Exclusive Video Interviews From Residents & Newport Commission Meeting Recap

We had a great turnout Monday evening for the May 22nd Newport Commission Meeting. Thank you to Newport Commission for hosting us, and thank you to everyone who showed up in support!

About 50 Newport, Covington, and Cincinnati neighbors were in attendance to demand a safe and iconic 4th Street Bridge design. There were 4+ media outlets in attendance as well.

When asked what they most enjoyed about the event, Newport residents overwhelmingly emphasized seeing the support from the community and that the mayor and commissioner seemed responsive.

Residents from across the region were interviewed, sharing why the 4th Street Bridge redesign is important to them:

Newport resident, bike rider, and ReNewport transportation committee co-creator Mary Leonard hopes, "KYTC is responsive to this groundswell of people who are very interested in improving our communities, which is in line with the Complete Streets policy that has just been enacted. I hope that they listen to us and include us in the conversation."

The presentation for the commission meeting, prepared by Devou Good Foundation's President, Matt Butler, started with the history of 4th Street Bridge and how the foundation ended up getting involved:

"We started talking with the community, and this was really kind of kicked off based [on] concerns that their voice wasn't being heard."

Almost every slide featured both statistics and a quote of feedback from the community. Under a slide with the title "Fourth Street Bridge For Future Generations," Hub+Weber's Spoke design is pictured, with Joe Hansbauer's words underneath: "Love the places to Pause and enjoy the bridge/views."

On a slide titled "Evidence Based Approach to Options," graphics show the stark difference in actual average daily automobile count and KYTC's inflated projected count. Katie Desmond's quote is below: "My priority is [a] safe (separate) walkway and bikeway for non-car traffic."

photo courtesy of Kathy Cunningham

The Mayor, Tom Guidugli Jr., thanked Matt Butler for presenting and gave a shout-out to Jim Guthrie, the principal architect at Hub+Weber behind the three designs that the community voted on, of which Spoke was the winner. Mayor Guidugli's closing remarks were encouraging:

 "Of course, Spoke design spoke to me and that's the one I voted for. It was my favorite design. All of these designs do exactly what was described. This vision [of reimagining 4th Street Bridge] and this inspiration creates 'place.' The making of place needs to be a part of this. 

Connectivity needs to be a part of this. Cars need to be a part of this. Bikers, walkers, safety. All of those things working together and the new opportunities that arise out of this...

Advocacy, making these issues occur, starts with your voices, and we appreciate hearing them, not just tonight, but through this journey. KYTC, specifically Jim Gray, the current secretary, has been more open to these concepts and ideas than ever in history. So we're at a unique point in time for exciting things that are going to happen. So stay tuned."

When asked what was most compelling about the project, Newport Resident and runner Karen Minzner said, "The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet working with the community to get a design that will work well with everyone. My father was actually a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineer for almost 40 years, so I understand some of the things that they need to go through for design, but being able to make it work both engineering-wise and with the public is important." 

When asked what she wanted KYTC officials to know, Minzner responded, "Listen to what the public wants," closing her interview statement with a smile. 

We look forward to Newport's decision on how to best support the community's priorities. 

Press from Event:

Devou Good Foundation gives presentation on 4th Street Bridge project in Newport by Haley Parnell at LINK nky

“Part of the Spoke design connects paths from the bridge to existing ones in Covington and Newport, like the River Front Commons Trail and the Licking River Greenway Trail. 

‘It incorporates so many of the things that I think that we do want,’ Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin said. ‘We need access to the top of the flood wall—pedestrian access, we need access to the riverfront—pedestrian access, and we need access to the other side of the flood wall.’

Rechtin said the design also is recognizable and would be something people see and think ‘Northern Kentucky.’”

Community input inspires the “Spoke” 4th Street Bridge design between Newport and Covington by Kareem A. Simpson at Soapbox Cincinnati

"Nearly fifty advocates and supporters hailing from Newport, Covington, and Cincinnati attended the City of Newport’s May 2023 Commission meeting to demand a safe and iconic 4th Street Bridge design.

This show of support is in direct response to a woman being hit and killed while cycling in Newport in August 2022. In January 2023, Newport city officials made plans to increase bicycle safety and accessibility.”