Tell Mayor Ginther: Cancel the dangerous North Broadway crossing for the Olentangy Trail

Dear Mayor Ginther:

The currently-recommended option for "improving" the Olentangy Trail through Clintonville calls for re-routing the crossing of North Broadway westward from Milton to OhioHealth Parkway. This proposal would make the trail FAR more dangerous for pedestrians and bikers, and must be reconsidered.

- North Broadway at OhioHealth Pkwy is seven lanes wide at this point, this intersection involves both a highway on-ramp (northbound SR 315) AND off-ramp (southbound SR 315) where drivers do NOT expect pedestrians, and has obstructed lines of sight from both the west and north.

- Trail safety improvements to the current crossing (at Milton, where North Broadway is only five lanes wide) could be made for FAR less money than you're planning to spend on the bridge from Northmoor Park. Direct access to the OhioHealth Building from the Olentangy Trail at Milton can easily be built using existing city right-of-way on the south side of North Broadway.

- The proposed bridge from Northmoor Park would also disturb or destroy untouched, low-lying riparian areas on the west side of the river, which are important for flood control and natural habitat.

So, I ask that you speak with City Council, ask them to cancel these plans & go back to the drawing board for an evaluation of ALL alternative ... and keep our community's bikers and pedestrians safe by NOT putting them in the path of highway traffic.

Thank you.