Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Oakley committee seeks immediate traffic changes

In anticipation of increased traffic from the Rookwood Exchange and Mercy Health medical office developments in neighboring Norwood, an Oakley committee has produced a list of immediate action items that it hopes the City of Cincinnati will implement.

The list proposed changes to the City's plans to close off Atlantic, Arbor, and Hyde Park avenues at Edwards Road by proposing solutions that result in less loss of property and sidewalk space. It also proposes changes to Millsbrae Avenue, including the elimination of the continuous turn lane from Madison Road, installation of a traffic light at Markbreit Avenue, street calming measures, and the replacement of missing "no parking" signs.

The items are part of a comprehensive traffic plan for the neighborhood, launched in October 2011 and completed in June.
On September 5, a day after a presentation by Oakley Community Council's (OCC) Traffic, Safety, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Friendliness Committee and its unanimous adoption by the full council, OCC President Peter Draugelis sent the list to Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and Councilmember Laure Quinlivan.

It's unclear when that item will be placed on the agenda for the Livable Communities Committee, on which Qualls serves as chair.

When it opens in March 2013, Rookwood Exchange will include a $20 million, 123-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. An additional 40,000 square feet of space will house two stand-alone restaurants and a small building of retail tenants.

The $20 million, 56,000-square-foot Mercy Health Midtown Emergency Medical Building, under construction at Edwards Road and Williams Avenue, is also scheduled to be completed next year.

Previous reading on BC:
Will Allston Street go one-way? (3/3/09)