Saturday, November 06, 1999
ODOT gives more to transit center
$4.1M addition lessens city's loan
BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Ohio Department of Transportation is kicking another $4.1 million into the $38 million Riverfront Transit Center.
Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Gordon Proctor made the surprise announcement of the additional $4.1 million at a transit center groundbreaking ceremony Friday.
ODOT had already pledged $26.5 million for the transit center, a two-tiered new Second Street on Cincinnati's central riverfront that will accommodate cars, buses and potentially electric-powered light rail and diesel-powered commuter rail.
The new state money will reduce Cincinnati's $10 million loan from ODOT for the project to $5.9 million.
“We work with many large capital projects and I've never seen a team pull together this big a project in such a short period of time,” Mr. Proctor said as the ground shook from pile drivers working on Fort Washington Way, immediately north of the new transit center.
Fourteen months ago, a transit center wasn't a part of Cincinnati's riverfront rebirth — two new stadiums, safer downtown expressway and the new National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
But transportation officials realized buses will lose their place to line up to carry big riverfront crowds when the plaza at Cinergy Field is torn down to make room for the new Reds ballpark. They came up with the idea to make Second Street two levels.
Construction is under way. The top level of Second Street, for cars and potentially light rail, is scheduled to open in August 2000 when the new Paul Brown Stadium opens. The lower half of Second Street, where buses will drop off and pick up passengers, should open in 2001.
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