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News Politics Transportation

Critical vote on Cincinnati Streetcar funds today at 1pm

Today, Cincinnati City Council will vote on whether to approve roughly $2.6 million in City funding for the streetcar project. This financial commitment from the City is not only important to help keep the project moving forward, but also to help the project win future allocations of state and federal grants.

The Cincinnati Streetcar came away empty handed when the first round of TIGER funds were awarded, and one of the primary reasons for this was the lack of a local financial commitment to the project. The Feds, like any investor, like to know that they are investing in a project that is supported financially by those asking for the money. They like to know that the local community has a financial stake in the project and want to see it succeed.

If you are able, attending the meeting today at City Hall would be extremely helpful. There needs to be a majority in favor of approving these funds to make it happen, and so far there are four firm yes votes (Quinlivan, Cole, Qualls, Thomas). Both Chris Bortz and Jeff Berding appear to be on the fence, so let them know that your vote depends on them supporting this crucial investment in Cincinnati’s urban core, and let the others know that their future political aspirations outside of City Hall depend on their support as well.

If you would like to comment you should show up to City Hall 15 minutes early (meeting starts at 1pm) so that you can fill out a card to speak. If you are not quite comfortable sharing your story with members of Council, then simply show up to let them know that there is a critical mass of support for this project that won overwhelmingly at the ballot box this past November. If you are unable to show up at all, please contact members of City Council to share your thoughts.

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News Politics Transportation

Metro to celebrate green initiatives at Cincinnati Earth Day

Earth Day 2009 marked the introduction of six new hybrid buses to Metro’s fleet. Since that time the buses have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide environmentally responsible trip alternatives, save diesel fuel and money for the regional transit authority.

“We are proud of the results that we have seen from the hybrids and the positive response we’ve received from the community,” said Marilyn Shazor, Metro’s CEO. “Cincinnati has welcomed the hybrids and recognizes the value in our green efforts.”

To date, Metro officials cite that the hybrid buses have cut gas emission by some 190 tons while saving close to 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The savings not only represent an environmental benefit, but a financial one for the transit authority as well.

“In addition to the environmental benefits, the hybrids provide financial savings for Metro,” Shazor explained. “In the past year, the hybrids have saved us nearly $22,000 in fuel, and we project continued fuel savings over the life of the hybrids, and the environmental benefits will continue as well.”

On Saturday April, 17 Metro will take part in Cincinnati’s Earth Day celebration at Sawyer Point by showcasing one of their hybrid buses at a booth where the transit authority will share information on other green initiatives they are overseeing like the new articulated buses that add capacity and increased efficiencies to Metro’s fleet, their LEED-certified transit hub in Avondale, use of reused rainwater for bus washing, burning waste oil to heat their garages, and the recycling of motor fluids such as antifreeze, refrigerant and power steering fluid.

Cincinnati Earth Day is free and open to the public and will run from 12pm to 5:30pm at Sawyer Point (map) along the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati. This year’s festivities will include hands-on displays, a rock climbing wall, kayak paddle safety pool, ORSANCO’s aquarium, baby animals, story telling, an environmental puppet show, a green childrens fashion show, live music, a parade and more.

Metro will also be providing this information and more at another booth to be set up at the Cincinnati Zoo during Zoo’s Tunes & Blooms “Go Green” Night on April 24th.

“Overall, Metro’s services significantly reduce car trips and fuel consumption in Greater Cincinnati. A commuter who rides Metro 20 miles round-trip will decrease annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 tons per year,” said Shazor. “As a tax-supported transit system, we are focusing on being green and saving green at the same time.”

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

Design Revolution Road Show visits Cincinnati today

The Design Revolution Road Show is a traveling exhibition that has visited 22 schools and covered thousands of miles in the course of 75 days with just one mobile trailer. The exhibition is the brain child of Emily Pilloton who founded Project H Design – a San Francisco-based non-profit that focuses on design that improves health, habitats, humanity and happiness. The road show has taken Project H’s message on the road and will visit Cincinnati today.

Over the past two months the Design Revolution Road Show has traveled all over the country visiting high schools and colleges in an attempt to inspire students to step up and change the world. In addition to the message, the traveling exhibition features 40 humanitarian design solutions that were previously highlighted in Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People which was also written by, you guessed it, Emily Pilloton. The designs vary, but range from homemade water filters designed for those living in developing countries to educational toys for mentally challenged children.

Design Revolution Road Show at NC State – photo from Project H Design.

“Each product is an example of how design can enable and improve life, rather than simply take up space as a commodity or accessory,” described Pilloton. “We believe design can change the world, and we’re taking the show on the road.”

The University of Cincinnati (UC) was chosen as one of the sites because of the university’s prominent college of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning that is world renowned for its design innovations and talent. According to Pilloton, the hope is to create a stronger connection between education and design that is both provocative and socially relevant to the problems facing society today. Students at UC will be presented the evidence and tools for designing solutions with a social impact.

The Design Revolution Road Show will be at the University of Cincinnati today from 10am to 4pm. The mobile trailer known as ‘The Airstream’ will be parked on McMicken Commons in the heart of UC’s main campus. Project H Design founder Emily Pilloton will be giving a free lecture that is open to the public from 12:30pm to 2pm in room 4400 inside the Aronoff Center for Art & Design (map). Parking is available throughout UC’s campus parking garages for a fee, or you can try your luck at nearby on-street parking. Several Metro bus routes also provide service to the Aronoff Center for Art & Design, and a great deal of bicycle parking is located just feet away from the entrance to the building.

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News Transportation

Qualls to discuss conversion of prominent Uptown streets to two-way traffic

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls will host a press conference today at 11am in Walnut Hills to discuss the conversion of McMillan Street and William Howard Taft Road from one-way to two-way streets.

Qualls reportedly will be joined by various Walnut Hills community leaders who have long supported the idea of converting the two heavily traveled east/west streets back to two-way traffic. Residents and business owners in the area feel that such a conversion will help to further revitalize their neighborhoods, and return vitality to the business district.

Converting one-way streets into two-way streets has become an increasingly popular urban design tool over recent years by cities looking to slow down traffic, increase access and thus improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Qualls has been a leading advocate for the implementation of a ‘Complete Streets’ policy that would also embody many of these things by ensuring that all modes of transportation are accounted for in the design of streets and the public right-of-way.

The press conference will be held at Kurelis Interiors on E. McMillan Street (map) in Walnut Hills at 11am. Also on hand will be Greg Loomis from Campus Management and Jeff Raser who is part of the Walnut Hills Working Group and has been lending professional assistance in the development of form-based codes around Cincinnati.

UPDATE: Following the press conference Qualls’ office released a motion that is co-sponsored by Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, Laure Quinlivan and Cecil Thomas. The motion calls for city administration to develop an implementation plan for the two-way conversion of McMillan Street and William Howard Taft Road east of I-71 before City Council takes its summer recess. The motion also calls for city administration to deliver a report on the feasibility of converting McMillan and Taft west of I-71 to Clifton Avenue by September 2010.

Another critical part of the motion calls for the incorporation of several traffic calming measures that will make the streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. Those improvements could potentially include landscaped medians, crosswalks, dedicated bicycle lanes, improved on-street parking design, wider sidewalks, bus pullouts, reduced traffic speeds and even the incorporation of roundabouts.

Photo taken by Laura Sandt.

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News

Brian Meyers to discuss emerging market trends at AMA luncheon

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is hosting a luncheon this Friday, April 16 from 11:30am to 1:15pm that will feature a presentation from Brian Meyers on the future of design and marketing.

Meyers is a Senior Trends Analyst with Cincinnati-based LPK, and is known for his forecasting and strategic analysis of emerging trends by predicting shifts in consumer behavior for the brand management firm. Trend forecasting is often used by industry leaders to help develop consumer and market brands.

According to Meyers, his presentation “Memo from 2015: What the Future Wants from a Marketer” will challenge many conventional marketing tactics used today and is intended to provoke Cincinnati’s local marketing community to think about how marketers and designers adapt and evolve in an ever-changing environment.

Due to his relatively young age and topic on evolving socio-cultural trends, Meyers is a different presenter for an AMA luncheon event. His presentation “Memo from 2015: What the Future Wants from a Marketer” is intended to provoke our local marketing community to think about how we as marketers and designers can adapt and evolve with rapidly evolving trends.

“The objective of this presentation is not accuracy, but provocation – proactive cogitation that will lead to thoughtful action and manifestation of a better future,” Meyers explained. “How will we adapt or evolve to fill the new role the future has in mind for us?”

Meyers’ presentation will focus on emerging trends like the Simplistic Slowdown, New Economies and the On-line/Off-line Blur. Correspondingly, the following six paradigm shifts will also be discussed about how they will impact marketing.

  1. People Don’t Buy Much Any More
  2. People Utilize Alternative Economies
  3. People Become Their own Producers and Marketers
  4. Technology turns from Tool to Automated Competition
  5. Seamless Digital/Physical Reality Alters How People Live
  6. Decoding the Brain Up-Ends Ideas of Logic and Reason

Marketing and brand development is seen as one of Cincinnati’s strongest industries with consumer product giants like Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Macy’s and Chiquita all headquartered in the city. The industry is also one that seems poised for growth in an increasingly consumer-based economy that is rapidly changing.

UrbanCincy readers interested in attending have been extended a special offer for the luncheon. Starting today, UrbanCincy readers are able to reserve their luncheon spot for the special membership rate of $35 by registering online and entering “UrbanCincy” into the comment box. This discount will only be valid online and not at the door. The event is being held at the Cintas Center (map) on Xavier University’s campus, with parking available in Lot C next to the arena (no parking voucher is necessary).