City of Cincinnati

801 Plum Street

Suite 346B
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Office of Councilmember Greg Landsman (513) 352-5232
Greg.Landsman@cincinnati-oh.gov

May 21, 2018

MOTION
After several months of fact finding, and a commitment to doing what is best for riders and
taxpayers,

WE MOVE the Administration adopt the following “fixes” to the Streetcar:

1. Using existing resources, establish a new position of Executive Director of the Streetcar,
reporting into both City Hall and SORTA (see proposed updated management chart
attached), and working with support from a reinvigorated Streetcar nonprofit organization
(NPO) with corporate and community leaders. The Executive Director must be empowered
to manage all aspects of the Streetcar Operations, including all contracts and decisions. With
contracts and decisions split between City Hall and SORTA, this new leader is arguably the
only way to establish an effective management structure in the short-run. This structure
begins to mirror the successful streetcar project in Kansas City. The Administration should
continue to look at all log-term management options per Councilwoman Murray’s request.
2. Until a new Streetcar Executive Director has been hired, provide to Council and the Mayor:
1. Performance and financial reviews and reports on the Transdev and CAF contracts.
2. A set of new performance measures for Streetcar excellence, with regular reporting.
3. An expedited plan to repair the vehicles, with details on what needs fixed and by
when it will be fixed.
4. A plan to resolve blockage issues, particularly as they relate to enforcement and with
buses at and around Government Square (as well as other identified ‘problem spots’
along the route, and to shorten headways within the context of the traffic study.
5. A report on the feasibility (and what would be required) to make the Streetcar free in
a way that would increase ridership (and in a budget neutral way).
6. New PR, marketing, and advertising plans within thirty days that are well designed
and proactive and the development of a working group focused on these activities.
7. A report on the financial impact on expanding the VTICA program, and the
feasibility of an OTR/CBD special assessment.
8. A recommended proposal for appointing members to the reinvigorated nonprofit, and
its initial purpose.
 We would ask that the new Executive Director would continue to pursue these requests.

3. Establish a cross-sector working group to address short- and long-term budget issues.

WE FURTHER MOVE that the Administration work with SORTA to bring back a proposal within
two weeks that address these recommendations.

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Councilmember Greg Landsman

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