Does anyone know why the John Weld Peck Federal Building has a railroad track along the roof of the building?

Who controls the "Watch For Emergency Vehicles When Flashing" signs? So many times these yellow lights are flashing and I never see an emergency vehicle!

Rooftop Picture of the Federal Building

Just a guess...is it for window washing...I have seen similar on other buildings.

The tracks along the building edges are for window washing rigs that hang over the side of the building. Pretty typical on high-rise construction.

 

No idea about the flashing yellow lights for emergency vehicles... I've always been a little curious about that myself.

Thx! Figured as much about the tracks although I've never seen them used.

Regarding the flashing emergency signals, they were designed to be activated by the passing emergency vehicle. They haven't worked in years. I was on Central Parkway last night at a light, and the emergency signal kept activating and deactivating. At this point, it is moot to keep them up if they have been faulty for so long -- no one takes them seriously.

The flashing lights seem like a great idea, but as it's been stated, they don't work properly.  I wonder how they're activated...by siren noise, could GPS do it, what?  I'll be talking to Michael Moore tomorrow and try to remember to ask him about this.

Good thread!

Some cities equip their emergency vehicles with transponders that emit a signal which is then picked up by sensors on the traffic signal masts. When an emergency vehicle approaches, this setup overrides the normal traffic signal timing, and ensures that emergency vehicles have the green light. Such a system could also activate the flashing yellow warning lights at the same time.

 

However, I don't think the system in downtown Cincinnati is that sophisticated. The yellow lights flash, but I don't think the traffic signals are set up with a preemption system. Below is a pic of typical preemption sensors. They're pretty common in the Chicago suburbs, but I haven't seen these in downtown Cincinnati.

 

The black thing on top is the actual sensor; the floodlight below is a notifier, which lights to indicate that the traffic signals have been preempted.

 

Good thread!

 

LMAO!!  That was dripping with sarcasm. 

^ They use these in Fairfield

Good thread!

 

So work is a little slow... random Things That Make You Go Hmmm.

MTS & Cygnus, I was being serious! lol ;)

Where is 10yh, 11th and 16th Street?

 

Where did E and W Cheapside Streets get their name?

 

Best I could come up with for now.

Where did the CAC Robot statute go?

10th is court st, 11th central parkway and 16th is liberty

And, of course, I challenge someone to fill in the gaps between 15th Street in OTR and 63rd Street in Elmwood Place.

And, of course, I challenge someone to fill in the gaps between 15th Street in OTR and 63rd Street in Elmwood Place.

 

I've wondered that myself.  If someone has an explanation please share.

The initial city plat of Cincinnati drawn by Israeli Ludlow in 1807 envisioned the city maintaining a numbered street system beyond the downtown basin and having the number streets align with the federal grid of the Symmes purchase.  The independent village of Elmwood place adopted this convention in anticipation of future expansion of the City, but the growth of Cincinnati did not go according to the plat, leaving a 48 street gap between the numbers.

 

Note: I just made all that up, I have no idea

^That sir, was awesome. Had me going...  ;-)

Isn't there like a 77th Street in Carthage?

Not DT...but why is there a Short Vine?

And, of course, I challenge someone to fill in the gaps between 15th Street in OTR and 63rd Street in Elmwood Place.

 

I think there's something like 31st through 34th streets in Oakley. Hope that helps ;)

^What's weird is that 31st to 34th are avenues, not streets, and they run north to south.  Makes so sense.

Huh.  Actually, there's a 28th Avenue in Oakley too, but they it goes Millsbrae Ave, Eileen Dr, and then 31st Ave.  Still north to south though.

Not DT...but why is there a Short Vine?

 

Because Vine used to be connected to itself but got turned into a dead end by Krogers. I guess it was meant to create a more pedestrian friendly place. It's halfway to the idea of creating a pedestrian only business district out of an existing bd which failed in most places in was tried.

I'll be talking to Michael Moore tomorrow and try to remember to ask him about this.

 

Any success in remembering?  :wink:

 

The ones along 2nd & 3rd have been flashing all day today. A lot of CPD officers around the area for the event at U.S. Bank arena. Looks like they are controllable after all...

^Nope totally forgot about it.  I'll try to get in touch with him tonight or tomorrow...once again, if I remember.