Several important details of the Cincinnati Streetcar came into focus in recent weeks. Included is a component of the operating agreement that will take advantage of rising property values in funding the system.
"Officials with the City of Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) made several major announcements last week pertaining to the rollout of the Cincinnati Streetcar system," reports Randy A. Simes.
Announcements pertained to the system's brand design and its operating agreement. Kolar Design is responsible for the branding design, which "will be utilized all throughout the system including its fare cards, ticketing machines, uniforms, wayfinding, brochures, website and social media, and, of course, the trains and their stations."
As for the operating agreement, "the City of Cincinnati is building the system, and is its owner, but will contract out its operations to SORTA." One particularly innovative detail of the operating agreement, as noted by Simes, is "an innovative technique that would lower property tax abatements 7.5%. This is an important component of the agreement as it addresses a longstanding call from opponents for those benefiting from real estate valuation increases to cover more of the costs of modern streetcar system."
FULL STORY: System Designs Unveiled, Operating Agreement Reached for Cincinnati Streetcar
Cincinnati Streetcar Sets Monthly Ridership Record
The Cincinnati Streetcar, now known as the Cincinnati Connector, has come so far.
Cincinnati Streetcar Free Forever
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.
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.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’
If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.
LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan
The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.
Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size
City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.
Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient
A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.
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
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.
