Tuesday, June 15, 1999
State recommends 12th St. plan
2-lane road would level businesses
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — After years of debate, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has recommended that 12th Street be widened to a two-lane, tree-lined boulevard between Interstate 75 and Scott Boulevard.
The $12.8 million project — which calls for leveling homes and businesses along the south side of the street — would create a road with on-street parking and a center raised median, said Charles Raymer, deputy state highway engineer for project development.
“Based on the environmental work we have done to date, and based on the recommendations made at a public hearing, we have recommended that the project be advanced using Alternate E,” Mr. Raymer said Monday. “... That recommendation has been forwarded to our environmental consultant, who is incorporating it into our environmental impact document.”
Opponents say they won't stop their attempts to promote a compromise.
“Obviously, I wouldn't be happy if that's what they chose, but until they actually come through and do it, it's not a done deal,” said Connie Hammonds of Citizens United to Re-Think 12th. “Things can happen.”
Alternate E, one of four options the state considered, calls for a two-lane boulevard with a 44-foot-wide median.
The plan also provides space along the south side for light-rail train tracks as part of a system that has been proposed to run from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Paramount's Kings Island.
Mrs. Hammonds, whose husband, George, opened Hammonds Service Center at 12th and Russell streets 27 years ago, said her family's business would be among those displaced.
“It's putting a lot of employees out of work and a lot of people out of their homes for what?” she said.
“We wanted to work with the state and come up with something that could achieve all the goals — their goals and our goals — and not put all of these people out of work. But for some reason, they felt they had to put the 44-foot median in.”
The improvements are mainly to address traffic flow and safety issues, said Mr. Raymer and Joe Kearnes, the state Transportation Cabinet's chief district engineer for Northern Kentucky.
“A secondary concern is that this is an opportunity to enhance the appearance of this entrance into downtown Covington,” Mr. Raymer said.
Once the Federal Highway Administration approves the final environmental document, it will be about two years before construction begins, Mr. Raymer said.
Tom Steidel, Covington assistant city manager, said city commissioners “by and large” have been pleased with Alter nate E, but are interested in having a say in some of the plan's details, such as the handling of right of way.
“I'm glad that's what they went with, because that's what the Covington Business Council and a majority of the business people approved of,” Commissioner Jerry Bamberger said of the state's plan. “I guess now I'd like to see the state let the city and the people in the area work with them on what we would like to see along that corridor.”
Commissioners Butch Callery and Jim Eggemeier said they generally support the state's plan, but would like to make some modifications.
Mr. Callery said he would like to “eliminate the taking of some of the buildings,” if possible, while Mr. Eggemeier supported putting a landscaped earthen birm along the south side of the street instead of a wall, and keeping a couple of side streets open that the state has proposed closing.
Mr. Eggemeier also wants the city to rezone the 12th Street corridor to avoid a proliferation of gas stations and fast-food restaurants along the street.
Mayor is opposed
Covington Mayor Denny Bowman, a long-time critic of an extensive widening plan for 12th Street, called the state's plan “a waste of taxpayers' money.”
“We don't have a traffic problem down there,” Mr. Bowman said. “They're spending $13 million to just keep the same two lanes, and we'll lose eight good businesses in our city.”
Commissioner J.T. Spence said he was disappointed, but not surprised, by Frankfort's decision.
“In my opinion, the state had every intention of going with Alternate E since 1988, and the public didn't have anything to say about it,” Mr. Spence said. “It's unfortunate that this project was planned without the participation of the community.”
Mr. Spence, a former Covington city planner, also questioned the motives for the widening.
“By tearing down 70 structures and dislocating three businesses in our city, someone driving from I-75 to Madison Avenue might save 15 seconds,” Mr. Spence said. “How could anyone argue legitimately that it's worth $13 million to save half a minute?”
Mr. Spence said he thinks the focus should be on developing an economic development plan for Madison Avenue, rather than widening 12th Street.
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