It's a go: Streetcar finally opens

Finally.

Cincinnati's long-awaited streetcar opened its doors to the public at noon on Friday, and began running along the 3.6-mile loop through Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. It was the first time in 65 years Cincinnati had an operating streetcar.

It was a festive atmosphere in Washington Park as 1,000 people gathered for the opening day ceremony, even before the speakers hit the stage after 10 a.m. A rainy day, initially, yielded to overcast skies and later sunshine by the late morning.

With a backdrop of Music Hall and streetcar vehicles, 14 politicians, administrators and streetcar champions told attendees how the streetcar's opening was a remarkable moment in Cincinnati's history.

Former Mayor Mark Mallory and other champions of the streetcar – officially known as the Cincinnati Bell Connector – touted it as a "transformational" project that has overcome multiple political and funding hurdles over the past decade.

Mayor John Cranley, who nearly succeeded in killing the project in 2013, received a courtesy applause from the crowd. He commended the city administration for finishing the streetcar on time and on budget.

Councilwoman Yvette Simpson, who is opposing Cranley in next year's mayor's race, received the loudest ovation of all the speakers. She was one of six council members who helped cast a veto-proof vote to move the project forward in December 2013. She fired up the crowd.

"When I say: 'Let's go!' You say: 'Streetcar!' " Simpson shouted.

Let's go!

Streetcar!

"Baby, we are going today," Simpson added. "I hope this serves as a rallying cry. ... And guess what? The best is yet to come."

After the opening ceremony ended, the first riders including many local dignitaries and their guests and city officials lined Elm Street for their turns inside the cars. By the time the first rides were done, attendees of the opening day event began to gather at the 14th and Elm stop in addition to a steady stream of visitors. Playing Walk the Moon's "Shut Up And Dance With Me" in addition to other songs, a pair of dancers completed a coordinated routine as riders boarded and exited the streetcar vehicles.

By the afternoon, the streetcar celebration was well underway at the many bars and restaurants along the line such as Taft's Ale House. The fifth streetcar, which initially was out of service, was returned to tracks Friday afternoon to handle the demand.

Earl Clark, 93, of Sayler Park, was one of the first people who had a chance to ride the streetcar Friday. Clark was lauded during the ceremony because he was one of the final riders before Cincinnati's streetcar ended operating on April 29, 1951.

Clark is a streetcar enthusiast who has taken trips streetcar and passenger rail systems across the U.S., Europe and Asia. The city invited him to ride in the first car.

"It was so heartening to see the car filled with people anxious for the outcome of the streetcar," Clark said.

Clark was among about people who gathered in Washington Park, but others simply waited at the streetcar's 17 other stops. Each station had dozens of people and getting on a car immediately was difficult in the early afternoon. The cars, which have a capacity of 154 standing and seated passengers each, were often packed.

There were a few complaints, but people were understanding. Metro ran buses to handle the overflow crowds who wanted to follow the streetcar route and make it to certain stops.

Cranley, who rode in the first car, said he enjoyed taking a ride on the streetcar. Earlier in the day, he said he bought a pass.

"It was great to see the renewed beauty of our city," he said.

Heidi Voss, 63, and Gary Voss, 69, of Delhi Township, praised the ride as smoother than the Rapid in Cleveland and less jerky than the New York subway.

"The ride is really, really smooth," said Jean-Francois Flechet, an Over-the-Rhine resident and owner of Taste of Belgium restaurants. "It's a great ride."

Driving through Over-the-Rhine in a car, it's difficult to appreciate the neighborhood, Flechet said. The streetcar helps to see the neighborhood differently, he said. "You have those massive windows up front. It's a new way to look at everything."

Adam Hyland, of Clifton, brought his son Henry, 2, to the first ride. And Henry brought Henry, a toy train and character from the Railway Series books that feature characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine.

"This will be normal for him," Hyland said. "Hopefully, he'll know a time without a streetcar."

Mary Chase, of Colerain Township, brought her husband, daughter, son-in-law and three of their nine grandchildren to Washington Park.

"I thought it would be fun for them to tell their kids one day that they rode the first streetcar," Chase said. They found packed cars for at least an hour, but kept trying.

Chase and her family eventually got on a car at The Banks, a stop so crowded that a transit authority official required that people get off so others could get on.

"We walked on and got seats," Chase said.  "It was crowded, but the ride was very smooth. The kids loved it; we pointed out things along the route. I hope this is something they will remember."

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