Description

A new streetcar route, beginning at Findlay Market, traverses the northern West End and travels over the new Western Hills Viaduct to South Fairmount, where it loops around the Lick Run Greenway.

Route Highlights

Findlay Market anchors one end of route providing access to fresh food and a transfer point to the existing streetcar line. Using the track spur on Elder Street, the route travels up Vine to McMicken Ave. Along McMicken Ave. it passes several buildings in the process of revitalization such as the Jackson Brewery and Imperial Theatre. Turning south on Mohawk and crossing over to Linn Street, it serves the West End and passes by two large school buildings along Bank Street awaiting renovation into living space. Here, stops are within walking distance of the Dayton Street Historic District and many historic buildings in need of stabilization and renovation. Passing through the historical transit crossroads of Brighton Corner, the route uses the new Western Hills Viaduct to enter South Fairmount. Spectacular views of the city will be available from the path along the viaduct. In South Fairmount, it loops around and provides access to the large open green space of the Lick Run Greenway, and more historic buildings in need of stabilization and renovation. Lunkenheimer Factory provides opportunity for a large scale project here. The eastbound trip makes use of Westwood Ave. in South Fairmount and Race Street in Over-the-Rhine to return to the market.

Strengths

The route passes by many historic structures of the type that were successfully revitalized by the original streetcar route through Over-the-Rhine.

Connects neighborhoods to fresh food at Findlay Market.

The route makes use of the existing Findlay Market Race St. stop and the existing track spur at Elder St. Only one “cut-in” to the existing track would be required during construction.

The route is separate from the existing downtown route, isolating any problems that may occur and allowing flexibility in levels of service.

The route passes by the existing Maintenance and Operation Facility allowing efficient operations.

Dedicated lanes on Queen City Avenue and Westwood Avenue could provide traffic calming on those streets.

Views from the new Western Hills Viaduct could become a major attraction for visitors and tourists.

Streetcars visible on the Viaduct from I-75 could give a Cincinnati a “big city” feel to travelers from all over the county.

Could provide connection to west side bike lanes and trails, or tracks could even be extended deeper onto the west side.

Challenges

Visitors and tourists may be less likely to transfer streetcars to try the new route.

Lack of existing top-tier attraction or employment center could deter ridership until new centers of activity develop along the route.

Steep topography of South Fairmount could limit walkshed of streetcar stops.

Geometry around Brighton Corner may require a new intersection of Colerain Ave. spur with Central Parkway.

Tracks would have to navigate multi-lane configuration in between new Western Hills Viaduct and Queen City Avenue.

Related Concepts

Works with the concept Streetcar to Northside

Alternative Concepts

A Central Parkway routing could be used to provide a more direct route to the Western Hills Viaduct. (This is a tradeoff with coverage area)

Could be a operated as a single route with the existing downtown route. In this case the streetcar extensions north from the existing route would be on Elm and Race. (This is a tradeoff with flexibility of operations)

The existing downtown route could extend to Brighton Corner where there could be a transfer point to a Fairmount-Camp Washington-Northside streetcar route. In this case the streetcar extensions north from the existing route would be on Elm and Race.