Cincinnati Subway

The Cincinnati Subway is a partially completed rapid transit system in Cincinnati, Ohio, planned as an upgrade to the Cincinnati streetcar system. 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of tracks were constructed, of which a slightly more than 2 miles (3.2 km) remain today, after sections were demolished for various projects. The remaining derelict tunnels and stations make up the largest abandoned subway tunnel system in the United States. Construction began in the early 1900s, but was abandoned primarily due to escalating costs as a result of World War I and the Great Depression. Other contributing factors include collapse of funding amidst political bickering and the auto industry lobbying against public transit projects. The construction of the subway system was indefinitely canceled in 1928 and there are no plans to revive the original project. Numerous efforts and proposals have been made since the 1930s to repurpose the existing tunnels for other transportation projects, infrastructure, storage facilities, and commercial or community hubs.