Description

A new streetcar route, beginning at Findlay Market, traverses McMicken Ave., then travels through the heart of Camp Washington and onto the Northside Metro Transit Center.

Northbound Stops	Southbound Stops
Findlay Market Race St. (existing stop; passenger can transfer from existing route)	Northside Transit Center
McMicken and Race	Elmore St.
McMicken and Mohawk	Monmouth and Colerain
McMicken and Ravine	Hopple and Colerain
McMicken Ave. at Brighton Approach	Marshall and Colerain
Eliza and McMicken	Marshall and McMicken
Marshall and McMicken	Eliza and McMicken
Marshall and Colerain	McMicken Ave. at Brighton Approach
Hopple and Colerain	McMicken and Ravine
Monmouth and Colerain	McMicken and Mohawk
Elmore St.	McMicken and Race
Northside Transit Center	Findlay Market Race St. (existing stop; passenger can transfer to existing route)

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. Continuing past Ravine St. on McMicken, the route is lined with historic buildings including the Mockbee, where there are stairs down to Brighton Corner. The route passes some steep cross streets that lead uphill to CUF and UC, before taking a left on Marshall Avenue, heading slightly downhill to the industrial neighborhood of Camp Washington. It travels north along Colerain Avenue, serving the historic business strip and Camp Washington Chili. Taking a left on Monmouth, it passes an offbeat Cincinnati landmark in the American Sign Museum, not far from the storied Crosley Building that has been awaiting renovation for decades. Heading north on Spring Grove Avenue gives opportunity to pick up some speed, until the next stop on Elmore Street, accessible from South Cumminsville, not far from the Mill Creek bike trail. Finally, it arrives in the heart of Northside at the Northside Metro Transit Center, where transfer to and from many bus routes is possible. The southbound trip uses tracks routed on the same streets with stops at the same locations, except it uses 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 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.

Almost entire Camp Washington neighborhood would be inside walkshed.

Provides connection to major bus transfer point.

Challenges

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

McMicken intersection with Ravine St. may be challenging for streetcar to navigate.

Limited walkshed along McMicken Ave. hillside.

Portions of McMicken Avenue may be too narrow to accommodate streetcar and on street parking.

Marshall Avenue portion may be steep grade.

Related Concepts

Works with the concept Streetcar to Fairmount

Alternative Concepts

A Central Parkway routing could be used to provide a more direct route and add a Cincinnati State stop. (This is a tradeoff with coverage area)

A Spring Grove Ave. routing could be used to provide a higher average speed and thus shorter travel time. (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.