Streetcar moves ahead after union request denied
Barring any surprises, the Cincinnati streetcar's latest drama-filled chapter is over.
A judge on Thursday denied a local union's request to block the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority from awarding the streetcar operations contract to a private company – clearing the way for a Chicago-area firm to be hired.
"This is good for all of the city of Cincinnati," Councilwoman Amy Murray said. "A protracted legal battle would have significantly delayed the streetcar project, potentially costing taxpayers millions. It is time to move forward once and for all."
Within minutes of the ruling, SORTA announced it plans to award the contract to Lombard, Illinois-based Transdev Services on Monday. Transdev will run the city-owned streetcar for $4 million annually. It'll be SORTA's job to make sure the firm stays within budget.
Transdev runs 23 streetcar and light-rail systems across 11 countries, including the historic streetcar line in New Orleans. SORTA is saving city taxpayers $700,000 a year by hiring Transdev instead of the same union that runs the Metro bus system.
The months-long process to hire a streetcar operator had several twists and turns. Most of the drama was at City Hall, but it shifted to the Hamilton County Courthouse after the union made a last-ditch effort to get the contract by filing a lawsuit against the city and SORTA.
The union's argument centered on a legally non-binding motion by City Council. Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Steve Martin decided the city and SORTA were following a previously established streetcar operations agreement and denied the union's request for a temporary restraining order.
Judge John Andrew West was supposed to hear the case, but he recused himself because of a potential conflict of interest with the union. With Monday's SORTA meeting already scheduled, lawyers scrambled to find another judge to hear the case.
"It's a bad day for Cincinnati workers, and it's an even worse day for all Cincinnati taxpayers," said Pete McLinden, executive secretary-treasurer of Cincinnati's AFL-CIO.
STREETCAR OVERSIGHT
Cincinnati's streetcar has thrust the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority board into the regional spotlight. Here's a look at the SORTA board, which is in charge of making sure streetcar operations stay within City Council's established budget:
City appointees
• Jason Dunn (Chairman): Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau executive is working to increase the popularity of transit in the region. Known as a consensus-builder, Dunn played a key role in helping Cincinnati land the 2016 NAACP national convention.
• Gwen Robinson: Springfield Township resident is president and CEO of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency. Highly regarded civic leader is past Enquirer and YWCA women of the year award winner.
• Brendon Cull: Once a top staffer for former Mayor Charlie Luken, Clifton resident is Kroger's senior director of government relations. Xavier alum led SORTA's subcommittee on the Oasis bike trail earlier this year.
• Frank Bowen: Like Dunn and Robinson, University of Cincinnati administrator originally was appointed to SORTA by former Mayor Mark Mallory.
• Kreg Keesee: Hyde Park resident and Vice President of Sun Chemical Corp., was Mayor John Cranley's first appointment to SORTA.
• Brad Thomas: Downtown attorney and Over-the-Rhine resident is big streetcar and public transit advocate.
• Maurice Brown: The president of Cincinnati's AFSCME public employees union is Cranley's most recent appointee.
Hamilton County appointees
• Ken Reed (Vice Chairman): Butler County's representative to SORTA has worked in transit industry since 1998 and is long-time board member of Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
• Ron Mosby: A former local spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, North College Hill resident was a Republican candidate for state representative in 2012.
• Jack Painter: Indian Hill resident is a corporate attorney and top leader in Greater Cincinnati's tea party movement.
• Karl Schultz: Clermont County's representative worked 42 years for Cincinnati Milacron before retiring in 2006.
• Daniel St. Charles: West Side resident is a web developer and board member of anti-streetcar group COAST.
• Gregg Hothem: Warren County representative is general manager of Venture One Construction, a local retail construction firm that has done work for Walmart and Staples.