Cincinnati Streetcar Liner. Photo: courtesy of FTA.
U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers joined Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and other local officials to celebrate the opening of the Cincinnati Streetcar. The streetcar is named the Cincinnati Bell Connector following a naming rights agreement with Cincinnati Bell Inc.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx stated, “Today Cincinnati joins a growing list of cities across the country that have chosen streetcars to revitalize their downtown and improve mobility for citizens. Cincinnati’s streetcar will attract new businesses and investment along the route and transform the neighborhoods surrounding the project – as other streetcars have in cities all over the United States.”
The 3.6 mile streetcar service features 18 stations connecting the city’s downtown, riverfront area and Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The new line is part of the city's efforts to expand transportation options and revitalize the heart of the city.
“We are proud to partner with Cincinnati on its streetcar and usher in a new era for getting around in this vibrant city,” said Acting Administrator Flowers. “The streetcar will expand transportation options for residents and visitors, spur economic development and connect workers to jobs, helping to build ladders of opportunity throughout the city.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) helped fund the project with $16 million from a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant and approximately $29 million in other DOT funds.
The streetcar has spurred millions of dollars in redevelopment in Cincinnati, with new employment, retail and housing all along the line. At the northern end of the line in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the streetcar has attracted restaurants and other retail and residential projects.