Cincinnati Streetcar

2007 Feasability Study
In May 2007, HDR presented the results of a streetcar feasibility study to the Economic Development Commitee. The purpose of the study was to first determine whether a streetcar transit alignment serving downtown and adjoining neighborhoods was physically possible given traffic engineering and design issues. The study then examined the cost to design and construct a proposed streetcar system, the ongoing costs to operate and maintain such a system, the estimated ridership and travel markets to be served by the system, and the economic benefits to the City and community from such an investment. The project team, with the help of the stakeholder working group, identified a “starter” 4 mile streetcar alignment to be studied for feasibility purposes. The team also ensured that potential future streetcar extensions off of the starter system were feasible.

The stakeholder working group included staff from the City, OKI, Metro (transit), downtown business and civic associations, the real estate development community, and local residents and merchants.

HDR and PB, two of the leading transportation consulting firms in the country, completed the feasibility study for the City. Each firm has a local Cincinnati office that has been actively involved in the study. HDR is considered one of the leading firms in the planning and implementation of streetcar transit projects, and is drawing on national transit experts and local office management. The PB Cincinnnati office has brought great local knowledge of transit and transportation projects to the team.

The consultant team and City staff, with support from the stakeholder working group, early on decided that the study should first identify a relatively short “starter” line focused directly on downtown and the immediately adjacent neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. At the same time, the team identified a series of potential extensions that could be added to the starter line. The team examined three alternative alignments connecting downtown and Over-the-Rhine, considering downtown routes on Main/Walnut, Main/Sycamore, and Elm/Race. The stakeholder working group decided that the 4-mile Main/Walnut downtown alignment and the Elm/Race Over-the-Rhine route would make a reasonable study of overall feasibility, cost and benefits of streetcar.

The baseline estimated cost for the 4-mile streetcar line is $88 million (in 2007, current year dollars). That figure is escalated to $102 million for construction by 2010. The cost estimate includes approximately 4.5 miles of track and overhead power supply (for the route and storage/maintenance), 6 streetcars, 18 streetcar stops, and a maintenance/storage facility for the streetcars. The cost estimate includes a 15% to 25% contingency on project line items, considered appropriate for this phase of study.

The feasibility study did not complete a financial plan to construct and operate the streetcar system. However, the study team did identify a menu of federal, local and private sector funding sources to be examined in greater detail in next phases of the study.

2008 RFQ
The City of Cincinnati has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design, build, operate, and maintain its $150 million streetcar project.

Applicants will be required to help plan the project’s second phase – an Uptown collector loop, and to demonstrate the capacity to fill a $91 million funding gap through private and public sources.

RFQ applications are due by December 18 2008, and consultants will give presentations to the city between January 5-9, 2009.

By January 30, a short list will be chosen by a selection committee made up of representatives from the city departments and offices of Transportation and Engineering, Finance, Budget, Economic Development, City Manager, Community Development, and City Planning