Cincinnati Streetcar Live-Power Testing Goes Full Speed Ahead
Dozens of Cincinnatians stood along the streetcar route this past week waiting to catch a glimpse of Cincinnati’s first streetcar since 1951 rolling along the tracks on its own power.
Crews for the Cincinnati Streetcar conducted live-power testing along the 1.6-mile Over-the-Rhine portion of the loop. The live-power test took place after a successful dead-pull test of the entire 3.6-mile route shortly after the vehicle’s much celebrated arrival in Cincinnati on Oct. 30.
During the testing, engineers checked and measured the streetcar’s energy consumption, as well as how the traction power substation supplied power via the overhead wire.
The test also marks the beginning of new transportation infrastructure for Cincinnati motorists and pedestrians to navigate, which is why Cincinnati Metro has been actively promoting its “Be Streetcar Safe” messaging, which includes five safety tips:
- Look and listen… don’t cross in front of a moving streetcar
- Step over the tracks; walk your bike or cross at a right angle
- Don’t walk, run or play along the streetcar tracks
- Stay clear of the poles, overhead high-voltage electric wires, and power stations
- Park within the white painted lines along the track area and look before opening your door
