Eastern Corridor article from the Enquirer

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:41 pm

Eastern Corridor project gives commuters options
BY STEVE KEMME | SKEMME@ENQUIRER.COM

The agency overseeing a proposed long-term expansion of bus, rail, bicycle and highway transportation along the eastern corridor of Hamilton County into Clermont County has authorized studies to be conducted that will reduce the number of route alternatives.

The Hamilton County Transportation Improvement District (TID) agreed this week to allow the county to negotiate contracts for these studies with ENRAN, the project consultant.

The new studies will focus on areas in Anderson and Columbia townships and in Cincinnati's riverfront rail area in the vicinity of Pete Rose Way, said Ted Hubbard, Hamilton County's chief deputy engineer.

"They will help us narrow our set of alternative alignments," he said. "Right now, we have multiple possible routes all over the place."

Plans for the $1.4 billion Eastern Corridor project, a multimodal system that would connect Interstate 71 and Clermont County, has been in the works for 12 years. There is no set timetable for carrying out this project.

Seasonal environmental studies will be conducted in Anderson and Columbia townships, where the rail and highway routes overlap.

"We want to get a clearer picture of what the preferred alternative alignment might be," Hubbard said.

With gas prices soaring, the Eastern Corridor project takes on an added importance for commuters, he said.

"It gives people a choice in the mode of transportation and in the types of energy we utilize," Hubbard said.

This article appeared in the May 21st 2008 Cincinnati Enquirer

Fine Citizen Joined: Jun 03, 2007 Posts: 69

I have the creepy feeling that Newtown is going to get a real good screwing over on this corridor project.