The Future of Rail in Cincinnati (Hamilton, Findlay: real estate, neighborhoods, construction)

[Wilson513]

Just to see what a couple of billion dollars of rail investment will do for Cincinnati commuters, check out the progress Portland has made for their rail commuters:

[unusualfire]

Easier to have the %.

[flashes1]

Rail will never be the primary mode of transportation in America as it is in Europe. I think a line could work connecting Mason to downtown, with stops in Montgomery, Kenwood Mall, and a couple stops from there to downtown, but population density is too dispersed here to make it work for the majority. The sooner the Democrats understand this, the less we have to borrow from the Chinese to pay for all these pie-in-the sky dreams of light rail.

Mallory will soon understand the fallacy of his vision. It will be his Waterloo....mired in unrepayable debt.

[Wilson513]

I think the main difference between Portland and Cincinnati as far as commuting is concerned is that a lot more people bicycle to work in Portland. could that be because of the mild climate? Yes, I think it is.

[GregHenry]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

I think the main difference between Portland and Cincinnati as far as commuting is concerned is that a lot more people bicycle to work in Portland. could that be because of the mild climate? Yes, I think it is.

That, and the fact that Lance Armstrong's legs would turn to jello climbing Mt. Adams.

Let gas hit $5.00, and people will wish they had rail.

[lovesthebass]

I still don't know why Mayor Mallory and council are STILL behind the street car decision. It makes no sense at all and these are people that were voted into office.

I'm glad I don't live in Cincinnati proper or Hamilton county for that matter.

This is going to end up just like the subway system, except fail after it's actually built.

Originally Posted by flashes1

Mallory will soon understand the fallacy of his vision. It will be his Waterloo....mired in unrepayable debt.

Fortunately for him, he'll be out of office by the time it's completed. So he won't get any serious backlash from this nonsense. Although he'll always be remembered as the idiot who pushed the street cars.

I hope I'm wrong though. I'd hate to see Cincinnati lay off even more city workers to maintain an under utilized street car system.

[unusualfire]

^Even more? Who did they lay off?

Subway ended because of the depression.

[CinciFan]

Originally Posted by lovesthebass

I'm glad I don't live in Cincinnati proper or Hamilton county for that matter.

Things clearly haven't been working here for the past 50+ years, as evidenced by massive population decline and neglect of Cincy's neighborhoods. Something clearly has to change if Cincinnati is to improve as a city.

I'm glad we have people in this city who are willing to take a cue from other sucessful cities around the country, and try to improve Cincinnati by trying something different. Rail.

Sorry you can't see the vision.

[motorman]

Lest anyone forget, the streetcar was planned to travel to UC/Uptown before our treacherous governor ripped out its funding. This second loop, alone, would have assured students (many of them out-of-towners) and other urban residents a vital link in and out of the CBD ( shopping/entertainment/jobs/culture/diversity). Although I think that the streetcar's introduction will add a new and exciting dimension to our CBD as is ( the Banks to Findlay Market), I also realize that it's a severely crippled compromise (THANKS, Kasich!). It's imperative that this second loop be completed ASAP to reap the streetcar's full potential. While the Portland/Cincinnati graphs posted by the OP are provocative and worthy of closer examination, it's time we disconnected ourselves from our incessant fondling of this far west counterpart and concentrate on our own city.

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by CinciFan

Things clearly haven't been working here for the past 50+ years, as evidenced by massive population decline and neglect of Cincy's neighborhoods. Something clearly has to change if Cincinnati is to improve as a city.

I'm glad we have people in this city who are willing to take a cue from other sucessful cities around the country, and try to improve Cincinnati by trying something different. Rail.

Sorry you can't see the vision.

After billions in investment and 30 years of sacrifice, disruption, and construction, Portland OR is exactly where Cincinnati is - no one uses rail. It is no more than a very, very expensive entertainment ride and a gimmick to cause the inevitable housing expansion to take place in some areas of the city that residents would not otherwise choose to live. Just like here. Development along a route where the real estate people on Council and their well connected friends have made investments.

I say, give everyone who shows up to take the ride a $100 and call it a day. They can spend it on something else. (Or maybe its $1,000 - time will tell).