Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The death of common sense

Two rail proposals find paths to funding for same contractor

In the “death of common sense” category, COAST notes that the Ohio Controlling Board several weeks ago approved spending $26 million on a study of the slooow-speed 3-C diesel train line with engineering contractor Parsons-Brinkerhoff, categorizing it as an “operating expense,” to avoid the need for a 5th Controlling Board vote. 
                A day earlier, Cincinnati City Council approved a $2.6 million study of the Cincinnati Trolley, calling it a “capital expenditure,” so they could justify the monies as not being available to put more police on the streets.  You guessed it: the Cincinnati study monies also go to Parsons-Brinkerhoff.  For those following the bouncing ball of public contracting, Parsons Brinkerhoff was the contractor for the failed, still-vacant Riverfront Transit Center.  That brilliant feat of engineering is a $42 million train station that cannot get trains to it and that has sat unused now for seven years. 
By the way, State Representative Louis Blessing has a new video out on the Slooow-speed 3-C train, here.

20 comments:

  1. The Riverfront Transit Center is actually a well designed intermodal transit center. It is empty, because groups like COAST opposed the 2002 "Metro Moves" plan which would've utilized the transit center.

    Also, again, you've lied about the cost of building the center. http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/transitcenter.html

    There is a way to get trains to and from the center, as the right of way on the east end could be used to connect light rail via pete rose way to the oasis line. As pointed out here via some basic research: http://thephonyconey.blogspot.com/2009/10/coast-lies-yet-again-about-riverfront.html

    Parson's actually designs very good transit oriented projects, its the backwards thinking of groups like COAST that keeps a project like the transit center from being utilized.

    Hopefully, the streetcar will be the first step towards bringing light rail to the center.

    Additionally, the center is used under contract via System Parking who uses it as space for holding charter buses during large events and the western and eastern portals as monthly parking, the city of Cincinnati and the county each get a cut of those profits. Not its intended use, but still making money,

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  2. I wonder is pro-streetcar and No on 9 advocate Amber Burke Sprengard is also in favorite of the transit center boondoggle? I guess it doesn't matter, since she was soundly defeated in her re-election bid last week. Maybe Parsons Brinkerhoff can hire her to drain more taxpayer dollars out of the City of Cincinnati.

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  3. Yep, she was defeated. Unfortunately we may never get to see the transit center used since Mayor Wenstrup was in support of Issue 9 and now we have to vote on every passenger rail project that comes through.

    Oh wait.

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  4. Exactly, so what's stopping this wonderful, expensive Transit Center from being for all these great things?

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  5. ^^ being USED for all these great things.

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  6. "So what's stopping this wonderful, expensive Transit Center from being used for all these great things?"

    You must have missed it CAAST Aside. They could only use it if they were able to pass the MASSIVE Metro Moves TAX HIKE. Don't let these rail junkies fool you. They can't do it without tax increases and they know it. CAAST just admitted it in his post. The streetcar will meet the same fate, massive infusions of taxpayer dollars will be needed to sustain its operation.

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  7. Hamilton County Taxpayer is right, had the metro moves measure been passed, which required a tax increase, the transit center would be utilized for rail. At current, its being utilized under contract via system parking who shares a percentage of the profits with the city and county.

    By the way, $64 million in bonds approved for the streetcar today, not a single tax raised and the project doesn't even affect the above posting hamilton county taxpayer. The streetcar is happening, its great.

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  8. Tax increase? Did someone mention a tax increase? Where can I sign up to endorse and vote for it.

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  9. >They can't do it without tax increases and they know it

    ODOT's $5 billion budget can't be met without a $1 billion bailout from the general fund and the Federal Highway Trust Fund has been bailed out for the third straight year. Clearly tolls on the interstates and a gas tax increase are in order so that roads start paying their fair share.

    COAST, this song and dance worked during the Clinton years. Not anymore. The internet is truth; The Enquirer, etc., is staffed by old bankrupt flunkies like yourselves who perpetuate outrageous myths fabricated during Cold War paranoia. The Tea Party stole your funding; go apply at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

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  10. I'd just like to thank COAST for supporting me and my 9/11 truth campaign in the race for the senate.

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  11. I'd like to thank the streetcar junkies for supporting me and my wild 9/11 conspiracy theories when I was Democratic Party Chairman. Thanks for supporting my antisemetism too!

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  12. Right, cause every streetcar supporter is a fan of Howard Dean. Nice try at one upping Rand Paul, but it didn't quite work there. Remember, Republicans and non-Democrats were also against Issue 9. I seem to remember conservative radio host and someone who is not a Howard Dean Fan; Bill Cunningham, calling Issue 9 a "stupid idea" and calling your pal "Chris Smitherman" a clown.

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  13. Only RINO's like the streetcarMay 14, 2010 at 10:22 AM

    Republicans were behind the streetcar? Really? Because loser blowhard Bill Cunningham said so?

    I seem to remember Joe and Amber Sprengard being high profile Republicans on your side. Amber faced a Republican challenger in her State Central Committee election in May and lost, one of only 5 incumbents out of 176 Statewide to lose their seats.

    I think Leslie Ghiz was on your side on Issue 9 as well. The streetcar was a major issue in her Republican primary campaign, and she got absolutely destroyed.

    When the streetcar was an issue in front of an entirely Republican audience they said hell no.

    Please name for me one single No on Nine Republican that won their last election. You can't.

    Fail

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  14. Do you want original or extra crispy?

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  15. Provost is a racist in addition to being a homophobe. Why am I not surprised. CAAST, still waiting for your condemnation.

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  16. Those of us in the real world have second jobs or go get hourly jobs when laid off instead of concocting city-destroying charter amendments while not paying our personal bills. I was merely suggesting that members of COAST might want to contact my former employer, Colonel Sanders.

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  17. Jake Mecklenborg, who doesn't have two dimes to rub together, has to resort to giving financial advice to everyone else when his pro-streetcar idiocy fails to persuade anyone.

    Streetcar = Bengals stadium

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  18. Its funny to see COASTers accuse The Provost of being a racist homophobe when they have no evidence to back it up while they buddy up to one of their leaders Chris Finney who pushed for a charter amendment against homosexuals.

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  19. What's wrong with hating blacks and gays?

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  20. As long as the Provost pays his mortgage and his sons tuition to St. X, who cares?

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