The popularity of the new Cincinnati Streetcar—known officially as the Bell Connector—has been tempered by poor performance on contractually mandated 15-minute headways.
The Cincinnati streetcar continues to run behind schedule, not meeting a promise of no more than a 15-minute wait at any station," according to an article by Sharon Coolidge.
Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black is taking action, reports Coolidge, by writing a letter to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) demanding improvements in frequencies. SORTA contracted the private company Transdev to run daily operations on the system, requiring 15-minute headways on the system.
In his letter, Black says the city "will not hesitate to use its express authority under the Transdev contract to protect its interests," if the headways don't meet the 15 minute standard.
SORTA CEO Dwight A. Ferrell has already responded to the letter from the city manager, arguing that better frequencies will require additional trains, and additional trains will require funding.
FULL STORY: City to SORTA: Speed up the streetcar or else
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