Mechanical failures and understaffing have contributed to plummeting ridership for the Cincinnati Bell Connector.

Ridership for the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar is half of what it was in 2017 according to reporting from writes Sharon Coolidge in the Cincinnati Enquirer. The system has problems with maintenance and staffing: "Streetcar vehicles built by manufacturer CAF-USA have so many problems – air compressors, heating, braking, propulsion and power failures – they likely need to be completely rebuilt," Coolidge writes. An already tight budget means the operator which is understaffed is unlikely to offer more attractive pay packages to relieve staffing issues. "Private operator Transdev can't keep staff on hand. The company's situation is complicated by the fact that its portion of the streetcar contract was bid at $3.3 million, less than what it's costing Transdev to operate the system," Coolidge writes.
No one seems to want to take on the issue. The mayor, John Cranley, has been against the project for some time, but was unable to block the project from completion. Agencies associated with the street car have been quick to point fingers at each other, "For instance when the streetcar wasn't operating SORTA directed the media to call the city's spokesman because the issue was related to the cars not working. The city spokesman then said the media should call SORTA because it manages the project," Coolidge reports.
FULL STORY: 5 reasons why the Cincinnati streetcar's numbers are crashing, with no fixes in sight

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie