Wednesday, June 30, 1999
Second St. design unveiled
Two-tiered center has room for buses, rail
BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Model of two-tiered Second Street design, which could accomodate cars, buses and a light-rail system.
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Greater Cincinnatians now can see what it will be like to get from a bus to a car to potentially light rail via a short escalator or elevator ride.
Members of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) Tuesday got the first look at designs for a new two-tiered Second Street.
The center, which will run between Elm and Main streets directly south of the reconstructed Fort Washington Way, was originally pitched as a place to put a large number of buses during events. After Cinergy Field is torn down to make room for the new Reds ballpark, buses won't have a place to park on the riverfront.
But transportation leaders saw the chance to build something that would accommodate more than just buses.
The new two-tiered Second Street is designed to accommodate cars and, potentially, electric-powered light rail on the top. Diesel-powered commuter rail could eventually run together with buses on the lower level.
Among some of the features:
• Glass-covered stairway openings for pedestrians on the top level, in each block between Elm and Race streets, Race and Vine, Vine and Walnut and Walnut and Main, to the bottom level.
• Elevators and wheelchair access between levels.
• About 40 “saw-tooth” bus slots that allow buses to easily pull in and out and access Interstates 75, 71, 471 and U.S. 50.
Construction on the $26.5 million project should begin in October. Second Street already was scheduled for an overhaul as part of the Fort Washington Way project, which stretches from the Interstate 71-75 Brent Spence Bridge through the Lytle Tunnel.
The top level of Second Street is scheduled to open in August 2000 when the new Paul Brown Stadium and reconstructed Fort Washington Way are expected to open. The lower half of Second Street should open in 2001.
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