Friday, March 26, 1999
Light-rail study called premature
Planners expect answers later on
BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A Federal Transit Administration (FTA) analysis said Greater Cincinnati wouldn't receive funding for light-rail if the area asked for it today, but local planners aren't asking for the money yet.
The report criticized the proposed $600 million light-rail project along Interstate 71 because so many questions about the project were unanswered, including where local funds would come from.
But that was to be expected. The law requires the FTA to review pro posed projects annually even if they aren't in a final study phase, FTA public affairs director Bruce Frame said.
“This is an ongoing process,” he said. “Many of these projects take years and years to develop.”
The FTA study was based on information available last November — the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments' (OKI) first-phase major investment study.
That study isn't designed to answer specific questions that the FTA study analyzed.
OKI is beginning to find those more detailed answers to questions such as environmental impact as it enters preliminary engineering studies, OKI Executive Director Jim Duane said Thursday.
For example, here are some problems the report cites and steps that have been taken since the FTA gathered information for its report:
• Problem: No firm local-funding plan exists for the first $600 million phase.
Change: Earlier this month, OKI board members voted to create a committee to look at funding options. It will answer questions such as what counties and cities should pay for the system and if gas taxes, property taxes, sales taxes or a combination of the three should pay.
• Problem: No one to build and operate the system.
Change: Earlier this month, the area's largest transit operators took the first step toward setting up an agency to run a light-rail system. The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), which runs Metro, and the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) agreed to create an umbrella agency that could operate the proposed two-state system along the Interstate 71 corridor.
• Problem: No plans for parking areas that potential riders could use, and no economic benefit analysis.
Change: Studies are going on right now in preliminary engineering. The economic benefit study should be done in the next four to five months.
“This report is way premature,” Mr. Duane said. “We are not going to be to final engineering for two to 21/2 years.”
Bill and his 'boy' hash things over
Sixth-graders' loyalties tested by suspension
Ohio city restricts car-phone users
Police official joins memorial to shooting victim
Slaying suspect called jealous
Therapists OK trash-can mom for trial
Airline exchanges trips for food donations
Freedom Center's plans ambitious
Penguins waddle in, settle down
Right to sue HMOs to be stripped from Ohio bill
Car tag tax may be reduced
Vehicle tax can make or break political careers
East side road plans spur debate
Light-rail study called premature
Lost-baby case points to parents
Museum Center selects new director
Planner says vision for region catching on
Three DUI suspects have 10 priors among them
Workers get pizza instead of president
'Haggadah' book tied to 'Prince of Egypt'
Jimmy Carter faces aging with faith
Job loss, family death, auto accident test Crestview Hills couple
Learn about child safety while skating
Younger Harrelson making up for selfish years
Ban asked on reporters' testimony
Chabot leads drive to put TV cameras in federal courts
Chief given reprimand in 1995 Carlisle report details bad blood
Cleanup accepts tires, trash
Ex-UK player on DUI wreck: 'Scars will last forever'
HMO for low-income loses license
Mother, son sue over searches
Ousted mayor of Williamstown pleads guilty to bank robbery
School to shrink to limit expenses
Scramble for vets home
Sycamore planning new school
TRISTATE DIGEST
