31 March 2009

Connect Economic Engines with Streetcar

...“There are three economic engines: Uptown with its 60,000 jobs, the central business district and Northern Kentucky growing like a weed. If we can connect those three economic engines, we’re not going to be the envy of Ohio. We’re going to be the envy of the nation,” ....

The link, he suggests, is a street car system, which Cincinnati officials are trying to add to Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and the Uptown neighborhoods, which include six hospitals and the University of Cincinnati.

Policinski would like to see that effort come to fruition and for Northern Kentucky to get in the act by building a street car link to Cincinnati’s system. He is quick to note that OKI’s board has not endorsed the street car concept.

...As for light rail, which would cost billions and take far longer to construct than a street car network, the conversation should continue, Policinski says.
“What we have tried to do is say at some point that we’re going to have to reconsider this,” he explains. “And when we do, the debate cannot be if you don’t do this, you’re stupid. The argument to take to the public is how it’s going to benefit them. And you also have to figure out how you’re going to pay for it.”

But OKI hasn’t seen a rush to revive a system that voters rejected 2-to-1 six years ago. “Bortz’s work on the street car proposal has opened up the door. I don’t see a lot of elected public officials wanting to walk through the door. They’re waiting to see what happens...”

-Cincy Magazine, Sept 2008, Interview with Mark Policinski, executive director of the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments.

1 comment:

Quimbob said...

"He is quick to note that OKI’s board has not endorsed the street car concept"
OKI has only recently had anything to do with it.