Transportation

Cincinnati officials looking to win big in second round of TIGER grants

By Newsroom

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September 28, 2010

Cincinnati officials have submitted a $35 million application for funds from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) II program. The problem is that Cincinnati is not alone in their TIGER II aspirations. Approximately 1,000 applications were submitted for consideration totaling more than $19 billion in requests - a number far exceeding the $600 million available through the program.“The wave of applications for both TIGER II and TIGER I dollars shows the back-log of needed infrastructure improvements and the desire for more flexible funds,” U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a prepared statement. “This also shows the opportunities still before us to create jobs, to reduce congestion, make wise environmental choices and help generate lasting economic growth.”In February 2010 Cincinnati officials learned that the streetcar project had been passed over in the first round of TIGER funding which distributed $1.5 billion to 51 projects nationwide. At that time officials attributed the loss to the highly competitive nature of the program, but were encouraged by the positive feedback they received from the DOT.Cincinnati's current $35 million request would close the remaining $12 million gap and potentially reduce the amount of local bonds needed for the $128 million streetcar project. Should the project receive the full $35 million, the modern streetcar project could potentially also see an expanded scope from its current Downtown/Over-the-Rhine loop and connection to Uptown."The streetcar project speaks directly to a number of the priorities that have been identified recently by the U.S. DOT," said Chris Eilerman with the City's Department of Transportation & Engineering. "The streetcar specifically speaks to the livability principles of providing more transportation choices and improving the economic competitiveness of neighborhoods, sustainability, walkability, and creating vibrant, urban neighborhoods. This is why we believe that this is a transformative project that will compliment the growth that Cincinnati is experiencing now."Cincinnati's official request was submitted by the Ohio DOT as one of their priority projects. The State of Ohio previously awarded the Cincinnati Streetcar project $15 million through its Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC).According to the U.S. DOT, grants awarded through TIGER II will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects on a half-dozen criteria including environmental, transportation, economic, and livability factors. Those projects that are able to create and preserve jobs quickly will also be given priority. Officials expect to hear back about projects winning TIGER II funds later this fall. Writer: Randy A. SimesImage Provided Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

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$440k first-phase of Clifton Heights streetscaping project nears completion

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Development News

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September 21, 2010

Significant progress has been made on the first-phase of streetscaping improvements throughout the Clifton Heights business district. Over the past two months work has been taking place along W. McMillan Street to rebuild sidewalks, crosswalks, curbs, replant street trees, and install new street lamps. The roughly half-million dollar project will also include new parking meters, trash cans, and decorative brick pavers.This stretch of W. McMillan Street had long been plagued by buckled sidewalks due to root invasion from the street trees there and water that subsequently collected. The rebuilt sidewalks not only feature safe and pleasant surfaces for pedestrians, but they also feature uniquely designed brick work at cross walk locations.The improvement work has been championed by area businesses and the Clifton Heights Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CHCURC) whose director, Matt Bourgeois, said that “the business community is very excited about the progress being made.” While the work has posed a minor inconvenience for businesses the consensus seems to be that it is worth the trouble."The business district faught long and hard to get the city funds for the project so we're very excited about the improvements and we think it's a great thing," said McNeil Ryan, owner of the popular Mac's Pizza Pub. "It's a very short-term pain for a very long-term gain, and we were very fortunate they were able to schedule the majority of the work during the summer."Some of that progress that has been prior to the streetscaping work has been quite noticeable and included several facade improvement projects; business expansions and renovations by DuBois Bookstore, Plaza Artist Materials, and Mac’s Pizza Pub; and the addition of several new businesses to the district.The first phase of streetscaping improvements, nearing their expected completion in October 2010, were funded through the Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU) and the City of Cincinnati. The later two phases will continue the streetscaping work throughout the district over the next two years depending on funding.Ryan concluded that, "when the project is completely finished after they plant the trees, it will be very nice and I know I'm looking forward to it." Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Jake Mecklenborg Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

Cycle tracks included in list of potential bicycle fixes for Riverside Drive

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Development News

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September 14, 2010

Cincinnati officials are looking to make bicycle improvements to Riverside Drive through Cincinnati's East End neighborhood. The corridor has a large number of commuting and recreational bicyclists, but is also a federally designated truck route with a significant amount of vehicular traffic along U.S. 52.The corridor presently has four lanes of traffic that has on-street parking in two of the lanes throughout much of the day. Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE) officials say that traffic travels at an average speed of 46mph even though the posted speed limit is 35mph. Officials also state that roughly 10 percent of all traffic in the corridor is truck traffic.The hope is to eventually improve bicycle conditions enough to encourage more bicycle commuters along the eastern corridor while also encouraging more recreational users to take advantage of it and the adjacent string of riverfront parks. One such plan is the Ohio River Trail which would connect downtown Cincinnati to the Little Miami Scenic River Trail on the east side. While development has been ongoing for years, project officials are not sure when money will be available to make improvements along this stretch."We're continuously looking for ways to improve the quality of life for residents, and enhance neighborhoods in ways that are more in line with our community's interests in walkable, bike-friendly and sustainable neighborhoods," said Matthew Andrews, Acting Principal Architect with Cincinnati's DOTE. "But due to the complexities of this corridor, we are really interested to see what kind of feedback we can get from the public."Feedback on five potential modifications to the lane configuration on Riverside Drive from Bains to Congress is what is needed. The potential modifications include designated bike lanes on Riverside Drive, buffered bike lanes, shared pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians, and a cycle track concept that would separate bicycle traffic from speeding motorists and large freight truck traffic.All five concepts have removed the rush hour parking restrictions that currently exist, created additional on-street automobile parking, space for trees on both sides of the street, and dedicated new space for bicyclists.Those interested can provide feedback online now until Thursday, September 30, 2010. The DOTE will also be hosting an open house on Wednesday, September 15 at the LeBlond Center (map) from 4pm to 7pm on the potential modifications. Officials hope to then narrow down the five concepts based on further analysis and public feedback in early October.Writer: Randy A. SimesRendering ProvidedStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

UC students start streetcar discussions with Transforum

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Development News

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September 7, 2010

Three groups of UC students hit Cincinnati's streets to find out what everyday residents think about public transit and the Cincinnati Streetcar as part of a three-quarter-long project called Transforum.They heard responses that ranged from "can someone please tell me what light rail is?" to "I see public transportation as a civil rights issue." One person said "the streetcar is a choo-choo train to nowhere."The students digested those words and created a campaign of posters, videos and flyers in response. The final presentation of their work was shown last Wednesday in Corryville at the Niehoff Urban Studio.Many of the students are seeking degrees in industrial, graphic, digital, or fashion design and the range of backgrounds lent a broad aesthetic appeal to their gala presentation. Visitors could don a cardboard streetcar costume and pose for a photo before chic, tasty hors de oeuvres fueled them along a path to different informational stops. At one stop, a poster illustrated all of Cincinnati streetcar's funding streams, and at another films of potential transit scenarios played out on computer screens.In the center of the room sat the future of the project: a mock streetcar stop. The aluminum and plexiglass shelter displays images and information relating to light rail in Cincinnati, but has one white panel where people can write their thoughts and opinions in response to the information (it feels kind of like writing graffiti on a bus stop advertisement.) Peter Chamberlain, the professor who taught the studio, said the kiosk has already been to Final Friday in OTR and the Northside Farmer's Market, and it might show up in the lobby of the Downtown Library someday.The comments written on the white wall will be transferred into digital form as a picture or text, and posted on the Transforum website. Chamberlain called the streetcar stop the physical manifestation of the site."We really want it to live on to be a magnet for people's comments," he said. Once they've been posted, the comments can start discussions on the Transforum website.Since the Transforum studio time has come to a close, the project must now rely on volunteer labor of the students to keep it alive. Chamberlain said he thinks they will carry on the unique project."I don't think there's any other group in the city that's doing such a focused effort of trying to connect with people in the course of their everyday lives," he said.Writer: Henry Sweets

Portland streetcar success has fueled interest elsewhere

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Cincy In The News

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September 7, 2010

The streetcar built in 2001 in Portland, Oregon has now inspired other cities, including Cincinnati, to build streetcars in a time of rebirth for the city. Portland's streetcar proved to be a successby transforming a neighborhood with boutiques, condos, and restaurants. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded 258.6 million dollars for streetcars in various cities.Read the full story here.

Cincinnati leaders looking to humanize streets with more two-way conversions

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Development News

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August 31, 2010

In the near future, city officials hope to convert two Uptown streets back to two-way traffic as they once were during their business district's heydays. In addition to William Howard Taft Road and E. McMillan Street, some city leaders believe there may be a future for additional two-way street conversions throughout Cincinnati."There was lots of discussion about converting Vine Street to two-way traffic in the early 1990's, but it was ultimately done to create a more vibrant corridor," explained Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who is pushing for additional Complete Streets measures to be included throughout the city. "There might be some streets in the central business district, and definitely some in Over-the-Rhine that should be examined."Before the Uptown streets can be converted back to two-way traffic, they must first be studied in conjunction with the ongoing I-71 Access Improvement Study. The transportation study is examining various aspects of vehicular access in the subject area, and Vice Mayor Qualls believes that now is the time to look at the conversion before physical progress is made on any possible interchange reconfiguration."The key thing for McMillan and Taft is creating a corridor that supports retail and business," Qualls said. "This area used to serve as Cincinnati's second downtown, and the goal should be to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle traffic through this type of a neighborhood business district."The idea has been well received by neighborhood residents and businesses who believe a two-way street conversion will help to create additional opportunities to revitalize the area. Preliminary cost estimates peg the two-way conversion work around $235,000. A report on the conversion proposal is scheduled to be presented to the administration in early September 2010.According to Qualls, the interchange redesign of Uptown may still be a long way off, but does not eliminate the possibility of other two-way conversions. In particular, Qualls sees particular promise with other north/south streets in Over-the-Rhine following the success of Vine Street's conversion. Other possibilities could potentially include Elm, Race, Walnut, and Main Streets through the historic neighborhood."I have been following this kind of movement since I first joined the Congress for New Urbanism Board in 2000, and what we need to be doing is designing our streets in a way that creates and supports vibrant types of urban environments."Writer: Randy A. SimesPhotography by Tiffani FisherStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

American Airlines starts non-stop service from JFK to Cincinnati

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Cincy In The News

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August 10, 2010

American Airlines announced a daily non-stop service flight between New York and Cincinnati as well as Indianapolis and Norfolk. This addition allows more access to three key business cities for New York residents and also more access to international flights from JFK for Cincinnati residents.Read the full story here.

New hybrid vehicles for Cincinnati Parks to cut costs, benefit environment

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Development News

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August 10, 2010

The Cincinnati Park Board is adding four hybrid vehicles to its fleet thanks to a $122,000 grant from Clean Fuels Ohio. The new vehicles were obtained in partnership with the City of Cincinnati Department of Public Services, Fleet Management Division.According to city officials, the new Toyota Prius hybrid cars are replacing four sport utility vehicles that were at the end of their serviceable life cycle."We evaluated the benefits of the SUV versus their operational cost, and found that the winter benefits could not justify the much higher costs," explained Gerald Checco, Superintendent, Cincinnati Park Board. "The upkeep and gas costs associated with the sport utility vehicles could not be justified by the five to ten days of snow conditions annually."Beyond the $3,000 of annual cost savings, the new hybrid vehicles are expected to make a considerable environmental improvement over the previous vehicles. City officials estimate that a Toyota Prius emits an average of 3.4 tons-equivalent of CO2 annually, compared to 7.5 tons emitted by the previous sport utility vehicles. The environmental benefit, officials say, is the clean air equivalent to planting a six-acre forest."Our research found the Prius is especially liked because of its stellar fuel economy, relatively uncompromised driving and acceleration characteristics and reasonable price," said Checco who went on to say that the vehicles will be used by administrative staff.The new vehicles for the Cincinnati Park Board join a growing hybrid fleet for the City of Cincinnati. Most recently, the City added six hybrid Toyota Highlanders to the Police Department's fleet, and another four hybrid vehicles for its Public Services division. City officials are also now researching the use of hybrid aerial boom trucks.Park Board officials state that eight trucks powered by propane fuel will be added later this year to further incorporate "green" initiatives outlined in Mayor Mallory's Green Cincinnati Plan. To date, the Cincinnati Park Board has installed solar-powered trash cans, rain gardens, geothermal units, and 28 other "green" park projects.Writer: Randy A. SimesPhotography by Scott BeselerStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

Reformed Cincinnati parking policy increasing rates while upgrading system

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Development News

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August 10, 2010

Last week, the City of Cincinnati made significant changes to its parking policy that includes increased rates all across the city. In most areas the rate is doubling in an effort to upgrade the city's parking infrastructure, while also becoming more cost competitive with private rates.The changes come following analysis of a 2009 parking report completed by Walker Parking Consultants. The report outlined that Cincinnati's off-street parking facilities, and on-street meters, were priced "well below market rate." The report will help the City in planning for the following.Increase parking needs as the city continues economic development effortsAddress predicted shortage of the city budget's parking fundProvide for increased efficiency in the parking system's administrationThe rate increases will make on-street meters in downtown Cincinnati $2 per hour, while city-owned parking garages will also see varying increases. In six neighborhood business districts, on-street meters will double from 25 cents an hour, to 50 cents an hour.Even with these increases, more may be on the horizon as the 2009 Walker Parking report called for the city to price its parking spaces within 5 percent of the private market. The basis for this recommendation is two-fold as studies indicate that often times public parking spaces are priced artificially low at the detriment of nearby businesses and the immediate environment.Donald Shoup, Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA, has studied this subject matter extensively, and found that higher parking rates actually benefit local businesses by creating higher turnover. At the same time, the higher rates, Shoup contends, deters drivers from circling blocks in search of that cheap parking space. This, in turn, reduces direct emissions and reduces congestion on local roads.City officials report that the increased meter rates are the first increases in more than ten years, and places Cincinnati within the lower range of of comparable cities like Louisville, Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Cleveland.The increased rates will reportedly help cover maintenance costs associated with parking facilities, and upgraded on-street parking equipment that will include new solar-powered pay/display stations like those currently found on Court Street and Second Street in downtown Cincinnati. City officials say that the new pay/display stations will make parking services more efficient, while also reducing maintenance costs long-term. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

Officials meet to discuss importance of Brent Spence Bridge project

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Architecture + Design

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August 3, 2010

U.S. Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH) and James L. Oberstar (D-MN) were in Cincinnati on Monday, August 2 to discuss the Brent Spence Bridge replacement and rehabilitation project. The congressmen met with local officials on the 25th floor of the Enquirer Building in downtown Cincinnati overlooking the river span. Driehaus and Oberstar were joined by other local officials including Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney and Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls who also serves as chair of the Livable Communities Committee and Major Transportation & Infrastructure Projects Sub-Committee which study projects of this nature. They gathered to discuss the project's economic and transportation impacts. Completed in 1964, the Brent Spence Bridge is currently exceeding its designed capacity and presents a variety of safety concerns that range from the bridge's lack of emergency break down lanes for motorists, to poor signage that partially obstructed by the bridge's support structure. In March 2010, Brian Cunningham from OKI Regional Council of Governments told Soapbox that the Brent Spence Bridge project is the metropolitan planning organization's number one priority because of the safety concerns and the major transportation choke point it presently causes. "OKI has estimated that there is a crash along this 8-mile stretch once every three days, and when a crash occurs on that bridge it basically shuts down two interstates," Cunningham detailed. The Ohio River crossing also represents a major economic linchpin for the region, and nation. It is presently estimated that $400 billion worth of commodities travel across the bridge every year; a number expected to more than double by 2030 to $815 billion. Cunningham states that local officials have been very supportive of the project thus far, but that significant amounts of money are still needed to make the $2-3 billion project a reality. Local officials are hoping that a large portion of that money can come from the federal government with the help of representatives like Congressman Oberstar who serves as chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The Brent Spence Bridge replacement designs have now been narrowed to three final design options, and officials hope that if the necessary funding is secured that construction can begin on the new span by 2015. Writer: Randy A. SimesRendering Provided Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy