The Cincinnati Bell Connector has been offering free rides since reopening in October, but the Cincinnati City Council recently decided to make the free rides a permanent feature.
"Since reopening after a pandemic-related suspension, Cincinnati's streetcar has not charged fares for passengers to ride. Starting [November 1], that change will become permanent," reports Pat LaFleur.
The free ride rely on a fare-free operations structure first implemented as a 60-day measure in September, according to LaFleur. In addition to the benefits of free rides, streetcar riders are also expected to benefit from improved service performance, as the time for paying fare has been removed from the boarding equation.
"Given the pandemic-related, months-long streetcar shutdown, and now having operated fare-free for the last two months, recent data regarding how much fare revenue the streetcar collected on a daily basis is scarce and unreliable," writes LaFleur. "In a May 2019 memo, then-City Manager Patrick Duhaney estimated that the Connector had brought in roughly $330,000 in fares in 2018, but the cost to collect those fares -- including printing the tickets, maintaining the ticket vending machines and paying fare inspectors -- offset that revenue by nearly $260,000."
The article also includes details of Mayor John Cranley's counter proposal, which failed to gain the political traction over the fare-free idea.
FULL STORY: Cincinnati streetcar will go fare-free permanently starting Nov. 1
Cincinnati Streetcar Sets Monthly Ridership Record
The Cincinnati Streetcar, now known as the Cincinnati Connector, has come so far.
Streetcar Facing $1.4 Million Budget Deficit in Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Streetcar, now known as the Bell Connector, weathered numerous controversies on the way to completion. Now it faces the prospect of balancing its budget less than three years after launching.
Streetcars Out of Service in Cincinnati
It's been a rough week for the Cincinnati Bell Connector.
Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns
Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.
The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.
Houston Lot Size Reforms Yield Positive Results
New research shows that reducing lot size requirements helped create thousands of new homes.
From Zero to Two: Houston’s Bike Share Saga Continues
The city is now proposing supporting BCycle as well as launching a new, complementary system.
‘Affordability Unlocked’ Boosts Austin’s Affordable Housing Production
A 2019 program has created new housing at a faster rate than other city programs.
How Homelessness Differs in Rural America
Although less visible than in major cities, the housing crisis is no less severe in many rural communities, where being unhoused poses unique challenges.
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
City of Stonecrest
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Culver City
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.
