The Cincinnati City Council is considering a budget for the eagerly anticipated Cincinnati Streetcar this week, revealing new details about the expected opening and early operations of the system.
Chris Wetterich reports: "The streetcar could open as soon as Sept. 1, according to an ordinance the Cincinnati City Council will consider this week while setting the budget for the first year of its operations."
The draft first-year budget for the streetcar totals $4.2 million, and must be finalized by April 30. Once approved, the budget will be handed over to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, which will operate the streetcar.
The budget indicates its expected sources of revenues, which reveals the details of the system's operations. We reports that the budget includes $2.2 million in parking revenue and $677,000 in fares. "When the streetcar starts operation, about $1.4 million in parking money will have been banked since council made changes to parking meter rates and hours in downtown and Over-the-Rhine at the beginning of 2015," adds Wetterich. That banked parking revenue will contribute to operations funding for at least the first year of the system, and possibly the second.
FULL STORY: Here's when the streetcar could open, how the budget would work

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?

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

Massachusetts Budget Helps Close MBTA Budget Gap
The budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey includes $470 million in MBTA funding for the next fiscal year.

Milwaukee Launches Vision Zero Plan
Seven years after the city signed its Complete Streets Policy, the city is doubling down on its efforts to eliminate traffic deaths.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont