Cincinnati streetcar faces new threat

Streetcar proponents in Cincinnati are bracing for potential action by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, an avowed opponent of passenger rail expansion in the Buckeye State, who already has rejected federal funds for “3C” passenger rail. Kasich has loudly criticized Cincinnati’s proposed $128 million streetcar project and has informed the city the state will not contribute any funding.

“We are still trying to figure out if it’s $35 million or $50 million at risk,” City Manager Milton Dohoney said. Dohoney also said it is unclear if the actual process for determining the merit of projects like the streetcar has changed at the state level.

The city is evaluating what would happen if state funding is withdrawn. The state has already awarded $15 million to the city. Asked by a local television reporter if he had ever seen a situation where the state would renege on an award for a multimillion dollar grant for a project, Dohoney said he had not.