College
Projects
Cincinnati Area Transit
System
General Information
- Duration: 5 Weeks for
Research, 6 Weeks for Design and Presentation
- Academic Level: College,
Fifth Year, Fall Quarter
- 2D Drawing Medium: Computer
Generated from GIS Files With PowerCADD 2000 and Adobe
Photoshop
- Rendering Medium: Colored
Pencil on Paper
Program Information
- In the aftermath of riots
in the spring of 2001, it became apparent that Cincinnati no
longer qualifies as being one of the most livable cities in North
America. Instead, the city of Cincinnati was portrayed as a
racially divided city that has ignored the living conditions of
its urban poor for too long. The impact of the urban uprising can
still be felt all over town: fear, dirty and unkempt
neighborhoods, boarded up properties and a general sense of
hopelessness do not qualify for ingredients to attract future
residents or private investments in the downtown area.
-
- Each student was given the
opportunity to propose their own solution to the problem at hand.
They were given free reign concerning planning and development
issues. The only restrictions imposed on the student work were a
time frame of a maximum of 20 years, and an annual budget not to
exceed $70 million.
-
- As a point of departure,
students polled themselves and their parents to establish criteria
for an attractive downtown. Furthermore, they selected one
"livable city" as a case study, and investigated the pros and cons
of their selection. Based on the research, each student decided on
one strategy for urban revitalization. The remainder of the
quarter was devoted to the development of the individual strategy:
design implementation, cost, phasing, outcome.
Personal Requirements
- Poor transportation is one
of the larger problems mentioned in surveys about the Cincinnati
area. There are bad traffic jams on the narrow streets, and the
bus system is not perceived as a viable alternative for anyone
other than those who cannot afford their own automobile.
Therefore, a permanent mode of surface rapid transit appears to be
a viable solution. Specifically, a set of two streetcar (tram)
lines would be constructed across the city. By running the lines
through existing streetcar neighborhoods, it reinforces the
business districts and residential communities that once depended
on them. The lines were also planned to connect a large number of
people with the city's large employment centers, specifically
downtown and the University of Cincinnati.
-
- The project was divided
into two components, the first being overall planning and
feasibility studies. Neighborhoods along the lines were examined
to find population concentrations that could support a streetcar
system. The three major universities in the city (University of
Cincinnati, Xavier University and Cincinnati State) were linked
with downtown and and each other, as well as a large pool of
unskilled labor. The second component of the project was the
design of some of the typical stops. Specifically, one urban stop
in Over-the-Rhine was designed, as well as a suburban stop
Avondale. These designs focused on integrating the station with
the surrounding built environment, as well as working out some
logistical problems like traffic management and pedestrian
access.
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