This past Saturday, I attended the All Aboard Ohio event, touring the Cincinnati Streetcar Facility. Nearly 3 dozen others and I learned more about the Connector Streetcar service for the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. The transit system serves three main city neighborhoods – The Banks, Downtown, and Over-the-Rhine – with an 18-station loop that stretches 3.6 miles. During the tour, we will learn everything about the types of streetcars being used, tracks and power, and system operations.
The city had its first electric streetcar system set up in the late 1800s, running until April 29, 1951, after over 60 years of operation. At its peak, the system spanned 222 miles and carried 100 million passengers annually.
The current streetcar system we see today began construction in August 2013 and was completed in the summer of 2016. The final cost for this 3.6-mile route was $148 million. Passenger service began on September 9, 2016, managed by the Southwest Ohio Transit Authority (SORTA). In January 2020, the city of Cincinnati took over the day-to-day operations of the streetcar service. The city had to suspend the service from April – August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after restoring service, they transitioned to fare-free service. In March 2022, the streetcar service was rebranded as the “Connector”. In the following months and years, the “Connector” continued to break its ridership records. In 2023, the Connector hit an all-time annual record ridership with 1,108,092 passengers.
There’s been discussion about extending the streetcar network in Cincinnati, with various proposed routes. I believe this could benefit the city. Cincinnati covers 80 square miles, ranking as the 3rd largest city in Ohio. In comparison, Boston, Massachusetts spans 90 square miles, and its MBTA Subway system boasts 64 miles of track with 153 stations.
If any of these suggested routes start to pick up steam, we will keep you informed through future blog posts.
