Transportation Needs

The Eastern Corridor Program was developed to address needs in the Eastern Corridor transportation network. The network is characterized by heavy congestion, delays during peak travel times and high accident rates. A number of important underlying issues contribute to these transportation problems:

INADEQUATE CAPACITY ON EXISTING ROADWAY NETWORK

  • Many key routes are two lanes and have not been substantially improved in more than 50 years
  • Current traffic volumes exceed the capacity for which the roads were designed
  • Current congestion, traffic delays and hazardous driving conditions are expected to worsen over time due to increased traffic volumes

POOR CONNECTIVITY, INDIRECT ROUTES

  • Poor connectivity forces traffic onto I-275 to reach I-71 and I-75 or to use I-471 to get to downtown Cincinnati
  • The Little Miami River forms a physical barrier; the existing four bridges over the river are pinch points for east-west travel
  • Indirect travel routes and limited east-west access adds to congestion, delays, miles traveled, fuel consumed and poor air quality
  • Autos/trucks account for 99% of Eastern Corridor travel
  • Rail transit is currently not available
  • Bus transit is limited to a few key routes
  • Existing bike facilities do not provide a fully functional transportation option for commuters

INEFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES, LIMITED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

  • Truck traffic is compromised by delays and poor connectivity, resulting in the inefficient movement of goods and services
  • Inefficient transportation framework is isolating economic centers from regional, state and national trade flows
  • The economic value and equity of the region is compromised, compared to more efficiently connected metropolitan areas

Additional details about the Eastern Corridor’s transportation needs were documented in the 2004 Eastern Corridor Tier 1 Draft EIS. In 2017, ODOT completed a Transportation Needs Analysis for Segments II and III of the Eastern Corridor (Red Bank Corridor to the I-275/SR 32 Interchange). The results of this analysis are now being used to plan improvements throughout the central portion of the Eastern Corridor region.