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Getting to Know Andrew Bench

UrbanCincy recently had a chance to catch up with a new friend of ours that we met back in early September at a lunch over at Findlay Market. Andrew Bench is brand new to town and has seen quite a bit of the developments in rail transit first hand around this country of ours. He has worked in the rail transit industry for twelve years and has been in construction for a total of two decades. He has had a chance to settle into Cincinnati over the last six weeks since we last saw him, and we were interested to check in with him and get his initial observations about his new surroundings.

Living in Downtown Cincinnati – It’s amazing how small the city blocks are here especially compared to the last city I was in (Salt Lake) which makes the urban core so walkable. Five blocks here is about the same distance as two and a half blocks in Salt Lake. I do find it frustrating that there are no easy grocery options in downtown. I don’t always have a car and aside from the Over-the-Rhine Kroger and Findlay Market there isn’t much else available. If even just the streetcar was in place I would be able to get on and ride it up there, and get to other options such as the Kroger at the University. A few years from now I’d be able to ride over the river to Kentucky. The options are endless really.

Regarding Rail Transit in Cincinnati – A phrase from the poem titled Maud Muller written by John Greenleaf Whittier sums up the whole situation. It says “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: “it might have been!” I think Cincinnati has the potential for a rail transit system that would spur redevelopment. Imagine a streetcar connecting neighborhoods to the core, light rail connecting the suburbs, and high speed rail for those trips to Columbus and even further.

An example of How it All Fits Together – We were in Portland for our annual meeting a few years back and we were waiting for the streetcar. Along it came, and it was packed, but everyone got out where we were because it was the MAX connector which is their light rail to the suburbs. Clearly people were using the combined streetcar and MAX to commute to and from work downtown. I was just in Portland earlier this year and there is still new development happening on the streetcar line ten years after the first phase opened up!

Salt Lake is More Progressive Than Cincy – The typical response is “NO WAY!” But they have a $2.6B program underway that is scheduled to be finished by 2015. It includes a mix of rail transit and after living there it is clear that they are thinking about the future, not just for right now. They are investing heavily in rail transit to solve problems and attract young folks to their city, essentially making sacrifices now for future generations. They fought and fought the light rail but now the cars are jammed pack and all the outlying cities not along the route are asking to be included.

About Issue 9 – Issue 9 is about options and if it passes the city will be crippled for years to come. It’s about all kinds of rail transit options for the city of Cincinnati which in turn could make the Metro more useful and profitable if it is paired up right to compliment the rail transit choices. Cincinnati really does have the potential for redevelopment and growth and need to look at this issue as if they are solving for future transportation problems for their kids.

Come out and help defeat issue 9 by joining a few of your UrbanCincy writers at the Cincinnatians for Progress phone bank at 1344 Vine Street tonight! Last week we had quite a crowd and hope for the same tonight! Just comment on the post if you want to join us. Please plan on bringing your own phone along though as there are only a few down there.

In the meantime, enjoy this video from our friends at Soapbox Media. Andrew let us know it was his favorite one of the all the No on Nine videos making the rounds.

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Important videos to watch about Cincinnati’s Issue 9

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The Best Cincinnati Streetcar Video Yet

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The Pedestrianization Acceleration of Cincinnati

If anyone has had the experience of traveling throughout Europe, you may have noticed a predominant feature in their center cities not found in typical American cities: pedestrian only thoroughfares. Many of these thin ‘streets’ have been around for decades, as European’s slowly took back their medieval centers and placed pedestrian access and connectivity in the forefront. Places like Paris, Copenhagen and Amsterdam have all created such places in their center cities, and, coupled with modern transit systems, have formed vibrant, provocative, and eclectic urban places.

Venizelou Square in Iraklion, Greece (photo by Randy A. Simes)

On a recent trip to Crete (known to be conservative by European standards) I again noticed an abundance of pedestrian only streets. After talking to a few locals, it was brought to my attention that many of these pedestrian thoroughfares were relatively new to the large city of Iraklion, and that they had finally come on board to the notion of pedestrianizing their center city, following western and northern European standards. This got me thinking; if even the most conservative western European places are completely pedestrianizing their center cities, it’s only a matter of time before the United States does the same.

Actually, the United States is already beginning to come on board with this trend, proven with the recent news that New York City has been experimenting with pedestrian only plazas in Times Square and Herald Square. Even Indianapolis, Indiana has started a significant road diet, as seen in their downtown Cultural Trail, where road lanes are slowly disappearing and making way for multi-use, pedestrian/bike facility zones.

Indianapolis’ Cultural Trail (photo from Indy Cultural Trail)

These trends indicate American’s are warming up to the idea of pedestrian only thoroughfares and ‘pedestrian malls’ in their downtown’s, an idea initially rejected by American’s in the 1960’s and 70’s. In 2009, America is continually becoming an urban-oriented society and our cities need to start planning for a pedestrian acceleration that I believe will occur in our urban centers.

Cincinnati needs to understand this and start planning for the future to stay competitive in attracting the creative class. Luckily for Cincinnati, the city already has an amazing built environment suitable for pedestrian-only thoroughfares and malls; found in amazing Over-the-Rhine. A number of the neighborhood’s streets, especially the east-west routes, are thin, intimate, and well connected, making them ideal for pedestrian only access.

So what can we do now to get ready for the pedestrianization acceleration that will eventually dominate the American urban landscape? In the immediate term, we can choke down car-centric streets like Liberty and Central, increasing sidewalk widths, adding bicycle lanes, and decreasing vehicular speeds. In the long term, we need to develop a strong multi-modal transportation system for the city.

Not surprisingly, pedestrian only zones cannot withstand themselves without being supported by a modern, multi-modal transportation system. You simply cannot expect people to live in a car free environment if they do not have attractive public transportation options. If Over-the-Rhine is ever going to become pedestrianized, we must promote modern transportation options such as the Cincinnati Streetcar. If Cincinnati doesn’t offer these options, good luck keeping up with the impending pedestrianization acceleration and good luck attracting the creative class! Please don’t rely on luck for a successful Cincinnati, please vote NO on Issue 9 on November 3rd.

Greg Meckstroth holds a Geography degree from the Ohio State University along with a Masters in Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. Greg currently works as a planner with an urban design firm in Indianapolis.

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AIA Debate Displays Tone of Issue 9 Campaigns + Volunteer Night!

This past Thursday evening, the Cincinnati chapter of the American Institute of Architects held a traditional debate discussing Issue 9. Arguing for Issue 9 was former SORTA board member Stephan Louis, as a representative for the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending & Taxes (COAST). University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees member and Cincinnatians for Progress chairman Rob Richardson argued against Issue 9. UC Professor Terry Grundy acted as moderator, and did a fantastic job in moving the points right along and keeping things official.

Nearly 50 students, professors, architects and concerned citizens filled the lecture hall, each one interested in what the two men had to say for and against Issue 9. Mr. Louis opened the debate stating that Cincinnati had already built three transit failures (the subway, Union Terminal, and Riverfront Transit Center), and pulled out the ever popular phrase “boondoggle.” Sitting calmly up at the front of the room, Mr. Lewis seemed very straightforward and full of “facts,” which were later completely debunked by Gordan Bombay, writing for the Phony Coney (read his fantastically detailed write up here).

Rob Richardson was an entirely different story in practically every way. Hardly had Professor Grundy given him the floor than Richardson was up out of his chair, coming down off the stage to look students in the eye and speak to us directly. He spoke passionately of Cincinnati’s future, stating quite frankly that our fair Queen City will face serious setbacks in practically every way if Issue 9 passes. The language is too broad and too over-reaching. The point of a representative democracy is to elect officials you trust to make decisions, and Mr. Richardson warned the room of what could happen if Cincinnati allowed Issue 9 to convert our current system into a California style government.

There were several excellent questions coming from various people in the audience, directed toward both debaters. Overall it was interesting to note that the general overtone of the “Yes on 9” conversation was incredibly accusatory and negative. Mr. Louis was not able to state how in fact he supported public transit, or what he saw for Cincinnati in the next 5 years concerning rail. He was only able to repeat sound bites intended to affront and astound – warning of the horrors of public money being spent, and even once comparing the streetcar to abortion. It’s okay if you’re confused – I was there and I didn’t quite understand the reference, much less comprehend why he thought it was okay to compare the two in the first place.

The overriding theme of Rob Richardson’s tone and message when voting against Issue 9 was one of hope and promise for Cincinnati. He spoke with conviction on how passenger rail will bring development and retain talent in our community, and how it can only help Cincinnati, not diminish its value. The difference in demeanor and attitude between the two debaters was incredibly palpable, and it’s an important difference.

Choose negativity and fear, or hope for the future. Vote No on Issue 9.


Urban Cincy Volunteer Night!!
Tonight a few of the staffers at UrbanCincy will be gathering at the Cincinnatians for Progress office located on 1344 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine. We will be making phone calls from 6pm to 8pm, and tentatively going out to grab a drink and/or food afterwards. Be sure to bring your own phone, or laptop computer (using Skype-$3) from which to make phone calls. If you’re interested in helping but don’t want to do it alone, tomorrow night will be a great opportunity to help this cause and hang out with some like-minded people!

Issue 9 debate photo by David Cole via The Phony Coney