Streetcar Update on Development

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Originally Posted by Kahns Krazy

I know. I totally agree with you. I'm getting so pissed off at these business owners who keep lying to us.

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The only liar is you. Either that or you can't read.

Did you all know that Fountain Square is due to the streetcar. Oh wait, the Fountain Square has been there for over 100 years. Well, Aronoff Center and Restaurant Row is due to the streetcar. What, those places have been their for 15 years? Oh. Well, Western Southern built a new high rise downtown because of the streetcar. Wait, they owned that property for 50 years and the streetcar had NO impact on their decision to build an office building. Certainly Cincinnati got the Banks project and the casino because of the streetcar.

I know LH! You are totally right. Especially about that Western Southern high rise. Take that, streetcar! Filthy liars!

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Originally Posted by Kahns Krazy

I know LH! You are totally right. Especially about that Western Southern high rise. Take that, streetcar! Filthy liars!

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I know I'm right but it would be nice for you to join the rest of us in reality on this issue. :rolleyes:

I agree with you. How many times do I have to say it? I know some of these small business owners are lying about their motives, but you and I know better.

Yesterday at MidPoint Music Festival I happened to meet the guy working for Metro who deals with business and government relationships they have to maintain.

He told me they are working full time with people who are trying to snatch up property along the route and develop there. From his side of it, things are pretty much the opposite of what many of you are saying. Developers are interested in this route line property specifically because of the street car because it's an enhanced amenity for their potential customers.

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Originally Posted by Kahns Krazy

I agree with you. How many times do I have to say it? I know some of these small business owners are lying about their motives, but you and I know better.

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No one is lying except you. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by sirthought

Yesterday at MidPoint Music Festival I happened to meet the guy working for Metro who deals with business and government relationships they have to maintain.

He told me they are working full time with people who are trying to snatch up property along the route and develop there. From his side of it, things are pretty much the opposite of what many of you are saying. Developers are interested in this route line property specifically because of the street car because it's an enhanced amenity for their potential customers.

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I'll believe it when I see it. So far it has not happened. I hope it does but really what could they possibly create on the line that is not already there or close by?

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Originally Posted by _LH

I'll believe it when I see it. So far it has not happened. I hope it does but really what could they possibly create on the line that is not already there or close by?

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Duh, one of those same businesses, only closer to the line. People like convenience.

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Originally Posted by sirthought

Duh, one of those same businesses, only closer to the line. People like convenience.

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Have you been downtown. It is very small. Why would they need the SAME buiness just a few blocks away? Duh!

Kahns,

This is the response I got from Metro:

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Let's see if we can settle the debate:

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority is a government entity chartered by the state to provide public transportation and is recognized by the Federal Transit Administration as the federal designated recipient for transit funds in our service area. SORTA is tax subsidized; only about 1/3 of the operating funding comes from fares. The rest is mostly local, state and federal funding.

Private common carriers (e.g., Greyhound, MegaBus) are governed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and must apply to the PUCO for permission to operate within the state. I'm not aware of anything in Ohio law that would prevent a private operator from operating service. Again, Metro is tax-subsidized; it may be difficult for a private carrier to make a profit.

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From this it appears that you could open up a bus route and compete with Metro. I am still not entirely convinced that it would be allowed, but that was the response that they sent me.

I think that Metro should bid out 10% of their routes for private contractors to bid on and compare the costs between the bids and operating them on their own. If that was successful you could progressively bid out more and more over time. I think it would be impossible to go directly to a free market situation overnight, but I do think it is possible to shift these things over time.