West-side residents left waiting at the station as light-rail discussions have passed them by have been hailed on board by Cincinnati Metro. Metro held the first in a series of open houses Monday to gauge whether western Hamilton County residents want a mass-transit rail system.

        Visitors were asked to fill out a survey designed to measure their support for possible light rail, commuter rail, and streetcar routes that would supplement Metro's bus system.

        “A rail system would be nice if it was convenient,” said Sheila Weatherspoon of Forest Park. “But if I have to drive five or 10 miles to get to the nearest station, I might as well drive to work.”

        John Curtiss, a retired UC economics professor attending the open house in Forest Park, said a rail system would not be cost efficient.

        “Only a few urban areas have adequate population densities to justify rail, and they alreay have rail systems,” Mr. Curtiss said.

        Such feedback will help Metro determine what, if any, rail proposals for the west side will be included in Metro's new regional transit plan.

        The new plan, scheduled for completion in June, is called MetroMoves and already includes proposals for light rail along Interstate 71, I-75 and other major corridors in Cincinnati.

        Any light rail system would have to be approved by voters, and a major investment study would be required before a rail system could be built.

        Future meetings:

        Today, 5-7:30 p.m., Green Township Public Library, 6525 Bridgetown Road; Thursday, 5-7:30 p.m., St. Lawrence Parish Hall (behind St. Lawrence Church), 3680 Warsaw Ave.; Friday, 4-6:30 p.m., Northgate Mall, 9501 Colerain Ave.

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