By Ari Bloomekatz
Enquirer staff writer

GREEN TOWNSHIP - Officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation met with a handful of community members Wednesday to discuss installing ramp meters on all eastbound entrances to Interstate 74 between Interstates 75 and 275 in Hamilton County.

Ramp meters are similar to traffic signals and use green and red lights to control traffic flow onto highways.

ODOT proposed the idea last month, but officials said they wanted to hold a public forum before deciding to begin formal design.

"The people that live out here can tell us a lot about recurring traffic issues," said ODOT District 8 Planning Administrator Diana Martin. "We'll probably make a 'go,' 'no-go' (decision) after this public involvement."

Martin said the project would cost between $350,000 and $500,000 and is part of a statewide safety and congestion initiative designed to reduce traffic jams and crashes in the area.

Jerome Wigner, 54, a maintenance technician from White Oak, said he saw a similar system in Portland, Ore., and thought it wouldn't work in Cincinnati.

Wigner said a better plan would be to lengthen acceleration ramps and conduct additional driver education.

Some drivers hoped the meters would create safer highways.

Accidents often delay traffic on I-74 and I-75, and the meters may help reduce crashes, said Mount. Airy resident Dot Lierman. She was also glad the project wouldn't involve a tax increase.

Martin said ODOT will listen to the public's suggestions, but she has not heard an alternative solution better than the meters.

"The test is, 'Is there a suggestion that is more effective than what we've proposed?'" Martin said. She said some of the suggestions have been to increase the speed limit, promote safer driving and to increase travel lanes.

E-mail abloomekatz@enquirer.com