Overhead Wires


The Cincinnati Bell Connector is powered by an overhead contact system (OCS) that consists of high-voltage wires located 20 feet above the street to prevent contact by anything other than the streetcar vehicles.


IMPORTANT: This is a high-voltage electrical system.

  • For safety’s sake, always assume that the electric is ON.
  • Stay at least 10 feet away from the overhead streetcar wires.
  • In case of emergency, call 911 immediately.


Use extreme caution when doing any of the following along the streetcar route:

  • Deliveries to upper floors of buildings -- using lifts, jacks or other raised-platform equipment
  • Chutes or throwing debris out of windows -- removing construction debris from upper floors of buildings to dumpsters below
  • Scaffolding, ladders, lifts, etc. -- washing windows, painting, roofing or doing other maintenance work
  • Wired equipment on upper floors -- installing cable or satellite television, telecommunications, alarm systems, etc.
  • Front-loading fork trucks -- emptying trash dumpsters
  • Mast antenna -- media trucks:

    You may need a Right-of-Way (ROW) Permit from the City of Cincinnati.  To obtain a ROW Permit from the City or ask permit-related questions, contact:

DOTE ROW Management Office

801 Plum St., Suite 425, Cincinnati, OH 45202

513-352-3463, 513-352-5397 (fax)

Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can find additional information about safety around the overhead wires for the Cincinnati Bell Connector by downloading the following PDF.