2011 Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference

1. 2011 Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference June 21, 2011

2. How Cincinnati is Building a Streetcar?

3. Our Streetcar Project • Building Public Support • Challenges that we face

4. Recent Major Projects in Cincinnati • The Banks Project • Riverfront Park • Fountain Square • Over-the-Rhine Renaissance • Great American Tower

5. Why should we build a Streetcar in Cincinnati? • Reverse Population Trends and Grow • More people paying taxes = More tax revenue for other city priorities. • Encourage private development. • Create Jobs • Return 92 acres and more than 500 vacant buildings into tax-producing properties • Connect our assets • Attract young professionals • Provide an urban amenity • Begin a larger transportation system

6. Cincinnati’s Streetcar History • 1889 – First electric streetcar in Cincinnati • April 29, 1951 – Last electric streetcar was shut down

7. Cincinnati’s Population • Cincinnati’s population increased uninterrupted from 1890 to 1950. • 296,900 to 503,998 • Cincinnati’s population has decreased from 1950 to 2010. • Back to 296,943

9. What are we building? • 3.1 mile Downtown circulator loop • 15 stops • With a 1 mile future connector to Uptown • University and Hospitals • Connecting our 2 largest employment centers • Uptown – 60,000 jobs • Downtown – 70,000 jobs • Phased implementation

10. Original Plan:River to the University

11. First segment connects: • Government Square • Fountain Square • Washington Park • Findlay Market • Aronoff Center • Gateway Quarter • Music Hall • Casino First segment does not initially go to The Banks, or Uptown, but spurs will be added for future extensions

12. Operating Facts • Runs 18 Hours a day, 365 days a year • 10 minutes wait time/20 minutes off –peak • 5 vehicles • Uses a single overhead catenary wire to minimize visual impacts • Operated by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Also operate our buses)

13. Financing Cost to Build: $95 million Revenue Secured: $ 99.5 million • Urban Circulator Grant • OKI Grant • Metropolitan Planning Organization • City Bond Financing • Private funding (Duke Energy)

14. First Segment Impacts Creates jobs • Est. 310 construction for revised route • Est. 25-30 for ongoing operations Elevate 92 acres to higher and better use Accelerate housing and commercial development (500 vacant buildings)

15. It Will Raise Property Values • The streetcar will raise commercial property values along the line by as high as 8.8% • This is based on documented results from transit systems in other cities like: • Los Angeles • St. Louis • San Jose • San Diego • Dallas

16. It Will Stimulate Development • Redevelopment in vacant buildings & new development on vacant lots: • over 1,300 potential new residential units in currently vacant buildings • New active storefronts • Potential redevelopment of over 90 acres of existing parking lots along the route

17. It Will Grow the Local Economy • Over 3,700 people will ride the streetcar each day in the first year. • It will connect patrons to storefronts – grocery stores, dry cleaners, restaurants, bars, and shops along the route. • For every $1 spent on the project, the local economy will realize a $3 return.

18. Total Investment: $95.5 million dollars Total Economic Impact: $1.3 billion dollars 13 to 1 ratio

19. Possible Phase 2 routes • University of Cincinnati • Environmental Protection Agency • University Hospital • University Medical College • Cincinnati Children’s • Cincinnati Zoo

20. Possible Future Vision of Public Transportation in Cincinnati

21. Operations Estimated annual operating cost: $2.5 million Funding Sources: • Casino revenue – up to $3 million • Parking Meter revenue – $400,000 • Fare Box - $465,000 - $675,000 • Naming Rights, Sponsored stops – $200,000 • Conservative estimate • Establish operating reserve - $2.0-3.0 M

22. Next Steps: • Environmental Process Complete • Finding Of No Significant Impact issued on June 10 • Signed agreement with SORTA to be the designated recipient of federal funds • Design work on-going • Finalizing Car Procurement • Researching Hybrid Vehicle • Working with utilities on relocation issues

23. Trending Nationally At least 80 other cities are pursuing streetcars • St. Louis • Tucson • Charlotte • Dallas • Salt Lake City • Detroit • Atlanta • New Orleans

24. How did we build support for the Streetcar Project?

25. Building Support 14 different studies since 1998 have recommended building a streetcar in order to drive economic development. In 2007, HDR did a feasibility study of building a Streetcar in Cincinnati.

26. Major Milestones • 2007, City Council directed the City Administration to move forward on building a Streetcar. • Early 2010, Cincinnati won $15 million in State funding • Spring 2010, City Council passed approval for $64 million in bond financing • Summer 2010, $25 million Urban Circulator Grant • Winter 2010, additional $37 million State Grant

27. Public Outreach • 39 public presentations, forums, and open houses since 2007. • In 2009, 11 City sponsored public meetings • 20 meetings with business stakeholders representing local banks, hospitals, universities, corporations, and utilities. • February 2011, 6,000 informational postcards mailed to citizens and businesses within a three block radius of the streetcar route.

28. Challenges faced • Issue 9 • Governor • Changing Council • New Ballot Initiative

29. Opponents • COAST – the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes • Local tea party group that pre-dates the tea party • NAACP – local chapter • City Unions • One former Congressman

30. Issue 9 in 2009 • Ballot initiative to require a vote each time the City wanted to spend money on ANY rail transportation project. • They tried to frame it as only about the Streetcar • Too Clever

31. Issue 9 in 2009 Cincinnatian’s For Progress • Local coalition formed to defeat the ballot initiative • Framed the debate in terms of jobs and development – “Progress” • Built a broad base of support across the community. Over 100 endorsements. • Raised $200,000 to defeat the initiative

32. Governor Governor Kasich elected in 2010. Not a rail supporter • Gave back $400 million for Cincinnati to Cleveland high speed rail Pulls back $52 million in promised State funding – Hoping to kill the project

33. State Legislation House Bill 114 – amendment to transportation budget bill. • Bans the use of State funding for the Cincinnati Streetcar – directly or pass-through funding.

34. Changing Council • Originally 8-1 in favor of the Streetcar • 7-2 – A Republican member switched because of pressure from the right • 6-3 – An additional Republican is elected • 5-3 – A member is banned from voting on the project because of conflicts of interest • 4-4 – A Democrat resigns and appoints a Republican to replace him

35. Stalemate Council has approved moving forward with the Streetcar project Not a majority to stop the project So, we are moving forward November election is important for project/city

36. New Ballot Initiative • Would ban building a streetcar until 2020. • Their new strategy is “This isn’t the right time.” • Backers: COAST and NAACP • City Unions are focused on repealing the anti-union bill passed by the Governor • Struggling to get signatures • Recall Mayor • No police merger • No garbage fee • Spend casino revenue • Ban Streetcar • Cincinnatians For Progress is gearing up again

37. Advice • Expect opposition and be ready for it • Be proud of your project • Don’t apologize for it • Frame the issue – Jobs and Progress • Find examples of other projects from your history that had opposition and were successful. • There are always naysayers and they are always wrong • Find a single strong champion • Stay on message • Ask for help

38. Questions?