An above-average crash rate along W. Loveland Avenue helped drive Loveland's decision to install a new traffic signal at the Little Miami Scenic Trail crossing downtown.

City officials told WCPO that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) found the crash rate in the downtown corridor was slightly above average. Loveland police also issued several tickets over the past year to drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians at the crossing, WCPO reported.

The signal went fully active Sept. 21, replacing a pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalk system that had been in place for years. Under the old setup, crossing guards worked high-volume events to keep traffic moving, according to the city's construction projects page.

The new system installs two types of signals: traditional overhead traffic lights for vehicles and separate signals designed for trail users. Vehicles get a continuous green or red light while pedestrians and bicyclists wait for a walk signal before crossing. The signals are synchronized with nearby lights at State Route 48 and Karl Brown Way to help keep vehicle traffic flowing through downtown, according to a city notice.

Loveland Police Capt. Daniel Gangwer told WCPO the new light takes the guesswork out of the crossing.

"Well, the safest thing is, for lack of a better term, we've taken some of the decision-making out of it. So, you'll follow the light that's in front of you," Gangwer said.

Assistant City Manager Chris Wojnicz said traffic had been getting seriously backed up in the corridor before the signal went in.

The project took years to reach completion. Design and engineering work ran from 2023 to 2024, and the timeline slipped more than once. Council member Deidre Hazelbaker noted in a March 2026 response to the Loveland Daily that the expected completion date had shifted from December to February and been delayed again. ODOT contractors began locating utilities in early July 2026, according to a City of Loveland post on X.

The city received a grant to fund the automated signal system, though the dollar amount has not been disclosed.

Car horns were still ringing out at certain hours as drivers and trail users adjusted to the new pattern, WCPO reported Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Residents with traffic safety concerns can contact the Loveland Police Department at 513-683-0020.