Cincinnati Streetcar an engine for opportunity

As readers of this blog know, I have visited nearly every state in America during the past three years to discuss and celebrate transportation projects.  From planning meetings to grant signings to groundbreakings to ribbon cuttings, I've thoroughly enjoyed witnessing firsthand the enthusiasm of people who understand that transportation--from roads to rails to runways--can transform communities.

Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to help break ground on Cincinnati's Streetcar.  And, when Mayor Mark Mallory and I plunged our shovels into the ground and overturned those first bricks, those gathered might have heard a collective sigh of relief--if it weren't for the raucous cheers and clapping that burst from the hundreds of people gathered around us.

Photo courtesy Sopabox Cincinnati

Who can blame them?  From day one, the Cincinnati Streetcar has been the little engine that could, and I am so proud of the community and its leaders for standing up on behalf of this important project and shepherding it through to this critical milestone.  The story in Cincinnati is about a community coming together, setting its priorities, and not being dissuaded by the naysayers or by those who don't want progress.

And that story is really just beginning. Yes, construction is putting Americans back to work today, but the three and half miles of streetcar line will also strengthen the city's economy tomorrow.  The streetcar is an investment in the future of Cincinnati, accelerating development along the new route from the Great American Ball Park and the Paul Brown Stadium to the Over-the-Rhine district and revitalizing Cincinnati’s urban core.

Cincinnati's residents and visitors don't want to wrestle for scarce parking spaces; they don't want to fight roadway congestion. They want to get to jobs, services, and retail stores without a hassle.  And Cincinnati's modern streetcar will give them a new option to do exactly that.  By providing a transit alternative, the streetcar will help shape Cincinnati development patterns into a more walkable, livable, and affordable community.

In city after city, we’ve seen the unmistakable proof that transit transforms communities, revives aging downtown centers, creates jobs, and improves the quality of life for hard-working families.  I couldn't be happier for the community of Cincinnati; working together to move this transformative project down the track is a tremendous achievement.

But the need for better transportation options and economic development doesn't end in Cincinnati.  That's why we're calling on Congress to pass a long-term transportation jobs bill that gets Americans back to work on more projects across the nation like this one.  We know there’s no such thing as a Democratic or Republican streetcar line, highway, or runway, and there’s no such thing as a Democratic or Republican job from the economic opportunity these projects create.

Together, we can put people back to work forging an America that’s built to last on the wheels of a national transportation system that’s the envy of the world.

Comments

[wendy]

we can put people back to work forging an America that’s built to last on the wheels of a national transportation system that’s the envy of the world.

[Chicago Getaways]

I really hope that Chicago could also build the same structure as Cincinnati did so we can work easier.. Thanks for the article.. Great article..

[Samuel]

I'm really happy for the Cincinnati people for this great achievement. I wish more communities could understand the importance of working as a team.

[Marc Hoellerer]

A great example for the benefits of real teamwork!

[Andrew Smythe]

With the economy in its current state this is exactly the sort of project that will put the country back on its feet. Providing jobs and improving people’s quality of life. Great work

[bizworldusa]

This is a great post.
I am really happy that Cincinnati people for this great achievement.THis is a inspiration for other communities to
understand the importance ot team work.

Thank you for sharing this.
http://www.bizworldusa.com

[camera]

I really hope that Chicago could also build the same structure as Cincinnati did so we can work easier. Article is Excellent

[Mike]

I just love street cars and trains.