Cincinnati Streetcar's Maintenance and Operations Facility underway

The last week of August, two vacant buildings at the corner of Henry and Race streets in Over-the-Rhine were demolished to make way for the Cincinnati Streetcar’s Maintenance and Operations Facility. The MOF will have a high bay area for storage and light maintenance of streetcar vehicles and equipment, as well as an outdoor storage track.
 
The 12,500-square-foot facility will also house offices, locker rooms, break facilities and a small parking lot for streetcar operators and staff. As the system grows, the facility can be expanded to accommodate up to 12 streetcar vehicles. The cost of the MOF is $11.9 million, and it will be completed in March 2015.
 
The streetcar itself, which will operate 18 hours a day and 365 days a year, will be ready for passenger transportation in spring 2016. The first phase will be a 3.6-mile loop that will connect The Banks and Findlay Market, with 18 stops along the route. The route will include stops at Government Square, Fountain Square, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Public Library, the Aronoff Center, Horseshoe Casino, the Gateway Quarter, the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Music Hall and Washington Park.
 
Due to construction and excavation work at the MOF site, there will be minimal traffic restrictions and a detour—14^th Street from Central Parkway to Elm will be closed for the installation of a new sanitary and storm drain installation.
 
By Caitlin Koenig
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