Council Member Deidre Hazelbaker's Response to Article about Downtown Loveland Traffic

Thank you for reaching out. I have read the article several times and have also been following the comments. Traffic in and around downtown Loveland is clearly a topic residents care deeply about, and I have been paying close attention to it as a council member.

To address one question that has come up in the comments: yes, signalization at the bike trail crossing has been planned for some time. Like many infrastructure projects, it has experienced delays. Since I have been on council, the expected timeline has shifted from December to February and has recently been delayed again. I understand the frustration residents feel when timelines shift, and I continue to follow it.

Traffic and pedestrian safety were also part of our recent council goal-planning session, where council and staff discussed priorities for the next two years.

Here are the session notes: https://lovelandoh.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/ca401474-084d-4613-999a-3b7bc084b6d3/

And, here is the goal tracker: https://lovelandoh.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/d2f3a419-3397-4a9e-8ebf-beb8fedfafcf/

And, the goal and strategies are directly tied to traffic. 

I’ve also had discussions about the bridge and regional connectivity. Because that project involves multiple jurisdictions and partners, there are currently more barriers than open doors from my perspective. Still, I believe it’s important that we keep the conversation going and continue looking for long-term opportunities to improve traffic.

One item I think residents may find helpful to review is the BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) planning grant discussed at the February 10 council meeting. From my perspective, this is an important step because it focuses on studying traffic and mobility in the downtown area so that future improvements are based on solid data and engineering analysis.

If the planning grant is awarded, the study would look at traffic flow and pedestrian mobility along East Broadway, Karl Brown Way, Harrison Avenue, Loveland Avenue, and Second Street. It would evaluate potential improvements to the Five Points intersection, the Karl Brown railroad trestle crossing, pedestrian and cyclist movements, and broader streetscape improvements related to safety and traffic calming. The planning work would also evaluate multiple improvement options and potential phasing so the community is better positioned for future infrastructure funding opportunities.

For anyone interested in reviewing the materials that were shared by City Manager Dave Kennedy with the council, I am including links below:

• BUILD Grant Memorandum

• Exhibit A: Downtown Traffic and Mobility Plan Proposal

• Resolution authorizing submission of the BUILD Planning Grant and committing the local match

These documents provide helpful background on the scope of the planning effort.

I appreciate the Loveland Daily’s interest in this topic and the opportunity to share some additional context. I have also included Dave to ensure he has the original outreach and my build. 

I also want to note that these responses reflect my perspective as an individual council member, and the opinions shared here are my own.

With gratitude,

Deidre Hazelbaker