In a move that pits the suburbs' commuter rail vs. the city's streetcar, city leaders last week thwarted efforts to apply for federal money for a long-planned commuter rail line linking the eastern suburbs to the city.The routine transportation meeting turned ugly - and dramatic - after the move by Cincinnati city officials to fend off what they see as a competitor to the streetcar for federal money.
In turn, Hamilton County officials accused city leaders of being "small minded."
Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding told the officials from Hamilton and Clermont Counties and other eastern suburbs - just hours before the deadline to apply for $50 million to build part of the rail - the eastern corridor project, "just isn't a priority for the city."
City leaders say the project that expands highway, rail, bus and bicycle transportation along Hamilton County's eastern corridor is competition for cash needed to build the streetcar, a project that's ready to be built, not still in the study phase like the commuter rail.
Both had been seeking cash from the same pot of federal money.
Berding's remarks brought stunned silence. Then anger.
Everyone in the room knew without city support - a grant requirement - they couldn't seek the grant.
"I am still in shock over what the city did," said Hamilton County Board of Commissioners President Todd Portune. "All they had to do is acquiesce. I have every reason to believe we would have been successful.
Planners in the region have been working on the "Eastern Corridor" project - which spans two counties and 17 political jurisdictions - for more than 15 years. It's been in the talking phase for decades.
I want Thomas.
No! you can have Percy and Henry but I'm keeping Thomas.
I'm going to bonk you over the head with Gordon if you don't give my Thomas.
Everything you ever needed to know about politics you learned in Kindergarten.
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