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 dollars will be spent in our region over the next four years. Currently, the majority of funding is allocated to highway expansion while public transit receives just 11-12% and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure gets less than 1%.
Meeting Details
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 4:00 PM (Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to sign-in to speak. Speakers are limited to two minutes each.)
Location: OKI Office, 720 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 420, Cincinnati (Enter on west side of building and take elevators (on left) to floor 4)
Can’t make it in-person? Participate virtually.
Transit: METRO Routes 85 & 28 stop nearby; Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar stops at Banks station (6-min walk)
Biking: Riverfront and Eggleston Bike Path connects to building; bike racks available at entrance; Red Bike Station across street
Car Parking: surface lot west of building
Personal Story
Share your personal connection to why you oppose I-75 expansion or highway expansion generally
Briefly explain how it would impact you, your family, or your community
Positive Acknowledgments
Thank leaders for current transit investment (~10% for BRT/transit projects)
Recognize progress on regional trail networks (Wasson Way, Little Miami Scenic Trail)
Express appreciation for existing efforts while requesting more ambitious goals
Our Demands
Stop highway expansion that further harms communities
Invest in transit per OKI North-South Plan (increase to 25% of funding)
Increase bike/pedestrian infrastructure from <1% to 10% of total funding
Delay funding the Brent Spence Highway Expansion until ODOT studies alternatives that prioritize equitable and accessible transportation options for all residents.
Key Issues
Car-Centric Planning Issues
Induced demand: More lanes create more traffic, not less congestion
Federal government's recent actions undermine ODOT's claims about electrification reducing pollution
Health & Environmental Concerns
Cincinnati Children's Hospital research shows children near highways face:
Impaired brain development
Higher rates of ADHD
Increased asthma rates
Up to 50% of residents near the highway don't own cars – they bear health burdens without benefits
Expansion contradicts Cincinnati and Covington's climate and mobility goals
Data Points
Highway expansion represents majority of TIP funding (billions of dollars)
20% of Cincinnati households have no car access (2020 Census)
People Over Pavement survey results:
Top 3 resident concerns: Better transit, improved bike/ped infrastructure, street safety
82.6% of residents surveyed support alternatives to expansion
Closing
Emphasize that balanced transportation funding benefits everyone
Request specific commitment to delay Brent Spence funding until alternatives are studied
Remind decision-makers that their vote on April 10th will shape our region's future for the next 50+ years
