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Mount Washington leaders press city on sidewalk repairs, crosswalk safety and traffic fixes
Summary
Community leaders raised long‑running concerns about missing or damaged sidewalks, the condition of Beechmont Avenue, and a dangerous crosswalk at Corbally near Sam’s that parents say needs immediate action; city staff outlined constraints and next steps.
Mount Washington residents told the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee they want faster action on sidewalks, traffic calming and an urgently needed crosswalk improvement at Corbally near Sam’s that parents described as “very dangerous.”
The nut graf: City officials said state restrictions limit use of some funds for new sidewalks, but staff and councilmembers said they are pursuing options—including a pilot program and leveraging railroad funds where allowed—and will follow up with neighborhood priorities and traffic engineering reviews.
Jamie Castle, president of the Mount Washington Community Council, described uneven sidewalks and the neighborhood’s dependence on Beechmont as the main artery. She said 44% of housing units are rentals and that many streets lack sidewalks, creating safety risks for pedestrians and schoolchildren.
Council Member Anna Albee said the state’s restrictions on railroad funds limit their use to existing infrastructure, making new sidewalks “new infrastructure” ineligible for some railroad‑fund programs. She and Assistant City Manager Virginia Talent said city staff have asked the administration to prepare a report on options to help residents repair sidewalks, including a potential pilot program for low‑income areas, with repair costs that can range from $500 to $2,500 depending on scope.
Traffic engineering and police officials described options to address speeding and pedestrian safety. John Brezina, now an assistant city manager who previously managed transportation issues, described two DOT approaches: the pedestrian safety program, which scores neighborhood priorities and advances projects as funding allows, and hotspot reviews coordinated monthly with police for targeted enforcement. He asked residents to send priority lists for DOT evaluation and said neighborhood requests are ranked citywide.
Parents and residents told the committee that the Corbally crossing near Sam’s (called the Corbally Crossing at Sam’s in remarks at the meeting) is a high‑risk location for schoolchildren. Resident Rosa Christofell and others said they have pushed for immediate changes; council staff said a crossing guard post existed and that Cincinnati Public Schools had filled some guard vacancies, but residents and officials agreed more visible safety hardware (lights, signage or speed cushions) may be needed and that District 2 would consider directed patrols during school drop‑off and pickup.
On Beechmont Avenue, residents complained about patchwork paving, potholes and medians overgrown with weeds or damaged by crashes; city staff said these maintenance items and prioritization of repairs will be managed through DOT and Department of Public Services processes.
Ending: City staff asked Mount Washington residents to submit specific locations through DOT or 311 so engineers can collect data and rank requests; staff said they will report back with a list of prioritized locations and options for pilot funding and quick fixes.
