tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post1494853238510168689..comments2023-10-17T05:44:23.781-04:00Comments on COAST - Fighting for the taxpayers, not working against them!: Cincinnati Requests $12.6 Million of Federal Stimulus Package For TrolleyCOASThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16200778324645740094noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-63542987466877712502009-04-09T11:17:00.000-04:002009-04-09T11:17:00.000-04:00Rest assured that ALL of the money will come from ...Rest assured that ALL of the money will come from tax payers. There may be token amounts offered by some of the businesses along the route but it will pale in comparison to the amount OWED by the tax payers for generations. The stimulus money source is tax payer dollars.<BR/><BR/>Whenever a business plans their budget using their money they always consider the benefits to their bottom line Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-57705960182792439002009-03-07T07:46:00.001-05:002009-03-07T07:46:00.001-05:00Quick question for COAST. How do you pick the proj...Quick question for COAST. How do you pick the projects to go after? There is no protest over the banks. No protest over The 3CDC projects which subsidies are costing the taxpayers more than the streetcar ever could? Is it because it is an easy target? It will help push the agenda of COAST? An agenda which I support 100%. WE need a watchdog for wasteful spending. But there has to be a time when Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-70431159472912364272009-03-05T04:43:00.001-05:002009-03-05T04:43:00.001-05:00I've got a question for COAST. When is it OK ...I've got a question for COAST. When is it OK to spend tax dollars on economic development tools ? I guess my real question is this. How do you pick the projects to go after? Why the Streetcar and not the banks projects?Why the streetcar and not the subsidies thrown around at every residential/commercial housing project in the city?What is COAST's analysis on the projected ROI for the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-56048354879783659552009-02-24T15:28:00.000-05:002009-02-24T15:28:00.000-05:00If I remember right, the city's figures took infla...If I remember right, the city's figures took inflation into account, and from what I've heard lately, the project would likely come in under the projection because construction materials have declined in cost. If you admit the $400 million figure is a guess, you may want to include a statement in your article that the figure is your own estimation. It seems to be presented as fact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-4381347978860896752009-02-24T14:39:00.000-05:002009-02-24T14:39:00.000-05:00$400 million is an extreme exaggeration of the fig...$400 million is an extreme exaggeration of the figures presented in the feasibility study. These figures are much more than mere "guesses." They represent legitimate cost projections that account for inflation. In fact these numbers are probably higher than what the project will actually cost as the feasibility study identified this as a high projection.Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-29323517397381428852009-02-24T12:28:00.000-05:002009-02-24T12:28:00.000-05:00^ Everybody's figures are just guesses at this poi...^ Everybody's figures are just guesses at this point. The city estimate of $120 million or $200 million is just the capital cost to construct the project. That's what they need immediately in order to begin, so those are the figures they quote.<BR/><BR/>However there are lingering doubts about whether that's enough to overcome the technical challenges of climbing the hill to Uptown. And we rarelyCOASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200778324645740094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-30891661544825158312009-02-24T11:31:00.000-05:002009-02-24T11:31:00.000-05:00Good discussion here. Much more intelligent and w...Good discussion here. Much more intelligent and well-reasoned than the Beacon's website.<BR/><BR/>I was just wondereing where your figure for $400 million came from? Last I heard, less than $200 million was required to connect the Banks to the Zoo, and about $120 million just for the Phase I portion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-71519459183059306032009-02-08T19:35:00.000-05:002009-02-08T19:35:00.000-05:00It is really too bad that the MetroMoves plan (whi...It is really too bad that the MetroMoves plan (which would have been a much better expense for sales tax than the jail would have been) was smeared so much.<BR/><BR/>I read in this thread earlier the claim that much of the tri-state area was designed around autos. This is a patently false claim. In fact, a considerable amount of the communities within eastern Hamilton County were built-up around Colemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653549869610903244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-40584472314458149982009-02-06T19:14:00.000-05:002009-02-06T19:14:00.000-05:00A trolley may mean a streetcar, or it may mean a t...A trolley may mean a streetcar, or it may mean a trolley bus as in Dayton. The word comes from the "troller" on the overhead electrical wire. By extension it often means a diesel bus that looks like an old-time streetcar.<BR/><BR/>As Michael Moore of the city told me, yes, the streetcar represents a commitment by the city to OTR. That is as planned, so that if the streetcar fails (a Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-51180795340019676122009-02-03T18:36:00.000-05:002009-02-03T18:36:00.000-05:00Thank your for your response. First the differenc...Thank your for your response. First the difference between a streetcar and a trolley is rubber wheels. A streetcar has rails in the ground. It will allow developers/investors to realize that the route will not change or move. A trolley line can move within a day, not a real commitment to the area. <BR/><BR/>I don't believe that it is fair to compare the streetcar to the Freedom Center. Not evenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-52617825254003024842009-02-03T15:55:00.000-05:002009-02-03T15:55:00.000-05:00Anonymous Conservative,I think the streetcar, if a...Anonymous Conservative,<BR/>I think the streetcar, if applied properly, could give a little boost to Downtown & OTR. But the rest of the tri-state is structured around autos, and won't have a use for it, nor receive much benefit from it.<BR/><BR/>You're going to have to educate me on the difference between streetcars and trolleys. I want to use correct terminology, but every place I&#Mark Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15155390616574310800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-68171794644576325922009-02-02T13:25:00.000-05:002009-02-02T13:25:00.000-05:00Let me first start by saying I am a conserative an...Let me first start by saying I am a conserative and do not like wasting tax dollars, but the streetcar is essential to the entire tri-state area. I first want to ask a few questions of COAST.<BR/>1)The streetcar (and it is a streetcar not a trolley there is a big difference) plans show that the streetcar will spur about 1.8 billion in development. How does COAST plan to develop the area and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-54424369605591638952009-01-31T11:34:00.000-05:002009-01-31T11:34:00.000-05:00Mark,Many of our communities lack sidewalks and ve...Mark,<BR/><BR/>Many of our communities lack sidewalks and very few boast bike lanes on the roads themselves. To say these are adequate enough would be like saying a dirt road will do just fine for vehicular traffic.Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-41073303191386161572009-01-31T11:13:00.000-05:002009-01-31T11:13:00.000-05:00Randy,Freedom is a wonderful thing. COAST is alway...Randy,<BR/>Freedom is a wonderful thing. COAST is always for that.<BR/><BR/>Presently travelers have the choice to walk, bike or drive due to public funding of our paved infrastructure. In November, Voters will have the opportunity to choose whether to allow the city to add a streetcar to the list of alternantives. It's their money, so it's their choice.Mark Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15155390616574310800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-23163149261813645092009-01-30T16:30:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:30:00.000-05:00Well as of right now, nothing has been spent. But...Well as of right now, nothing has been spent. But of the $185 million $61 million would come from public resources unless something changes and money is given to Cincinnati in the stimulus package.<BR/><BR/>As for a preference for a particular mode of transportation - I have none. What I believe in is free choice and the free market. Right now our transportation money is allocated in a Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-35127061518400512062009-01-30T16:28:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:28:00.000-05:00It's hard for rail to "earn its keep" when organiz...It's hard for rail to "earn its keep" when organizations like COAST fight against rail but don't see any problems with highway spending. If citizens had to vote on highway spending projects, see how much they actually cost, and realize that widening roads does not actually decrease congestion or shorten travel time, I think it would be a little different.Travis Estellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707965541974281483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-38713404980942335612009-01-30T16:14:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:14:00.000-05:00Randy,Which dollars aren't the public ones?Also se...Randy,<BR/>Which dollars aren't the public ones?<BR/><BR/>Also see Travis' comment above for the info on the public meeting.<BR/><BR/>I understand your preference for rail over car/truck transportation, but the overwhelming public demand is for the latter. There's definitely a place in our society for rail, but it has to earn its keep.COASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200778324645740094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-21373312555294898872009-01-30T16:11:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:11:00.000-05:00Streetcars are a necessary part of a rail transit ...Streetcars are a necessary part of a rail transit network. When talking about roads it would be unreasonable to suggest that interstates alone could serve all of our needs. When talking rail, interstates are the equivalent to regional rail (Amtrak). We have no rail equivalents to the arterials or collectors that are integral parts of the road network.<BR/><BR/>Their equivalents would be light Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-85462347861708420022009-01-30T16:04:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:04:00.000-05:00Travis,Because highways are a necessity to society...Travis,<BR/>Because highways are a necessity to society at large, and the costs are paid primarily by the beneficiaries of it.<BR/><BR/>Streetcars are an optional nicety for a select few, and for the proposed system, most of the cost will be borne by those who have no use for it.COASThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200778324645740094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-2116126440241682912009-01-30T16:01:00.000-05:002009-01-30T16:01:00.000-05:00Answer the question at the heart of the issue then...Answer the question at the heart of the issue then. Why is COAST specifically concerned with $185 million for the proposed streetcar system (only a portion of which is public dollars) and not concerned with $625 million for a highway project that will bring a level D highway to a level D highway when it's all said and done?<BR/><BR/>Seems like COAST should be campaigning against the use of $675 Randy Simeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14272257274373604807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-83027983464636544652009-01-30T15:57:00.000-05:002009-01-30T15:57:00.000-05:00Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out why COAST is ...Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out why COAST is up in arms over the Streetcar but ignores far-more-expensive highway projects.Travis Estellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707965541974281483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-8906370581533886582009-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:002009-01-29T13:10:00.000-05:00Travis, you keep complaining about transportation ...Travis, you keep complaining about transportation projects. So when are you going to get the signatures to place them on the ballot, just like COAST is doing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-721799301702528076.post-32320262190420744792009-01-29T12:28:00.000-05:002009-01-29T12:28:00.000-05:00Might I make a suggestion to you, COAST? If you a...Might I make a suggestion to you, COAST? If you are going to complain about a $185 million investment in the city's Streetcar system, why not complain about more expensive transit projects as well?<BR/><BR/>For example, we are spending $625 million on the "Mill Creek Expressway" project, which will widen I-75 between the Western Hills Viaduct and Paddock Road. COAST needs to demand this this Travis Estellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707965541974281483noreply@blogger.com