The streetcar has a new boss. But does he have any transit experience? (Columbus: transfer, construction)

[silverhead]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a6683281.html

tps://www.insider.co.uk/news/edinburgh-tram-inquiry-john-carson-12295822

Look familiar?. We had the same problems here, although, i think at a greater financial and business's cost than Cincinatti's. Politicians grandstanding with taxpayers money. Our ridership is increasing though and we are probably going to extend the line soon but,no doubt over budget and time as usual. What cost was kansas city's streetcar and how can they balance the cost/budget with free ridership?. Our fare is $2.25 one way,do you think if Cincinatti's streetcar was free, ridership would greatly improve?. You have to give trams traffic priority over cars as we do or the whole benefit of taking the tram over the car evaporates. Anyway i will be back in your fine city of Cincinatti for the third time in five years on holiday for "Taste of Cincinatti"(Oktoberfest last time)so will try the trams this time as i skipped them last time.

[cincydave8]

Originally Posted by silverhead

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-a6683281.html

tps://www.insider.co.uk/news/edinburgh-tram-inquiry-john-carson-12295822

Look familiar?. We had the same problems here, although, i think at a greater financial and business's cost than Cincinatti's. Politicians grandstanding with taxpayers money. Our ridership is increasing though and we are probably going to extend the line soon but,no doubt over budget and time as usual. What cost was kansas city's streetcar and how can they balance the cost/budget with free ridership?. Our fare is $2.25 one way,do you think if Cincinatti's streetcar was free, ridership would greatly improve?. You have to give trams traffic priority over cars as we do or the whole benefit of taking the tram over the car evaporates. Anyway i will be back in your fine city of Cincinatti for the third time in five years on holiday for "Taste of Cincinatti"(Oktoberfest last time)so will try the trams this time as i skipped them last time.

Free streetcar would increase ridership. The only real question is by how much. Tampa Bay's Streetcar also used to cost money but is now free and they've seen ridership increase. Beyond that the major difference between ours and KC is that KC has a mayor that supports it and has made sure it runs to peak efficiency. We have a mayor who's campaign was funded by local car dealerships and has done everything in his power to hurt the streetcar. KC makes sure blockages are enforced, they timed the traffic lights and it's free. Once Cincinnati (3 N 2 T...think Sin Sin Nati) has a new mayor you'll see major improvements. In the mean time, we're starting to see some improvement with a pro-streetcar council. Of course ridership is not everything at this point and we're seeing massive development along the line partially because of the streetcar and proven in statements by CEOs of Kroger and GE on choosing to build new buildings on the line. All you have to do is walk on block off the line north of Liberty and you'll see the difference.

You're going to get a lot of negative comments from the same few posters who are oddly obsessed with ****ting on Cincinnati, none of them live here, it's best to just ignore them. I hope you have a good visit in 5 years, if you're a football fan make sure to catch a match at what will be a brand new soccer specific stadium for our new MLS club FC Cincinnati. It'll be only 1 block off the line.

[DaveGl]

Originally Posted by silverhead

...Anyway i will be back in your fine city of Cincinatti for the third time in five years on holiday for "Taste of Cincinatti"(Oktoberfest last time)so will try the trams this time as i skipped them last time.

I'm looking forward to Taste. I now tend to enjoy it more than Oktoberfest, since Taste is at least still on 5th Street. More fun than hanging out next to a freeway.

[WILWRadio]

This says it all and I predicted this would happen.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/new...it/3732697002/

[Skint]

Our streetcars are heavily used in Toronto. Do the ones in Cincinnati actually go to places people are going or were they built to make property developers happy? If you just build them to make property developers happy, they don't go anywhere, don't serve anyone and waste money. They just raise land value close by, but don't improve traffic. Streetcars are excellent. I love the ones we have in Toronto. But you have to be aware of the routing.

[mimi in cinci]

Originally Posted by Skint

Our streetcars are heavily used in Toronto. Do the ones in Cincinnati actually go to places people are going or were they built to make property developers happy? If you just build them to make property developers happy, they don't go anywhere, don't serve anyone and waste money. They just raise land value close by, but don't improve traffic. Streetcars are excellent. I love the ones we have in Toronto. But you have to be aware of the routing.

No, the ones in Toronto are really wonderful for transportation. The Cincinnati one (singular route) is more of a people mover. Sadly Cincinnati, like many US cities, has not fully embraced the streetcar as a viable form of transportation.

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by Nomomo07

This system can indeed be successful, as evidenced by the Kansas City streetcar system.

No, it cannot. What other cities do is not evidence of anything, except what other cities do.

Originally Posted by Nomomo07

But what do I know, I'm just a well-informed citizen.

Apparently not.

The Cincinnati Bell Connector financial report for the month ending March31, 2019 is attached. Total Revenues were $279,187 which is unfavorable to budget by $70,248 or 20%. Total Expenses were $342,512, which is favorable to budget by $6,923 or 2%. March income is unfavorable to budget by $63,325. Year to date income is unfavorable to budget by $28,945. A favorable adjustment from prior months to the Transdev Contract Expense of $57,978,a favorable adjustment from prior months to TVM Maintenance of $52,898, and an unfavorable adjustment from prior months to Direct Costs –Police Detail of $228 are reflected in the year to date results. Below is a summary of the most significant factors driving results for the month: Ridership: Unfavorable by 1,773 or 5% for the month. Fare Revenue: Unfavorable by $5,052 or 18% for the month due to actual fare revenue per ride of $0.65 compared with budget fare revenue per ride of $0.76. Connector Advertising: Unfavorable by $64,220 or 94% for the month due to advertising contracts below budgeted expectations.

Originally Posted by Kamms

So now about 4,600 people everyday are opting not to ride the Connector due to signal delays and city hall politics? Really not by that at all now. It’s a lack of demand, need, and usefulness.

The toy is of no value.

Originally Posted by cincydave8

Free streetcar would increase ridership.

So, you're volunteering to pay for it?

Because "free" doesn't work in the real world.

Originally Posted by Skint

Our streetcars are heavily used in Toronto.

Cincinnati is not Toronto. What other cities do is not relevant.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Mircea

No, it cannot. What other cities do is not evidence of anything, except what other cities do.



Apparently not.

The Cincinnati Bell Connector financial report for the month ending March31, 2019 is attached. Total Revenues were $279,187 which is unfavorable to budget by $70,248 or 20%. Total Expenses were $342,512, which is favorable to budget by $6,923 or 2%. March income is unfavorable to budget by $63,325. Year to date income is unfavorable to budget by $28,945. A favorable adjustment from prior months to the Transdev Contract Expense of $57,978,a favorable adjustment from prior months to TVM Maintenance of $52,898, and an unfavorable adjustment from prior months to Direct Costs –Police Detail of $228 are reflected in the year to date results. Below is a summary of the most significant factors driving results for the month: Ridership: Unfavorable by 1,773 or 5% for the month. Fare Revenue: Unfavorable by $5,052 or 18% for the month due to actual fare revenue per ride of $0.65 compared with budget fare revenue per ride of $0.76. Connector Advertising: Unfavorable by $64,220 or 94% for the month due to advertising contracts below budgeted expectations.



The toy is of no value.



So, you're volunteering to pay for it?

Because "free" doesn't work in the real world.



Cincinnati is not Toronto. What other cities do is not relevant.

Essentially, Cincinnati leadership simply isn’t as competent as Kansas City’s. That’s fine, because obviously someone needs to be the low bar.

[DonCorleone]

As a visitor, I have a (hopefully) benign question about the seemingly polarizing streetcar...how reliable is it?

Will be staying in OTR for a few days later this week and plan on taking it to the ballpark and around downtown. The streetcar stop is about 100 yards from the rental. I've read about people parking on the tracks, etc...are those kinds of delays common? Is the city bus system a better option?

[cincydave8]

It's reliable. Typically any delay will not last more than 20 minutes but occasionally will you get a long one. With a new Streetcar Czar and pro-streetcar council we're finally starting to see minor improvements to the system despite what some non-resident posters on here may spew. The bus is a better option if you're leaving the urban core but if the streetcar was down I would either walk/scooter or get an uber depending on how far it was. Buses do not go south of 5th street. Download CincyEZ ride app and you can check real time location of the streetcar and pay for while avoiding the ticket boxes. Also all the stops will let know how far away the next one is. If you're in town for a Reds game you can ride streetcar for free with your reds ticket.