There's hope yet that Cincinnati's embattled streetcar project might proceed after all. Mayor John Cranley, who campaigned on canceling the project, has announced he's willing to allow the project to proceed if the private sector pays to operate it.
"In a major shift in his position, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said Thursday that he would support completing the first phase of the streetcar if all of the annual operating costs for the next three decades are covered by fares, advertising and donations from the private sector," reports Chris Wetterich.
"Cranley confirmed that major players in Cincinnati, including corporations and foundations, are talking about ways to cover the operating costs, which are estimated to be up to $4.5 million a year before fares are factored in."
The city is under a Dec. 19 deadline to restart the paused project or forgo $45 million in federal funds.
“Nobody has suggested they have the money,” Cranley said at a news conference. “It’s a obviously a huge, huge hurdle to try to put this together in seven days.”
FULL STORY: Cranley: We'll build the streetcar if private sector pays the operating costs (Video)
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.