For many, capping Cincinnati’s Fort Washington Way may still feel like a pipe dream. But a recent $25 million award from the federal government means it’s really happening − and on a deadline.
Sen. Jon Husted, U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and other local leaders gathered July 8 to celebrate the U.S. Department of Transportation grant to design and build a 1.2-acre highway cap between Vine and Walnut streets. The project is just one of four in Ohio to receive money from the department’s BUILD grant program, which doles out funds for infrastructure projects.
The Enquirer previously reported that phase one construction could begin on the caps as soon as spring 2028 and wrap up by late fall 2029.
According to the federal grant application, Hamilton County has built extra time into the project schedule and plans to spend the grant money by fiscal year 2030. The application was put together by The Banks Public Partnership, the city of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber.
“I know as public officials we have the responsibility to make sure this gets delivered on time and on budget,” said Husted, who helped secure the grant. “Everybody involved with that, let’s get it done and make sure we spend the tax dollars that have been given to this project wisely and efficiently.”
Next steps for this decades-long vision
An additional $25 million in local matching funds must be secured to move forward with construction.
It isn’t clear where that funding might come from, though the grant application specified it could be assembled via state funding, local tax increment financing, Cincinnati Parks grants, a sales tax levy or private fundraising.
A Wednesday’s press conference, Pureval and Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas said they will be proactive and remain committed to finding the money because capping Fort Washington Way has been a top priority for decades. This is the county’s fourth attempt to get federal dollars.
“Our city leaders both public and private had the foresight to bury Fort Washington Way,” Pureval said. “Because of that belief that we would get this done, we now have the opportunity to complete a beautiful central park in the middle of our urban core that is emblematic of our partnerships, both public and private, and also emblematic of the public service leaders that came before us.”
Phase one design work, environmental documentation and community engagement are expected to begin soon, though a detailed timeline has not been established.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: $25M grant puts Fort Washington Way cap on deadline
Reporting by Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
