Tell OKI: Put People Over Pavement and Prioritize Transit over Highways
OKI's Transportation Plan Needs Your Voice
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%.
This funding imbalance doesn't reflect the equitable, sustainable transportation system our region needs.
The Brent Spence Bridge Project: A $3.6+ Billion Highway Expansion
Among the projects included in the TIP is the massive Brent Spence Bridge Corridor expansion – a $3.6+ billion project that would:
Add more lanes to an already expansive highway system
Increase air and noise pollution in surrounding neighborhoods
Permanently impact acres of wetlands
Continue the historical pattern of highway projects dividing communities
Divert funds from desperately needed transit and safety improvements
Despite what proponents claim, decades of transportation research shows that highway expansion does not solve congestion. The phenomenon known as "induced demand" means that adding lanes simply encourages more driving, quickly returning congestion to previous levels.
What We're Asking For
We're calling on OKI to:
Delay funding for the Brent Spence expansion until ODOT has thoroughly studied alternatives
Rebalance transportation priorities to better fund transit, walking, and biking infrastructure
Consider equity and environmental impacts in all transportation decisions
Prioritize fixing existing infrastructure before building new roads
Join us at the public meeting on Tuesday, April 1, at 4:00 PM at OKI's office (720 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 420, Cincinnati). You can testify in person or virtually.
