Streetcars approved in concept, hard work begins

Cincinnati City Council has approved a motion to build a streetcar system linking Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Uptown, but the struggle for its supporters is hardly over.

John Schneider, chair of the Alliance for Regional Transit, says that streetcar proponents will likely have to meet with city council many more times to iron out technical issues.

"I think we've already answered the 'Why?'," he says.  "Now we have to decide on things like the types of vehicles, the fare policy, and where to put the maintenance facility."

The project's $102 million first phase, a loop running between The Banks and McMicken Street in Over-the-Rhine, still requires $31 million in private sources before it can be built.

$35 million in private funding will also need to be indentified for a connector line to Uptown, which Schneider says will add more up-front costs.

"There are obvious additional costs like power, cars, drivers, and maintenance," Schneider says.  "Hopefully the benefits will outweigh the costs.  The alternative analysis we're doing to apply for federal funds [for completion of the Uptown loop] will sort all of these questions out."

Schneider says that, based upon the multitude of peer-reviewed empirical studies, streetcar opponents recognize the value of streetcars as tools for economic development.

But it's the style of development they don't like, and selling them on the benefits is sometimes difficult.

"They will always say that people don't like to live in apartments, or that people won't want to give up their cars, or that there is too much crime," Schneider says.  "If we want a real downtown, we have to get people walking.   The streetcar promotes that."

If funding is identified quickly, the streetcars could be running by 2011.

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: John Schneider, chair, Alliance for Regional Transit
Map courtesy of the Cincinnati Streetcar Feasibility Study