I-Team: Cincinnati's Ghost Station

Unused $48 million dollar transit center few people in Cincinnati even know exists. MMJ report shot, produced, written and edited by Brendan Keefe.

[@GGCanLove409]

2020 and it is still unused. A 50 million dollar parking lot

[@Arkiasis]

In 4 years the city can celebrate 100 years of the subway... oh wait...

[@rails.unlimited]

The Cincinnati metro routes 85 and 90 go through here now. They also use the transit center as a alternative fountain square during big events such as BLINK. It’s also included in the reinventing metro plan for future routes.

[@CincinnatiWatchCompany]

@@rails.unlimited Great to hear!

[@donlove3741]

Nobody parks there

[@brianmoore493]

A slap in the face for taxpayers.

[@ScottMungin]

I remember when the transit center opened. I was an intern at the Cincinnati Post at the time and got the assignment to cover the grand opening. I actually wrote the article they referenced 4:27-4:33

[@OneTyler2Many]

Thats awesome man. Is it still open to the public?

[@phishENchimps]

someone got paid. who did?

[@vegjeezy17]

Scott Mungin no you didnt

[@k.bowers8372]

@WeeStrom CO Guy 48 million

[@amberslilrose3954]

Sure you did

[@Cnw8701]

Wow. Just like their subway system that was never finished.

[@alfredj.bergerjr.2901]

+StarWarsTrains Maybe we could link the two for another $20 million and have an even greater system!

[@Cnw8701]

Alfred J. Berger, Jr. LOL Bum, thug, yuppie, hipster tunnels!

[@michaelcaplinger5115]

StarWarsTrains i have the key for that

[@losh330]

StarWarsTrains I guess Cincinnati doesn't like sticking to stick to ideas.

[@Themediaisajoke]

Nope they worried about that street car that no one uses

[@chefaaron77]

I always thought those stairway entrances on second street went to a parking garage.

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

Some of them do./use the same elevator

[@Nino_J]

They are

[@davepov]

What's interesting to me about this story is, many, many years ago an actual subway was started in downtown Cincinnati. Construction was halted in the 1920's for various reasons and never restarted because of the Depression, WWII and other reasons. However, two miles of subway tunnels still exist in the city and are in very good condition. So, apparently, Cincinnati likes starting big, underground transit projects, just not completing them! Very strange.

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

This city would be so freaking incredible if we had a subway

[@shawnsturgeon1014]

Cincinnati, thank you for wasting tax money while we drive on beat up roads

[@prodigallink]

Thank the DemocRATS you voted into office.

[@shuarose89]

This was 18 years ago. Quit being ignorant on purpose.

[@jmd1743]

Roads always need to be worked on.

[@IICQBII]

its 2021, it still remains largely unused. Cincy has been heavily developing the riverfront over the past decade so maybe the city is waiting for all that to get done before actually doing anything with this but knowing the cities history with driving transit projects into the ground, I don't have much hope :(

[@anthonybanchero3072]

At least with the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, busses used it for 20 years before Light Rapid Transit came along, and joint ops with LRT for another 10.

[@jonvanskaik2191]

They should put the street car down there and cave it in.

[@tubbylover9593]

Correction: they should tow a bunch of cars off the street, put them down there, and blast it.

[@Arkiasis]

1924: Let's build a subway!! 2004: Let's build a sub... bus station?

[@peccatumDei]

So this was posted in 2011, and that little boy is now 19. Those federal funds come with strings, one of which requires repayment if the project isn't completed and put to use. The Pittsburgh Port Authority used federal money at one point to rebuild a tunnel, with plans to build a bridge connecting that tunnel to downtown. The tunnel wound up being use as a bus storage garage for years, until the feds set a deadline. The Port Authority then built a ramp down to West Carson Street, meaning the buses and high occupancy cars that use the tunnel, must use the Smithfield Street Bridge which is over 130 years old, to reach downtown.

[@brettheeley3836]

The intention of this project was good...it had the future in mind. However, it was the stupidity and short-sightedness of Hamilton County voters, who rejected a massive transportation improvement plan, that led to the center being unused. Yep! They approved a sales tax increase to pay for 2 new stadiums along the riverfront with no new public transit improvements. Foolish!

[@DarPower1]

LOL, more unused subways in Cincinnati.

[@HarvestmanMan]

DarPower1 It's not a subway

[@DarPower1]

Subway without the tracks. Cinci. will have an entire underground world of unused infrastructure if this keeps up.

[@DaftPunkFTWProd]

+DarPower1 It's a tunnel, not any sort of subway

[@dalooloo28]

+DarPower1 do you a have link to website about another one?

[@DarPower1]

dalooloo28 The Abandoned Cincinnati subway.

[@vocexseta]

I came here expecting spooky ghosts, damn it.

[@occuponvoix]

might as well let the homeless use it

[@kerryh2096]

tryskel golic yeah since they kicked them out Washington park..

[@Noah-ym3nd]

I’ve always drive past those entrances and always wondered what was down there because there was never anyone going down there and I never heard of cincy having a subway but now I’m mad there’s actually nothing down there

[@MrKokspang]

I drive on 2nd street multiple times a day as a rideshare driver and i always thought them them things was an entrance to a parking garage under the road lol

[@sliderinc1]

Looks like a nice place for homeless to sleep

[@slow71971]

Just what i was thinking.

[@chefaaron77]

Dirty mike and the boys have a weekly soup kitchen down there

[@hobied62]

Absolutely right.

[@blueberrypitbull87]

Jacob Hayward The majority of homeless people are men. We need men's shelters for them. Women get all of the attention. There are plenty of women's shelters. They turn away men. including homeless men who have children. And men who are victims of domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, etc. male victims matter.

[@michelleg4346]

I agree!

[@wrestlersandiego]

Amazing that Cincinnati which has an unfinished subway now has an unused transit center.

[@bartenationalbart-email-na3284]

they waste more money in this town ...

[@jefersonribeiro9913]

this is investiment

[@CSXBoys]

Does Cincinnati use ANYTHING other than buses? I am confused, they screwed up a subway system, and now this.

[@hobied62]

18 month ago we opened a $250 M street car project, I am a fan and it looks good but really 250M for 1.5 Miles.

[@alextsahalis6984]

Derrick Whittle The cost was actually about $150 million and it’s 3.6 miles...just saying. It would have been a lot longer route, but Republican Governor Kasich sabotaged the funding for it by $52 million and the route was significantly shortened.

[@hakeemsd70m]

@M Detlef Are you Cincinnati?? The traffic here is a NIGHTMARE!! More cars and more roads are NOT the answer. America's love affair with hating rail systems is surely coming back to haunt them now...

[@hakeemsd70m]

@M Detlef Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cincy traffic was bad. Like I-75 at rush hour between Western Hills Viaduct and the Hamilton Co Fairgrounds? Or 71/75 between the Ohio state line and Florence?

[@hakeemsd70m]

@M Detlef Hmm...perhaps a midsized city??

[@phildinovo]

Maybe if the city would approve transportation systems that could use it, like light rail... it wouldn't be so unused.

[@phyllisevans3502]

this video says okay but I don't like it

[@mrrobot5963]

It will be soon

[@claudermiller]

this is a perfect compliment to our never opened subway system and may never be finished light rail system!!!!! LOLOLOL cincinnati, can't do!!!!!!!

[@hannlol]

Cincinnati can't into underground

[@PhayzinOut]

Cinci "can't" i

[@jefersonribeiro9913]

he was the best,

[@Saffrondarling]

Never knew about this place until I went to Blink last year

[@henryostman5740]

subways in Cincinnati have a long history of being half built then abandoned. there is several miles of tunnels and several stations that were built during the '30s? and then never completed when the system went from trolleys to busses. In the past year I'm traveled extensively through East Europe and every city I visited including several smaller ones had a working and very popular tram system. In old East Berlin, when the city was unified the West Germans wanted to replace the tram system with an extended subway and the folks living there rejected it in favor of the trams, they are busy and popular all day long. Too bad Cincinnati, you could have had this.

[@Joeybagofdonuts76]

Another 7 years and it's still closed.

[@mikeklaene4359]

I am sure someone made a bunch of money on this. And, as always, the taxpayer comes up on the short end.

[@Ben-ph7pv]

They are afraid to open the bus station because everyone will leave cincinnati and not come back.

[@raymendez4130]

Lmao

[@ricomontoya1562]

I remember there used to be a video on KZbin called "Cincinnati population loss", I heard someone had KZbin take it down.

[@bartenationalbart-email-na3284]

they should make it an indoor sports complex, tennis, skatepark, indoor baseball, ... just paint lines on the ground and let people in. We paid for it. Let us use it.

[@LeonardoDeVinci1452]

Wow I thought my city was good at pissing away money Trace the money and you find the people who created this mess.

[@WilliamHamilton29464]

Seattle has a tunnely like this which works great. However you have to have people in the city above it.

[@iceman629]

Since this report Metro uses this facility for the Metro Plus bus route. It runs 5 days a week from 6am to 10pm.

[@jamesrowe8953]

For realz?

[@KillianDeaton]

How do you get down there?

[@angkarbasil]

An abandoned subway, transit center and trolly. Can this city get ANYTHING done?

[@Andrew-bn7rr]

Transit from the east side would be the most viable first train ride into it. But Cincinnati's history of wasting money on stadiums instead of transit is what 'drove' me to relocate to a bigger more people focused city.

[@mjacobs8139]

Every US city needs light rail. Waiting in highway traffic is NOT it.

[@PaulFisher]

I really don't like the framing of this report. The story isn't one of taxpayer money wasted on a pointless bus station, it's a story of the failure of the city and region to develop a coherent transit system. The so-called "controversial" streetcar that is finally being built is a baby first step, as compared to what the city could have had, had we so many years ago decided that mass transit is something worth having. Otherwise, keeping the facility locked up probably reduces maintenance costs. $45K once is a bargain compared to having to keep a half-mile tunnel clean after public use.

[@stephenyount3148]

Over budget controversial streetcar thats going to lose money? That's the one you're talking about. This was a 48 million dollar scheme where a lot of money money was made. Just like the streetcar....

[@PaulFisher]

Mass transit systems are generally not expected to be profitable. Moreover, the streetcar is expected to deliver several dollars of economic benefit for each dollar spent on it, so I don't think your argument is valid.

[@stephenyount3148]

Paul Fisher streetcar is not a mass transit system it's a novelty that runs around in circles. Unfortunately the taxpayers believed the crap that was told to them by city clowncil and mr. Undercover Boss who never ran or owned a bussiness. Might want to check out Hebron Kentucky an influx of international companies setting up shop. And of course restaurants etc, etc. Someone needs to tell them they need a streetcar.

[@Freshbott2]

Stephen Yount Tell that to Melbourne, Brussels, Antwerp, Vienna. These cities (among many others) that live by their tram networks happen to be among those with the highest quality of life in the world. Melbourne continually tops the list, and has the largest tram network in the world. I'm not saying trams = rainbows and unicorns but these cities succeed because of their ability to get behind new, or have not destroyed their old public systems that allow and encourage prosperity and high living standards. It seems Cincinnati's not at a loss because of the infrastructure's existence, but by the broader American inability to get behind worthwhile developments when it costs a little bit upfront. Oh unless they're freeways for many times the cost. With the exception of the nasty invention of toll roads, roads don't pay for themselves either. People have gotta accept a little bit of tax expenditure is good for everyone, but accepting that reality probably comes under the nono that is 'socialism/communism' 'cause 'MURCA!. Shame Americans who care/know what they're talking about have to put up with this.

[@stephenyount3148]

Bannicus you're comparing apples to oranges. Something that stays within a few neighborhoods is not a transit system. Go down to the bus station or terminal or tunnel or whatever they call it and walk a round you'll feel like you're the last man on earth, because you'll be there all by yourself. Maybe they could put it to good use and make it a homeless shelter, one free obama phone during your visit, I must say, that's a visionary idea .

[@ionceateapinecone]

Just do what Toronto did with Lower Bay Station, rent it out to film companies

[@zudemaster]

This report was in 2011. It is now almost 2020. What is the status of this? Has anything ever been done with it? I seriously doubt it.

[@Andrew-bn7rr]

There were a few DJ/Music events. But nothing transit related that I know of.

[@ohiopower]

Took a party bus to a reds game last year. And got let off down there.

[@rgreed20081]

When the Norfolks Southern Railorad had decided to abandon its right of way, the city of Cincinnati had decided not to tried to go after the right of way. The nearest tracks end very close to Star Bank Arena. My only criticism of the street car project is that it fails to connect to the tracks which can be seen on the edge of Yteman's Cove and Sawyer Park. While the track are only one way, they can still used for the street car, therefore saving money.

[@Odin029]

So is Cincinnati the only city in the world with 2 abandoned subway systems?

[@jeremyrobinson7919]

This isn't the first time this has happened here lol. It's like a curse.

[@JayyJayyTripz]

Yea WTF

[@jnuval]

Sounds more like corruption.

[@Slipperyisimproving]

NGL the station looks rather eerie and creepy. It's probably not haunted but still creepy. The empty station was abandoned before it got a chance.

[@2011Maynard]

I actually parked in the tunnel for a Reds game with family and friends, several years ago while driving a Rental Transit Van. That was for like a minute until they kicked me out 😀....

[@naireland]

No surprise here. I'm still paying for two new stadiums and a banks project and the Freedom Center.

[@cincysilvia8807]

know the feeling

[@falcondriver100]

Not me, I was born & raised in the Nati..... I saw the writing on the wall & got the hell out. Its the next Detroit. FACT! Democrats destroy everything they touch. Cincy is now the third poorest large City in America, only behind Detroit and Buffalo.........

[@cincysilvia8807]

falcondriver100 I want to shake your hand lol

[@stephenyount3148]

And a private restaurant that went belly up....

[@audrey.s.]

Speaking as an unbiased Youth Docent at the Freedom Center, I honestly believe that the Freedom Center is a wonderful place and it is WELL WORTH having to pay for through taxes because of all the really great programs and countless other things that happen there. I'm so glad that the Freedom Center didn't close down when it went through a rough time because it has such an important historical factor for the city of Cincinnati. I've learned a countless amount of history in just the few months of training there - more than I ever learned through my public education. If you haven't been there, I would suggest doing so because you won't regret it. Sorry this is somewhat of a long comment, I tend to write a lot whenever I express my opinions over the internet. ^^' I could go on all day about how important the Freedom Center is and all that, but I would rather save everyone from that long lecture from me..

[@triode1]

Cincinnati is such a kool town….I lived there in 1970-72, the city was complex then, but wonderfully livable and vibrant-a hidden jewel.

[@lauraclosetomyheart]

this is totally ridiculous! the money they have wasted with this underground and tearing up the streets and it's never been used. there are so many homeless people and veterans that need help. people who are starving. and they just keep wasting all of our money all of our taxes and the wear and tear on the automobiles. Are they going to pay us for that damage? when is all of this craziness going to stop?

[@yaboi2451]

Let's do something about it! Do you know how many people could form and benefit from this if we protest it??? We could e-mail eachother and get this thing going in the right direction. How about it?

[@coltonlikestech5906]

At least at the time of this video it was a good way to get around (by walking) that nobody knew about (but now it probably is being used now)

[@johnreynolds9767]

It's the Cincinnati way... what a waste....

[@jefersonribeiro9913]

investiment....

[@davidgam8420]

makes you wonder who they are preparing it for

[@kevinhoward9593]

Turn it into a COVID hospital.

[@dukeblue9999]

Add the streetcar to this. And the council just keeps on rolling with stupid projects. Zero accountability in the city.

[@stephentodesco4965]

The nitwit Governor Kasich is not public transit oriented. He is a supporter of Highway building......

[@davyjones419]

Luke’s opposed the Metro Moves plan that would have put the Riverfront transit center to use.

[@St4rgates]

fallout Shelter :O

[@AndroidSunner]

Literally the Cincinnati Mills of Transit Centers, similar styling too.

[@michaelrief4424]

If the Voters would have approved the Light Rail project then this would be in use for that today. But they turned it down and instead a few years later the Cincinnati voters approved the Streetcar which was actually built and it’s running today. Cincinnati has never been a forward looking area like with the unfinished subway system.

[@readysetsleep]

Is there a follow up 7 years later?

[@basketballspinner]

development does not matter dust to dust ashes to ashes

[@michaeltewes7833]

You can't fix Cincinnati's abuse of taxpayers money. Stadium's , street car , Bengal s practice field and nee music venue to name a few.

[@LumenateTV]

Slap some tarmac down and start sanctioned "underground" street races/car meets that'll generate some revenue.

[@briansawdo6245]

Cincinnati might someday complete their underground projects.

[@rgreed20081]

One of the biggest mistakes involving the streetcar is not connecting it to the existing railroad right of way along the riverfront. Another mistake is focus on Cincinnati not buying the former Norfolk Southern right of way. While the Indiana and Ohio railroad protested against the abandonment of the former NS right of way, the right of way had connected with the same right of way along the riverfront. The streetcar running towards Y., Sawyer Point and Theo. Berry Parks can attract more tourists down to the riverfront. Strangely, Metro had screw up big time by not allowing the No. 1 Bus to continue running between Union Terminal and Eden Park.

[@jranderson183]

I've parked my school bus there when dropping kids off for games at the reds stadium

[@jaworskij]

Turns my stomach to see this unfulfilled dream.

[@lancelangdon7569]

Why not turn this into additional or free parking?

[@zigwald]

we went to tall stacks once. we had to get a bus from GE Evendale to this hole. then walk 1.5 miles to get the bus back.

[@wildkeith]

City counsel needs a wake up call.

[@alexsystems2001]

They got off cheap... moonbeam Brown is spending billions... BILLIONS of California taxpayer dollars on his train project. I think it’s projected to cost $60 billion or more. My tax money is going to that. And so far it’s hundreds of miles away from me and doesn’t help a good majority of California.

[@AAllen-br8it]

"That's *EIGHT* football fields!" :o

[@mijbau]

Rick J-420 thankfully they gave us that reference cuz here in America we have no concept of a half mile long, now if could just give a football field reference I can figure out what 85ft wide is!

[@andykapsar4667]

this is pretty standard forthe city. bengals are the only team in the league with no financial responsibility for their stadium

[@Danny-qk1zn]

Lol on Saint Patrick’s day I got in there. Only one metro bus there, it read it was going to Kenwood.

[@chrisjohnson1416]

Ive actually walked through that whole tunnel... its pretty cool. Shame its not in use

[@raheemharrington6433]

I used to work security there. Lol 5:30 am to 1 it was kinda cool

[@mikemcgahee]

I do security there now 4am to 3pm

[@ki4nge4]

Charles.... You Signed Off on This Cluster Fork.... ? "I Call Shenanigans" !! Shenanigans HAVE Been Called...

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

I'm a new New Yorker even for ya'll, I'm pissed off at your leaders in that city for not continuing the subway there, leaders in some places are a joke.

[@TheSplendidWren]

Add this project on top of the abandoned subway station and you've got massive dollars lost in stupid projects. When will Cincinnati's transit and government learn?

[@corvettez06usa]

Wow what the hell?! I clicked this expecting it was about the abandoned subway project from the early 1900s.

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

If they put the streetcar under there it would literally be like Pittsburghs T train and it would get an incredible amount of people

[@williamerazo1685]

No economic development on the waterfront.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

they need to put light rail track Thu the tunnel !

[@christophhaas7692]

Locked by a Master lock? Excuse while I let myself in. :)

[@drewmullins8532]

WORKED DOWN THERE FOR MONTHS ON END WE ALL NEW IT WAS A JOKE THEN PUT STAIR AND ELEVATORS IN WHAT A JOKE

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

As an engineer, I fucking hate public expenditure on pretty much anything.

[@darrylking2500]

I traveled to Texas a few weeks ago An the Development down there with their Roads, transit, highways just infrastructure in general Puts Cincinnati about 25 years Behind . When they say everything is Big in Texas Boy" they're not lying..

[@leslierogers9290]

Reminds me of a certain abandoned subway

[@PatroniMeiSancti]

This is what happens when gubmint becomes the investor.

[@nakiafeagin6084]

I never knew that was there until metro used one time in my life time and I’m 25. Back in 2019 I was pregnant Cincinnati had that light show . I thought metro was made a wrong turn

[@steverlfs]

There is a bus route that uses it now, the Metro +. It is also used on special events.

[@tomv5988]

Did they really need to make it underground? For one bus stop?

[@michelleg4346]

OMG! Embarrassing for the Cincinnati Leaders.

[@GRNLGHTNNG]

Best place to have motorcycle and car meets.

[@andymurphy8403]

But where do all the tourists that visit Cincinnati park their busses? Must be gridlock on the streets above from all those tour buses!

[@shinebenhavin9419]

Yuuup sure is, every time there is a big event

[@clevelandsmith404]

Set up places for temporary shelters for homeless people ..

[@Peterpiperofthes]

The street car was great also

[@themoviedealers]

This is now being used since their streetcar line opened in 2016.

[@okeanakidd5118]

no its not ?????

[@Shmancyfancy536]

That lady was right though. eventually people will want to commute to work on mass transit and this will be nice to have. There is a big push for a more urban lifestyle so I see this as a visionary project. Then was the time to do it.

[@jeffbullock1173]

Thing is they didn't really go deep enough. This is city Graft, who benefited from the construction? How were the contractors chosen for the projects and who decided to sign off on this project?

[@mrrobot5963]

I thought Toronto politicians were bad but these people really screwed up here. And in return, got a streetcar to nowhere. Thank God a commuter rail system is actually gonna use it soon

[@edisonsun21c]

Hey we have a great zoo!

[@Deathtofrogleghorn]

Welcome to Ohio-we always have two things that don't go together or a bunch of unfinished business.

[@jonathanstensberg]

*Builds huge central station for mass transit* *Refuses to build mass transit* *Outraged there's no mass transit using the station*

[@redstonerelic]

2-1 voted down! gotta love it

[@jmellon766]

They are not showing you the other half; the thing is full of militarized police crowd control toys.