CINCINNATI — City Hall officials plan to use $2.275 million in federal grant funding to conduct a study for safety and quality-of-life improvements along a nearly four-mile stretch of Westwood Northern Boulevard.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) dollars are going toward a “complete streets study” of the major westside roadway.

The complete streets movement places an emphasis on people-first road design. It focuses on the safe movement of people through an area, rather than getting cars and other motorized vehicles through there as quickly as possible.

These types of designs often include common engineering features, such as protected bike lanes, bus lanes, expanded sidewalks and traffic-calming improvements. But they also look for more creative upgrades, such as adding trees or other design features to give streetscapes more of a community feel.

The Westwood Northern Boulevard Corridor Study will use insight from traffic engineers and residents to develop conceptual design alternatives for improvements to the roadway from Hopple Street to the city corporation line. They’ll look to emphasize pedestrian and bicyclist safety as well as transit, per the city.

City officials listed “climate resiliency” as a primary goal of the Westwood Northern Boulevard Corridor Study.

Mayor Aftab Pureval called the potential redesign of Westwood Northern Boulevard as a “powerful project” that would benefit residents of historically under-invested communities. Westwood, East Westwood, Milvale, North Fairmount and English Woods are all in the project corridor.

“By creating the groundwork for a safer, multi-modal Westwood Northern Boulevard, we are taking a major step forward to ensure all Cincinnatians are connected to the places where they live, work and play,” Pureval added.

One of the biggest advocates for the grant funding was Rep. Greg Landsman. The former Cincinnati City Council member represents Ohio’s 1st Congressional District. It comprises Cincinnati, other parts of Hamilton County and all of Warren County.

Landsman, a Democrat, described transportation options as vital to making Cincinnati a place where people want to live and raise a family.

“We have to keep the momentum going, and ensure our economic growth is real and will last,” he added. “This will help.”

The funding came from DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant program. It invests in road, rail, transit and port projects.

The city previously received a $20 million RAISE grant for complete streets improvements in the West End, Lower Price Hill and Queensgate.

Public engagement for the Westwood Northern Boulevard Corridor Study will begin in the second quarter of 2024. The city hopes to finish it by the end of 2025.

This grant is only for the creation of design alternatives. Construction considerations will take place at a later date, according to a city spokesperson.