^ Contract will be fully executed on Monday. Pre-construction meeting early next week. It's definitely a go.

^John, any idea when we'll start seeing track laid? I can't wait to get the photos.  :clap:

First thing is the demo of the building now on the maintenance site, followed by the construction of the new building. The first part of the trackwork is alteration of the sewer inlets around stops. Dunno what the lead time is on getting rail. I don't think we'll see any rail go down until fall or winter.

I hope they get the rail from AK steel.

Very exciting stuff.  To see rail finally being laid after all these years will be a very happy occasion!

If we don't see any rail until winter, cranky cranley is going to drag that out big-time before the election.

 

"We can still stop it if you vote for me"

^ Couple of things:

 

(1) Cranley isn't going to win. He's already losing some important corporate support because people realize there is nothing there.

 

(2) Even if he did win, he can't stop it. We've signed a contract with the Feds and won a jointly-directed TIGR grant from DOT, EPA and HUD. So if Cincinnati wants to apply for another grant in the next three years that any of those departments has anything to do with, he won't stop the project.

 

(3) We'll complete a construction contract tomorrow that will make the $72 million breakup charge that the City Manager estimated on April 29th much, much larger.

 

I think as Cincinnatians come to understand this, Cranley will seem like he doesn't know what he is talking about.

The parking lease is a done deal, too, so Cranley's campaign is all about opposing settled issues. I doubt he can cobble together a majority of votes based on pessimism and anger, when his opponent's campaign is about optimism and vision. The angry people are very vocal, but as we saw with the past few elections where the streetcar was at the forefront, the average person who opposes the streetcar only does so mildly, and isn't going to vote against Qualls because of it. I suspect the same goes for the parking lease. Qualls is a juggernaut in Cincy politics. (And so is the streetcar! :D Choo-choo! (LOL))

^^ Great posts both, John and natininja!  Cranley's a devilish opponent, therefore he WON'T step quietly into any dark night of his own political demise.  (As Qualls and the streetcar seize the day in Cincinnati... )  Nevertheless, I'm hoping that his very last scene cast "locally" will resemble that of the Wicked Witch in the "Wizard of Oz."  (Cranley deserves no less than this.) 

^ Couple of things:

"construction contract tomorrow that will make the $72 million breakup charge that the City Manager estimated on April 29th much, much larger."

 

Is this a termination fee if the city wants to cancel the project?  I'm all for getting as much sunk costs into the project now, before the election.

Hopefully Mallory inserted a poison pill cancellation clause into the contract that will make stopping the project completely unaffordable.

^ Couple of things:

 

(1) Cranley isn't going to win. He's already losing some important corporate support because people realize there is nothing there.

 

(2) Even if he did win, he can't stop it. We've signed a contract with the Feds and won a jointly-directed TIGR grant from DOT, EPA and HUD. So if Cincinnati wants to apply for another grant in the next three years that any of those departments has anything to do with, he won't stop the project.

 

(3) We'll complete a construction contract tomorrow that will make the $72 million breakup charge that the City Manager estimated on April 29th much, much larger.

 

I think as Cincinnatians come to understand this, Cranley will seem like he doesn't know what he is talking about.

 

Exactly what I wanted to read. Unfortunately cranle and smitherman are still  saying that it can be stopped & the local media is playing it up for ratings.

 

Hopefully the cincy pr will be explaining this very clearly

 

Exactly what I wanted to read. Unfortunately cranle and smitherman are still  saying that it can be stopped & the local media is playing it up for ratings.

 

 

They've never understood this project, so it should come as no surprise now that they cannot understand why the project cannot be stopped. I can picture it now -- on the first day of service, they'll be standing on the streetcar tracks as the first streetcar approaches, doing their best Baghdad Bob impersonations.....

 

Exactly what I wanted to read. Unfortunately cranle and smitherman are still  saying that it can be stopped & the local media is playing it up for ratings.

 

 

They've never understood this project, so it should come as no surprise now that they cannot understand why the project cannot be stopped. I can picture it now -- on the first day of service, they'll be standing on the streetcar tracks as the first streetcar approaches, doing their best Baghdad Bob impersonations.....

 

 

After losing time and again on the streetcar and every other issue, COAST is apparently developing a bunker mentality. Here are two recent posts on their blog:

 

Victory or death -- William Barrett Travis

 

In one of the more heroic and dramatic series of communiques from men besieged on all sides, William Barrett Travis wrote several letters, secreted by couriers on horseback from the Alamo.

 

Here's one:

 

"To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World: Fellow citizens & compatriots I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man .... I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country VICTORY OR DEATH."

 

 

Victory or death, indeed.  Victory or death.

 

3

 

We shall never surrender -- Winston Churchill

 

 

In times like these, we are reminded of Winston Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech.

 

This link provides the whole speech and some context.  Here's the famous excerpt:

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence....steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

 

 

Yes, we shall never surrender.

 

For Finney, Miller, Capell and company it's getting to be like the last days in the Führerbunker in April 1945. And like the occupants of the Führerbunker, the occupants of the COASTbunker probably think that their Führer will unleash the secret weapon at any moment that will finally win the streetcar war for their side.

Despite how people feel about the situation, this really isn't the time to be complacent.  Past votes did favor streetcar supporters, but they were way too close for comfort.  Don't underestimate the curmudgeons in the city who have a knack for showing up at the polls in surprising numbers.

Sign. Sealed. Delivered. Not until 2016 though. Not complaining.

 

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SIGNED

 

This morning, the City signed a contract for construction of the Cincinnati Streetcar system with Messer/Prus/Delta JV.

 

With this contract now signed, the City has issued Notice to Proceed to the Messer team.

 

This means:

 

materials will be ordered

preparation for construction of the trackway, Maintenance & Operations Facility (MOF) at Race & Henry streets, power system (including overhead power lines & substations) and station stops can begin immediately

 

The City will provide $492,933 in additional funding and revisions to the completion milestone dates because of the delay between the anticipated Notice to Proceed date of April 8, 2013 and today. The new value of the contract will be $71.4 million.

 

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

 

The additional funding will be provided from existing project contingency. These costs breakout generally as follows:

 

Increased material expense - $240,000   

 

Increased labor and equipment - $215,648

 

Increased cold weather protection - $30,000

 

Increased bonding costs - $7,285

 

TOTAL - $492,933

 

After this funding has been added, approximately $9.4 million will remain in project contingency.

 

 

NEW CONTRACT MILESTONES

 

Test track & MOF substantial completion - MARCH 1, 2015

 

Sustantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

 

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

 

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar/news/construction-contract-signed/

^ Now THAT'S mother$#$&ing what I wanted to hear!!!

 

More than a year late for the All-Star Game, but whatevz.

When would we likely see actual track construction begin? It would be awesome if some actual track work could be started before this year's election, to make it very clear that the project is actually under construction and stopping it would be a gigantic mistake. (Dusty Rhodes has tweeted that the streetcar utility relocation work isn't actually for the streetcar.) However that would probably be pushing it big time.

(Dusty Rhodes has tweeted that the streetcar utility relocation work isn't actually for the streetcar.)

 

They should put him on the stand to testify at the Duke trial.

Cranley would have to change his strategy now, if people know the city would lose $100,000,000 million or way more in future grants for other projects, if he alone kills the project.

If everything goes according to plan, we'll break the 23,881 day streak of not having rail transit in Cincinnati in a few years

Everyone needs to work together to make this as successful as possible.

Substantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

 

So are they building north of Central Parkway first, i.e. the "OTR loop"?  And 6 MONTHS between substantial completion of all work and the start of passenger service?  WTH? 

Substantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

 

So are they building north of Central Parkway first, i.e. the "OTR loop"?  And 6 MONTHS between substantial completion of all work and the start of passenger service?  WTH? 

 

yes, OTR is first; I'll get more details, but I'd imagine its FTA safety and security certification

Substantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

 

So are they building north of Central Parkway first, i.e. the "OTR loop"?  And 6 MONTHS between substantial completion of all work and the start of passenger service?  WTH? 

 

I hope the plan is to under-promise and over-deliver (on timing). You have to figure some of that is a buffer period to avoid disappointment with further delays.

Substantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

 

So are they building north of Central Parkway first, i.e. the "OTR loop"?  And 6 MONTHS between substantial completion of all work and the start of passenger service?  WTH? 

 

yes, OTR is first; I'll get more details, but I'd imagine its FTA safety and security certification

I would imagine they would start from the car barn

FWIW

Cincinnati City Council

http://urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12760.0.html

and

2013 Cincinnati Mayoral Election

http://urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,26594.0.html

Construction of rail projects can resemble chaos at times (like most road projects) but in the end, it comes together and makes sense.

 

Just because there is 6 months between those completion dates doesn't mean much. There is a lot of safety and regulatory work that occurs between end of construction and actual operation. Cars need pulled along the track and tested (for instance, so they don't fall over on the 1st day of service), FTA has to sign off, etc. 6 months seems like a long time, but the presence of the line will be quiet impactful with testing and final finishing touches being made.

Substantial completion of OTR Loop - JUNE 29, 2015

Substantial completion of all work - MARCH 15, 2016

Passenger Service - SEPT. 15, 2016

 

So are they building north of Central Parkway first, i.e. the "OTR loop"?  And 6 MONTHS between substantial completion of all work and the start of passenger service?  WTH? 

 

yes, OTR is first; I'll get more details, but I'd imagine its FTA safety and security certification

I would imagine they would start from the car barn

 

^ 12th and Elm

I would much rather have them say Sept 15 2016 and then be done on Sept 15 2016 than say July 1 2016 and not be done till late fall.

I have moved a majority of the Cranley vs. Qualls discussion to the Cincinnati Mayor Election: 2013.

 

Now that the construction contract has been signed this thread should focus on the construction of the project including utility relocation, track construction, vehicle construction, car barn construction and other pertinent items. Political discussion should be kept to a minimum. We have threads for discussion regarding COAST and Cincinnati City Council as well.

I would much rather have them say Sept 15 2016 and then be done on Sept 15 2016 than say July 1 2016 and not be done till late fall.

 

Agreed. Also as far as I can tell, everything is moving forward on multiple fronts right now.

 

Cars, construction team mobilization, utilities, City PR, CFP PR, back of the house, operations, are all proceeding.

I have moved a majority of the Cranley vs. Qualls discussion to the Cincinnati Mayor Election: 2013.

 

Now that the construction contract has been signed this thread should focus on the construction of the project including utility relocation, track construction, vehicle construction, car barn construction and other pertinent items. Political discussion should be kept to a minimum. We have threads for discussion regarding COAST and Cincinnati City Council as well.

 

Any possibility something like this could appear at the top of each page of this thread? I think it would make it more convenient to make a post that comes to mind while in this thread in one of the others. Which maybe will happen less over time, but this is still a hot-button political issue.

 

Anyone remember how many pages there were in this thread before the July 2013 UO Apocalypse?

Anyone remember how many pages there were in this thread before the July 2013 UO Apocalypse?

 

584

^ Nope. 589.

I attended the Pre-construction Meeting for the streetcar project today, and I wanted to share what I learned in no particular order of importance:

 

* 45 people were in attendance representing every contractor, consultant, partner and City of Cincinnati departments involved in the project. It's an impressive team.

 

* Access to abutting properties must be maintained at all times.

 

* Streets can be closed on a case-by-case basis if it is coordinated well in advance.

 

* 79-foot sections of rail will be welded into 1,000+ foot sections (2+ blocks at a time) and dragged to their locations and placed in the middle of the night.

 

* The DBE goal of the project is 18%.

 

*There is a $2,000 per day penalty for liquidated damages for missing any of the interim deadlines and a $2,500 per day penalty for missing the completion deadline.

 

* There are lots of unusual site conditions.

 

* There's a robust community relations plan including monthly hot-line reports, business and residential surveys, a stakeholder communication plan, and weekly e-blasts and construction updates.

 

* There's a Value Engineering agreement whereby the contractor shares half of the savings with the city.

Sanitary and storm water work will start immediately.

 

* Track work will begin at 14th and Elm and proceed north from there. The section of track in front of Music Hall will be the last laid in OTR -- after they have their act together.

 

* Water Works will soon move a water main on Main Street in the CBD.

 

* Demo of the old building on the maintenance site will begin very soon.

 

* First track may be placed as soon as September 15th depending on the resolution of some very deep utility relocation work in Liberty at Elm. Track laid in October for sure.

 

* There is no problem getting straight rail. It is immediately available. Special track work such as curves and crossings will take longer. Electrical sub-stations will take some time to fabricate and install.

 

* The job will be routinely staffed from 7a to 4p, but they will work 24/7 sometimes.

 

* City noise ordinance will be enforced between 9p and 7a.

 

After attending this meeting, I'm even more confident that this will be a great project, and I bet it's completed ahead of schedule. It appears to be designed for success.

Thanks for sharing, John!

Were the sewers already separated on the route?

 

* Track work will begin at 14th and Elm and proceed north from there. The section of track in front of Music Hall will be the last laid in OTR -- after they have their act together.

 

 

What does this mean?

What is the question?

After what has what act together?

After what has what act together?

 

Not meant to be perjorative, but they need some time to get their systems for laying track down, and I don't think they want to start in front of Music Hall right before the opening of the season for the Cincinnati Symphony. There will be problems, and they will work them out. Better to do so outside the view of an audience.

Oh ok I was thinking about the Music Hall renovation. When ever that is ever suppose to happen.

^ Nope. 589.

 

Even higher than I remembered!

 

* First track may be placed as soon as September 15th depending on the resolution of some very deep utility relocation work in Liberty at Elm. Track laid in October for sure.

 

That's great news.  Here's hoping for September.

Oh ok I was thinking about the Music Hall renovation. When ever that is ever suppose to happen.

that's what I was thinking, too.

What's DBE?

^ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

^ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

 

ie: those owned by minorities and women.

If I'm not mistaken, it could also mean veterans and those with disabilities (in addition to women and minorities), but not in all cases.