Cincinnati Moving Forward on Controversial Streetcar Extension Study

According to Sharon Coolridge, "Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday asked the city's administration to study expanding the streetcar to Uptown."

"The study will look at where future funding could come from and is not expected to cost taxpayers additional money, beyond city staff time," adds Coolridge.

The study moved forward on a 5-4 vote and despite a "lengthy argument" and notable opposition from Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. Mayor Cranley called the decision to study the second phase irresponsible. Coolridge quotes the mayor directly asking a rhetorical question to explain his opposition: "Shouldn't the focus be on making the first phase a success?"

For those keeping track at home, Coolridge explains how the Uptown extension, as proposed for Phase II of the streetcar project, was a part of the original plan for the system until Ohio Governor John Kasich pulled all $52 million in state funding for the project in 2011. Local officials moved forward with Phase I, which runs through Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Funding also figures into the projects recent controversies, and Mayor Cranley's concerns, because the city has yet to resolve a $600,000 deficit for operating Phase I of the system.

Coolridge also notes that the Uptown extension has already been studied: "In 2009, consultants completed a feasibility study on the Uptown route, and streetcar project leaders spent another $201,000 on two Uptown studies last year."