GHOST TRACKS

Now that the tenants have started moving in and the crews have removed the detours on Fourth Street, does anyone know the timeline for completing the exterior renovation and lighting the tower? I was curious since the scaffolding is still on the "temple" and the colonnaded section below the roof level pyramid. Illuminating the building could be a selling point for garnering interest from prospective tenants, with all other conversions going on downtown. The building will stand out from the south if the lighting is well done.

What is the status of the Corridor ID study for the 3C^D corridor or the DET-TOLD-CLE corridors? I thought the first phase of those was supposed to be Completed this spring, but have not heard much about the next steps

Are there any renderings for the 6th Street façade of the Convention Center? Contractors removed a portion of the corner façade, but much of the block still has the 1988 stone panels remaining at this point. I don't recall seeing anything on that side. Also, has anyone heard of possible development proposals for the vacant lot on the NE corner of 6th and Elm at the old Moore's Fitness location?

Does anyone know when the hotel is scheduled to open?

The KYTC detour map for the Riverfront Commons shows it routed along Rivercenter Blvd between Madison and Johnson for the next 5 years Isn't the City going to close down at least temporarily for construction of the next phase of work on the Central Riverfront Street Grid work and the Garage south of the floodwall? Seems like the detour should be along the relocated 3rd Street in that area unless that also would be impacted by construction.

I believe that P&W and MKSK will be looking at the proforma and financing that make sense for any type of development at the vacant blocks adjacent to the Bengals stadium. Obviously, the market demand for office, retail, or housing has not been there to make the numbers work under the current lot restrictions for the past 25 years. The county study is more than an urban design exercise for those blocks. I think the scope is to make recommendations on the anticipated market demand and what changes in the current zoning, stadium lease, or other myraid of controls should change. The irregular shape, floodplain, and surrounding uses at the banks, the stadium, as well as the highways all play a part in the challenges to make the cost-benefit pencil out without major subsidies that the County, Bengals or private developers do not want to shoulder

I believe that ODOT has control of the property on the Riverfront for the reconstruction of I-75 and interchanges. Everything west of the Clay Wade Baily and north of Pete Rose Way to Elm will be demolished and reconstructed. I don't believe the Brent Spence design is accommodating any changes to the existing street grid south of Third Street including moving Merhing Way as proposed by the MSA plan last year.

The space between the Brent Spence and Clay Wade Bailly Bridges will continue to be occupied by the training bubble which is the majority of the rendering. The funding in this contract would likley only pay for grading the site east of the CWB, and putting down some asphalt and extending the Ohio River trail along Mehring Way mimicing the conditions along Lot E south of Paycor. Parking north of Mehring Way will remain as is.

Of course, the convention center will reopen just as the I-75 reconstruction gets underway disrupting access to the west side of downtown.

You know that had to be coming. I am surprised it took the new administration this long to target Amtrak given the effort to eradicate most priorities from the Biden Administration. I wonder if the new Corridor ID program studies will stop where they are and federal funding dries up for passenger rail leaving passenger rail with the possible exception of the NE Corridor to the states.

DOT has released new guidance on project funding parameters. https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2025-01/Signed DOT Order re_Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in Department of Transportation Policies Programs and Activities.pdf

Saw that SORTA is finally seeking bids for the rail property in Blue Ash it bought in the 1990s' for the 2002 Metro Moves LRT.

See the attached memo from OMB on funding pause

While detouring across the Taylor Southgate Bridge over the past month I have noticed how much the paint on the truss has deteriorated especially on the southern end. There are large areas where the paint has failed and there are exposed rusted areas of bare steel. While not a structural problem it looks like a case of neglect and provides a sad gateway to and from Newport. I wonder if KCTC will paint the bridge after the I-471 detours are done but before traffic gets worse from the Brent Spence traffic detours. Visitors to the area for the planned River Festival in October 2025 will have a poor impression when we cannot complete maintenance in the heart our riverfront. I don't think the bridge has been repainted since it was constructed in the 1990's.

It is my understanding that ODOT has been working with the City and indirectly the Chamber to accomodate a new arena on the NW corner of 3rd and Central. The fourth street ramp will be removed as will the existing overhead ramps from 2nd and 3rd. A new bridge will be constructed across the north side of the site linking 5th and Gest. Access from 2nd and 3rd will be shifted to the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge at 3rd. This will all be largely completed in the next 3-4 years.

While the public subsidy for the arena and operations remains the primary challenge, I believe the development site west of Central between 3rd and 5th will be available for construction to be at least be underway by 2029. It is my understanding that ODOT and the City are working to remove the ramps to and from 2nd and 3rd from the site and routing the access to the riverfront from I-75 to intersections at the Clay Wade Bailey opening up even more property than shown in the MSA study. The other plus is the land is essentially available at no cost. I think it would be at least 3-4 years for design and financing before shovels are in the ground for most sites so I would not discount the Convention Center location. Work on the BSB will be underway in 2025.

the FRA hss announced that ORDC's Cincinnati Area Railroad Congestion Study will receive $2M for the study starting next year. This was the second time around for ORDC to apply the funding. While not directly for passenger rail the study will be important to convince CSX and NS to accomodate the 3C&D Corridor to service Union Terminal or other station site.

Any news when KYTC are going to release updated designs for the new river crossing? The DOT's have been working on the project for over a year and still showing the concepts dating from 2012. Arch or Cable Stayed?

The complete closure of I-471 through Campbell County to I-275 seems like overkill especially for SB traffic from Newport, Fort Thomas looking to go south away from the River to access I-275 or southern parts of the County. I have heard complaints all day about delays accessing Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Fort Thomas due to the congestion in the area because of the shut downs at US-27 Grant and Memorial Parkway. These areas should not be heavily impacted by the closure of the Ohio Bridge approaches.

I am somewhat surprised that MSA did not attempt to incorporate the changes to I-75, Clay Wade Bailey, and the surrounding street grid that are coming from the BSB work. That whole area will be under construction for the next 7 years.

Even if they put in a series of concrete walls and armor rock I can still see this area being scoured out over time during high water and getting filled with sediment and drift. I do think a kayak access is a good idea in theory however without easy access from vehicles as shown, it would be easier to launch from public landing or other ramps where the grades are easier and you can pull up close to the water. What happened to the planned Marina for Smale? Would be nice to have kayak access to the Millcreek south of the concrete channelized section.

Did they release a plan view of the proposed changes? It is not clear from the renderings how the street grid will change west of the stadium. The views do not appear to include the pending changes from the new I-75 work.

Any news when renderings for the new river bridge will be released? I think the design work has been underway for almost a year now but has been quiet other than some revisions to the prior plans to incorporate selected concepts from Bridge Forward on the west side of the CBD.

Access to the RTC from the west (Central Ave) will be closed off for an extended period while the overhead bridge structures for the Brent Spence project will be demolished and replaced over the next few years. Not sure that work will be completed before SORTA intends to start BRT operations. Everything south of third and west of Elm will be demolished and replaced over the next 5-6 years.

ORDC consultant info is posted on ODOT's procurement website. See the following: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/working/engineering/consultant-services/selection-and-reports/completed-selections/06-28-24-selection