OKI’s top regional priority is also a vital national priority. Funding must be se-cured to clear this critical chokepoint on the I-75 freight corridor; the busiest sur-face freight corridor in the nation. This is not simply a regional transportation project; it is a national economic devel-opment project. It does not simply con-nect Ohio to the commonwealth of Ken-tucky; it connects northern Michigan to southern Florida. It also connects the upper Midwest to the ports of Los An-geles, San Jose, Miami and many others.

This bridge is the lynchpin to the nation’s busiest freight corridor.

Priority: Secure funding through the Federal Transportation Funding Legislation to continue progress on the Eastern Corridor project.The Eastern Corridor project is an all-inclusive approach that addresses transportation needs while maximizing regional ben-efits. It provides multi-modal solutions to transportation issues through new transit options, bike and walking trails, road improvements and rail inclusion. It is comprehensive in its structure and is immensely critical to the region’s future. The project stretches from downtown Cincinnati’s urbanized core to western Clermont County and into northern Kentucky. It contains major economic centers including the Greater Cincinnati metro region, the Cincinnati Central Business District, Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium, the University of Cincinnati area, many area hospitals, Northern Kentucky University, New-port’s river development, Xavier University, Lunken and Clermont County Airports, Anderson Township, Newtown, Fairfax, Eastgate, Milford and many others. It is essential that federal fund-ing be secured to ensure this linkage of economic engines can provide a seamless melding of modes that will attract commerce and provide a better quality of life for much of the region.

Interstate 471 serves as a link between great commercial development along the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky University. The nine-mile corridor in-cludes I-471, U.S. 27, I-275, KY 8 and KY 9 and accommodates nearly one million vehicles daily. Ohio River crossings on I-471 have quadrupled daily since its opening 25 years ago. Likewise, travel demand throughout the corridor has experienced dramatic growth, which is expected to continue. There are also several locations on I-471 that do not meet current highway design standards.

The federal government does not have enough money to meet the infrastructure needs of this country. It must recognize that the private sector has the resources, efficiencies and creativity to be an active partner with government to solve these problems. That is why OKI, in conjunc-tion with the National Association of Regional Councils, established RIIZ’s. RIIZ’s are an innovative solution to en-courage private-sector investment in infrastructure through a favorable tax treatment of funds and streamlined ap-proval processes. RIIZ’s will allow private corporations or individuals to contribute tax-deductible funds toward construction and maintenance of public infrastructure.

RIIZ’s are an opportunity to attract infra-structure investment that leverages fed-

The yearly economic value of com-merce that travels across the Brent Spence Bridge is an astounding $400 billion. By 2030, in real dollars, this amount grows to $815 billion.

This project includes adding a new multi-lane bridge, widening nearly eight miles of I-75, reconfiguring approach ramps and other interchange improvements. Almost one-half trillion dollars of com-merce crosses the bridge annually and the coming freight explosion will multi-ply that number greatly. The project cor-ridor including the Brent Spence Bridge is inefficient, over capacity and unsafe. It must receive construction funding in the next Federal Transportation Funding Bill to advance the nation’s competitiveness.

An OKI study identified 33 multi-modal improvements including lane additions, intersection improvements and new transit hubs that will address

safety and capacity issues on I-471 and other major routes in northern Kentucky’s Campbell County. It is im-portant to implement these improve-ments because I-471 will be used as a traffic alternative during the construc-tion of the I-71/I-75/Brent Spence Bridge project. If these improvements are not completed prior to the bridge project, it will result in significant congestion and safety issues on I-471.

Eastern Corridor Project

eral and state funds, while benefiting com-munities and keeping people, businesses and the economy growing and moving.

RIIZ projects may include road repair or construction, transit facility construc-tion, the purchase of right of way, historic preservation of transportation facilities (i.e. train stations, covered bridges), water runoff facilities, drinking, wastewater and stormwater system upgrades, green in-frastructure, watershed improvements or other projects that will enhance the infra-structure system of the designated area. RIIZ’s will not be permitted for upgrades that are considered customary or ordi-nary for development approval. RIIZ’s will provide a vast number of opportuni-ties for communities to find needed dol-lars to improve their local infrastructure.

OKI’s top regional priority is also a vital national priority. Funding must be secured to clear this critical chokepoint on the I-75 freight

corridor; the busiest surface freight corridor in the nation.

Priority: Enact change in federal tax code to allow private entities to re-ceive tax deduction for contributions toward public infrastructure projects.

Priority: Secure funding through the Federal Transportation Fund-ing Legislation to continue implementing recommended improvements.

Priority: Secure funding through the Federal Transportation Fund-ing Legislation for the I-71/I-75/Brent Spence Bridge project through project development and the first two years of construction.

Regional Infrastructure Improvement Zones (RIIZ’s)I-71/I-75/Brent Spence Bridge Project Interstate 471 Corridor

Brent Spence Bridge:INEFFICIENT

OVER CAPACITYUNSAFE

TRAFFIC CHOKEPOINT

2 0 1 1OKI 2011Transportation

Priorities

OKI TranspOrTaTIOn prIOrITIesIn the 112th Congress, it is imperative that a robust federal transportation bill be a key component of its agenda. Maximizing funding to maintain and ex-pand the country’s transportation system while creat-ing a streamlined federal process to build infrastruc-ture must be the core of the next transportation bill.

Prudent expenditures that aid the multi-modal trans-portation grid have a substantial return on investment. America needs these investments in infrastructure to re-main competitive in the vibrant global economy. Remov-ing existing funding silos by replacing the rigid structure with a more flexible revenue allocation process will help to stretch existing resources. The expanded use of pub-lic-private partnerships will infuse essential new funds. Eliminating redundant reviews, aggressive regulation and bureaucratic gamesmanship will stop the waste of inad-equate resources. The inefficient federal process endan-gers the lives of Americans. Metropolitan Planning Or-

ganizations and Council of Governments have a 50-year history of efficiently focusing spending to the most critical needs of local governments.

For far too long, the nation’s infrastructure has suffered severe underfunding and ex-treme bureaucracy. America is looking to its federal elected officials to be bold, in-

novative and courageous and not miss this historic opportunity to reform, rebuild and

reenergize the nation’s transportation network.

Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments

-For more information on these and other regional priorities visit www.oki.org/regionalpriorities

720 E. Pete Rose Way, Suite 420 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 | Phone : (513) 621-6300 | www.oki.org

PresidentEdwin Humphrey

Executive DirectorMark R. Policinski

Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments

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