City of Cincinnati Sets Plans to Take Streetcar Reins from Transit Agency
Cincinnati City Manager Patrick Duhaney Aug. 28 released a memo outlining a plan to transfer control of the downtown and Over-the-Rhine streetcar system from the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority to the city.
That divorce will cost $536,000, according to the memo, and will take approval from Cincinnati City Council. Duhaney writes in the memo that the final steps in the split should be wrapped up by July 20 next year.
Duhaney says the city should consider a rebranding and "relaunching" of the streetcar, which has struggled with low ridership numbers and difficulty making its recommended 12-15 minute wait times, and could adjust the transit system's fares and schedule.
Currently, the city owns the streetcar, but SORTA is under contract to run the 3.6-mile transit loop. The transit agency, in turn, pays private company Transdev to hire and manage streetcar staff and daily operations.
Read more: https://www.citybeat.com/news/blog/21084894/city-of-cincinnati-set-to-take-streetcar-reins-from-transit-agency-in-a-halfamilliondollar-divorce