Ready to roll: Streetcar's final weld complete

Believe in Cincinnati – and all its green balloons – marked a milestone in the streetcar project Friday: the final welding of the track.

The first vehicle is set to arrive Oct. 30. Service is expected to start next year.

"Today is a great day for all believers in Cincinnati," said Ryan Messer,  Over-the-Rhine Community Council president and founder of Believe in Cincinnati, a streetcar advocacy group. "We continue to show citizens in our city and others around the state and country that we are a can-do town."

The group of more than 200 people – including Council members David Mann and Yvette Simpson and Chris Seelbach – marked the final weld of the last piece of rail in the 3.6-mile track that will run from Downtown to Over-the-Rhine.

The project will come in on time and on budget, $148 million, according to Streetcar Executive John Deatrick.

A handful of business owners spoke about how the streetcar will bolster their customer base and help them expand.

The city itself did not mark the milestone, but expects it will host an event when the first car arrives.

On Friday, as the group gathered, there was just one inch of track left to lay down. The track, after 24 months, is now full circle.

"You have seen the community rally in support of the project so many times," said Derek Bauman, Southwest Director of All Aboard Ohio, and a longtime streetcar supporter. "At the end of the day, this is all about growing the city."