Columbia Connector Trail (PID 114496 and PID 114497)
Columbia Connector Trail (PID 114496 and PID 114497)
Great Parks of Hamilton County (Great Parks), Columbia Township, and the Village of Mariemont, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), are proposing to complete a shared-use path, the Columbia Connector trail, to link the existing Little Miami Scenic Trail (LMST) to the future Mariemont Connector trail at Pocahontas Avenue.
Public involvement is an important part of the development of this connection project and input from the community will help guide decision-making. ODOT’s goal for this virtual Public Open House is to share information about the project and gather your feedback regarding the alternatives under consideration.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS OPEN HOUSE IS NOW CLOSED. HOWEVER, THE INFORMATON SHARED, QUESTIONS ASKED, AND RESPONSES RECEIVED ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW.
HOW THIS VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE WORKS
This site is a self-guided tour through a series of tabs that highlight key information about the proposed shared-use path connection and the proposed route alternatives. Opportunities are provided on each tab for you to share your thoughts. Your comments will be visible for others in the community to see as well, unless you opt to hide your comments by clicking on the associated toggle. This Virtual Open House will be open for comment 24 hours a day through December 2, 2022. Visit as often as you'd like and please share it with your friends and neighbors.
Begin by reviewing the OVERVIEW discussion in the section below. To advance between tabs, click on the green CONTINUE button located at the bottom of each page. You can also move between pages by clicking the tabs located at the top of the discussion section. If you would like to view larger versions of any of the images or charts, simply click on them. Copies of project materials and related reports are posted under the DOCUMENTS section, located on the right-hand side of the screen.
If you need interpretation or translation services or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this Virtual Open House, review materials, or provide comment, please contact Taylor Webster, E.I., Environmental Project Manager, at (513) 933-6597 or Taylor.Webster@dot.ohio.gov.
In recent years, ODOT has conducted comprehensive transportation analyses and gathered extensive public input regarding transportation improvements needed to make travel safer and easier through Segments II and III of Greater Cincinnati’s Eastern Corridor region. This area includes the Village of Mariemont, portions of Columbia Township and the Village of Newtown. More information about the Eastern Corridor Program and Segments II and III is provided on the last tab of this Open House.
Among the many recommendations that came out of these Eastern Corridor study efforts was the concept of constructing a shared-use path to make travel safer and easier for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling between residential areas in Mariemont and Columbia Township and the Little Miami Scenic Trail (LMST), as well as going to businesses along US 50/Wooster Pike, particularly those on the south side of the road.
A shared-use path is a paved trail specifically designed for pedestrians and bicyclists and is physically separated from vehicular traffic. Above is a picture of the shared-use path near Lunken Airport (source: Cincinnati-oh.gov).
Great Parks, Columbia Township and Mariemont have partnered with ODOT to manage project development and construction for this shared-use path connection. ODOT recently conducted a Feasibility Study for the proposed shared-use path, which identified and evaluated several route alternatives. Now, we are sharing the draft Feasibility Study with you for review and input before it’s finalized. The feedback you share is important and will be used to help guide the selection of a preferred route alternative that will be advanced for further design development and construction.
To ensure your comments are considered during this alternative review process, we request that they be submitted by December 2, 2022. You can share comments through this website, at the November 3 meeting, or using one of these other options:
Email: Stephanie.Otten@dot.ohio.gov
Phone: (513) 933-6584
Mail: Attn: Stephanie Otten, P.E.
ODOT District 8
505 South State Route 741
Lebanon, OH 45036
PROJECT CONTACT
Stephanie Otten, P.E., Project Manager
ODOT District 8
505 South State Route 741
Lebanon, OH 45036
513.933.6584
Stephanie.Otten@dot.ohio.gov
ACCESS ASSISTANCE
We want to ensure that everyone has equal opportunity to review project information, provide comment, and ask questions. If anyone has difficulty accessing the online virtual Open House, we will email or mail copies of the meeting materials and exhibits, or can discuss them by phone or in person. Requests for these alternate review methods can be submitted to Taylor Webster using one of the following methods:
Mail
Taylor Webster
Environmental Project Manager
505 South State Route 741
Lebanon, OH 45036
Phone
513.933.6597
TIMELINE
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by ODOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 14, 2020 and executed by FHWA and ODOT. For more information, please visit ODOT’s NEPA Assignment Portal by clicking here.