My employee’s have showed me on face book that Old Loveland area is getting blasted and being avoided due to poor traffic

Loveland, Ohio This past Monday, Bond Furniture owner, Tim Canada had had enough with traffic woes hurting downtown businesses. He fired off an email to City administration and Council, the Chamber of Commerce president, Loveland Magazine, and fellow downtown business owners.

Loveland Magazine broke this news on November 5: Uh-oh! – Branch Hill-Guinea Pike to close Nov. 16 – 20

Loveland Magazine broke this news yesterday: Branch Hill Guinea Road will stay closed 4 more weeks.

The traffic issues and gridlock in downtown was not discussed at this week’s City Council meeting.

Here, however is how the discussion played out through the week via emails:


 

Tim Canada wrote on Monday, November 16 at 9:31 AM

Hello to all,

Since retailers are receiving complaints from customers not being able to get to their businesses due to poor traffic through the Old Loveland area.

Since employee’s are late getting to work because of not being able to get to work due to the poor traffic flow in the Old Loveland area.

I have noticed on Sunday’s at local churches there are Loveland Police Officers making sure the traffic flows into and out of the church’s (which I think is a good thing). Why is there not a police officer or officers,  assigned to maintain at traffic flow in the Old  Loveland Area so that consumers can get in and out of local business’s. The local business’s pay taxes do we not deserve the same type of service?

Since my employee’s have showed me on face book that Old Loveland area is getting blasted and being avoided due to poor traffic.

Last but not least, with the additional parking being built and paid for out of tax dollars, is the money being spent a waste if people can not get to the old part of Loveland? If you can not get here then you do not have to worry about parking?

My Question is to the city administration, the mayor and the city council, what is your plan for traffic flow and infrastructure in the old area of Loveland.

Wrecks in other community’s that add to traffic are only excuses, because of with the added residents living in this area this will be a common situation, plus then added effects from other community’s will only add to the issue.

This is not an issue any business owner created including the new development at Loveland Station, this is an issue created by a lack of fore thought,  and a lack of execution for traffic flow and infrastructure by the city administration, the mayor and city council.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE POOR TRAFFIC ISSUES IN OLD LOVELAND?

No plan has been presented or discussed with community business leaders. Do we not matter?

Please respond to all so all the business owners can see your vision to fix this issue that is getting worse all the time!


David Kennedy, City Manager responded on on Monday, November 16 at 10:34 AM

The traffic is due to a closure on Branch Hill Guinea Road.  We are placing Officers at the downtown intersections. The closure will re-open at the end of the week. Officers will be present throughout the week.

Dave


Chamber President Cee Cee Collins responded on Mon, Nov 16,  at 12:51 PM

David, that made a big difference. I was in the traffic and could tell when the officers arrived. There is no other way to go but through downtown to get from one side of Loveland to the other until Branch Hill Guinea Pike opens up. It is supposed to be on 11/20.

Additionally, there is a new camera light sensor system coming in 2016 for the intersections in downtown Loveland. David has presented at Council and at merchant meetings on the new system. I am sure he can share again if some missed the information. We can discuss further at the next merchants meeting as suggested.
CeeCee Collins
President
Loveland Area Chamber of Commerce

Tim Canada wrote on Monday, November 16 at  7:18  PM

Hello Dave,

I agree that the officers helped but where were they this morning?

But where is the planning, the closure of BHGP has been known about for a while, why were the officers not in place to begin with this morning?

Three of my employee’s where over 30 minutes late this morning, one of them lives on walker and it took that person 35 minutes to get here!

Also what goes on in a neighboring community should not effect downtown Loveland.

With proper planning and rerouting it should not happen! Where is the froward thinking?

It is 6:45 on a Monday night and it is still backed up!

A customer just came and and told us that it took 20 minutes to get here from Loveland Maderia Rd.

Also, that answers the question for today and this week. What about the other days that traffic is terrible?

Which is most!

Another Loveland business owner just left the store. Their employees are late all the time due to traffic as are mine and others I speak with on a regular basis.

Is it true the reason we can not get officers down here to control traffic issues caused by the city administration, is because the police department is not allowed any overtime?

Also is it true that the school district is down one or two resource officers due to the city budget?

I hope not, I would hate to think that the children of the LPSD are being put at risk due to budget concerns!

The fact is the poor or lack of planning by the city administration on traffic flow is unacceptable!

When customers or potential customers are calling and posting on social media that they are staying away from the down town area because of traffic jams created by the city administration what is the administration, the mayor and the council going to do about it.

I am glad there is a new camera light sensor system coming on line in 2016, why is it not here already?

2016 does not help the local business’s now!

Please respond to all so we all can get the same answers.

Thanks

Tim


David Kennedy, City Manager responded on on Monday, November 16 at 7:37 PM

Tim. Im in a finance committee meeting so ill answer in more detail  tomorrow. But i want to let everyone know that officers will be in downtown tomorrow morning. They werent there this morning because i underestimated the impact of the closure. That was my mistake.

Dave


David Kennedy, City Manager wrote on Tuesday, November 17 at 12:17 PM

I wanted to check with the officers on duty regarding the morning traffic flow today before replying. Additionally, I spoke to Acting Chief Rahe and he stated that they had 4 officers scheduled for the road and traffic. They began at 7:10AM and directed traffic as efficiently as possible. Although their efforts were beneficial, the volume of traffic still overloaded the two lane roads through town. The LPD will continue to monitor the intersections all day long throughout the week.

[quote_right]It is frustrating that our elected officials do not feel they have any fault in this matter. They are the body that voted and approved the events that is causing the situation. Many of us realize that they have not answered questions directed to them in previous emails. – Business owner, Tim Canada[/quote_right]

I have a call into Pat Manger, Clermont County Engineer regarding the impact of these closures on neighboring communities and whether the City could be a part of the planning stages prior to the closure being conducted.

In terms of overtime, I can only speak for my tenure as City Manager and state that I have not denied the use of Police Officer overtime  as requested by the Police Chief.

In terms of the School Resource Officer (SRO), our current SRO staffing has not changed since the SRO program began.

As far as future steps we will be doing the following in early 2016:

Radar Detection added to the three (3) downtown traffic signals.  This technology will allow traffic flows to be monitored through radar units at each traffic signal.  Based on flows the signals will adjust to create optimum traffic flow.  Our current system works on timing only and allows for very little adjustment.  Best example I can give on the new signals is the 48 and West Loveland Intersection.  In the morning the radar units will be able to sense the backups on 48 in the morning and will hold longer greens to create optimum flow.  Conversely the signal at Karl Brown and West Loveland will hold a longer green to accommodate the flow.  Currently we can’t even adjust timing for AM or PM peaks. The signals will adjust as needed and hold greens while there is no traffic at the intersecting streets.

As far as why the delay in implementing the project.  This technology and a cost estimate was first brought to city’s attention this summer. While we planned for it to be added to the City’s 2016 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) we met with the Clermont County Engineer and a private traffic engineer to make sure the large financial commitment would result in positive traffic outcomes.  Following these discussions the project was presented to Council in October for inclusion in the 2016 budget.  In an effort to begin as soon as the 2016 budget is approved the project supplier/installer has been notified that we are ready to proceed following budget approval.  This allows for their planning and supplies. Additionally as recommended by the Clermont County Engineer the project will be supervised by a private traffic engineer to assure that all functions and settings meet the specific needs of the city to assure optimum results.

Also, in 2016 we have budgeted for an engineering traffic study following occupancy of Loveland Station.  This will allow us to make plans for needed modifications which may be created by the additional residents and patrons of Loveland Station to the benefit of the entire downtown.

Again, I take full responsibility for Monday’s underestimation of the traffic flows and will commit that LPD Officers will be on duty throughout the week to assist with traffic flow. Also, I will maintain contact with the county to assure that we are kept abreast of any schedule changes.

I welcome any questions or comments.

Thanks

Dave


Councilman Mark Fitzgerald responded On Tue, Nov 17 at 3:41 PM

Thanks Dave but you are not responsible for road closures in the county and interstate highway disruptions. Officers did well but volume far exceeded capacity in town due ,primarily, to disruptions that occurred elsewhere

Reminder to all: warren county engineer is closing butterworth road for one day on November 18 (tomorrow)

Tim Canada wrote on Tuesday, November 17 at 5:15 PM

Dave,

Thank you for the update!

I appreciate your respect for the business people in the community.

I also respect the fact you are a stand up individual.

Yes the police did a great job this morning.

As for yesterday mornings fiasco, the accident on 275 could not have been foreseen. However, anticipating traffic from the closure of BHGP should have been considered and prepared for.

That being said, the bigger issue is the continual traffic nightmare that is Downtown Loveland and the fact that the administration before yours and the city council did nothing to prepare for the traffic increase.

The fact that the study was done last summer after the sale of the property and construction had already started proves my point.

This question is more for The Mayor and Council, why were the traffic support additions you spoke of in your email not done before construction started? It seems like it was very poor planning if any and total lack of consideration for the business community in Downtown.

The sales pitch to the community was that there would be more people downtown and the would be a good thing. Which I do not disagree, but after the traffic issues created by the farmers market two summers ago, anyone with a little common sense would have realized that a traffic plan was needed before starting anything! The reality is that if they were planning or attempting to sell the property at Loveland Station then the traffic plan should have been designed, created and started before talks to purchase were even done!

The fact of the matter is that the previous administration’s and city council’s lack of planning is costing local business owners money in lost sales, overtime wages due to employee’s being late to the job and bad publicity in social media.

The continual traffic jam a key times of day is hurting the community!

As for the resource officers being at the same number as always, that kind of makes my point!

LPSD student levels have increased and the number of students requires more resource officers than current levels.

This information was given to me directly by the former chief along with the budget concerns for overtime. Also other public officials have mentioned in conversation that the city is in need of additional officers. Also after doing my research on the contract for Loveland Station last fall, I thought he tax increment financing with the school helped pay for more resource officers?

Any way thanks for your information and follow through.

Tim


Tim Canada wrote on Wednesday, November 18, at 9:08 AM

Dave,

Great Job on the traffic flow this morning!

Please forward compliments to the police department for a job well done!

Tim


David Kennedy, City Manager wrote on Fri, Nov 20 at 8:13 AM

The city was notified that the Branch Hill Guinea closure will be continued for up to four (4) more weeks (notice attached).  The county has agreed to assist the city financially with the added police coverage being utilized to flow traffic through downtown.  We will continue to communicate with the County Engineer’s Office and supply updates.


Tim Canada wrote on Friday, 11/20 at 9:52 AM

Thank you for the update.

Good call on getting the county involved to pay for traffic control.

Just an FYI, customers were complaining about getting here last night and we missed pick-up by our carpet installer for a job to day because of the the Grid lock last night in town. Employee’s are complaining about being late to work and getting home late due to delays caused by grid lock.

Also other business owners are receiving complaints about the traffic.

One business owner shared with me that Monday was the worst day they have had in years because of the GRID LOCK that is downtown Loveland.

I guess the question we all would like to know is, what is the city’s plan for loss of revenue by businesses during this Grid Lock situation caused by a lack of planning and foresight by the previous administration and council?

Are we going to get property taxes reduced proportionately or should we just start deducting from the taxes like we do from other vendors that provide products and services and that are not getting the job done.

Last but not least, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest entertainment night of the year,

Pubs, restaurants, carry outs,need traffic flow mid afternoon on! Friday and Saturday are two of the busiest retail days of the year.

What are the plans to handle this on the city’s part. The business owners are advertising to get people here, is the city going to hender our efforts like they are doing now! Remember if people can not get here, then there is not a parking problem and building parking lots are a waste of tax payers money!

I realize that this is a situation you inherited and the business owners know you are doing the best you can.

It is frustrating that our elected officials do not feel they have any fault in this matter. They are the body that voted and approved the events that is causing the situation.

Many of us realize that they have not answered questions directed to them in previous emails.

Hang in there!

Tim


 

fran 10:2015

3 COMMENTS

  1. Good info, thanks for sharing. Glad to hear the city is finally joining the 21st century with the long overdue improvements to the traffic signals.

    I’m sorry to hear the traffic problems are not only rankling us Loveland residents who are locked into the problem due to living near downtown, but harming the existing businesses. While the current debacle is a downstream effect of Clermont County roadwork, it is probably a fair prediction of how things will be when the new downtown development is full of additional businesses and hundreds of residents.

    I sure hope all these emails were reprinted with permission of their authors – usually when this sort of thing is published the newspaper/magazine/etc. is clear as to whether permission was granted.

  2. Here are a couple suggestions I think the city should consider. First, add a left turn lane eastbound on West Loveland just past the bridge. I’ve suggested this in the past. This can be done by reducing the west bound to just one lane. Second, and a right turn lane coming southbound on 48 at West Loveland. Both would help with traffic flow, but there is still much to be done. One of the unintended consequences of success.

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