COLUMBUS, Ohio — Downtown Columbus will soon be home to a new pathway for pedestrians and bikes that will travel through some of the city’s most vibrant attractions.
The city announced plans for the pathway on Wednesday, saying that the project will take advantage of existing rights-of-way and will be sequenced over the next several years.
The idea for the two-mile path was a community-generated suggestion in the 2022 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan.
“As so many Columbus success stories are, this is a project made possible by public-private partnership,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther. “I’m especially proud of how this is being done in direct response to resident feedback. The Capital Line will enhance equity and community pride, providing a safe way to walk or bike through our Downtown and an easily accessible connection to transit.”
Columbus Capital Line renderings
The path will extend through Gay Street District, over the Broad Street Bridge to the Peninsula, to Belle Street, over the Rich Street Bridge, to Rich Street and along Fourth Street connecting back with Gay Street.
The initial section will begin on Gay Street. Design is set to happen over the next year and construction will begin in 2025.
Some of the connection points that will be on the route of the trail include the “Current” sculpture, the Scioto Mile riverfront, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Columbus Commons, Ohio Statehouse, The Peninsula, Dorrian Green and COSI.
The Capital Line’s in-progress and future developments include Preston Centre, Preston Park, Madison White Haines Building, 195 E. Broad St., The Continental Centre and The Peninsula.
Other cities have built similar pathways, like the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which generated an economic impact of $1 billion.
