Fort Washington Way caps debate grows as Pureval addresses railway trust questions

Mayor Aftab Pureval said his administration has not proposed using Cincinnati Southern Railway Trust dollars to pay directly for construction of the highway caps. 

Instead, he said city officials are evaluating whether trust funds could legally support related infrastructure improvements connected to the broader redevelopment effort. 

His comments came after former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken publicly questioned whether the trust could legally provide the local funding match required for the project. According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Pureval emphasized that several funding options remain under consideration.  

The discussion follows the recent announcement that Hamilton County secured a $25 million federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant for the first phase of the project. The grant requires local matching funds before construction can move forward. Local leaders have not finalized where those matching dollars will come from.  

Fort Washington Way caps funding remains under review

Pureval’s comments arrived two days after Luken warned that using Cincinnati Southern Railway Trust money for the project could conflict with the legal purpose of the trust.

According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Luken argued that the railway trust was created to preserve and improve existing public infrastructure rather than finance new development projects. He said using the fund for the Fort Washington Way decks would contradict the intent established when Cincinnati voters approved the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway.  

Pureval offered a narrower interpretation of how the trust could potentially fit into the project.

He said:

• The city has not proposed using railway trust dollars to build the highway caps.
• Officials continue reviewing whether trust funds could support eligible infrastructure improvements surrounding the project.
• Multiple financing options remain available as the city and county assemble the required local match.

The mayor did not identify specific infrastructure projects that could qualify for railway trust funding. He also did not announce whether city attorneys have completed a legal review of the proposal.  

The Cincinnati Southern Railway Trust currently distributes investment earnings to the city while preserving the trust’s principal. The money is generally reserved for capital infrastructure projects rather than operating expenses.

Earlier this year, city officials approved using trust distributions for projects such as street rehabilitation, bridge improvements, recreation facilities and fleet maintenance infrastructure. WCPO previously reported that the trust funds must be spent on existing infrastructure under the city’s current spending framework.  

Fort Washington Way caps project advances after federal award

The funding debate comes as momentum builds behind one of Cincinnati’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Hamilton County a $25 million BUILD grant to begin designing and constructing the first highway cap over Fort Washington Way between Vine and Walnut streets. The project would create approximately 1.2 acres of new public space above the interstate while reconnecting downtown with The Banks district.  

According to Hamilton County officials, the federal investment represents the first major construction funding for a vision that has existed for decades.

Project supporters say the highway caps would:

• Improve pedestrian connections between downtown and the riverfront.
• Create additional public green space.
• Reduce highway noise.
• Support future economic development around The Banks.
• Generate new public gathering areas for residents and visitors.

The first phase represents only part of a broader redevelopment vision. Previous planning documents estimate the complete multi-phase project could cost about $187 million.  

Legal questions could shape the funding strategy

While support for the project remains strong among many civic leaders, the financing strategy has become the latest challenge.

The federal grant requires local partners to contribute matching funds before construction proceeds. Pureval’s administration has not publicly identified the final source of those dollars.

The debate largely centers on whether any portion of the Cincinnati Southern Railway Trust can legally support infrastructure connected to the project without violating the restrictions placed on the fund.

That question may require additional legal analysis before city leaders make any funding decisions.

The railway trust itself remains financially strong. According to WVXU, the investment fund recently rebounded after earlier market volatility and continues to generate annual distributions for city infrastructure while maintaining nearly $1.9 billion in assets.  

Regional leaders continue backing the project

Despite questions surrounding the local funding match, public officials continue expressing confidence in the project.

Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas previously described the federal award as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect downtown with the riverfront and create new public space. Congressman Greg Landsman also praised the federal investment, saying the project would support jobs and strengthen Cincinnati’s urban core.  

Planning for highway caps over Fort Washington Way dates back more than two decades. The proposal gained renewed momentum after the Cincinnati Regional Chamber, Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati collaborated on updated designs and successfully pursued federal funding.

Construction cannot begin until officials complete the federal grant agreement, finalize engineering work and secure the required local funding match. Previous reporting by WLWT indicated construction could begin next year if financing and permitting remain on schedule.  

For now, city leaders continue evaluating funding options while defending the long-term vision for reconnecting downtown Cincinnati with its riverfront.