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Why recent flooding has us thinking about the Brent Spence

The recent flash flooding in Cincinnati got us thinking about the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.The heavy rain this week did not appear to damage construction on the project, but it did remind us of an important connection between bigger roads and bigger floods.This week's worst flooding h...

While city leaders take summer recess, neighborhood concerns over I-75 Brent Spence widening go unanswered

While Cincinnati’s mayor and City Council got an early start last week on a six-week summer vacation, residents and families living in communities alongside I-75 are left looking for answers as crews begin the long, arduous haul of the Brent Spence corridor highway expansion project.With the late...

Despite Pending Lawsuit, KYTC and ODOT Barrel Ahead with Brent Spence Groundbreaking Ceremony

Some of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati's highest-level politicians gathered Friday afternoon for a (dubious but nevertheless flashy and media-friendly) "groundbreaking" ceremony to commemorate the start of construction on the Brent Spence's new companion bridge and roughly eight miles of highwa...

KYTC Will Close Covington's Riverfront Commons Trail for Brent Spence Construction on May 1

Despite objection from hundreds of concerned residents last year, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced today that it will close nearly a mile of Covington's Riverwalk (which some of us still refer to as the Riverfront Commons Trail) along the city's Ohio River banks for at least the next...

Brent Spence Highway Expansion Takes First Bite Out of Cincinnati's Urban Core

Hot off last week's announcement of a spring groundbreaking ceremony (and higher price tag) for the Brent Spence highway expansion and bridge build, ODOT has begun demolition on the historic Longworth Hall in Queensgate.Taking down the eastern 200 feet of the 1,200-foot architectural marvel, nati...

Cost for new Brent Spence Bridge and Highway Widening Balloons to $4.4 Billion

Officials with the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced today that they now expect the looming bridge construction and highway expansion along I-75's Brent Spence corridor to cost a whopping $4.4 billion.And that number could keep climbing.Read that ...

November 2025: Grassroots Organizing Delivers Real Transportation Wins Across Greater Cincinnati

November 2025 demonstrated what's possible when neighbors organize for safer, more equitable streets. From construction breaking ground on safety improvements to volunteers maintaining infrastructure with their own hands, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky proved that community power delive...

Make Sure Your Voice is Heard: Talking Points for Transit at CEI

Coalition members have assembled this resource to ensure your success making public comment every other Tuesday at Cincinnati’s Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee Meeting. View and print the entire (interactive!) doc by clicking here or read the updated points posted below.Make sur...

How to Talk to Your Legislators: Workshop Recap

Professor Bob Hyland reminded participants at the first of two fall workshops on how to effectively address and meet with legislators. He and Dr. Amy Townsend-Small opened their offices to eager students, advocates and community members who wanted to know how to give public comment better. Profes...

Make It a Habit: Neighbors Come Together for Climate, Environment, and Infrastructure

This is a guest contribution from coalition member Rox. Join the movement and volunteer to contribute to our blog here.Watch: 9/23/25 CEI MeetingOn Tuesday, September 23, neighbors came together at the Cincinnati City Council's Climate, Environment, and Infrastructure committee where we heard fro...

Help Craft a Vision For the Community

The Brent Spence Community Listening & Engagement initiative is gathering input from residents about the proposed I-75 highway expansion and its impact on the West End and Covington communities.

Cincinnati’s Sustainability Movement is Gaining Momentum

On Thursday, May 29th, Sustainable Cincy hosted a Sustainability and Transit Open House at CoHatch in Covington (409 W 6th St Suite 200, Covington, KY 41011) to welcome community members to our new office location. Residents and activists from across the Greater Cincinnati region met organization...

Now Open: Sustainable Cincy Lending Library

Check out books, equipment and other resources supporting a more sustainable, people-oriented environment in Greater CincinnatiLocated at its Cincinnati office at 118 Findlay St, the Sustainable Cincy Lending Library offers activists and advocates free access to books, tools and other resources t...

Help Shape the Future of Transit and Public Infrastructure in Ohio

The Access Ohio 2050 plan will shape the state’s transportation policy agenda over the next 25 years. Share your story with ODOT and insist they prioritize people over pavement!Leaders with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently hosted an open house in Cincinnati to present and gat...

Open House: Join Transit and Sustainability Advocates from around the Tri-State

In the spirit of collaboration and cross-pollination among transit and sustainability advocates across Greater Cincinnati, Sustainable Cincy invites the community to meet volunteers from organizations dedicated to building equitable and environmentally prudent neighborhoods throughout our region....

Residents Take Action to Tell OKI Leaders: Hit the Brakes on the Brent Spence and Highway Expansion

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) is currently seeking public input on its biennial Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and dozens — including one overseas speaker tuned in virtually — took the chance this week to demand better priorities for our region's trans...

Talking Points: OKI TIP Public Input

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) is currently seeking public input on its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – and this is our chance to demand better priorities for our region's transportation future.The TIP determines how billions of federal transportation d...

Tell OKI: Put People Over Pavement and Prioritize Transit over Highways

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) is currently seeking public input on its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – and this is our chance to demand better priorities for our region's transportation future.The TIP determines how billions of federal transportation d...

Hundreds Demand NKY Leaders Reject Highway Expansion and Save Riverfront Commons Trail

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s recent announcement that it will close nearly a mile of Covington’s Riverfront Commons trail segment was just the latest amplification of the increasingly detrimental impact of the planned Brent Spence corridor bridge build and highway expansion through the h...

Take Our I-75 Community Survey

Sustainable Cincy is collecting community feedback for reimagining I-75 between Covington, KY and Camp Washington, Cincinnati, OH. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is currently planning the future of this corridor via their Brent Spence Corri...

Call for Volunteers: Help Challenge the Brent Spence Corridor Highway Expansion

The Coalition For Transit and Sustainable Development is seeking community volunteers to assist with critical data analysis work on our lawsuit challenging the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.Last October, the Coalition For Transit and Sustainable Development (along with several community or...

Tell Covington Commission, FHWA: Say ‘No’ to Highway Expansion and Save Riverfront Commons Trail

As agencies at all levels of government shore up their plans to carve out an even wider Brent Spence highway corridor through the hearts of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the $3.6 billion interstate expansion and new bridge-build project now stands poised to deal another blow to the region’s s...

Tell Cincinnati City Council to Change the Form!

In the 2023 general election, city voters approved Issue 23, an amendment to the city charter streamlining local initiative and election processes. In most regards, this amendment has been successful in saving time and resources for both city staff and citizen petitioners. However, in the process...

Stop ODOT from Degrading the Ohio River

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking approval to degrade water quality in the Ohio River for their Brent Spence Bridge Corridor expansion project. If approved, this project would add a second bridge with up to 10 lanes of car traffic between Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio....

NEPA Complaint Filed: Brent Spence Corridor Project

After considering the devastating future and current environmental impacts of the Project, including the disproportionate negative health effects on minority communities from increased air pollution, noise pollution, and flooding, along with the removal of wetlands and forests, and destruction of...

How OKI’s Representation Bias Helps the Suburbs and Hurts the City

Every quarter, more than 100 board members gather at The Sawyer Point Building to determine the shape of Cincinnati's future. Although this particular meeting place is in the geographic center of the Cincinnati region, the policymakers largely represent the interests of people in the suburbs. Thi...

Title VI Investigation: Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project

We are pleased to announce that the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Office of Civil Rights has accepted for investigation our complaint of discrimination alleging violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) and its implementing regulations, including Title VI regulat...

Support Connected Communities for a Thriving Cincinnati

Cincinnati is at a crossroads. Our current zoning laws are holding back our city's potential, leading to a housing crisis and limiting opportunities for all residents. It's time for change.Connected Communities is a plan that will build a more equitable and sustainable future for Cincinnati. By a...

Panel: Reckoning with the Truth

An Interdisciplinary Panel on the Historic and Future Harms of Interstate Highway Expansion in CincinnatiSo why is Cincinnati about to add 8 lanes of freeway and a new bridge over the Ohio River?How will this impact black, brown, and other marginalized communities, already the victim of previous ...

Opposition Mounts to Brent Spence Corridor Highway Expansion

Over 200 concerned citizens submitted comments on the Brent Spence Corridor Expansion Project, urging ODOT to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement and to address critical issues regarding the expansion project, including potential environmental damage, public health risks, social inequit...

Action Alert: Ask Council to Support Red Bike

The Red Bike board has voted to permanently shutdown Red Bike. Message city council and encourage them to support Red Bike.The form below will send your comments directly to city council – below the submission form we also have more information summarizing the benefits of Redbike. (in short: 1. T...

Sustainable Cincy General Meeting: Thursday, 3/14 at 6:30 PM

Join us for the Sustainable Cincy General Meeting to learn about our campaigns and how you can get involved. Hear updates on Expand Transit, Not Highways, Fair Share For Cincy, and Fourth Street Bridge including our efforts to advocate for sustainable transportation solutions. Reserve your spot n...

Action Alert: Ask Council to Support Full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Brent Spence Project

Message city council and encourage them to submit comments to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), advocating for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Brent Spence Project.Considering the outdated assessment from 2012, unfulfilled traffic projections, updated environmental...

Feedback on Brent Spence Corridor Environmental Assessment

Download a PDF version with charts.Via email: Keith.Smith@dot.state.ohio.gov Coalition For Transit and Sustainable DevelopmentPO Box 1003Covington, KY 41012(859) 203-8206hello@sustainablecincy.org 3/8/2024 ODOT District 8 OfficeAttn: Keith Smith505 South State Route 741Lebanon, OH 45036-9518 M...

Expand Transit, Not Highways: Public Comment Action Alert

16+ lanes wide • $3.6+ billion wasted • 8+ years of construction • 29+ bulldozed homes & businesses • 90+ acres of forest destroyed • Worse trafficODOT is barreling forward with the 7.8 mile Brent Spence Corridor expansion using an outdated environmental assessment that was prepared over 12 ...

Expand Transit, Not Highways: Action Alert

16+ lanes wide • $3.6+ billion wasted • 8+ years of construction • 29+ bulldozed homes & businesses • 90+ acres of forest destroyed • Worse trafficODOT is barreling forward with the 7.8 mile Brent Spence Corridor expansion using an outdated environmental assessment that was prepared over 12 ...

Cincinnati Streetcar Expansion Route Maps

CombinedSouth FairmountEzzard CharlesQueensgateDowntown-UptownClifton-Walnut HillsCamp WashingtonDowntown-OTR-West EndMohawkNorthern Kentucky (Newport & Covington)On February 1st, 2024, nine potential expansion route maps were unveiled at a forum held at First Lutheran Church in Cincinnati an...

Cincinnati Streetcar Forum: Thursday, 2/1 at 6:30 PM

This event is at maximum capacity. Guests who haven't RSVP'd will be admitted only once all those with reservations have been checked in.On November 24th, 2023, Cincinnati’s Streetcar served its millionth passenger of the year. With renewed and impressive growth in public support, the Cincinnati ...

Take Action at Cincinnati Planning Commission 11/17 to Stop the Teardown of 1005 Gilbert for Surface Parking

Update 11/17/2023: Thank you for speaking out! In today's planning meeting, the Cincinnati Planning Director added the Chavez request to teardown the building at 1005 Gilbert Ave for a surface parking lot to the agenda, prompting questions from Commissioners. The planning staff presented the prop...

Freeway Fighters Grassroots Summit Recap

From October 19th to the 21st, almost 50 attendees from across the US gathered together in Cincinnati for the first-ever Freeway Fighters Grassroots Summit, a joint effort by America Walks and The Devou Good Foundation. Scrappy grassroots advocates joined together to collaborate on how to fight ...

Paved Paradise Book Discussion 11/29 at Trinity

Join us Wednesday, November 29th from 10 AM-12 PM at Trinity Church as Matt Butler leads a discussion of Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains The World by Henry Grabar Parking can be a nightmare. Whether you're late for an event downtown and circling to find a parking spot or biking around said d...

We’ve taken our 4th Street Bridge Concerns to US-DOT

The recent Newport Commission Meeting exacerbated concerns that KYTC was not seriously considering community feedback, particularly regarding the community push for maintaining 3 lanes instead of expanding to 4. When Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin asked if KYTC tabulated public input from the m...

What does the future hold for the 4th Street Bridge replacement?

The 4th Street Bridge replacement has sparked a lot of conversation about what the future, specifically, the next 50+ year life span of the bridge replacement holds. Does the future include streetcars? What does safety for pedestrians and cyclists look like not just over the water, but at both e...

Beyond Automobiles: A Conversation on Environmental Justice and Transportation

Pollution from the transportation sector has been a long-standing obstacle to advancing environmental justice (EJ), as many communities of color and low-income families live near areas where vehicle pollution is pervasive and experience disproportionate exposure to this pollution. Join us for a m...

Take Action to Stop the Expansion of Surface Parking Lots in Cincinnati

Act Now Against Car-Centric Development The time has come to take a stand against car-oriented development. To reclaim downtown and forge a future for our city, we must reevaluate our outdated land-use policies. Your assistance is crucial in this endeavor. Critical Vote Alert: Equitable Growth an...

The People’s Public Hearing Event Recap

On Thursday, August 10th, around 65 people gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church for The People’s Public Hearing for the Fourth Street Bridge. The event began with an intro from Devou Good Foundation’s Matt Butler, sharing about community engagement thus far, mobility trends, and where things stan...

The People’s Public Hearing on the Replacement 4th St Bridge: August 10th at 7 PM

After dozens of phone calls and 800+ emailed letters, the City of Covington refused to hold an in-person public meeting to discuss the 4th Street Bridge Replacement. Instead, they are abdicating their responsibilities and allowing unelected employees of KYTC to determine our future. So we're host...

Fourth Street Bridge Talking Points When Meeting With Elected Officials

When meeting with elected officials, it’s helpful to highlight the key points and have personal stories ready to share. Remember to keep in mind both the big picture and why the 4th Street Bridge design is important to you as a constituent. 1) Proposes an overbuilt design that increase costs thro...

Spoke VR Open House Recap & Press

On Wednesday, May 3rd, around 100 people gathered at Hub+Weber Architects to experience the reimagined Spoke bridge in virtual reality. Attendees cited the beautiful design and the amount of space for pedestrians as the most compelling aspects of the 4th Street Bridge design project. Newport resi...

No More Concrete Wastelands: Support the Ban on New Surface Parking in Cincinnati

Do you want a city or a parking lot? Rolling hills. Beautiful views. Historic Buildings. Places to gather, read, and picnic. Children playing. The sound of laughter or the sound of serenity. Music, art, festivals, celebrations. This is the essence of what makes Cincinnati special. We cherish our ...

People Over Pavement Story Map

This advocacy resource examines the proposed $3.8 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor highway widening project through Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, presenting data on traffic patterns, carbon emissions, demographic impacts, and environmental justice concerns. The site includes historical tr...

KY-8 Community Votes Spoke Design Concept for Next 4th Street Bridge

The community has weighed in on the next 4th Street Bridge design and function. Two open houses were held, and 1,400+ surveys were completed where respondents chose Spoke as the highest-ranked concept. 575+ petitions were collected with over 99% support for several key design elements: two drivin...

Concerns over Brent Spence Corridor Project's Compliance with Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Regulations

§ 4321, et seq., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-7, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) implementing regulations, 49 C.F.R. pt. 21 and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) own Title VI/Nondiscrimination Plan and assurances submitted to t...

The Impact of Urban Renewal and I-75 on Cincinnati's Historically African American West End Neighborhood

Urban renewal has had a significant impact on the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati, particularly through the construction of I-75 in the 1950s. This highway project resulted in the destruction of a historically African American community, causing the displacement of thousands of residents and ...

Why Double the Lanes on The Brent Spence Bridge?

The Brent Spence Corridor is a major transportation artery that connects Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. It is currently comprised of eight lanes, but the most recent plans call to expand the number of lanes to 16. However, recent data from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) sho...

Expand Transit not Highways

16+ lanes wide • $3.6+ billion wasted • 8+ years of construction • 29+ bulldozed homes & businesses • 90+ acres of forest destroyed • Worse traffic There’s still time for change. Sign the petition below to show your support and stay informed. Highway expansion projects harm already vulnerabl...

Greater Cincinnati Air Quality Study

We are excited to announce the launch of our outdoor air quality monitoring study in the Greater Cincinnati area, specifically focusing on the urban basin. According to Climate Trace, Cincinnati’s road transportation system emits 3.46 megatons of CO2e per year. This ranks 76th in the world just w...

The Brent Spence Expansion and Light Rail Option

The Brent Spence Bridge, which spans the Ohio River connecting Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky, has garnered a lot of attention in recent years due to its perception of congested traffic. However, when compared to other congested roads in the United States, the Brent Spence Bridge ranks ...

Brent Spence Bridge: How Road Expansion and Heavy Trucks Impacts Traffic Congestion

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to execute the $3.8 billion proposed Brent Spence Companion Bridge project it claims will reduce the traffic congestion on the existing Brent Spence Bridge. While this looks like a major infrastructural milestone, it’s coming at the detriment of lo...

Main Street Over The Rhine Open Streets Concept

Welcome to the Main Street Over The Rhine Open Streets, a community-driven initiative to transform Main Street into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly space. On select Sundays throughout the year, Main Street is closed to vehicular traffic and transformed into a car-free zone. The open streets provid...

Support a Safer Girl Scout Bridge

The existing “Girl Scout Bridge” on 11th Street (KY 1120) over the Licking River between Covington and Newport is a critical but unsafe connection for people walking, biking, and using mobility devices. Devou Good Foundation (DGF) is proposing to improve safety on the bridge by funding the repurp...

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Tell Cincinnati Council: We need to know the full environmental impact of the Brent Spence highway expansion

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