Metro is unveiling plans Tuesday for an Uptown Transit District that will be built next year. The $6.9 million project will have four locations:
University of Cincinnati on Jefferson
University Hospital and medical center
Hughes Corner business district
Vine between McMillan and Calhoun
The district will serve as the major connection and transfer point for 10 Metro routes and several Uptown shuttles offered by UC and area employers.
"Uptown is booming in terms of jobs, education, and health care and we want to make it easier to access this thriving area using transit," said Terry Garcia Crews, Metro CEO. "The Uptown District will offer great amenities for our current riders and will provide infrastructure to support new services we hope to offer in the future."
Metro says the new district will provide bus riders sheltered boarding areas, real-time information, integration with other employer and UC shuttle services, wayfinding and information kiosks, and enhanced streetscaping and sidewalk improvements in some areas.
Construction is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2013 and be finished by the end of the year.
Funding for the project comes from federal earmark and federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality funds as well as local funds.