Frankie Montas couldn't have made a stronger impression as the Reds' No. 1 starter
POLITICS

Transit agency votes to keep overseeing streetcar

Sharon Coolidge
Cincinnati Enquirer
The Cincinnati Bell Connector makes its way down Central Parkway toward Walnut Street. The streetcar opened in September of 2016. It operates in a 3.6-mile loop through Over-the-Rhine and downtown Cincinnati. It's owned by the city and managed by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority and maintained by Transdev.

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.

The board that oversees Greater Cincinnati's transit agency voted 8-3 to keep the streetcar in its portfolio.

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transity Authority board's vote came after several members proposed ending the agency contract requiring it to oversee the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar.

Earlier story 

The agency that runs Cincinnati’s bus system and manages the streetcar is considering shedding streetcar responsibilities, a move that comes after a problem-plagued year for the Cincinnati Bell Connector.

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority is set to vote at its 9 a.m. Tuesday meeting on ending its contract to oversee streetcar operations, according to the board agenda posted online. Board member Gary Greenberg, who pitched the idea, said the focus should be on bus service.

It’s unclear who would manage the streetcar, though it is unlikely riders would be impacted in the short term. Transdev operates the streetcar, and there is no mention of a change in that contract.

The proposed resolution, titled Cincinnati Streetcar Review, says it’s time for SORTA to end its relationship with the streetcar.

“SORTA has come to realize that operating the Cincinnati Streetcar is a costly distraction and diversion of the board, management and staff and the resources from our essential function, the operation of Cincinnati Metro transit services,” the resolution says.

SORTA oversees operations, but it is Transdev that contracts with the city to run the streetcar.

The resolution goes on to say, “This resolution is intended to result in termination of the SORTA’s engagement with the Cincinnati Streetcar.” It notes it would likely need approval from the city.  

The idea was first discussed at last month’s board meeting, with the board asking SORTA administrators to see if it was possible to end relations and, if so, how it could be done.

But, it passed out of SORTA’s finance committee last week 3-1 as a more firm decision to end the agreement.

The move comes as seven of the 11 board members' terms are set to expire by the end of January. And it comes as SORTA gets serious about asking taxpayers for a sales tax to support the bus system, though no decision has been made.

While the two budgets – streetcar and bus – are never mingled, stories about the ailing streetcar are perceived by some in the county as hurting the bus system. The bus system is in the midst of slashing routes to cover a deficit next year and there is an ongoing conversation about raising fares.

The Cincinnati Bell Connector opened in September 2016. It has struggled with lower-than-projected ridership during the week and early on was slower than it should be. Problem-plagued ticket machines are just now fixed. The project remains within its budget.

The city of Cincinnati built the streetcar for $148 million and contracts with SORTA to oversee the project, which runs on a 3.6-mile loop between Downtown and Over-the-Rhine.

The resolution ends with this line: “The resolution is not intended to convey any opinion positive or negative on the costs vs. benefits of Cincinnati Streetcar to the citizens, residents and taxpayers of Cincinnati.”

Greenberg, of Oakley, is a labor and employment lawyer. He was one of the architects of a 2013 proposed amendment to the city’s charter that would have changed Cincinnati's public pension system. The amendment was rejected by 78 percent of voters.

In 2016, Republican Hamilton County commissioners appointed Greenberg to the board. Voting in committee with him: Dan St. Charles and Ron Mosby. Against the idea in committee: Kreg Keesee.