The long‑talked‑about Columbia Connector in Hamilton County is finally shifting from planning chatter to real pavement. The short but crucial link will tie the Little Miami Scenic Trail to the Mariemont/Wasson Way corridor, creating an off‑street route from the Xavier University area to the Little Miami River and points beyond.
The project would stretch the existing paved trail that currently stops in Columbia Township behind Fifty West Brewing, continue along the river, then cross Wooster Pike to meet up near the Mariemont Public Library. Closing that gap, planners say, should make everyday trips safer and give more residents a realistic option for short rides and walks instead of short drives.
As reported by WKRC Local 12, project maps show the Columbia Connector running behind the Kroger along the Little Miami River, then tracking alongside Wooster Pike before crossing and zig‑zagging up the hill to meet the Murray Path near the library. Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks of Hamilton County, told the station the goal is to connect short segments so the trails function for recreation, transportation and economic development. Wade Johnston of Tri‑State Trails added that linked corridors make it easier for people to fold trail use into their daily routines.
Part of the larger CROWN network
Tri‑State Trails notes that the Columbia Connector is a key piece of CROWN, the planned roughly 34‑mile walking and biking loop that will ring Cincinnati by tying together Wasson Way, the Little Miami Scenic Trail and several other corridors.
The group points out that Great Parks built the initial spur of the Columbia Connector behind Fifty West in 2020. Since then, partners have been chasing state and federal grants to fill remaining gaps and pay for road crossings that will turn the patchwork into a continuous route.
Funding and engineering partners
Design work and environmental review are being handled through ODOT’s Eastern Corridor program, which has pulled together a feasibility study with two build alternatives. Those options, split into Spring Hill and Pocahontas extensions for funding and permitting purposes, outline how the project could be phased.
The ODOT Eastern Corridor report details route choices behind the Kroger site and across US‑50. Meanwhile, Great Parks of Hamilton County highlights recent culvert repairs and other capital work that plug into the broader effort to firm up the corridor.
What riders and nearby businesses should expect
Once complete, the Columbia Connector will function as a standard paved multi‑use trail designed for walkers, runners and cyclists. The route is being laid out to make it easier and safer to reach shops and services along US‑50 without mixing as much with fast traffic.
Trail advocates say sealing this break in the network should encourage more everyday trips to school, work and shopping, while also routing more visitors into Mariemont’s business district and the busy Fifty West stretch. Local grant pitches and the CROWN capital campaign both lean on the idea that better connections will bring steadier local use and a modest boost for nearby businesses.
Timeline and next steps
According to WKRC Local 12, officials expect to put the project out to bid next month, with construction targeted to start this fall. If everything stays on schedule, the full connection could open in spring 2028.
Residents who want to keep tabs on progress can watch Great Parks’ project updates and notices from Tri‑State Trails for public meetings, grant milestones and bid results.
When this compact but strategic segment is finally in place, it will close one of the CROWN loop’s most visible gaps and make it far easier to walk or ride between neighborhoods, businesses and transit. If the current timeline holds, riders could be cruising from Mariemont to Lunken and beyond within the next couple of years.
