Jason Williams

jwilliams@enquirer.com

Mayoral candidate Rob Richardson Jr. has added four intriguing words to his campaign website: "Revive Cincinnati's subway system."

Forward-thinking? Pandering? Unrealistic? Maybe all of the above. Regardless, the progressive Democrat wants to jump start the conversation about what – if any – role Cincinnati's unfinished and abandoned subway system could play in improving one of the nation's worst public transportation systems for connecting people to jobs.

Richardson's campaign hatched the idea based on the fact 75,000 jobs in the region aren't accessible by public transportation, according to a 2015 study by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center. So why not take another look at the 2.2 miles of abandoned subway tunnels underneath Central Parkway?

"The current infrastructure of the tunnel system provides a launching pad for this effort," said Danny O'Connor, Richardson's campaign manager. "We are confident that Cincinnatians are eager for legitimate and substantive investment in a variety of public transit options beyond the squabbling over the streetcar."

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As for paying to resume subway work, well, that's where Richardson is short on details. "Revive Cincinnati's subway system" is the only mention of the subway on the campaign website, thus there's no construction or payment plans.

Construction stopped in 1929 amid rising costs, and it's difficult to determine what a cost to upgrade the tunnels would be, let alone burrowing on. For context, the two-mile Second Avenue Subway that opened in New York City this year cost $4.5 billion.

The Enquirer asked the city about the condition of the tunnels. The city is in the process of answering the question, but spokesman Rocky Merz said the city is "no longer allowing tours due to the deteriorating condition."

Richardson still believes the subway is worth talking about as part of a bigger-picture look at improving the regional public transportation system.

"Rob plans to bring together several different constituencies – something he has always done – to determine how we can properly invest in the infrastructure and resources that are critically needed by thousands of Cincinnati residents," O'Connor said. "The reality, however, is that we will be assuming a $25.1 million budget deficit from the incumbent candidates in this race. Fixing that issue will be our first priority."

Richardson is the underdog in the May 2 primary, and the former University of Cincinnati board chairman is trying to set himself apart from incumbent Mayor John Cranley and City Councilwoman Yvette Simpson. The Mount Auburn resident chaired pro-streetcar campaigns ahead of ballot referendums in 2009 and 2011.

For more on Cincinnati's abandoned subway project, read Enquirer archivist Jeff Suess' story from last summer.