Tuesday, May 11, 1999
Planners get an earful about light rail
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A plan to bring light rail to Greater Cincinnati was criticized Monday by residents who said the electric-powered trains would take away jobs and flatten economic development in city neighborhoods.
“We're really tired of being excluded from everything. You include us or we're going to protest,” said Mary Ann Randolph, who has lived in Evanston nearly 40 years.
More than 40 residents attended a meeting at the Evanston Recreation Center to learn about the proposal along the Interstate 71 corridor.
Officials have yet to secure the $600 million for construction of the 18-mile system, which would stretch from Covington to Blue Ash. It could be completed as early as 2008.
Although she was in the minority Monday evening, Shirley Hunter of Walnut Hills defended the system.
“I believe this could draw other people to this town,” she said. “This will unite this whole area of Kentucky and Ohio. This is not just a thing for one neighborhood or two or three neighborhoods.”
Deborah Al-Uqdah of Evanston said it is a “facade” to think light rail will benefit residents in her neighborhood. She fears increased competition for jobs from suburbanites who would benefit from improved access.
Ms. Al-Uqdah would like to see the plan reworked to show how light rail would benefit her neighborhood economically.
Warner Moore, I-71 project manager for the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, said specific questions would not be responded to during the meetings. But he said residents' comments could help mold the final project.
Another meeting is scheduled 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. todayat the Christ Church Cathedral Undercroft, 318 E. Fourth St. downtown.
Pool questioned on sex practices
Reasons unclear in skydiver deaths
Tallest wooden coaster coming
Kehoe sentence is life term
Two names added to list at memorial
Unlikely hero for city's first big marathon
Y2K may put a cork in high-priced bubbly
Counselors visit Westwood school
Ex-cop guilty of soliciting sex for silence
High-protein, high risk?
Newport to reorganize departments
Proposed tax increase to benefit parks
Jail cleared in inmate's death
Upscale site near speedway
A house of volunteers
Audit finds funds missing
Butler looks for money to operate jail
Family joins adoption lawsuit
Kindergarten gets creative
Mayor admits snubbing councilwoman
New manager to oversee Kings projects
Planners get an earful about light rail
Reading toughens its blight law
Residents like plan for police
Suspended township cop resigns
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
