NORWOOD — While a proposed light-rail system for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is going through final engineering drafts in Washington, D.C., it picked up another opponent this week.

        Norwood City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance Tuesday opposing the $800 million system because it would cause “disruption and annoyance to the lives of residents in Norwood.”

        Norwood is at least the third Tristate community to go on record against the light-rail system.

        Judi Craig, light-rail project manager, said the Norwood action will not stall the project.

        She said the initial line of the light-rail system will stretch from 12th Street in Covington to Grooms Street in Blue Ash, cutting through business and residential sections of Norwood.

        Norwood Councilman Will DeLuca sponsored the resolution to oppose light rail, saying the city would be torn apart if the rail line came through there.

        “Norwood has already suffered by the Norwood Lateral and I-71 coming through. A light-rail line would further destroy historic buildings and tear the city in halves,” Mr. Deluca said.

        He said council members felt there is no benefit to Norwood if the light-rail lines are built there.

        Ms. Craig said the cost of the light-rail system would be divided, with 50 percent coming from the federal government, 25 percent from the state and 25 percent from local governments.

        The cost was a main reason Sycamore Township trustees voted to oppose the rail system two years ago.

        “The taxpayers are already burdened with a bus system that is not being fully utilized,” said Richard Kent, a trustee. “Why do we need to waste more tax money on a system that is not going to be effective?”

        Cliff Bishop, vice president of the Sycamore Township Board of Trustees, thinks light rail would not be appropriate for the I-71 corridor.

        “Most of the out-of-state traffic is on I-75. The light rail line wouldn't help the traffic along I-71,” Mr. Bishop said. “And besides, carpooling hasn't caught on out here yet, and we have Metro buses that don't have that many people on them.”

        After a citizens group in Deer Park campaigned against council members who supported light rail, all but one council member voted against it last October.

        The 19 miles of rail lines in the first phase are set to be completed in 2008.

        The complete light rail system, proposed by the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, would stretch from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Paramount's Kings Island.

Officer's family under strain
Arrests down since shooting
Race panel seeks mix of candidates
Police officer guards Luken
OxyContin maker curbs shipments
Reds' seats will be green
War veterans become graduates
Hospital diversions continue at high rate
Killer gets closer to execution
Grad overcame brain trauma
Graduation is end of long journey
Other Tristate commencements
HOWARD: Madeira targets sex offenders
McNUTT: Tour peeks at restored homes
Norwood opposes light rail
School boundaries redrawn
School planners regroup
Taft asks for support of quarter design
Traficant pleads not guilty
County considers tax levy for health care for poor
Kentucky Digest
Lebanon band units seek funds
Local Digest
Search continues today for man in Licking River
Suit threatened over new peaking station
Teacher union sues over charter schools
Two critically hurt in robbery, shootings
Bill appears too late to help
Bill gets bureaucracy out of alimony pacts
Congrats
Court says coalition can get school records
EPA chief praises cleanup effort
Fiscal court seat filled
GOP primary looms for 4th District seat
Henry wedding costs reviewed
Invisible fence defended