^All of this talk of development of the Blue Ash Airport has really changed in tone compared to 10 years ago, when the real estate market was hot. Not much is going on in the real estate market these days.

 

There are developable lots in new subdivisions in Hamilton County that have been vacant for 5 years.

 

It's interesting to compare the 90 or so acres at Blue Ash with the same area of potentially redevelopable land near the proposed streetcar line.

>So unless Blue Ash wants to propose another tax increase to buy an $18 million piece of land, then build a municipal golf course that would not be property tax free, it's not gonna happen.

 

I wasn't clear, I was suggesting that Blue Ash build a second golf course, not Cincinnati.  I didn't know that they weren't tax exempt (I suppose it's unfair to private golf courses).  I'm just throwing ideas out there for something other than office or housing, although I'm sure Cincinnati and Blue Ash know exactly what they want to do with the land.   

Sounds like the City of Cincinnati will probably hold on to this until the market picks up.

So, a massive $467 million (half billion-dollar) Interstate 75 road-widening project is now slated to start in 2021.

 

Where's COAST? Their outrage is strangely missing from this article.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2012/09/massive-i-75-widening-project-to-start.html

lol by the time 2021 comes around it will be 800+ million. And  over a billion for this section alone when complete.

So, a massive $467 million (half billion-dollar) Interstate 75 road-widening project is now slated to start in 2021.

 

Where's COAST? Their outrage is strangely missing from this article.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2012/09/massive-i-75-widening-project-to-start.html

 

Especially as fewer people are driving nationwide and there's fewer gas tax revenues, so we have to tap general taxes to keep the road construction machine humming even though we need to reduce lane-miles, not add more. Start closing down lanes on lightly used roads, or shutting down parallel roads when one will do. It will save the road system from its impending insolvency. See news from a different ODOT:

http://daily.sightline.org/2012/09/04/driving-less-in-oregon/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Twitter

So, a massive $467 million (half billion-dollar) Interstate 75 road-widening project is now slated to start in 2021.

 

Where's COAST? Their outrage is strangely missing from this article.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2012/09/massive-i-75-widening-project-to-start.html

 

I don't think we need to worry about it. I don't think ODOT will really build it, because it is unaffordable.

 

There has been talk of the Brent Spence Bridge replacement for about 20 years. No one wants to admit that it is unaffordable, but instead the highway machine keeps spending a million dollars on planning and design every once in a while.

 

By the same argument, a massive light rail system such as Metro Moves or what have you is also unaffordable.

 

 

lol by the time 2021 comes around it will be 800+ million. And  over a billion for this section alone when complete.

 

You know what the sad thing is? The I-75 widening project was carefully modeled in the early part of the last decade -- with and without light rail in the mix.

 

Without LRT, our region will first endure years of construction lasting past 2020. Then around 2027 - 2030, the highway will become just as congested as it is today -- with over twice as many trucks, something like 25,000 a day.

 

With LRT, the functional life of the highway is extended for many years as the train acts like a safety valve and captures commuters and others fleeing the crowded highway. That's why ODOT is preserving ROW is the new highway design. They know.

 

Of course, there now are new factors -- higher fuel prices, less driving in general, re-urbanization, and changing freight patterns that may make the earlier projections better or worse. But it's not like this is a clear winner for the region.

 

Here's the analysis I'd like to see: total up all the lost hours and wasted fuel due to the reconstruction of I-75, add up the property-damage accidents, injuries and loss of life caused on account of the construction. Add up the property value and tax roll losses due to the acquisition of ROW and because of increased highway noise and pollution. And then compare those sums to the Present Value of the future time savings, fuel savings, safety gains and property gains, if any. And see if we're really likely to be better off in the long run on account of this project. I have my doubts.

And see if we're really likely to be better off in the long run on account of this project. I have my doubts.

 

It depends on who you are. Some people will likely be better off, and some will not.

 

Collectively, my guess is that we won't be better off. But, we don't live in a collective.

 

You know, I'm coming to the conclusion that economic arguments for or against a project matter little. Decisions are made based on emotion, or based on some other reason.

 

This isn't really massive... its a roughly 7 mile section of Interstate from I275 to Paddock Road. $67 million per mile. That is absurd. Your comparison to MetroMoves is comparing apples to oranges.

 

On a per person/traveller cost, MetroMoves was certainly more affordable, not to mention equitable.

So, a massive $467 million (half billion-dollar) Interstate 75 road-widening project is now slated to start in 2021.

 

Where's COAST? Their outrage is strangely missing from this article.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2012/09/massive-i-75-widening-project-to-start.html

 

Don't forget to add the cost of the Mill Creek Expressway at $542.2 million and the Brent Spence replacement that will probably be over $2 billion.  Yeaaa, progress! 

This isn't really massive... its a roughly 7 mile section of Interstate from I275 to Paddock Road. $67 million per mile. That is absurd. Your comparison to MetroMoves is comparing apples to oranges.

 

On a per person/traveller cost, MetroMoves was certainly more affordable, not to mention equitable.

 

I didn't make a judgement on which project was more affordable or equitable. I just said that neither project is really affordable.

 

It's kind of like asking which is better, a Porshe or a Ferrari? You could argue about which gives you the better value for the price, but it doesn't matter one bit if I can't afford either one.

 

It isn't 1955 anymore. The reality is that unless the federal government stops funding a war, or the federal goverments puts an end to Social Security, or maybe Hamilton County closes the Sheriff's Office, or the City of Cincinnati lays off most city employess and discontinues funding the pension system, then maybe a source of funds could be diverted to the $Billion project of your choice, whether it be highways, rail, stadiums, parks, sewers, or whatever suits your fancy. As it stands, governments at all levels are collecting declining revenues, to support existing programs and services. They can't raise taxes anymore, becasue the people just don't have the money. There is simply no funding available for really expensive projects, unless something else is cut.

 

I will agree that one option might be to stop funding ODOT's highway program and build rail instead, but I don't expect that to be politically viable. ODOT can't afford to maintain the highways AND build rail. For that matter, ODOT can't even afford to maintain the highways, and they are gradually deteriorating.

^ The City of Cincinnati's revenues are no longer declining. Hamilton County sales tax receipts are no longer declining. Ohio's revenues are no longer declining.

>They can't raise taxes anymore, becasue the people just don't have the money. There is simply no funding available for really expensive projects, unless something else is cut.

 

Personal income and corporate earnings taxes were much higher in the postwar decades than they were after Reagan.  The great paradox of the Tea Party is that they yearn for the "good old days", but during the postwar suburban boom the corporate earnings tax was 45% and some personal income was taxed at a rate of 87%.  Now the corporate tax is 35% and the top income tax bracket is 35%.

 

Ohio is way way behind on big ticket items. Do you realize King county in the state of Washington has over 14 billions dollars in transportation projects alone? Paid for with federal money and their sales tax. How can one county have more projects than the entire state the size of Ohio????

 

It what they want out there. They are not sitting around to let things get worse or fail.

They have no less than three tunnel boring machines currently worming their way beneath Seattle for a light rail subway extension, with another two on the way for the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel replacement. 

 

Meanwhile, you drive up to ODOT headquarters, and have to wonder why an agency in a state with hardly any new roads under construction needs such a massive office building. 

Ohio is becoming the face of state-level corruption.  That's why everybody and their mama is passing Ohio's cities, top down, hair breezing.

I hope that every single person here voted in 2010 for all statewide positions. But remember, that's never enough on its own. Everyone needs to drag friends with them, make sure people are registered with proper addresses, spread the word about less popular candidates & offices (the average person doesn't care about Auditor or Treasurer) and bug people on election day. The Ohio GOP will do anything to stop transit projects.

http://www.facebook.com/christopher.smitherman.7

 

Christopher Smitherman

 

 

2 hours ago

FB friends I want to be clear that those at City Hall that support the streetcar have cornered DUKE ENERGY to pass the COST of utility movement to ALL Cincinnati residents. There could be a streetcar fee on your Duke Energy bill that if NOT paid would trigger a disconnect of service. Citizens would have no choice to NOT pay Streetcar fee. Our team did ALL we could do to warn Cincinnati by placing this issue on the ballot two times! Our team will attend the PUCO hearing in Columbus when scheduled to oppose. Politics 101.

 

 

^I love that he ended it with "Politics 101".  Ironic.

It's telling that he's still using the "Politics 101" catchphrase while Mallory and most of city council have moved on to graduate-level Leadership courses.

How can one county have more projects than the entire state the size of Ohio????

 

Life's not fair. The State of Washington has a growing population and economy. The state of Ohio has a stagnant population and economy.

 

The City of Cincinnati's revenues are no longer declining. Hamilton County sales tax receipts are no longer declining. Ohio's revenues are no longer declining.

 

You may be correct, but are the numbers adjusted for inflation? If revenues increase but expenses increase more, then purchasing power declines. Local governments are hurting pretty much across the board.

Sillyman used the Politics 101 thing in his community access "courses" all the time.

Wonder why he quit doing them. I guess everybody knows everything since he got elected.

Why don't streetcar supporters use community access cable?

Amazing that there won't be a Brent Spence Bridge Preparation/West End Cleanup Project Fee on the bill though.

 

http://www.duke-energy.com/westend/westend-faqs.asp

 

Quoting:

How much will the cleanup project cost, and will gas or electric rates be affected?

 

The costs associated with the cleanup at West End are currently being estimated. Gas rates may be affected, but electric rates will not. Duke Energy has received permission from the Ohio Public Service Commission to request reimbursement of cleanup costs in a future rate case.

 

The PUCO will determine the validity and prudence of the request, any amount of recovery and the length of time for recovery. Initial estimates for the cleanup are in the $34 million range.

[url=http://http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/WestendFactSheet.pdf]

http://www.duke-energy.com/pdfs/WestendFactSheet.pdf

 

There will with the gas rates. But that doesn't matter. That's a road project, and of course roads are free.

Can someone ask coast & Smitherman why that's ok?

Can someone ask coast & Smitherman why that's ok?

 

I've pressed COAST on why they don't propose a charter amendment banning excessive spending on road projects, and they said something along the lines of, "If you write the petition, we'll sign it." Of course, the point is that they are the ones claiming to be an anti-tax group, and if they weren't hypocrites, they would be doing that.

 

If you asked them about Duke supporting the Brent Spence Bridge, or passing these bridge-related costs onto consumers, they would come up with a similar B.S. excuse.

 

To even pretend that they are an "anti-tax" group is playing their game. Their only goal is to reduce revenue coming into the City of Cincinnati (see water district issue, red light camera issue) and kill projects they know will be successful and benefit the city (see rail issues). They are not anti-tax, they are anti-city.

Can someone ask coast & Smitherman why that's ok?

Don't give them any idea's.

Horstman

 

"Streetcar builder's bid won narrowly

Enquirer exclusive: Newly opened proposals show small price differences"

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309090068&Ref=AR

Latest tweet from TOAST:

 

COAST ‏@GOCOAST

Tomorrow, 7:30 AM , @GOCOAST er @chris_Finney is on @55KRC w/ @brianthomas1 discussing #cincinnati streetcar. Listen in.

10:08 PM - 9 Sep 12 · Details

 

Frivolous Finney's gonna go and beat a dead horse a little bit more, and Brian Thomas will chat with some more paid fake callers. How much longer does 55KRC & 700WLW think that shows about the streetcar are going to attract a audience?

Horstman

 

"Streetcar builder's bid won narrowly

Enquirer exclusive: Newly opened proposals show small price differences"

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309090068&Ref=AR

 

It's been two weeks since the Enquirer last published a story on the streetcar, so I guess they felt it was time to throw Barry Horstman and his hair hat a bone. And this is some hard hitting piece of journalism too; Horstman's investigation of records the Enquirer went to court to obtain show that the lowest bidder received the contract. Nobel winning investigative reporting stuff here.

 

 

Yeah, what a dud. They obviously didn't find whatever scoop they were looking for. Even Horstman's thinking cap (it's sentient, right?) couldn't come up with a sensational story from the documents.

Poor Barry Horstman thought he'd be the next Neil Sheehan publishing the Pentagon Papers, but ended up being Geraldo Rivera uncovering Al Capone's empty vault.

 

Yeah, what a dud. They obviously didn't find whatever scoop they were looking for. Even Horstman's thinking cap (it's sentient, right?) couldn't come up with a sensational story from the documents.

Here's the real question - which rides the streetcar first: Horstman or that thing on his head?

 

For extra credit: Can him or the thing on his head walk the streetcar route faster?

Horstman

 

"Streetcar builder's bid won narrowly

Enquirer exclusive: Newly opened proposals show small price differences"

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309090068&Ref=AR

 

This is a good article for us.

Horstman

"Streetcar builder's bid won narrowly

Enquirer exclusive: Newly opened proposals show small price differences"

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309090068&Ref=AR

what a non story

But, seriously, isn't redacting the final bid amount kinda crazy?

Horstman

"Streetcar builder's bid won narrowly

Enquirer exclusive: Newly opened proposals show small price differences"

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120909/NEWS/309090068&Ref=AR

what a non story

But, seriously, isn't redacting the final bid amount kinda crazy?

 

It becomes a bargaining chip for other cities when they know what was offered to Cincinnati. I'm guessing that's why they wanted to keep it under wraps. AFAIK, the city had no role in shrouding the docs in secrecy.

Now, here's a truly ignorant Comment to a fairly ignorant LTE:

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/09/10/streetcar-should-mirror-minneapolis-model/

Now, here's a truly ignorant Comment to a fairly ignorant LTE:

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2012/09/10/streetcar-should-mirror-minneapolis-model/

 

700wlw, COAST, and the Enquirer have destroyed any rational argument to be had on this project

Delayed until 2015...

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2012/09/streetcar-delayed-to-2015-city-looks.html

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2012/09/consultant-sought-to-work-with.html

 

 

Duke just gave the city opponents new life.

 

I've said it before and i'll say it again.  Someone with a lot of pull is in Duke's ear telling them to delay the project until the opponents can mount another attack in the form of petition and/or elections

Someone like John would have to chime in on this.

I've been saying 2015 for about a year. Also, the 2015 announcement was almost 2 weeks ago when they announced Dukes delay.

Someone like John would have to chime in on this.

 

If this were a game of poker, I'd much rather have the City's hand than Duke's hand.

If PUCO sides with Duke, I wonder if Duke wouldn't have an argument to raise rates or have others pay for utility relocation for road projects.

Yeah, you have to wonder if Duke is using this issue to create some sort of legal precedent for routine situations. 

Is PUCO actually independent, or has it been packed with Kasich's cronies?

According to its website, at least 3 of 5 current commissioners were appointed by Kasich.

 

The appointment process is described here:

http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/consumer-information/consumer-topics/commissioner-appointment-process/

 

We saw Kasich's tricks on display at the TRAC meeting in 2011, when 2 of 9 appointees failed to show at the single most important meeting of the year, and one -- Jack Marchbanks -- who did had just been appointed that week, yet he showed up to the meeting with props. 

 

It would be prudent for  streetcar supporters to submit comments to PUCO, because Finney, Capell, Miller & company are undoubtedly flooding them with comments from dozens of fake email addresses. We don't need to give PUCO the excuse of citing 'comments from the public were 100-1 against the City of Cincinnati' when they make their ruling.

Yeah, you have to wonder if Duke is using this issue to create some sort of legal precedent for routine situations. 

 

Such as future streetcar expansions?

 

 

 

>ch as future streetcar expansions?

 

No, ordinary road projects.  Duh.  They've got their man as governor who has already and is willing to sell out this state at every opportunity, use those "failures" to illustrate how "government" is bad, and trick all the old people into voting for him again.