A Desire For Streetcars

Cincy Mayor Mark Mallory made his case to start the city's streetcar project downtown, the voters approved it two years ago.  But City Council Republicans say the times have changed and despite the voters, they want to put the measure to another vote in May or November, and barring that they want Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich to block all funding for the project.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney today called together panel of local media to plead their case for a streetcar system in Cincinnati.

City officials have estimated the first phase of the streetcar project would cost $128 million and would consist of a 4.9-mile loop connecting Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Clifton. The project is expected to break ground this spring.

In the briefing with reporters, Mallory said the streetcar project could increase property values along the route by as much as 8.8 percent. He based on results from other cities that have streetcars, including places like San Diego and Dallas.

"There is an absolute wave out there of cities who are trying to build streetcar systems," Mallory said.

He estimated that 1,300 new residential units could be developed along the route and said the potential exists for the redevelopment of 90 acres of existing parking lots.

Mallory also said no fewer than 14 studies over the last 15 years to 20 years have recommened that the city connect its two largest employment centers to encourage economic development. And that's what the streetcar will do, he said.

But Republicans want to send the measure back to the voters, the most surprising group supporting that measure is the Cincy NAACP, who says that the streetcar project will take money for police, fire, schools, and basic services away from the minority parts of the city where the streetcar won't reach.

A news release from Cincinnati NAACP President Christopher Smitherman said the groups are confident they will be able to collect the signatures they need to place the measure on the ballot.

“This is about protecting the city’s operating budget that supports basic services like police, fire, sanitation and health clinics,” he said in the release. “Council continues to push a project while the city is facing the largest financial crisis of its time. It is time to put the brakes on this project.”

Republicans however want Gov. Kasich to pull all state funding for the project to kill it for good in the meantime.

Opponents are asking Gov. John Kasich to pull $50 million in state money for the project and are circulating petitions to place a charter amendment on the ballot to stop the project.

Odds are pretty good that Kasich will step in and do precisely that.  After all, this is a guy who turned down hundreds of millions in federal dollars for rail in Ohio (not to mention thousands of jobs) because he doesn't like trains.  I'm honestly surprised he hasn't personally shown up to tell Mark Mallory that "The streetcar is dead!"

Something tells me he will, and soon.