Been tweeting info, see @AllAboardOhio

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

UP YOUR'S JOHNBOY CRANLEY!!!!!

Outstanding news!

 

Hey Cranley, Blabberman, Barry Worstman, WLW and TOAST: Bwahahahhahaha!

Looks like another 24 hour shift for Mark Miller on twitter and the WLWT/WKRC/Enquirer/LTE/700wlw/Fox19 comment section tonight or as he calls it...Friday

Woot!

 

The shop manager at DAAP is a COASTie running for mayor on the Libertarian ticket. No wonder he seemed a little sour this morning.

 

On a related note, Libertarian tears taste delicious.

On a related note, I was reviewing the latest developments in Frivolous Finney's lawsuit against Blue Ash over the sale of the airport. There was a case management conference on the 16th, and a trial won't be held for over a year, its now scheduled for February 14 2014. If Finney was expecting a quicky payment from Blue Ash to go away he's not going to get one, Blue Ash is fighting him in court all the way to the bitter end.

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityofcincinnati/news/city-duke-energy-reach-streetcar-agreement/

 

City & Duke Energy Reach Streetcar Agreement

Duke Energy To Begin Moving Its Utilities

 

Today, Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. announced that the City of Cincinnati and Duke Energy have reached an agreement on the Streetcar project. Under the agreement, Duke Energy will begin moving its utilities now, while a court determines responsibility for the relocation costs later.

 

The City and Duke have also agreed to an operations plan for how Duke and the City will work in partnership once the Streetcar is operational.

 

"From the beginning, I said that we would come to agreement with Duke, and we have," Mayor Mallory said. "Duke Energy is one of the City of Cincinnati's strongest corporate partners, and they will be strong partners as we build the Streetcar and continue to grow our city."

 

The City and Duke have signed two agreements. The first agreement is an Operations Agreement that provides for how Duke will collaborate with the Streetcar’s construction and how it will safely access its utilities in City streets once the streetcar is operational. It spells out provisions for routine, extended, and emergency maintenance of the electrical and gas lines along the streetcar route. Duke has agreed to relocate only those utilities in direct conflict with the streetcar slab or where access is located three feet or less from the edge of the track slab.

 

The second agreement is a Cooperation Agreement between the City and Duke, which lays out how the two parties will resolve the question of who is responsible for the costs of relocating Duke's utilities in City streets for the streetcar project. Duke and the City have agreed to seek a declaratory judgment in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Duke and the City agree to abide by the court ruling, after they have exhausted any appeals.

 

"The utilities' agreements are in place, the cars are being ordered, and the construction bids are coming in," said City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. "The Streetcar is happening."

 

On Sept. 26, 2012, the Cincinnati City Council authorized $15 million for potential utility work; that money will be put into an escrow account until the parties receive a final decision from the courts. If the court determines that Duke is responsible for the costs, the money will be returned to the City, and it will then be available for other uses. If the City is responsible, Duke will receive the actual costs of the relocation, with any remainder returned to the City.

‏@UrbanCincy

City Manager Dohoney: Agreements have been signed. Duke will begin moving utilities immediately.

 

‏@UrbanCincy

Mallory says he’d like to see streetcar running by All Star Game, and will work toward that goal, but can’t commit to that date.

 

‏@UrbanCincy

Duke Energy now agrees that utilities only need to be 3 ft. from streetcar tracks. Originally they asked for an 8 ft. separation.

According to @derekbauman on the Twitter: Construction of rolling stock will begin on February 8th. Look for construction of the trackways to begin in early April.

According to @derekbauman on the Twitter: Construction of rolling stock will begin on February 8th. Look for construction of the trackways to begin in early April.

 

It wasn't completely clear to me what the 2/8 date was for. I thought it was when Duke's utility relocation will begin.

 

City Manager Milton Dohoney made it clear that there are really five separate timelines: utility relocation, construction of the tracks, construction of the power system, construction/acquisition of the cars, and construction of the maintenance facility. That's why Mayor Mallory said he'd like to have it operational by the All Star Game, but didn't promise it. I'd assume they won't start running it until all of those pieces are in place.

Love how Mallory drops these streetcar bombshells on a friday. 

 

He always starts the weekend on a high note and leaves the opponents stewing for 2 days before they can listen to talk radio for their talking points

So can we quit worrying for a while? For a few days anyway?

 

Construction bids due one week from today.

Mayor Mallory is a very skilled politician. If it weren't for the GOP gerrymandered districts Mallory would be a strong candidate for Congress.

Governor Mallory sounds pretty good to me.

Love how Mallory drops these streetcar bombshells on a friday. 

 

He always starts the weekend on a high note and leaves the opponents stewing for 2 days before they can listen to talk radio for their talking points

 

It sort of defies the conventional practice of politicians announcing good news on a Monday -- so it can stay in the news cycle for an entire week -- and dropping bad news on a Friday afternoon so hopefully people will have forgotten about it by the time Monday arrives. But here in Cincinnati, with a local media establishment that's overtly hostile to Mayor Mallory and the streetcar, maybe it makes sense to announce something like this on a Friday and deprive the naysayers their red meat.

Yep! With our media so negative on the city, this allows us to revel in the good news over the weekend over good drinks and good food!

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So is that the last of the major obstacles?  Obviously things will come up but as far as major obstacles that could potential cause a major delay.

You never know, someone might abuse the Emergency Alert System to break into weekend programming declaring a "worse than 9/11 disaster" that took place today. Incredibly illegal, but whatever.

Love how Mallory drops these streetcar bombshells on a friday. 

 

He always starts the weekend on a high note and leaves the opponents stewing for 2 days before they can listen to talk radio for their talking points

 

It sort of defies the conventional practice of politicians announcing good news on a Monday -- so it can stay in the news cycle for an entire week -- and dropping bad news on a Friday afternoon so hopefully people will have forgotten about it by the time Monday arrives. But here in Cincinnati, with a local media establishment that's overtly hostile to Mayor Mallory and the streetcar, maybe it makes sense to announce something like this on a Friday and deprive the naysayers their red meat.

 

You're reading too much into this. City Manager was out of town early this week, and I'm sure they didn't want to step on the news surrounding yesterday's groundbreaking for the Dunnhumby headquarters. The Duke settlement news was leaking out, and it wouldn't have held until Monday.

 

Too bad Cranley's reactive news conference has to occur late on a Friday though.

yep... and we already know what Cranley is going to say.... "The city is rushing headlong in to this while there are still questions... blah blah blah. They should stop any construction until after the mayoral election so the people have an opportunity to speak (again)... blah blah blah. It's going to cost too much money... blah blah blah."

 

You're welcome. I just saved you some time reading the transcript later. :-)

I kid you not, the enquirer's headline for this is "city, duke head to court over streetcar." Written by Barry horstman.

I kid you not, the enquirer's headline for this is "city, duke head to court over streetcar." Written by Barry horstman.

 

If you get past the headline, it's a good story for us.

LOL@the Enquirer. I had to chuckle when I read the headline. "'The streetcar is happening"

Who's celebrating at Neons or Japps tonight?!?

Yeah.. the just changed the headline to 'The Streetcar Is Happening' in quotes. It must really pain them to admit that fact.

Consider this:  The All-Star Game saved the streetcar.

 

I say this because I think Duke saw the looming PR flop that the streetcar missing the ASG deadline would be pinned on them.

 

Just a theory.  Is this obvious or am I crazy.  Thoughts?

^^haha saw that on the Cincinnati.com site just now *bangs head aginast wall*

I wouldn't say it 'saved' the project. I'd say it accelerated the project. Regardless the reasons, Duke is cooperating. I'm ok with this.

Hopefully once it up and running the governor will release the funds for Phase II.

Hopefully once it up and running the new governor will release the funds for Phase II.

 

Fixed.

I'd say it accelerated the project. 

 

Agreed.  Accelerated, not saved.

Hopefully once it up and running the new governor will release the funds for Phase II.

 

Fixed.

 

I was just going to post that.

For me, last night going into this morning started out absolutely awful. I didn't have a chance to be on the internet all morning and catch this news. I just got to a computer and was finally able to read up on it. I can't express enough how proud and happy I was after hearing the news. While it is my sincere hope to see the streetcar running by the 2015 All Star Game, even if it doesn't happen at least that's speeding things up a bit.

 

I can't wait to see the b-roll shots in-between innings of the game showing the streetcar gliding through beautiful downtown Cincinnati. And more importantly - thing how great of a tool the streetcar will be for the influx of visitors into the city during that time.

 

Like John said, this weekend is a celebration, but the opposition will never stop. Today though, they were dealt a great blow.

Mayor to Announce deal with Duke and have the Streetcar up and running by the All Star game in 2015

 

The mayor is holding a 1 p.m. news conference. News 5's John London said that Mallory will announce that a deal has been reached with Duke Energy to move utilities to make room for the streetcar.

 

Mallory will also announce that the timeline is being moved up to get the streetcar running by the 2015 All-Star Game at Great American Ballpark.

 

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/Mayor-to-announce-deal-with-Duke-faster-streetcar-timeline/-/13549970/18369218/-/r93uqy/-/index.html?utm_source=Hootsuite&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=wlwt#comments

 

GREAT NEWS!!!!

In typical fashion, the Enquirer has already pulled the story off of Cincinnati.com's front page.

It's showing up still as the headline article for me.

Looks like the story has been updated and restored to the front page.

Chris Smitherman literally lied about everything streetcar related on the Mark Amazon show. He said cranley told him that he will kill the streetcar project in its tracks regardless of its construction. He will sell the cars at half price if he has to. Smitherman went on to say Chabot actually represents his constituency and that council needs to be filled with conservatives

 

He went after Qualls big time too.

^FWIW, Chabot lost in Cincinnati.

 

Chris Smitherman literally lied about everything streetcar related on the Mark Amazon show. He said cranley told him that he will kill the streetcar project in its tracks regardless of its construction. He will sell the cars at half price if he has to. Smitherman went on to say Chabot actually represents his constituency and that council needs to be filled with conservatives

 

He went after Qualls big time too.

 

Nothing says "preventing government waste" quite like selling tax funded equipment at half price!

The detractors should just shut up and let it be built. The voters have said - twice - that is what they want. So get it done and the quicker the better. The voters deserve to see what the actual final cost will be and whether it will be wildly successful or a huge drain on public subsidies. This will be the basis for public opinion on future rail projects in Cincinnati and needs to be realized.

According to @derekbauman on the Twitter: Construction of rolling stock will begin on February 8th. Look for construction of the trackways to begin in early April.

 

I took this to mean the City will actually authorize work to begin on the cars on 2/8/2013. Even though the vendor had been selected no actual work on the cars would be done until the City gives the goahead. Does that agree with you all's understanding?

I took this to mean the City will actually authorize work to begin on the cars on 2/8/2013. Even though the vendor had been selected no actual work on the cars would be done until the City gives the goahead. Does that agree with you all's understanding?

 

Here vv

 

Notice to proceed was given to CAF on Friday, commencing construction on the Cincinnati Streetcar fleet.

 

 

The detractors should just shut up and let it be built. The voters have said - twice - that is what they want. So get it done and the quicker the better. The voters deserve to see what the actual final cost will be and whether it will be wildly successful or a huge drain on public subsidies. This will be the basis for public opinion on future rail projects in Cincinnati and needs to be realized.

 

Now that Duke has agreed to start work, construction is moving ahead on all fronts. Meanwhile, Cranley says the city is rushing forward too quickly, and he is committed to halting progress if elected mayor.

The detractors should just shut up and let it be built. The voters have said - twice - that is what they want. So get it done and the quicker the better. The voters deserve to see what the actual final cost will be and whether it will be wildly successful or a huge drain on public subsidies. This will be the basis for public opinion on future rail projects in Cincinnati and needs to be realized.

 

Now that Duke has agreed to start work, construction is moving ahead on all fronts. Meanwhile, Cranley says the city is rushing forward too quickly, and he is committed to halting progress if elected mayor.

 

This is just hysterical. Too quickly? This entire project has moved at a snail's pace for years and apparently that's "too quick" for Cranley? Good god ... why does this city have to have so many enemies and villains?

From the misery-loves-company department:

 

http://vtdigger.org/2013/01/31/cnns-vermont-rail-story-went-way-on-the-wrong-track/

 

Cincinnati is not alone when it comes to a lack of context of why something is happening, and to the spreading of unchecked lies by people (O'Toole) who have something to gain from it. Please share this with your media friends and enemies (sometimes that can be the same person!). As someone who has been a professional journalist for 20 years, I know that you need to hold reporters' feet to the fire. Tell them to report the facts and seek context for their story.

The detractors should just shut up and let it be built. The voters have said - twice - that is what they want. So get it done and the quicker the better. The voters deserve to see what the actual final cost will be and whether it will be wildly successful or a huge drain on public subsidies. This will be the basis for public opinion on future rail projects in Cincinnati and needs to be realized.

 

Now that Duke has agreed to start work, construction is moving ahead on all fronts. Meanwhile, Cranley says the city is rushing forward too quickly, and he is committed to halting progress if elected mayor.

 

This is just hysterical. Too quickly? This entire project has moved at a snail's pace for years and apparently that's "too quick" for Cranley? Good god ... why does this city have to have so many enemies and villains?

 

Maybe he thinks he's running for mayor of the suburbs and townships.

I cannot imagine a campaign plan that centers around affirmatively pledging to waste tens of millions of dollars that have already been spent.  Of course, I can't imagine it working unless there is somehow an anti-Streetcar majority elected to council, which seems very unlikely. 

The detractors should just shut up and let it be built. The voters have said - twice - that is what they want. So get it done and the quicker the better. The voters deserve to see what the actual final cost will be and whether it will be wildly successful or a huge drain on public subsidies. This will be the basis for public opinion on future rail projects in Cincinnati and needs to be realized.

 

Well put.