Council Member Sherry Hamlin's Response to Article About Downtown Loveland Traffic

The views expressed in this commentary are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the City of Loveland, its staff, or other members of City Council.

I would like to thank The Loveland Daily for raising the conversation about traffic in and around downtown Loveland and for inviting input from City Council members. The level of engagement shows how much people care about this topic.

The article raises an issue that many residents are already familiar with, downtown traffic is a challenge. Loveland has grown into a place that serves both as a regional destination and a corridor for people traveling through the area. The article frames a choice—either we operate as a bypass, or we operate as a destination. In truth, that ship has sailed. Loveland is already both, and the challenge before us is learning how to manage that reality effectively.

The “home run” solution, in my view, would be a regional bridge that helps accommodate traffic passing through Loveland from neighboring communities. The concept of improving regional connectivity was identified in the City’s Comprehensive Master Development Plan (CMDP) as a future vision. City leadership began discussions with surrounding communities about the possibility of a regional solution. Unfortunately, those conversations have not gained the level of regional cooperation that would be necessary to make such a project feasible in the near term. We can and should continue tapping our neighboring communities on the shoulder, but absent that cooperation, the home run solution will take time.

In the meantime, our focus must be on what I would call “base hits”—practical improvements that incrementally improve traffic flow and safety. Some of those base hits are already in place. The right-turn lane from State Route 48 coming from Warren County, the installation of adaptive traffic signals that adjust in real time to traffic conditions, and the upcoming signal at the bike trail crossing are all examples. Even solutions that have not worked as well as hoped—such as the warning signal near the railroad trestle—demonstrate the city’s willingness to test ideas and continue refining our approach.

Looking ahead, the BUILD planning grant is a particularly important opportunity. If awarded, it will allow the city to engage external engineering and mobility experts to evaluate traffic flow and pedestrian movement in the downtown area. This study would examine challenges such as the Five Point intersection, backups at the railroad trestle, and ways to improve circulation along key corridors. Just as importantly, it would help create a blueprint for future improvements that can be implemented in phases without overwhelming the city’s budget.

Our City Manager, Dave Kennedy, has a strong track record of pursuing outside funding to support projects like these. That strategy allows Loveland to make meaningful improvements while still prioritizing other critical infrastructure needs.

City staff is actively working to pursue solutions, but infrastructure improvements—especially those involving regional coordination—take time. Improving traffic and mobility in the downtown area is also a priority reflected in City Council’s goals for the 2026–2027 calendar years. In the meantime, we will continue working toward practical steps that improve mobility and the experience of everyone who travels through downtown Loveland.

Regards,

Sherry Hamlin