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First streetcar rail installed as construction continues

Public officials and residents who support the Cincinnati streetcar project gathered in front of Music Hall on Elm Street Tuesday as the first pieces of track were put into place.  The unloading and installation will continue many times for the next 2 years.  

Mayor Mark Mallory said it's a big deal.

"This project has come a long way, we've had a lot of obstacles, we've had some crazy opposition," Mallory said.  "But this is the project that will not stop."

The $133 million project is scheduled to be operating for passengers in September 2016.

Cincinnati Mayoral candidate John Cranley said in a statement "to lay track for a project that can’t be completed for three years-- right before an election that will serve as a referendum on the project-- is a slap in face to the voters."  He's pledged to stop the streetcar if he's elected next month.  

His opponent, Roxanne Qualls, supports the plan and has said she'll lobby federal officials for additional funding to extend it to the Uptown area near the University of Cincinnati.
 

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.