Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Challenge - Ethan Alter

UNION TERMINAL HUMAN PLAN

Ethan Alter

Creating A Transit Oriented Corridor In Front Of An Icon

Rendered View From South Green

WHY HUMAN? HERITAGE

USABILITY

MOBILITY

AXIS

NATURE

H - The heritage of this area is rooted in American vision, labor, and innovation. Cincinnati’s historic West End was once a thriving working-class neighborhood, while the murals of Cincinnati Union Terminal celebrate the industries and people who built the region. Over time, surrounding land was reshaped by rail, highways, and large-scale development, and this proposal seeks to restore identity, connection, and pride to the area.

U – The usability of the district is centered around creating an efficient and people focused environment that supports many users and modes of transportation. Multi layered infrastructure allows cars, rail transit, bikes, and pedestrians to move through the area efficiently while remaining connected. The design also encourages a variety of uses, including recreation, events, commuting, and everyday public activity.

M - The mobility of the district would support many modes of transportation, rather than being dominated primarily by cars as it is today. While the design still accommodates vehicles, it also encourages walking, biking, and public transit through improved pedestrian infrastructure and expanded bike connections. The proposal also creates a stronger connection to the downtown light rail system, helping integrate the site into the broader transit network.

A - A strong pedestrian axis would extend from Cincinnati Union Terminal to the Job Corps building, connecting two of the site’s oldest historic structures. Inspired by the planning of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the corridor improves visitor connections and creates a strong visual relationship between the buildings. The proposal also imagines a future reuse of the Job Corps building as a museum or cultural destination.

N - The entire district would be filled with green spaces, tree canopies, and lush gardens, creating a stronger connection to nature and a more inviting environment for walking and biking throughout the area. The landscape design would provide shade, improve comfort at the pedestrian level, and create habitat opportunities for native birds and other wildlife.

2

6 4 5

1

8 7

3

1 The Cincinnati Union Terminal, an Art Deco masterpiece, anchors the area while serving rail transit and housing multiple museums.

2 Inspired by the planning of the National Mall, a tree-lined pedestrian axis extends from the fountains to the Job Corps building, forming a strong visual corridor and connection.

3 The South Green is a flexible, multi-use space for recreation, relaxation, and gathering. Trees along the edges provide shade and frame views toward the terminal’s south wing.

4 To address parking needs, a large garage is placed beneath the park, serving museum visitors and the broader Lincoln Park area, with access from multiple points.

5 A large monument, such as an arch or obelisk, will mark the entrance to the district and honor the more than 3 million U.S. servicemen who passed through the terminal during World War II.

6 The highway will be capped to create new public spaces, parks, and pedestrian connections, while expanded bike infrastructure will improve access and connectivity throughout the area.

7 The Cincinnati Connector would be expanded with a new line linking the terminal to the larger light rail system, creating connections between national rail service and local transit.

8 Wide green spaces would provide room for concerts and public gatherings, while trees and comprehensive landscape design would create shade, comfort, and a strong sense of place.

My overall goal for this project was to create a design for the area that addresses the needs of many different groups and stakeholders.

The plan takes inspiration from the planning of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and aims to create a similarly monumental and people focused civic space. If implemented, a project like this could inspire similar redevelopment efforts and encourage new growth throughout the surrounding area.

I believe places should be designed to support many modes of transportation while also being beautiful, welcoming, and memorable public spaces.

THE LAYERS The project uses a multi layered design approach, separating transportation infrastructure from public space to create a more efficient and people focused environment. Vehicle circulation and parking are placed below ground, while the surface level is dedicated to parks, greenery, pedestrian space, and transit connections such as light rail and bike infrastructure. This layered system allows the district to support large amounts of movement and activity without sacrificing the quality of the public realm.

By stacking infrastructure and public uses vertically, the design maximizes the amount of usable space within the site while reducing the visual impact of cars and large paved parking areas.

Instead of allowing transportation infrastructure to dominate the landscape, the project prioritizes people, nature, and public activity at the surface level. This approach could serve as a model for other cities, showing how urban spaces can support transportation needs while still creating beautiful, active, and memorable civic environments.

A new multi level parking garage would be placed beneath the park, helping accommodate visitors while preserving active public space at the surface level.

Vertical and multi layered urban design creates a more efficient use of limited city space while allowing different systems to operate together without conflict. By organizing transportation, public space, and infrastructure on separate levels, cities can reduce congestion, improve connectivity, and create more usable land for people and development. In the long term, this approach helps cities grow in a more sustainable and efficient way while creating cleaner, more organized, and more accessible urban environments.

This creates more space for greenery, public gathering areas, and large events without the impact of surface parking. The design also encourages the use of alternative transportation, including bikes, pedestrian connections, and light rail transit.

THE MONUMENT The memorial arch is designed to serve as both a gateway to the district and a tribute to the more than 3 million servicemen who passed through Cincinnati Union Terminal on their way to battle during World War II. During the war, the terminal became one of the nation’s most important transportation hubs, making the site a powerful symbol of movement, sacrifice, and national unity. The monument aims to honor that history in a visible and lasting way.

Positioned along the central axis of the site, the arch is placed to frame the iconic façade of the terminal and create a strong sense of arrival. Its scale and placement help reinforce the monumental character of the surrounding public spaces while establishing a clear civic focal point for the district.

At the base of the monument, a large public plaza provides space for gathering, reflection, events, and everyday public activity. The project is intended not only to preserve the memory of the site’s historic role, but also to transform the surrounding area into a renewed people focused civic space.

FINAL First, I would like to say that I believe the idea behind this competition is brilliant, and I want to thank the United States Department of Transportation and everyone involved for organizing it. I think gathering ideas like these is incredibly important, and receiving them from a wide and diverse group of people is a great way to encourage new perspectives and innovation.

Throughout this presentation, I know I have repeated several of the same themes, but at its core, my proposal transforms the area surrounding Cincinnati Union Terminal into a large public space centered around people, connectivity, and multiple modes of transportation. The design prioritizes pedestrians while still supporting transit, biking, and vehicle access in a more balanced and efficient way.

The proposal also explores the role of beautiful and meaningful architecture in civic spaces, reflected in the idea for a grand memorial arch honoring the millions of servicemen who passed through the terminal on their way to World War II. I believe projects like this can strengthen both the identity of a city and the experience of the people who use it every day.

I hope this design can serve as an example of how cities and transportation infrastructure can be planned in the future, with a stronger focus on people, public space, and long term civic value.

Thank you again for holding this competition. It was an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience to design and work on this project, especially as the final design project of my high school career.

Sincerely, Ethan Alter