Indestructible Cincinnati Streetcar Faces Another Foe
When you live in a state where the governor uses the phrase "train cult," transit victories are hard-fought.
That has been particularly so for the Cincinnati streetcar. In the decade-plus this project has been moving toward construction, it has seen more assassination attempts and intrigue than the literary heroes of ancient Greece.
You'll recall that earlier this year, Cincinnati's rail ambitions suffered a setback when Governor John Kasich yanked about $50 million that had already been promised to the project. Not satisfied with that unprecedented and dubiously legal action, Kasich went further, adding a line to the state budget that prohibited any state dollars from being spent on rail service in Cincinnati.
But the streetcar coalition is an experienced and battle-tested group. They fought back, scaling the project down by about a third, then forging ahead without any state money.
Now, as the construction deadline nears, the streetcar faces what could prove to be its last obstacle (but, really, who knows). An opposition group calling themselves, COAST (Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes), is working to get an issue on the November ballot that would forbid the city from developing any rail transportation until 2020.
The good news is the mighty Cincinnati streetcar already overcame a similar challenge in 2009. Network blog Urban Cincy has this report:
Despite clear indication from the voters, the city, and (at one time) the state and federal level that the Cincinnati Streetcar project was a positive contribution to changing Cincinnati for the better, there are those who would rewrite the rule books. The first vote was not enough. It is time for another.
A ten-year ban would force Cincinnati to miss out on an entire generation of building infrastructure, in a time when gas prices are certainly not getting any cheaper, and Cincinnatians will be desperate for options to get around.
“Nothing even remotely like this has ever been proposed in any American city. In a era of rising energy prices, Cincinnati would be handcuffing its flexibility to develop alternative means of getting citizens to work and doing the everyday things of life,” says local transit authority and activist John Schneider. “And since regional rail lines wouldn’t be able to connect within the city limits, this has serious regional implications too.”
Can anyone imagine a highway project receiving similar treatment?
Elsewhere on the Network today: Walkable Dallas-Fort Worth says skyscrapers in the absence of livability amenities are just vertical sprawl. The League of American Bicyclists blog reports that Wisconsin advocates were able to restore $2 million in zeroed-out bicycle and pedestrian money to the state budget. And WABA Quick Release reports DC is putting traffic officers in the bike saddle.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Are Friday’s Headlines the New Normal?
Transit ridership hasn't come all the way back from the pandemic, and they're going to need more federal help, along with other changes, says Governing magazine.
Friday Video: How to Make Places Safe For Non-Drivers After Dark
A top Paris pedestrian planner, a leading GIS professional, and Streetsblog's own Kea Wilson weigh in on the roots of America's nighttime road safety crisis, and the strategies that can help end it.
OPINION: Congestion Pricing Will Help My Family Get Around As We Navigate Cancer Treatment
My partner was recently diagnosed with cancer. Congestion pricing will make getting her to treatment faster and easier.
Talking Headways Podcast: Money is a Lot of Different Things
It's Part II of our discussion with Jim Kumon!
If Thursday’s Headlines Build It, They Will Come
Why can the U.S. quickly rebuild a bridge for cars, but not do the same for transit? It comes down to political will and a reliance on consultants.
