Funding for Cincinnati Central Parkway overhaul advances in Congress

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Money for a European-style overhaul of Central Parkway is included in a key appropriations bill advancing through the U.S. House, along with nearly $13 million for other projects.

The Central Parkway project is set to get $3.5 million if the House and Senate approve the bill.

“It’s a remarkable project and one that I think will fundamentally transform in a really exciting way that part of Over-the-Rhine to the extent I believe it will be postcard worthy,” Landsman, a Mount Washington Democrat, told the Business Courier. “It will become an iconic experience for people and just bring a lot of economic development to that area.”

Landsman had asked for $5 million for the project.

The Courier detailed the plan to beautify Central Parkway in a 2021 cover story. More than a century ago, Cincinnati planners envisioned Central Parkway as a striking, tree-lined promenade to replace the dirty, antiquated Miami-Erie Canal. A group of citizens and business owners want to revive the vision of Cincinnati having its own version of Paris’ Avenue des Champs-Elysees or Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue, making it an attractive pedestrian-centered mecca primed for development. The cost estimate in 2021 was $20 million.

“If there are benches and a shelter and there’s signage people are much more inclined to utilize the service. It reinforces that this is a real transit system. For way too many stops, it’s just a little sign,” Landsman said.

The legislation must clear both the House Appropriations Committee and the full House before heading to the Senate. Given that Democrats control the Senate and Republicans control the House, appropriations bills likely will change as it moves through the process.

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2023/07/18/central-parkway-advances-us-congress.html

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