Mt. Washington board to see Beechmont plans

Conceptual plans and costs for Beechmont Avenue traffic calming measures will be presented to the Mount Washington Community Council (MWCC) board of directors this evening at 7 PM.

Since December, multiple City departments have worked together to collect data on traffic counts and the effects of installing landscaped medians, street trees, and bicycle lanes along the stretch of road between Elstun Road and Burney Lane.

E-mails and other communications from residents also will be discussed.

A presentation of options to the community is tentatively scheduled for March.

The MWCC has been pushing for traffic calming along Beechmont Avenue since a 2004 Ohio Department of Transportation widening project, which has led to a steady increase in traffic speeds and the lack of pedestrian-friendliness in the neighborhood business district.

Some respondents to a neighborhood survey, mostly non-residents, have voiced their opposition to the project, saying that it will increase commute times to and from communities to the east of Cincinnati.

But last month, the MWCC board bolstered their request for traffic calming in a letter to Cincinnati City Council that included the survey results to highlight widepread resident support.

Previous reading on BC:
MWCC: Don't let a few negative comments outweigh desires of community (1/12/09)
Resident: Traffic calming on Beechmont a 'joke' (12/17/08)
MWCC releases Beechmont Street Improvement Survey (10/24/08)
Mount Washington rezonings seek compact, pedestrian-friendly development (9/18/08)