Thursday, May 28, 2009

Cincinnati says 'yes' to Ohio River Trail funds

If $1.75 million in federal economic stimulus funding comes to Cincinnati for the Ohio River Trail, the City will gladly accept it.

Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to accept any federal funding, to create a capital grant project account, and to enter into a local public agency agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the $2.3 million trail segment linking Wilmer Avenue and Carrel Street in the East End, which could now begin as soon as fall 2009.

The City's Department of Transportation and Engineering would fund the remainder of the project from its capital improvement program project accounts.

In addition to the trail surface, construction would also include a controlled trail crossing at Wilmer Avenue and Airport Road, the remodeling and remediation of an abandoned freight transfer terminal and railroad tracks, landscaping, and trail parking.

As envisioned, the Ohio River Trail would connect Downtown with the Little Miami Scenic Trail, and eventually to Lake Erie.

Photo credit: "bike trail" by Robert Couse-Baker, courtesy of Flickr.

Previous reading on BC:
Stimulus funds could go to Ohio River Trail (5/20/09)
Planning begins to connect Ohio River Trail to Little Miami (11/12/08)
Cincinnati council supports Ohio River Trail (3/19/08)
City seeking comments for river trail funds (11/16/07)
Ohio River Trail: Three alternatives (5/18/07)