Streetcar Project Status: January 2013

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

There’s been much progress on the Cincinnati Streetcar project in the past few months.

Here are some details about what’s been accomplished and what’s upcoming:

Design

Final design for the entire 2^nd Street to Henry Street route was completed in September 2012.

While final design for the 5^th to Henry route was completed in late 2011, the announcement of a $10.92 million TIGER 3 grant from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) in December 2011 enabled the extension of the route to The Banks at 2^nd Street and required additional design work to be completed before the project could go to bid. That work culminated in September 2012, with the completion of final design for the entire 2^nd to Henry route, including all trackwork, traction power, project-performed utility work, and the maintenance and operations facility (MOF).

Construction Procurement

With the completion of final design and real estate acquisition, the City issued a Notice of Invitation to Bid for the general construction of the streetcar system on November 15, 2012. Bids are due on February 8, 2013 and a pre-bid meeting was held on December 12, 2012. Over 60 vendors attended the pre-bid meeting and over 80 vendors have requested copies of the bid documents from the City Purchasing Division, indicating a high level of interest from the contracting community.

Vehicle Procurement

In October 2012, the City completed the FTA-required pre-award Buy America certification for CAF USA, the selected streetcar vehicle manufacturer, and following contract negotiations, executed a contract with CAF USA in December 2012 to purchase five modern streetcars. In November 2012, the City also selected LTK Engineering through an RFP procurement for a vehicle project management consultant. The City is in the contract negotiations with LTK and will execute a contract in January 2013 for assistance with oversight of the streetcar vehicle production.

Real Estate Acquisition

In September 2012, the City executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire the site of the MOF for the streetcar system, located at the corner of Race and Henry Streets at the northern end of the Phase 1 route. The City closed on the property in November 2012.

Permitting

Following the completion of final design and the acquisition of the MOF site, the City received approval from the City’s Historic Conservation Board for demolition activities and construction of the MOF in October 2012. This approval enabled the City to apply for the general building permits required to construct the project.

Utilities

Third party agreements with Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC), Level 3 Communications, and Cincinnati Bell were all completed in 2012. In February of 2012, GCWW began construction on relocation of water lines in Over-the-Rhine. This work has progressed throughout 2012 and is expected to be complete in early 2013. MSDGC, Cincinnati Bell, and Level 3 Communications are in the process of obtaining construction permits from the City and are planning to begin their respective relocation work in early 2013.

The City continues to meet regularly with Duke Energy in order to commence Duke’s relocation work.

Remaining utility relocation work, including additional MSDGC relocation and GCWW relocation in the Central Business District (CBD) will be performed by the project as part of the general construction contract currently out to bid.

Grants

The City and SORTA completed execution of the TIGER 3 grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and USDOT in December 2012. With this action, all federal grants for the project have been fully committed.

Expenditures to Date

Through December 31, 2012, approximately $42 million has been spent. This number represents approximately $17.1 million in expenditures already paid out, as well as approximately $24.9 million in expenses that the project is contractually obligated to fulfill.

 

Inaccuracies in Enquirer Editorial

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

For those who have read the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Sunday Editorial, “Streetcar: Stop,” there are quite a few inaccuracies surrounding the financing plan and operations plan.  Please help us spread the correct information.

The Enquirer wrote: “The budget now plans for $14 million to come from a pool of money created by tax revenue generated by property improvements to The Banks.” This is wrong.

The editorial refers to what’s commonly called a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The plan had always been for part of the streetcar financing to come from the Downtown South/Riverfront TIF District — this is nothing new.

And $11 million will still come from the Downtown South/Riverfront TIF District, but not The Banks — The Banks project generates its own revenue that goes back into The Banks.

Rather, the City has changed the source of funds for repaying $14 million of the $25 million in notes issued as part of the original financing proposal for the streetcar project.

The substitution source for the $14 million is the Urban Redevelopment Tax Increment Equivalent Fund, which was established in 1995 to collect service payments from the Westin/Star, Hyatt and Saks. This fund was not currently committed to any project. The City’s Finance Department will commission a study to determine the current valuation of the Downtown South TIF, but because we need to issue the bonds, we will use this as the source in the interim.

When the Downtown South TIF District rebounds because of growth projects both within and surrounding the district — like the Casino, The Banks, Dunnhumby, Omnicare and the Streetcar — the City will look at the Downtown South TIF District as a funding source once again.

Projects the Enquirer referred to that need funding such as a police district on the West side and the Smale Riverfront Park were already passed by Council in June and are happening.

The Enquirer wrote:  “Mayor Mallory and City Manager Dohoney are counting on growth and development along the streetcar route to cover the $3 million or more each year that it costs to operate it.” This is patently wrong.

The City has publicly said again and again that the operating costs will come from sponsorships, fare box revenue and up to $3 million of casino revenue. Even baseline projections show that the casino will generate that and is a viable source precisely because property valuations lag actual investment.

 

 

 

ODOT Transportation Survey

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

 

ODOT Survey: Your Transportation Priorities

 

Have you ever wanted to tell state officials how you’d like your transportation dollars spent?

Ohio’s long-term transportation plan, Access Ohio, is looking ahead to 2040. The Ohio Department of Transportation has released a survey to measure public opinion regarding the direction of Ohio’s transportation strategies in the upcoming years.

This survey allows you to have your voice heard in identifying your transportation priorities.

With your help, transit initiatives could see increased investment and expansion across Ohio. The survey allows for a prioritization of transportation investment strategies, such as providing more public transportation and investing in transportation options that encourage growth and development.

Please consider taking a few minutes of your time to show your support for projects that matter to you so that Ohio can continue to make smart, sustainable transportation plans.

It’s your money, so make your voice heard! Visit this page today!

 

Meet Paul Grether

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

Meet Paul Grether
Metro’s New Rail Manager

Just a few weeks ago, Metro named Paul Grether as its new rail manager. We caught up with him to learn a little bit more about what he’ll bring to the Cincinnati Streetcar project:

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I have always been interested in public transportation. I am a graduate of Georgia Tech, with a Masters in City and Regional planning specializing in transportation. Public Transportation is not only my vocation but also my avocation: It has a long and storied history that helped shape cities across the country, and I believe investment in transit is a critical local and national priority. I had the opportunity to go to high school in Europe which exposed me to a very different transportation experience and solidified my interest in transit.

What experience do you have working with streetcars?

In my previous job, I worked for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority as the Manager of Streetcar Development. I worked on the development of the Atlanta Streetcar project, including grant funding, environmental clearances and planning, vehicle procurement, and program management. I also serve on the American Public Transportation Association’s Streetcar Subcommittee, which is the national group engaged with developing technical guidelines and standards for streetcars.

What is your role in the Cincinnati Streetcar Project?

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Metro) will be operating the streetcar once it is built. As rail projects are developed, it is important that the operator is represented in the design and development of the project, since the decisions made during the design will last for the entire life of the infrastructure. Once the construction is advanced, my role will change to safely starting up operations to support the testing and commissioning of the system. Finally, once revenue service for the public starts, my role will be managing the day-to-day operations, including transportation, maintenance and facilities functions.

What excites you about the Cincinnati Streetcar?

The City of Cincinnati has the type of transit-oriented land-use and great neighborhoods that are perfectly set up to capitalize on investments in streetcars. Many cities tore down all of their older buildings and housing, Cincinnati has retained much of its historic fabric and character. With national trends showing that people are moving back into cities, Cincinnati has the “stuff” that many people are looking for to have an authentic, quality urban lifestyle. The streetcar project in Cincinnati will be a national model and will create economic opportunity for the region.

Why do you think the Streetcar project is important to Cincinnati?

Cincinnati has a great downtown that has maintained itself as the major employment and entertainment center for the region. The Streetcar will reinforce this, as well as give the City a competitive edge over other regions. The streetcar will not only be an important transportation investment, but will promote sustainable urban growth for Cincinnati.

What do you see as the opportunities and challenges associated with the Streetcar?

The short-term opportunity is supporting the redevelopment of the various neighborhoods and districts such as The Banks and Over-the-Rhine and providing connections to these emerging districts from downtown for visitors, residents and commuters. The longer-term opportunity is to connect Uptown, with the huge academic student, faculty and health care populations there. As the future streetcar operator, a challenge with streetcars is balancing the need to keep the project “lean and mean” in terms of budget, but at the same time integrating the service seamlessly into the existing and future transit services, including existing bus and future rail.

 

May 2012 Construction Update

 

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

 

Greater Cincinnati Water Works is currently in the process of replacing water mains to allow for construction to begin on the Streetcar. The focus of water main replacement at this time is along Elm Street. Race Street main replacement is scheduled to begin soon. 

Elm Street between 12^th and Liberty Streets:

• Main replacement is taking place currently on the 1400 block of Elm Street
• Construction is right on schedule and is expected to be finished by the end of June

 Intersection of Elm and Findlay Streets:

• Crews are in the process of laying pipe, making their way towards Henry Street
• Work at this intersection should be completed by July 

The water main replacement that is taking place in order to further progress on the Streetcar is typical replacement that occurs annually. Water Works has coordinated the process in order to minimize costs and reduce inconveniences for Cincinnatians.

 

CAF USA Selected As Preferred Vendor For Streetcar Vehicles

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

In Mayor Mark Mallory’s State of the City Address, he announced the selection of the streetcar vehicle.

The following provides more information:

• The City of Cincinnati has selected CAF USA as the preferred vendor to provide up to five modern streetcar vehicles to the first phase of the Cincinnati Streetcar.
• The City will now enter into contract negotiations with CAF USA, the next step toward a formal contract award and Notice to Proceed. The City will also begin the federally-required Pre-Award audit of CAF USA for compliance with federal Buy America regulations.
• CAF USA is a subsidiary of CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.) an international market leader in the design, manufacture, maintenance, and supply of equipment and components for railway systems. CAF has extensive experience producing vehicles for high speed rail, commuter rail, light rail, and streetcar applications worldwide.
• CAF has produced light rail vehicles for Pittsburgh, Sacramento, and Houston (In Production) and streetcar vehicles for the international market such as Besançon (France), Nantes (France), Belgrade (Serbia), Antalya (Turkey), Stockholm (Sweden), Edinburgh (Scotland), Zaragoza (Spain), Granada (Spain), Sevilla (Spain), Bilbao (Spain), and Vitoria (Spain).
• The vehicles produced by CAF USA for the Cincinnati Streetcar must comply with the federal Buy America program, which requires the vehicles be produced with at least 60% domestic content and that final assembly of the vehicles take place in the United States.
• The Cincinnati vehicles will be assembled at CAF USA’s facility in Elmira, NY.
• CAF USA was selected through an extensive, federally compliant procurement process that began with the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) in September 2011. Five vendors submitted proposals by the due date.
• The vehicle offered by CAF USA is a conventionally-powered vehicle with a 100% low-floor design. While the City’s RFP process included the ability for vendors to propose conventionally powered “on-wire” vehicles as well as “off-wire” technology, the “off-wire” technology was higher priced and determined to have limited applicability, given the topography of Cincinnati’s first streetcar route.

See more renderings of the CAF vehicles at cincinnatistreetcar.com.

 

Cincinnati Streetcar Project Meeting To Help Businesses Prepare for Streetcar Contracts

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

Outreach On Federal ‘Disadvantaged Business Enterprise’ Program Set For March 22nd

The City of Cincinnati Streetcar Project is calling businesses interested in working on the construction of the streetcar project to attend a meeting in which they will learn how to become registered as a “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).”

The overall goal of the federal DBE program is to ensure that firms owned and controlled by minorities, women, and other socially and economically disadvantaged persons have the opportunity to grow and become self-sufficient in order to create a level playing field on which they can compete fairly for contracts and subcontracts in the transportation industry.

The Cincinnati streetcar Project Team will hold an outreach session on Thursday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. 

The purpose of this free event is to provide an update to contractors and other interested parties of the participation of small, disadvantaged, minority-, and women-owned business enterprises, and minority and female workers on the project, outline the upcoming schedule, and encourage DBE certification.
During the session, participants will have the opportunity to network and have one-on-one discussions with members of the project team.

For more information on the session, contact:

Darryl Haley, Executive Director of Development
Metro
Phone: (513)632-7690
Fax: (513)621-5291
dhaley@go-metro.com

FAQ:
http://cincinnati-oh.gov/noncms/projects/streetcar/docs/DBE_FAQ.pdf

About The Cincinnati Streetcar
Designed to improve neighborhood accessibility, stimulate development and create thousands of jobs, the Cincinnati Streetcar is on track to revitalize and connect key communities throughout the city’s urban core. The streetcar will make an estimated 3700 trips each day on the initial route from The Banks at Second Street to Findlay Market. The streetcar will run 18 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Operated by SORTA, the streetcar will complement the Metro bus system and serve as a catalyst for a multi-modal transportation system. The first segment is expected to create more than 300 construction jobs and 25 permanent jobs needed for ongoing operations.

 

 

 

Streetcar Construction Update – Feb. 29, 2012

This message is a guest post from the City of Cincinnati

Streetcar Construction has started!

Greater Cincinnati Water Works is replacing the water main on Elm Street between 12^th and McMicken in Over-the-Rhine to provide a clear zone for track construction.  Work hours are typically from 7am – 6pm, with occasional weekend work possibly required.

The construction zone will span less than one block at a time as it moves up Elm Street. One lane of traffic and the sidewalk will remain open at all times.  However, if you have construction concerns, call the City’s construction manager, Dave Krusling, at 513-352-3479 or speak with the on-site inspector, Dave West.

Should you have any questions in the meantime, please call the Streetcar hotline at 352-3333.

We’re excited that the project is underway, and look forward to bringing more to Cincinnati with the Streetcar!

To sign up for news and construction updates, visit www.cincinnatistreetcar.com. Follow us on Twitter @cincystreetcar and Facebook.com/cincystreetcar