Monday, Nov. 30, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Rocky Merz 513.352.5358 or Ursula Miller 513.352.3417
CINCINNATI– Crews for the Cincinnati Streetcar will conduct the system’s first live-power vehicle test in the Central Business District (CBD) tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 1.
The test, to start at 9:00 a.m., will take place along Central Parkway, Walnut, Second, Main, 12th and Race streets with police escorts in front of and behind the vehicle. No road closures are planned as the test is meant to simulate real traffic conditions.
The vehicle will make three estimated trips around the CBD loop, at varying speeds. During the test, an operator will drive the vehicle as engineers check and measure energy consumption and power supply.
As part of the test, crews will review clearance measurements in the CBD and check traffic signals specific to the streetcar’s right of way in several stretches, including the intersections of Walnut and Central Parkway, Second and Walnut, Second and Main, and on Walnut between Fourth and Fifth and on Main between Fifth and Sixth. In these areas, the streetcar will travel a few seconds ahead of normal vehicular traffic as it switches lanes and/or or makes turns. Otherwise, the streetcar will travel with traffic, obeying the same regulations as cars and trucks.
Crews have completed similar tests along the Over-the-Rhine loop, which 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.
Tomorrow’s test will involve only one streetcar vehicle in the CBD. Crews plan to test a single vehicle along the full route later this week.
Motorists and pedestrians should expect to see streetcar vehicles on the road frequently in the months ahead as each is required to log 300 hours of on-track testing before it can receive safety certification from state and federal authorities.
Multi-vehicle testing with the first two streetcars is slated to start early next week.
Passenger service for the streetcar is expected to begin in September 2016.
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 a streetcar as 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.
Basic Streetcar Safety
MEDIA CONTACT: Rocky Merz 513.352.5358 or Ursula Miller 513.352.3417
CINCINNATI– Crews for the Cincinnati Streetcar will conduct the system’s first live-power vehicle test in the Central Business District (CBD) tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 1.
The test, to start at 9:00 a.m., will take place along Central Parkway, Walnut, Second, Main, 12th and Race streets with police escorts in front of and behind the vehicle. No road closures are planned as the test is meant to simulate real traffic conditions.
The vehicle will make three estimated trips around the CBD loop, at varying speeds. During the test, an operator will drive the vehicle as engineers check and measure energy consumption and power supply.
As part of the test, crews will review clearance measurements in the CBD and check traffic signals specific to the streetcar’s right of way in several stretches, including the intersections of Walnut and Central Parkway, Second and Walnut, Second and Main, and on Walnut between Fourth and Fifth and on Main between Fifth and Sixth. In these areas, the streetcar will travel a few seconds ahead of normal vehicular traffic as it switches lanes and/or or makes turns. Otherwise, the streetcar will travel with traffic, obeying the same regulations as cars and trucks.
Crews have completed similar tests along the Over-the-Rhine loop, which 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.
Tomorrow’s test will involve only one streetcar vehicle in the CBD. Crews plan to test a single vehicle along the full route later this week.
Motorists and pedestrians should expect to see streetcar vehicles on the road frequently in the months ahead as each is required to log 300 hours of on-track testing before it can receive safety certification from state and federal authorities.
Multi-vehicle testing with the first two streetcars is slated to start early next week.
Passenger service for the streetcar is expected to begin in September 2016.
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 a streetcar as 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.
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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