Cincinnati Streetcar to Begin ‘Pre-Revenue Service' on Aug. 7

Streetcar operating regular schedule with no passengers

CINCINNATI – Beginning Sunday, Aug. 7, the Cincinnati Streetcar will take the next step in preparing to provide service to the public, operating what is known as “pre-revenue service” until the grand opening on Friday, Sept. 9. The Cincinnati Streetcar is not yet certified to carry passengers.

The pre-revenue service period gives the streetcar operating and maintenance team experience operating as if the streetcar were already in service, but with no passengers on board.  This is the time to work out any issues that arise and make changes before service begins Sept. 9: 

• Streetcars will operate on the regular daily schedule with service every 12-15 minutes: 
  • Monday-Thursday:          6:30 a.m. to midnight
  • Friday:                              6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Saturday:                          8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
  • Sunday:                            9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Maintenance employees will service and clean the streetcars as they will after service to the public begins
• All behind-the-scenes operations such as dispatching and supervision will also be fully functioning

It’s important that the streetcars be able to operate the route with no interruptions or delays during the pre-revenue service period and after service begins. 

IMPORTANT:  The City of Cincinnati will enforce all traffic ordinances that affect the streetcar. Vehicles that are parked on the streetcar tracks or that in any way impede the streetcar will be fined and towed, at a cost of $50 to $140.

Some important safety tips for motorists and pedestrians around the streetcar:

• DO NOT board the streetcar even if the doors open at a station
• Motorists are not permitted on Henry Street between Elm and Race streets (near Rhinegeist). Henry is permanently closed to traffic. Use McMicken instead.
• Do not drive in posted “transit only” lanes, designated by signs and diagonal white lines. It is illegal to drive in these lanes.
• Motorists should not go around or cut off the streetcar. This is illegal and dangerous. The streetcar can start moving unexpectedly. If a streetcar is stopped for an extended period of time due to an interruption, it will turn on hazard lights (four-way flashers), indicating that is OK to go around it.
• Pedestrians should exercise extra caution around the streetcar.  Even at posted un-signalized crosswalks, the streetcar has a greater stopping distance than other traffic.

Streetcar safety videos are available at http://bit.ly/2avvhHM.