UPTOWN CONSORTIUM, INC.

629 Oak Street

Suite 306
Cincinnati, O H 45206
office: 513.861.8726
fax: 513.861.1902
www.uptow ncincinnati.com

May 4, 2015

Mayor John Cranley

Vice Mayor David Mann
President Pro Tem Yvette Simpson
Council Member Kevin Flynn
Council Member Amy Murray
Council Member Chris Seelbach
Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld
Council Member Chris Smitherman
Council Member Charlie Winburn
Council Member Wendell Young
Re: Connector Bridge to Central Parkway
Dear Mayor and Members of City Council:
We are writing to you today to express our support for the effort currently underway to improve
access to Cincinnati State by building a new connector bridge to Central Parkway. As you are
aware, direct access to the Cincinnati State campus from I-74 will be eliminated as part of the I-75/I74 improvement project. Cincinnati State plays a critical role in our community and maintaining ease
of access to and from campus for their students by building this bridge is of critical importance.
We are also concerned about the impact on traffic congestion in Uptown. Loss of key access from I74 at Central Parkway will increase congestion along Hopple Street, Martin Luther King Drive, and
Central Parkway. The completed project access point into Uptown would distribute the traffic load in
an optimal manner. For that reason, we also urge you to help ensure that the Hopple Street
interchange is completed and fully functional as scheduled. Hopple Street is a critical access point
for visitors coming into Uptown, including emergency vehicles. Approximately 50,000 vehicles use
the Hopple Street interchange daily.
The Uptown Consortium urges you to support this project and the application for a TIGER grant as
well as the Administrations funding for the project in the Citys Capital budget.
We appreciate your consideration.

Cincinnati Children 's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden TriHealth, Inc. UC Health University of Cincinnati

Mayor and Members of City Council

Page 2

Sincerely,

_____________________________
John Prout

_____________________________
Michael Fisher

_____________________________
Santa Ono

_____________________________
Richard Lofgren

_____________________________
Thane Maynard

cc: City Manager Harry Black

Dr. Odell Owens

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Cincinnati Children 's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden TriHealth, Inc. UC Health University of Cincinnati