Pulling the Plug on Cincy Street Cars

[Fallen Buckeye]

More bad news for Ohioans. Cincinatti's street cars may be in jeopardy.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/19/kasich-wants-to-withhold-funding-for-streetcar-project.html?sid=101

Kasich wants to withhold streetcar-project funding
Saturday, March 19, 2011  11:11 AM

The Associated Press

Kasich says the Cincinnati mayor's lobbying about streetcars' potential economic benefits probably won't change the governor's position.
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CINCINNATI (AP) - Ohio Gov. John Kasich says his administration wants to withhold nearly $52 million recommended for Cincinnati's streetcar project because there's doubt about supporters' claims that it would create thousands of jobs.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Kasich made the comments while visiting the city Friday. The proposed $128 million streetcar line would link the central business district with neighborhoods north of downtown.

Kasich says more lobbying by Mayor Mark Mallory about the potential economic benefits likely won't change how the governor and his transportation director view it. State transportation officials are expected to decide on the funding next month.

Councilman Jeff Berding tells the newspaper there would be a $30 million hole in the city's budget for the first phase of the project if it doesn't get the state money.

[thelakelander]

If they were relying on state funding, then its dead.  Tough for Cincy.  However, this is to be expected when transportation and economic needs turn into a national ideology battle between political parties.  Many here wrote me off when the whole Rick Scott/HSR thing went down and I mentioned the fallout would eventually impact us.  Kasich and Scott are from the same cloth.  In short, if you want mass transit improvements here in Jax, don't count on the state for finanical support.  Ask for a highway and you might get 100% funding.

[dougskiles]

Fortunately, we have a plan for funding these types of projects locally.  I can't say that I would support our state funding a local transit system when we have the school budget problems that we have.  We can and should look for ways to expand our local transit system with local dollars.  Expanding the Skyway could be accomplished for a fraction of the cost of one of our recent roadway widening or overpass projects.  I have also been told that a starter streetcar line would be less as well.

Aside from that, what is most frustrating is that we send a huge amount of money to Tallahassee and Washington in the form of gas taxes that we then may not get back in return if we prefer transit projects over highway projects.

It is very disappointing that our transportation system has become a matter of political ideology.  If those who claim to be FISCAL CONSERVATIVES are truly that, then I would think they would appreciate any attempt to decrease the cost of infrastructure construction, maintenance and use.  You would also think they would be in favor of anything that reduced our total energy demand.

We clearly have some serious cultural problems with mass transit in our country.  There is a certain class of people who just are not going to embrace the use of it no matter how much sense it makes.

[thelakelander]

^ I agree.

By the way, the mobility plan was meant to help provide the local funding match for most of the rail based transit projects that are in JTA's and the TPO's long range plans.  Other than the Riverside streetcar route, the S-Line and a short skyway extension to Atlantic Blvd, the state and feds were expected to provide 75% of the funding for the remaining commuter rail and streetcar routes over the next 20 years.  If put in place by the end of the year, it should help generate money for the projects that don't require state/fed dollars over the next 5 to 10 years.  We'll either have to hope for better state leadership or stronger local financial support for the additional lines.

So the good news is, we should be able to develop a decent urban core mass transit system.  The bad news is, without state/fed support it will be difficult to expand to the burbs.

Btw, the gas tax doesn't bring in enough revenue to pay for roads and we have several highway projects proposed (9B, Outer Beltway, etc.) that will cause us more damage in the short and long term if ever completely built out.  I know I'm speaking to the choir but roads are about the most unsustainable and expensive infrastructure investment we can make.  We're going to have our hands full trying to maintain whats already in place (ex. imagine the cost to replace the Matthews and Hart Bridges, etc.).  To this day, I really don't understand why those who call themselves fiscal conservatives don't realize this.

[fieldafm]

So the good news is, we should be able to develop a decent urban core mass transit system.  The bad news is, without state/fed support it will be difficult to expand to the burbs.

It is very disappointing that our transportation system has become a matter of political ideology.  If those who claim to be FISCAL CONSERVATIVES are truly that, then I would think they would appreciate any attempt to decrease the cost of infrastructure construction, maintenance and use.  You would also think they would be in favor of anything that reduced our total energy demand.

To this day, I really don't understand why those who call themselves fiscal conservatives don't realize this.

I would like to stand behind these statements 100%.

[Fallen Buckeye]

Absolutely. I was brought up as one of those conservative country boys, and frankly I am a little surprised that these issues have not caught on with fiscal conservatives. I believe in limited government as much as the next guy, but some spending is necessary spending. And if we are going to have to spend, it makes sense to get the most use out of our existing infrastructure investments.

What is especially concerning to me in this situation is that people are showing Kaisch the facts about how this could encourage smart growth and create economic opportunities, and he is basically refusing to even consider the facts. Sounds all too familiar unfortunately.