DESCRIPTION

The Downtown Connector is currently in the planning stages with a proposed completion time in 2008. It will serve as an important link in the overall trail system and will be the means for the Ohio to Erie trail to cross through Columbus.

UPDATE: 1/25/07 Photography of the route has been added below.

There is now a link to the City of Columbus information page on the Connector: http://pubserv.ci.columbus.oh.us/transportation/DBC/DBC.htm

The connector will link with the Scioto and Olentangy Trails on the west side, via Northbank Park and with the I-670 Trail and, via that route, to the Alum Creek Trail on the east side. It will also serve as a part of the Ohio to Erie route. The connector will allow for some very long biking expeditions--you will, one day, be able to go from Highbanks Park to Three Creeks and back on a dedicated recreational path.

Most of the distance is currently usable even without improvements. The small stretch on 6th St and along an to-be-developed easement by Columbus State Community College can be easily bypassed by using Mt. Vernon and Cleveland Aves.

Because of the nature of Downtown, the connector, barely a mile and a half, will consist of widened walkways with signalized intersections. The streets it will travel on, Neil, Nationwide, Mount Vernon and Sixth St are not crazy busy but I imagine that it will not be without its stop-and-go element. On the plus side, there is really a nice variation in the surroundings as you travel through the Arena District, the Columbus State Community College area and the older, wide-open industrial sector off Cleveland.

Traveling from west to east: You will exit North Bank Park and, via the intersection at Neil Ave, cross the divided boulevard of Spring St. You'll go north on Neil to the intersection with Nationwide Blvd and turn right (east). You'll continue along Nationwide Blvd to the Mt Vernon split and follow that street to Sixth Street and turn left (north) on Sixth. The route will edge along the I-670 connector to I-71 and cross that via the Cleveland Ave underpass where it will meet the current trail end of the I-670 Bikeway at Jack Gibbs Blvd.

Currently, there are a variety of surfaces which range from paver-brick to concrete to asphalt and even some dirt path. There is a continuous path on the east and north sides of the roads involved all the way to the north end of 6th St. The short distance from there to the underpass of I-670 is not developed through I suspect an easement of some sort will be obtained.

AERIAL MAPS 

The thumbnail map on the right is an adaptation of the planned route from the official website. The map below is a detailed aerial map of the current route for use until the Downtown Connector is built. It is a reduced size version. The FULL SIZE version can be had by clicking on the thumbnail on the left It is a much larger file and may take time to download.

PHOTOS

Northbank Park (Olentangy Trail) showing the approaches from the north (left) and south (right) to exit the park (left and right respectively) to the Downtown Connector.		The intersection along Spring St. at Neil Ave.	A view across the east side of the intersection.	The east side walkway of Neil Ave	A view back toward North Bank Park	Farther down Neil. Nationwide is in the distance.	The intersection at Nationwide. I believe the path will cross to the north side.
A look back down Neil towards Northbank Park. from the north side of Nationwide.	Looking east along the north side of Nationwide. Note the asphalt surface.	Nearing Nationwide arena. There are parking lot entrances to cross.	At the Arena. Notice the resumption of paver-brick also the increase in elevation ahead. (They don't call it "High" street for nothing.)	At the intersection of Front St and Nationwide.	Across Front, the surface turns to concrete and the crest of the rise is reached.	Approaching the intersection of High St and Nationwide. All major intersections on the route are already signalized.	Across High St, the road is divided and you pass by the entrances to the Hyatt and other businesses.
Looking back toward the Arena from the other side of High St. (Hyatt annex)	Approaching the split where Nationwide becomes Mt Vernon/Naughton. (That's the 3rd St Overpass in the foreground.)	Approaching 4th St. Getting into the Columbus State area.	The view back towards the Arena District.	The 4th St Crossing. It has a signal.	Which is good because 4th St is a very busy thoroughfare.	On the east side of 4th. This may require some widening of the addition of an asphalt surface. This is, I believe a part of the Columbus State Campus on the left. The road has turned into Mt. Vernon and the bustle of Downtown begins to ramp down.	The area takes on a more industrial character. There are street crossings but the traffic is much less than on other parts of the Connector.
A view farther along Mt. Vernon.	Approaching 6th St. The sidewalk kinds of disappears for a bit and there is some old paver-brick surface in spots but its mostly hardpack dirt for one block.	The 6th St Corner. The trail route will turn left. If you want to get to the I-670 Trail in the interim, continue straight ahead to Cleveland Ave. and turn left.(See Below)	The view up 6th St. The brown berm in the distance is I-670. I would assume the trail will run on the left side.	At the north dead-end of 6th St. The roadway ends. The proposed Connector will run straight ahead.	The new trail will run on an easement either on this grassy lawn (Columbus State property) or on the other side of the fence. (ODOT?) That is a parking lot on the other side.	The parking lot. The trail will hug the left side of the picture.	Another view. Cleveland Avenue is on the other side. The I-670 overpass is to the right side. (The white structure.)
The probable route of the trail.	The lot currently exits to McCoy St.	Which immediately intersects Cleveland. The trail route will pass to the left of this picture.	The corner where the Connector will likely emerge from behind the lot. From Cleveland Ave and McCoy St.	Looking north on the west walkway of Cleveland Ave. In the foreground is the freeway exit.	Underpassing I-670 on Cleveland going north. Jack Gibbs Blvd is on the other side and the start of the I-670 trail.	On the north side of I-670. Jack Gibbs Blvd is to the left.	Looking across Cleveland Ave. The start of the I-670 trail is on the other side. (Note the green bike route sign. (On this day, the curb walkway was being repaired.)
The start of the I-670 trail. Fort Hayes to the left. Jack Gibbs Blvd to the right.	The approach to the new Connector from the I-670 Bike Trail.	To get to the I-670 Trail, do not turn at 6th St. Continue straight ahead to Cleveland Ave.	Approaching Cleveland Avenue (On Mt Vernon.)	The intersection at Cleveland. Turn left.	Looking North on Cleveland. The I-670 Overpass can be seen in the distance.	At the overpass. Follow to Jack Gibbs as above.

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07/18/2007