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Cincinnati subway proposal

Cincinnati, Ohio

THE CENTRAL SPINE

In the 1920s, the Miami and Erie Canal—the Central Spine of historic Cincinnati’s industry and transportation—was replaced with the Cincinnati subway system and capped with Central Parkway. The subway system was intended to be the backbone for navigating the city. Despite its unfortunate discontinuation and resulting disuse, the City of Cincinnati has an incredibly valuable asset in these tunnels. Evaluating the subterranean system as a single unit to be developed by an individual entity would be daunting; instead, evaluating the subway tunnels as a segmented series of distinct, inter-related uses is the key to unlocking its full potential. Each use maximizes the value of that specific piece of infrastructure, considering its assets and location within the city. Like a spinal column, the tunnel system is a single path and structure made up of multiple vertebrae that work together to support a greater body.

With so many developments around the city shaping our culture and fabric, the opportunities for adaptive re-use of the subway tunnels continue to grow. New facilities, like the streetcar, and reliance on bus systems to provide regional transit have limited the applicability of the tunnels to be used solely for transit as they were originally intended. The structural bones that lie beneath the main thoroughfare of our city are strong and capable, and the spaces within are vast and unique. This proposal looks to break down future uses into five individual sections, or five vertebrae. Each section focuses on a different public service or benefit, depending on the neighborhood directly adjacent to it and utilizes the three major stations as access points for the adventures that lie below.

We are excited about the opportunity to breathe life back into these abandoned tunnels and return The Central Spine to an energetic, connected thoroughfare.