January 13, 2012
From Soapbox Cincinnati’s inimitable P. Casey Coston’s story on recent streetcar updates:
Indeed, in conversations with City Hall streetcar insiders, a measure of cautious optimism has begun to emerge. This past Friday, the Business Courier quoted Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls stating that streetcar construction will start “soon,” and reported that Councilmember Laure Quinlivan indicated the date is dependent on the availability of Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
January 12, 2012
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (R., IL) has this post at his FastLane blog about how streetcars are expanding through the country:
Today, streetcars in New Orleans and Tucson are under construction. Dallas, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City are currently designing their own streetcars. Tampa extended its popular TECO Line Streetcar System, which has already created billions of dollars in economic development. And Cincinnati will break ground very soon on the Queen’s City’s unique streetcar project.
It’s simple: this streetcar revival means greater mobility and more American jobs. DOT will continue to improve public transit services by supporting these critical projects that create jobs today and livable communities and economic redevelopment tomorrow.
December 20, 2011
This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati – The City of Cincinnati has approved the final design of the shelters that will be built at Streetcar stations, an important step as planning progresses on the transportation system that will bring more jobs, more development and more people to Cincinnati. Images of the station design are available at CincinnatiStreetcar.com and all Streetcar social media outlets listed below.
“The streetcar project is a series of smaller pieces that must come together before construction of the track begins. The shelter design is another milestone in that list of items.” said Chris Eilerman, the City’s Streetcar Project Manager. “This design combines a modern look, while at the same time, fits in with the historic architecture served by the streetcar.”
The shelters, designed by Cincinnati-based DNK Architects and chosen because of their clean, simple and modular approach, are U.S. Department of Transportation ‘Buy America’ compliant. After researching stations along streetcar routes in several cities, DNK Architects developed a design that would be easily recognized and protect riders from the elements for the short time they will be waiting at stops. There are 18 stations along the route.
“We designed the station structures to call to mind what the Streetcar will bring to Cincinnati – a public transportation system that everyone can use to connect to neighborhoods,” said David Kirk, founder and principle architect, DNK Architects, and lead architect for the Streetcar station design. “We want people to look at the stations and see how easy, safe, and comfortable it is to explore all that Cincinnati has to offer.”
All elements of the station are designed to be durable, thin, light and elegant, while allowing in natural light and providing shelter from the weather. The materials selected to construct the stations are easy to maintain and repair because of their modular construction. Each station will include a route map, information about the Streetcar system and an electronic sign displaying the arrival time of the next car, as well as important messages for riders.
Selection of the station design was the final step in reaching a complete design on the first segment of the Streetcar. In order to reach final design, the Streetcar team completed a number of other critical steps, including surveys of the entire route, inspections of basements near the route that lie under sidewalks, coordination of vehicle options, completion of an independent peer review of the project and performance of a quality control review of the entire project.
Next steps for the project are continued negotiations to reach agreements with utility companies. The shelters will be built as part of the construction contract, which is scheduled to be bid in the first quarter of 2012.
To see images of the station design, visit cincinnatistreetcar.com, the Streetcar’s Facebook page, Twitter feed or the Cincy Streetcar blog.
Streetcar stations between Government Square and Findlay Market are currently marked by temporary signs posted on utility poles and fences along the route. Additional stations will be added to the route extension between Government Square and The Banks that was made possible with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER III program. A map of the Streetcar’s stations is available at cincinnatistreetcar.com.
The first segment of the Streetcar will link The Banks to Findlay Market. Future additions will reach the University of Cincinnati, the zoo and other neighborhoods.
December 15, 2011
This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stood with Mayor Mark Mallory today to announce that the Cincinnati Streetcar project has been awarded a $10.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The City will use the additional funding to lengthen the Streetcar route an additional mile, stretching the route down to the Banks Development on Second Street.
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
The City of Cincinnati competed with 827 other applications to win the grant through the Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) III funding process.
“This grant helps us make the streetcar system the economic driver it can be. It will work with our other investments to make Cincinnati a truly competitive city,” said City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr.
The City is currently negotiating the scope of utility relocation along the Streetcar line, which will be the first step in construction of the system. Initial utility work is expected to begin in early 2012. The first segment of the Streetcar system will link The Banks to Findlay Market. Future additions will reach the University of Cincinnati, the zoo and other neighborhoods.
More information on the Streetcar is available at cincinnatistreetcar.com. To follow updates regarding the Streetcar project, visit the Streetcar’s Facebook page, Twitter feed, YouTube channel, or the Cincy Streetcar blog.
September 30, 2011
This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati
Cincinnati is changing for the better. We’ve made important decisions to improve our city for decades to come. From the Banks to Washington Park, Bond Hill to Price Hill, we’re creating more livable places to attract a vital mix of enthusiastic people who will enrich our city.
Now imagine even more. More people, more services, more jobs, more safety and more money. That’s where the Cincinnati Streetcar comes in.
Watch and share this video about how the Streetcar will help to repopulate the city, creating new jobs and new tax revenues to support public services for all of Cincinnati. The Streetcar will give Cincinnati a competitive advantage unique in the Midwest.
September 7, 2011
The City of Cincinnati is now accepting proposals to build the streetcar vehicle, another forward step on the path of building a modern streetcar system to bring jobs and growth to the city. With publication of this Request For Proposals, or RFP, manufacturers now have until late October to submit their proposals. After final proposals are submitted, the City will select the best entry in early 2012. The City is considering both vehicles that rely on a single overhead wire for power, and those that are hybrids, also running on battery power.
While the current plan for the streetcar will be expanded once funds become available, the initial segment of the Streetcar will use five vehicles. When the system eventually extends to the Banks, the University of Cincinnati and hospitals in Uptown, more vehicles will be needed.
The streetcars will provide easy access to bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers because of its sidewalk-level floors and extending ramps. It will have multiple doors on each side for easy right or left side entry.
The comfortable, permanent transportation option of the streetcar will attract many of the people who work in the city, but live elsewhere, to move back to Cincinnati and invest in its future.
Work to relocate many utilities along the streetcar line is still set to begin in the fall of 2011 at a date still to be determined.
September 1, 2011
Ask Lindsey Lusignolo why she supports the Cincinnati Streetcar and you may begin to understand why so many small business owners are interested in storefronts along the route.
Lusignolo is excited about the awareness that the streetcar will bring to Cincinnati’s urban core and the positive economic impact it will have for the businesses located there. “Because I went to high school in the area, I already felt a tie to the community,” said Lusignolo. “I chose to bring my shop to Over-The-Rhine because I wanted to be part of the progressive movement that is currently taking place here, and I am excited about the steady foot traffic that the streetcar will bring to my store.”
Lusignolo, executive designer and owner of her self-titled couture dress shop on Main St., in Over-The-Rhine, could have taken her business anywhere. Many designers would have opted for New York, or even one of the more prominent bridal districts in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Not Lusignolo. Being a visionary, she was able to see the revitalization that is taking place in Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine.
Listen to Lindsey discuss her support for the Cincinnati Streetcar by clicking Cincinnati Streetcar Youtube Channel.
August 16, 2011
Today individual streetcar stations along the route began receiving signs to highlight their locations. Watch as Mayor Mark Mallory, City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr., Metro CEO Terry Garcia Crews, and small business owner Kalika Crawford discuss the importance of the Streetcar and unwrap the first sign at the station at 8th & Main Streets.
Streetcar News Conference from CitiCable on Vimeo.
Help make the Cincinnati Streetcar reality by making a secure donation to the City of Cincinnati's project fund today.
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