Cincinnati Metro acquires rail line for Oasis Trail expansion

The Oasis Trail expansion represents a major development for biking and pedestrian infrastructure in Cincinnati. 

Metro recently closed on the railroad easement that gives the city and its partners the legal right to convert a 4.75-mile segment of the Oasis rail line into a shared-use path. This path will connect downtown to the Lunken Airport area.  

Metro secures rights for the trail corridor

Cincinnati Metro’s acquisition of the Oasis rail line segment removes a key obstacle to trail development. The agency now holds the full rights to use the northern track of the former rail line. This track runs along the Ohio River, from Lunken Airport west toward Sawyer Point downtown.  

Officials describe this legal clearance as essential to advancing the Oasis Trail expansion project. The project has been years in the making through planning, negotiations, and funding efforts.  

“These are important foundational steps as we progress toward bringing the vision for the Oasis Trail to reality,” said Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks, in a report by Spectrum News. 

The organization is partnering with Metro, the City of Cincinnati, and other stakeholders to bring the project to fruition.  

Metro’s purchase of the easement enables the transfer of that property onward to the City and park partners. This transfer will allow design and eventual construction to proceed. The long-term vision remains a wholly separated path for biking, walking, and other non-motorized uses.  

What the Oasis trail expansion means for Cincinnati

The Oasis Trail expansion will span approximately 4.75 miles when complete. This will provide a safe off-road connection. In particular, it links key recreation and transportation corridors.  

Specifically, the trail will run between Sawyer Point on Cincinnati’s riverfront and the Lunken Airport area. There, it will tie into the Little Miami Scenic Trail — one of Ohio’s longest paved multi-use paths.  

Planners say the Oasis Trail expansion will help close gaps in the region’s trail network, enhancing connectivity to Ohio-to-Erie corridors and existing local paths. It will be fully separate from traffic on nearby streets, improving safety and appeal for users of all ages.  

Residents can expect:

• A continuous, paved path for cyclists, joggers, and walkers.
• Connections to downtown bike networks and established regional routes.
• Linkages to existing riverfront amenities and parks.

Funding and partnerships

Funding remains a central focus for moving past planning to actual construction of the Oasis Trail expansion. Project partners continue fundraising and applying for grants to cover design and build costs. These costs currently exceed $19 million.  

In recent development, Great Parks secured an additional $6 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments. This grant will support the next phase of construction between Collins Avenue and Carrel Street.  

This award builds on earlier CMAQ funds that helped launch initial design and acquisition steps. Along with these funds, local contributions and donor support added to the project.  

Additionally, the City of Cincinnati leveraged a $5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation. This grant will assist Metro in acquiring the rail easement.  

Local leaders emphasize that these combined funds and partnerships underscore broad community support. This support is important for expanding active transportation options.

Community and future outlook

The Oasis Trail expansion has initially garnered enthusiasm from cycling advocates and residents. In particular, these residents see the corridor as a way to boost recreation and alternative commuting in the region. Moreover, according to previous reporting, agreements reached among Metro, the city, and the Indiana & Ohio Railway helped unlock easement rights. As a result, this moved the project forward into design.

Nevertheless, not all responses have been uniformly positive. Some community sources have raised concerns about safety and proximity to active rail tracks in portions of the corridor. Even so, stakeholders maintain that the trail’s design will keep users safely separated from rail operations.

Meanwhile, city planners and trail advocates continue to engage with residents and corridor neighbors. This will take place as detailed engineering and public outreach steps begin.

Furthermore, where other major infrastructure efforts have taken years to complete, supporters note that securing the rights of way is a breakthrough. Consequently, this breakthrough could finally transform the long-envisioned Oasis Trail expansion from concept to reality.

The route & design specs

• Path Alignment: The 4.75-mile trail will run along the northern track of the Oasis Rail Line, sandwiched right between U.S. 50 (Columbia Parkway) and Riverside Drive.
• Key Connections: It serves as a critical missing link for the 34-mile CROWN (Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network) loop. The path begins at Sawyer Point on the downtown riverfront and runs east, terminating at Carrel Street in the East End (near Lunken Airport), where it ties directly into the 78-mile Little Miami Scenic Trail.
• Safety & Layout: The path will be 12 feet wide (two six-foot travel lanes) and paved with asphalt. It will be ADA-compliant and completely separated from vehicular traffic. Crucially, a physical fence will be installed along the south side to keep pedestrians and cyclists safely separated from the active freight rail line.
• Access Points: Beyond the Sawyer Point and Carrel Street bookends, Great Parks is currently evaluating the corridor to add two or three additional access points to serve surrounding neighborhoods.

Public meetings & timeline

• Current Phase: The project is actively undergoing environmental and field studies to prepare a feasibility report, led by the engineering firm Arcadis US.
• Upcoming Engagement: Great Parks has confirmed that both in-person and virtual public meetings will take place in Summer 2026. While exact dates have not yet been posted, the focus of these sessions will be to gather community feedback on preliminary design recommendations and the proposed locations for the neighborhood access points.
• Looking Ahead: Following the summer public input, design and permitting will stretch through 2028, with heavy construction targeted to begin in 2029.