August 29, 201214 yr A couple posters have summed it up pretty well: this is a great idea, the execution is lacking. There are a lot of problems with what they've chosen to do here and this is coming from someone as bullish on public transit as you're likely to meet.
August 29, 201214 yr Now this doesn't make much sense to me. Duke Energy has existing gas and electric lines that have long been in place and will require locating in order to put in the ill-conceived streetcar line. The city literally overlooked the fact that this would be an issue while creating their plans and budgeting for the project, and now the $18.7 million price tag for the relocation of those utility lines is standing directly in the way of the project's forward progress. The city expects Duke to pay the entirety of the cost of the relocation, and Duke says if they're forced to pay for it, they will be forced to pass that cost directly on to their customers. Unless there's some kind of legal document that establishes a precedent for the utility provider bearing responsibility for utility relocation on projects like this, I think any kind of legal proceedings by Cincinnati City Hall would be a waste of time and taxpayers' money. City threatens Duke over streetcar costs | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com They are still fighting about this? What a drain and waste of money this thing is. Glad I don't live in Hamilton county.
August 29, 201214 yr They are still fighting about this? What a drain and waste of money this thing is. Glad I don't live in Hamilton county. Pretty much sums up my feelings at this point.
August 29, 201214 yr Pretty much sums up my feelings at this point. It would be one thing if it was actually designed to go places where people are going to ride it but it's not. Not like I haven't said that 10 times already.
February 19, 201313 yr So...the bids are in. Project was budgeted for $45,000,000. Messer Construction: $70,892,049 Kiewit Western Construction: $80,542,983 Kokosing Construction: $87,533,667 So that means, assuming the low bid is complete, the project will come in a cool $25.9 million over budget. And then there's still the lingering issue of relocating Duke Energy's existing utility lines. The City of Cincinnati is trying to plop that $15 million pricetag in Duke's lap...but Duke has countered by suing the city, and explaining that by forcing them to pay to relocate their utility lines for the sake of the city's pet project, they will be forced to raise the price of electric in the city by 24%, and the price of natural gas by 18%.
February 19, 201313 yr Obviously a group of idiots are running the city of Cincinnati. The street car will be a complete waste in 15 years tops.
June 25, 201412 yr Toss on another $1 Million to the cost... Cincinnati Streetcar Will Need $1 Million In Startup Costs Before It Goes Live - Story "CINCINNATI -- In order to get the streetcar wheels rolling the city of Cincinnati will need to find about $1 million in startup costs. That was the figure revealed Tuesday afternoon during a hearing about a cost not known when the streetcar was cleared to move forward with construction last November."
June 25, 201412 yr Another reason not to spend a dime in Cincy. Going to end up spending triple what was projected on a street car to nowhere but cant help get a new bridge built.
June 25, 201412 yr Obviously the solution is to throw more money at it. Duh. I actually heard one of the supporters several months ago talking about how they HAD to go through with it now, because of all the money that had ALREADY been spent. To me, if "throwing good money after bad" is your best argument, you need to leave town.
June 25, 201412 yr I actually heard one of the supporters several months ago talking about how they HAD to go through with it now, because of all the money that had ALREADY been spent. To me, if "throwing good money after bad" is your best argument, you need to leave town. Think the problem is contracts have been signed so it is not like they can just stop and save the rest of the money. It will be a massive waste of money but at least they will have something that people can look at and say it is a waste instead of just tore up streets that are a waste of money.
December 2, 201411 yr Duke Wins Streetcar Lawsuit | WVXU There goes $15 Million more into the black hole that is the Cincinnati Streetcar Project. A lot of money that could have gone to a lot of use towards the refurbishment of Cincinnati Union Terminal and Cincinnati Music Hall.
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