections of overcrowded cities. If we are to have the full use of automobiles, cities must be remade. The greatest automobile market today, the greatest untapped field of potential customers, is the large number of city people who refuse to own cars, or use the cars they have very little, because it's a nuisance to take them out." If we are to have the full use of transit, cities must be remade. And not a moment too soon. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 22, 201114 yr In 10 years, with transit-oriented development resulting from the streetcar, downtown Cincinnati will be an even more vibrant place, with more pedestrians and fewer open parking spaces. And we will be in a very different world than today's. By the time you find a $10 parking space a quarter-mile away burning $6 gas driving around the block four times, I could unload my bicycle from the streetcar and ride my bike to see the neighborhood, smell a few restaurants, exchange a few greetings with familiar pedestrians and other cyclists, and truly experience the neighborhood rather than "watch it on TV" through my car's windows. In short, it's time to the reverse the actions sought in 70 years ago by America's automotive titans, including Studebaker President Paul Hoffman.... "(New roads) must gash ruthlessly through built-up sections of overcrowded cities. If we are to have the full use of automobiles, cities must be remade. The greatest automobile market today, the greatest untapped field of potential customers, is the large number of city people who refuse to own cars, or use the cars they have very little, because it's a nuisance to take them out." If we are to have the full use of transit, cities must be remade. And not a moment too soon. I simply don't have the desire to ride a bicycle. I walk and take the train now. All of those things that you would like me to participate in, such as patronize local business, shop at fresh markets, and stop in unfamiliar boutiques on my way to the Metro, with the exclusion of pedaling a two-wheeler, I do now, only in a place I can actually do them in. If I'm truly making an attempt at getting around Southern Ohio, as in see family, friends, eat and be entertained, I would need a vehicle to do that in the fashion I prefer, which is timely. If the city of Cincinnati's transit efficiency, not just downtown, exceeds that of a personal vehicle in ten years, those pigs downtown will have flown south and Mike Brown will have sold the Bengals and made a televised apology on his way out. Owning/maintaining an auto is an expensive adventure. So is wasting your life away waiting on a Cincinnati Metro. I would like to believe that in 10 years there will be rail to Dayton's CBD, Hamilton, tri-county, streetcars in Price Hill, Mt. Lookout and all points in between. I would love to take a ride on the streetcar (watching the world on television as you put it) along River Road in the summertime and see all of the deep green and hazy orange...but its NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN TEN YEARS.
February 22, 201114 yr In 10 years, I can see Cincy with the proposed streetcar line fully constructed and maybe 1 or 2 connection spurs (CUT to Casino & Reading/Gilbert and WHT/Calhoun & McMillain couplet) and possibly a completed or under construction light rail line. Of course we can kiss all that goodbye is a certain ballot proposal passes. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
February 22, 201114 yr My guess-- In 10 years Cincy has the completed streetcar line with several spurs/additions (east-west, etc)-- The NKY streetcar connections under construction- two lines of a light rail plan that are in the process of being funded, and a ~150 mph HSR line to Chicago via Indianapolis that will be opening soon.
February 22, 201114 yr I'm a big streetcar fan and supporter. I love the light rail and the idea of getting around in mass transit. But I also like the convenience of a car and can't ever see myself not relying a car. And I don't see anything wrong with that. Isn't a big argument from streetcar supporters that people need options? Well the car is an option. I'd love to have all those options. I'd like to take the streetcar or LRT to work, take it around downtown, etc. But when I want to get groceries or get my kids to practice, I want to take the car. I don't see what's wrong with that and I that's what City Blights is getting at (maybe I'm way off). Urban sprawl and over-reliance has made the car look bad but in reality it's a great invention when used right.
February 22, 201114 yr There obviously needs to be a balance. There's been too much planning for cars over the past 50 years and not enough planning for other modes of transit. Transit like the streetcar makes sense for the urban core. Light rail and commuter rail makes sense for greater distances. Will Cincy turn into NYC after the streetcar? No, of course not. But the opportunity to reduce reliance on cars for all transportation needs will be enhanced and people will not be required to have one (a car) to be mobile. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
February 22, 201114 yr I would like to believe that in 10 years there will be rail to Dayton's CBD, Hamilton, tri-county, streetcars in Price Hill, Mt. Lookout and all points in between. I would love to take a ride on the streetcar (watching the world on television as you put it) along River Road in the summertime and see all of the deep green and hazy orange...but its NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN TEN YEARS. For what it's worth, I think it's fun to be in Cincinnati now and be able to observe - and maybe influence a little bit - what is happening in the core areas of the city. The changes in buildings, businesses, people, and (hopefully) transit are just really interesting. Depending on what you do for work, and on your personality, some aspects of modern life can lead to boredom. I find that life here is very unlikely to be boring, regardless what actually happens over the next 10 years.
February 22, 201114 yr Like most anti-streetcar people, you're causing trouble on purpose not because you dislike the streetcar but to attract attention to yourself. Have you read any of my posts on this thread? I'm pro-streetcar/light/heavy/whatever other passenger rail is efficient and/or modern enough to serve Southern Ohio and NKY. I support a full-scale metropolitan transit system that would turn this town from a regional conundrum into a global destination for cosmopolitan living and commerce. In ten years I can see spurs to Walnut Hils, NKY, the proposed Ludlow/Northside/College Hill spur, and the Oasis Line extended to the airport underway with the Price Hill project in the negotiating phases.
February 22, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much? Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: Who said anything about exercise? A bike offers more flexible mobility than a car for checking out the CBD/OTR areas around the streetcar route. No it doesn't. The original post says "12 years from now when Walnut Hills has a streetcar loop". Why would I ride a bicycle around the hilly and dangerous terrain that is the Vine Street Hill, or try to tour an area that large when I could drive to my destinations as well as cover as much ground as I would like to. My intent would be to see a nice chunk of the city, not just Phase 1 and Phase 2. You know, with a vehicle, you CAN park and get out at some point if it tickles your fancy :wink: Did you grow up in the City? :wtf: 1) I said CBD/OTR for a reason. 2) KJP has a point in that you can take the streetcar up hills. 3) You have an ignorant attitude towards cycling. Why don't you give it a try? It's not all-or-nothing, in that you don't have to "become a cyclist" in order to get out on one occasionally. You don't have to be dedicated to exercise, either. It's just another type of personal vehicle that can be used when the mood strikes. Hills aren't the deal-killing obstacle you think they are, for one. (You can get from NKY to Northside, for example, with little change in elevation.) Also, buses in the city all have racks on the front. My point is you would be surprised how remarkably functional a bike can be. The best part is you don't have to buy gas, insurance, or even a monthly pass to use one. Where do you live, if I may ask?
February 22, 201114 yr ^ a bicycle would be better Gov. Kasich is wanting to do away with paying "prevailing wage" on public projects. If he passes this this year, could that cut streetcar construction costs much? Why? Exercise isn't the issue. Even though cars are, well, the enemy of UO, you have to admit, they are still useful. :wink: Who said anything about exercise? A bike offers more flexible mobility than a car for checking out the CBD/OTR areas around the streetcar route. No it doesn't. The original post says "12 years from now when Walnut Hills has a streetcar loop". Why would I ride a bicycle around the hilly and dangerous terrain that is the Vine Street Hill, or try to tour an area that large when I could drive to my destinations as well as cover as much ground as I would like to. My intent would be to see a nice chunk of the city, not just Phase 1 and Phase 2. You know, with a vehicle, you CAN park and get out at some point if it tickles your fancy :wink: Did you grow up in the City? :wtf: 1) I said CBD/OTR for a reason. 2) KJP has a point in that you can take the streetcar up hills. 3) You have an ignorant attitude towards cycling. Why don't you give it a try? It's not all-or-nothing, in that you don't have to "become a cyclist" in order to get out on one occasionally. You don't have to be dedicated to exercise, either. It's just another type of personal vehicle that can be used when the mood strikes. Hills aren't the deal-killing obstacle you think they are, for one. (You can get from NKY to Northside, for example, with little change in elevation.) Also, buses in the city all have racks on the front. My point is you would be surprised how remarkably functional a bike can be. The best part is you don't have to buy gas, insurance, or even a monthly pass to use one. Where do you live, if I may ask? I don't knock anyone for hoppin' on 'ol reliable and taking in the breeze. I used to live in Columbus where the cyclists are much more prevalent than in Cincinnati, and can approach the level of nuisance if you're driving. I live in Madrid. I still thought it was neat that people felt so comfortable getting around in an alternative manner in an Ohio city, which as we know, could be more walkable. I could get from Northside to downtown without pulling a Rothleisberger, but if I wanted to see Fairview or a number of scenic areas, I might be in for a challenge. My rationale for not using a bike is not that I'm anti-cycling. I'm just against making my mission, which would be to cover a lot of ground, more difficult. Let's say I encounter some development or revived commercial space somewhere along my auto-tour. I can always visit another day via the streetcar, walk around the neighborhood and take in Cincinnati's architecture, then spend a little green somewhere, which is the result we all want from rail transit.
February 22, 201114 yr Lord. You live in Europe and you don't cycle? I haven't been to Madrid, but I was in Barcelona recently and, despite being a fairly hilly city, the bike culture was pretty strong. They even had a (seemingly popular) bike share program. Seriously, try renting a bike for a week and seeing if it doesn't seem more convenient than you expected. It gives a different perspective of a city than walking -- everything seems much more accessible and closer together. Without the need to find or pay for a parking space, it feels like less of a hassle than a car (particularly in a city center). And unlike a train, you get door-to-door service. For the love of urbanism, try it for a week. (Also, you can combine biking with public transportation, as well as walking (just hop off if you want to).)
February 22, 201114 yr Lord. You live in Europe and you don't cycle? I haven't been to Madrid, but I was in Barcelona recently and, despite being a fairly hilly city, the bike culture was pretty strong. They even had a (seemingly popular) bike share program. Seriously, try renting a bike for a week and seeing if it doesn't seem more convenient than you expected. It gives a different perspective of a city than walking -- everything seems much more accessible and closer together. Without the need to find or pay for a parking space, it feels like less of a hassle than a car (particularly in a city center). And unlike a train, you get door-to-door service. For the love of urbanism, try it for a week. (Also, you can combine biking with public transportation, as well as walking (just hop off if you want to).) Yeah, I figured I would take a hit from you for my locale :wink:. I see what you and KJP are saying, and I think I'm going to give it a go. Surprisingly though, I don't know many people who cycle here, and rarely see it. I'm much more likely to see some jerk flexing their motorcycle, nearly running over an old lady as they attempt to park on the sidewalk.
February 23, 201114 yr Does it seem likely that NKY would receive state support for a streetcar system? Would be great if it did, but I'm skeptical
February 23, 201114 yr Motorcycles and scooters are a nice middle ground between cars and bicycles for urban sightseeing. In the States, motorcyclists/scooter riders are frowned upon for antisocial riding in cities, so you don't have to feel like some hellion you've seen in Madrid or Paris.
February 23, 201114 yr Yeah, I figured I would take a hit from you for my locale :wink:. I see what you and KJP are saying, and I think I'm going to give it a go. Surprisingly though, I don't know many people who cycle here, and rarely see it. I'm much more likely to see some jerk flexing their motorcycle, nearly running over an old lady as they attempt to park on the sidewalk. Maybe Madrid hasn't caught the wave yet. If you get to Barcelona, you will notice it certainly has. And if you make your way up north to Amsterdam or Copenhagen, you will really get a feel for how bikes can be integrated into a city's transportation network.
February 23, 201114 yr I would like to believe that in 10 years there will be rail to Dayton's CBD, Hamilton, tri-county, streetcars in Price Hill, Mt. Lookout and all points in between. I would love to take a ride on the streetcar (watching the world on television as you put it) along River Road in the summertime and see all of the deep green and hazy orange...but its NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN TEN YEARS. For what it's worth, I think it's fun to be in Cincinnati now and be able to observe - and maybe influence a little bit - what is happening in the core areas of the city. The changes in buildings, businesses, people, and (hopefully) transit are just really interesting. Depending on what you do for work, and on your personality, some aspects of modern life can lead to boredom. I find that life here is very unlikely to be boring, regardless what actually happens over the next 10 years. That's EXACTLY what I love most about Cincinnati.
February 23, 201114 yr Motorcycles and scooters are a nice middle ground between cars and bicycles for urban sightseeing. In the States, motorcyclists/scooter riders are frowned upon for antisocial riding in cities, so you don't have to feel like some hellion you've seen in Madrid or Paris. They can be quite frowned upon in Europe, too. There's a lot of conflict that results from them using cycling infrastructure, for example. They seem to be the preferred mode for getting around Paris. Try driving into Paris, and you will notice them whizzing through congested car traffic between lanes. The same happens driving into San Francisco, but it's an even bigger phenomenon for Paris.
February 23, 201114 yr Chris Smitherman is going to be an in-studio guest tomorrow on the Bill Cunningham show. No doubt the streetcar will be discussed during the 1-hour interview.
February 25, 201114 yr The most pressing issue with the streetcar right now (other than making sure it survives) is making sure it flourishes when it is finished. The key to this seems to be determining the correct fare. It'd probably be decried as either opportunistic or racist to charge different fares for different stops even though it might make sense depending how you look at it. (?) Remember: ridership numbers matter in a big way for the streetcar's longtime survival.
February 25, 201114 yr I disagree. Simple is better -- charge $1-2 and allow people to ride the system in any direction for two hours. Also sell a day ticket and a monthly ticket. Group/family day tickets are also probably necessary.
February 25, 201114 yr Speaking of fares, random ticket checks are kind of important; it keeps people honest. Here's a funny video on the subject; well, it's sad and funny at the same time (wait on the funny -- it doesn't happen until near the end). The video is in German, but there are English subtitles once some dialog actually starts at about 2:30. "Schwarzfahrer" means "rider without a ticket," but literally it means "black rider." The video was filmed in Berlin on their streetcar NETWORK.
February 25, 201114 yr Smitherman's appearance on Cunningham's show was a disaster. I asked a coworker if he heard it and he said that Smitherman was "very articulate". In the appearance, Smitherman preposterously suggested that stopping the streetcar project will allow the city reduce the earnings tax from 2.3% to 1.6%, to which Cunningham responded "you're sounding like Reagan". They advertised the idea that cutting the city earnings tax will single-handedly encourage droves of people to move into the city.
February 25, 201114 yr Smitherman's appearance on Cunningham's show was a disaster. I asked a coworker if he heard it and he said that Smitherman was "very articulate". In the appearance, Smitherman preposterously suggested that stopping the streetcar project will allow the city reduce the earnings tax from 2.3% to 1.6%, to which Cunningham responded "you're sounding like Reagan". They advertised the idea that cutting the city earnings tax will single-handedly encourage droves of people to move into the city. Wait...Willie loves Reagan and anyone else who doesn't understand a domestic economy.
February 25, 201114 yr Smitherman's appearance on Cunningham's show was a disaster. I asked a coworker if he heard it and he said that Smitherman was "very articulate". In the appearance, Smitherman preposterously suggested that stopping the streetcar project will allow the city reduce the earnings tax from 2.3% to 1.6%, to which Cunningham responded "you're sounding like Reagan". They advertised the idea that cutting the city earnings tax will single-handedly encourage droves of people to move into the city. http://www.700wlw.com/pages/onair_willie.html There is a youtube of the interview.
February 25, 201114 yr Smitherman's appearance on Cunningham's show was a disaster. I asked a coworker if he heard it and he said that Smitherman was "very articulate". In the appearance, Smitherman preposterously suggested that stopping the streetcar project will allow the city reduce the earnings tax from 2.3% to 1.6%, to which Cunningham responded "you're sounding like Reagan". They advertised the idea that cutting the city earnings tax will single-handedly encourage droves of people to move into the city. http://www.700wlw.com/pages/onair_willie.html There is a youtube of the interview. It was his normal "articulate" mis-statements. "City council wants to fire 1050 cops", "Obama is against the streetcar". His self-fulfilling motivations are very transparent to me.
February 25, 201114 yr Author Over on UrbanCincy.com there has been some discussion of how you do proof of payment on the streetcar. I'd like to see "museum stickers" like these. It makes it really easy to see who paid. If you have a pass you would simply swipe it and it would stamp out a sticker for you to put on. The date are the large numbers to the side, the time is in the middle. And a hastily done photoshop:
February 25, 201114 yr Author One thing I would like to see is Metro (and Tank if we could get them on board) do a couple of things to really optimize coordination with the streetcar. *Divide the Metro routes into three categories: Express, Regular, Circulator. *Circulator Routes would be: the #85 Parking Shuttle (you'll probably want to tweak the route after the Banks opens and the surface lots near PBS become a park), #Streetcar, #1 (reconfigured to go from Union Terminal to Casino to Mt. Adams only), and the #46 (reconfigured to keep the existing uptown portion but instead of proceeding down vine, continue west to Clifton Ave to Ludlow/Jefferson/Nixon/Goodman to Burnet, continuing the loop) and the Southbank Shuttle if you could get it. *Have the "circulators" payment system be a "museum sticker" as pictured above. Circulators would be based on time not entry ($1 for 2 hours or something like that). All the circulators would be "hop on hop off" during the time you paid for [The metro system already charges different fares based on distance traveled Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, etc. The circulator routes would essentially represent "Zone 0" the #85 Parking Shuttle charges a reduced rate at present] *The sticker for circulators would be good on all circulators. (ex. Take the streetcar from the Banks to the Casino, Hop on the 1 to Mt. Adams) *Allow free Regular and Express to Circulator transfers with payment of bus fare. *Allow circulator to Regular and Express transfers for Regular Fare minus Circulator fare.
February 25, 201114 yr While I don't think that reducing the earnings tax will cause people to immediately move to the city in droves, I do think that the earnings tax is a very significant factor in where businesses decided to locate. One of my former employers deliberately located in a township to avoid city income tax. Taxes are one of many "push" factors that discourage businesses from locating in cities. I think that reducing the earnings tax could do as much or more for Cincinnati as the proposed streetcar is supposed to do. It's easier to rally around the streetcar, though, because one can take a photo of it. You can't take a photo of the earnings tax, though the effects are huge.
February 27, 201114 yr One thing I would like to see is Metro (and Tank if we could get them on board) do a couple of things to really optimize coordination with the streetcar. *Divide the Metro routes into three categories: Express, Regular, Circulator. *Circulator Routes would be: the #85 Parking Shuttle (you'll probably want to tweak the route after the Banks opens and the surface lots near PBS become a park), #Streetcar, #1 (reconfigured to go from Union Terminal to Casino to Mt. Adams only), and the #46 (reconfigured to keep the existing uptown portion but instead of proceeding down vine, continue west to Clifton Ave to Ludlow/Jefferson/Nixon/Goodman to Burnet, continuing the loop) and the Southbank Shuttle if you could get it. *Have the "circulators" payment system be a "museum sticker" as pictured above. Circulators would be based on time not entry ($1 for 2 hours or something like that). All the circulators would be "hop on hop off" during the time you paid for [The metro system already charges different fares based on distance traveled Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, etc. The circulator routes would essentially represent "Zone 0" the #85 Parking Shuttle charges a reduced rate at present] *The sticker for circulators would be good on all circulators. (ex. Take the streetcar from the Banks to the Casino, Hop on the 1 to Mt. Adams) *Allow free Regular and Express to Circulator transfers with payment of bus fare. *Allow circulator to Regular and Express transfers for Regular Fare minus Circulator fare. To build on your idea, I would love Cincinnati to have a similar tourist bus service as Philly does, the Phlash. It doesn't have to be a "trolley" type bus but something that would hit the highlights of the city (museum center, zoo, taft house, art museum, dowtown/riverfront, stadiums, etc). We loved this when we visited Philly last summer. It allowed us to stay downtown, closer to Independence Hall, but gave us access to the Franklin Institute. Prices were very affordable too - $2 dollars each time you board (children under 6 and seniors, 65 and over, ride FREE!* Passes: $5 all-day individual pass or $10 all-day family pass (2 adults and 2 children, 6-17 years old) It runs in the peak tourist seasons for Philly - May 1 – October 31, 2010
February 27, 201114 yr Here's an interesting little piece on Cincinnati's old streetcars. I've been on Kenosha's line numerous times. It's really an incredibly pointless and easily walkable route, and few people ride it. Still, it's created an amazing amount of development along Kenosha's lakefront. Cincinnati streetcar finds a home in Kenosha's urban renaissance With the recent announcement of a $25 million federal grant, the future of Cincinnati's new, modern streetcar system looks promising. And among those most excited about it are folks who have heard about - or remember first-hand - the history of the city's classic, older streetcar system. It had tracks that traversed 222 miles of the metro area, but came to a halt in 1951 as automobiles gained supremacy in post-World War II America. For them, the return of the Cincinnati streetcar is a revival of the city's urban glory days. But it's still a few years off, at least, and could get sidetracked by steadfast opposition. So until then, there is a place where you can ride a Cincinnati streetcar - Kenosha, Wis., a Lake Michigan-shoreline city of roughly 90,000 about 50 miles north of Chicago and 30 miles south of Milwaukee. ... Written by Steven Rosen Enquirer contributor http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110227/LIFE09/102270316/Cincinnati-streetcar-finds-home-Kenosha-s-urban-renaissance?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s
February 28, 201114 yr Having to wear a sticker to ride the streetcar? No thanks. It is creative though.
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