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Streetcar ‘Live-Power’ Test Starts in OTR; Motorists will Begin Navigating the Streetcar

11/10/2015

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Nov. 10, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Rocky Merz, 513.368.1620 or Ursula Miller, 513.250.5171

CINCINNATI – Crews for the Cincinnati Streetcar will conduct the vehicle's first live-power test starting tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, along the 1.6-mile Over-the-Rhine route. Direct current supplied via the overhead contact system will power the vehicle.

The OTR loop runs between Henry Street, just north of Findlay Market, to Race Street to 12th at the southern end of Washington Park, north on Elm by Music Hall and back to Henry. The test, which will continue into next week, marks new transportation infrastructure for Cincinnati motorists and pedestrians to navigate.
There are no planned road closures or police escorts as part of this test, which is meant to simulate real traffic conditions.

Testing will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

During the test, an operator will drive the vehicle as engineers check and measure energy consumption and how well the traction power substations supply power via the overhead wire.

The vehicle initially will travel at a very slow rate of speed, approximately 3 miles per hour, with a team of engineers following along to document the performance. As testing continues, the rate of speed will be increased to 10 mph and eventually the legal speed limit of 25 mph.

Looking Ahead
The second of five vehicles is expected to be delivered to Cincinnati early next month from the CAF USA assembly plant in Elmira, New York. Crews will conduct additional power tests after it arrives; including how well the system handles multiple vehicles.
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The other vehicles will be delivered in late January and February. You should expect to see the vehicles on the road as each one is required to log 300 hours of on-track testing before it can receive safety certification from state and federal authorities. Passenger service is expected to begin in September 2016.

Crews will conduct power tests in the Central Business District next month after the overhead power system in both loops is fully operational.

Driving with the Streetcar
Motorists are allowed to travel in the same lane as the streetcar but should take extra care when stopping and starting behind it because streetcars cannot stop as quickly as wheeled vehicles. The streetcar must obey the same traffic laws that are required of all motorists, including the posted speed limit.

Parking
Motorists are reminded that parking is prohibited in the curb lane in front of or behind station stops to allow room for the streetcar to maneuver without obstruction. Vehicles in these areas will be towed. 
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Basic Streetcar Safety
  • Stay at least 10 feet away from the overhead power wire in all directions
  • The overhead power wire is high voltage and contact with it could be fatal
  • Don’t cross in front of a moving streetcar
  • Obey all signs and traffic signals
  • Stop and look both ways before crossing the tracks
  • Pedestrians cross only at designated crosswalks

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