The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s Metro broke ground on the new Uptown Transit District (UTD) that will be built in 2013 to better serve the thousands of people riding Metro to and from jobs, education, medical services and entertainment in Uptown every day.

UTD will be composed of four distinct locations: University of Cincinnati (UC) on Jefferson, medical center district (University Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s), Clifton Heights business district (near Hughes High School), and Vine between McMillian and Calhoun.

Designed by Michael Schuster Associates, the UTD’s overall look will be consistent in all four locations for easy identification. The district will offer many customer amenities, including:

• Distinctive, sheltered boarding areas.

• Real-time information.

• Integration with other employer and UC shuttle services.

• Wayfinding and rider information kiosks.

• Enhanced streetscaping and sidewalk improvements in some areas.

The UTD was developed with the involvement of partners including the UC, the Uptown Consortium and the City of Cincinnati.

Construction will begin soon; completion is expected by late 2013 or early 2014.

Funding for the Uptown Transit District comes from a federal earmark and Federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality funds made available through the Ohio Department of Transportation and OKI Regional Council of Governments. Local funds are also being used for this $6.9 million construction project.