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OKI Talking Transportation In DC This Week

Michael Keating
The Brent Spence Bridge will be a lead topic during discussions in Washington D.C. this week.

A group that coordinates regional transportation efforts - like funding a new Brent Spence Bridge - is in Washington D.C. this week. Members of the OKI Regional Council of Governments meet each year with lawmakers from the three-state region.This is their first under the Trump administration, which has promised spending $500 billion to $1 trillion on infrastructure projects.

"The new Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, is familiar with our region and we're hoping that her vast experience under two other presidents will bring a new set of eyes to the transportation funding crisis that we're in," says OKIDirector of Communications and Legislative Affairs Lorrie Platt.

The group is requesting a meeting with Chao as well as elected leaders from the region.

"The Brent Spence Bridge is always our number one topic, it has been the last several years," says Platt. "We'll also talk about the Western Hills Viaduct, the Boone County Transportation Plan that's going to be underway soon. We'll also touch on the Indiana Port, the new fourth port announcement that came out in late 2016."

As for the Brent Spence Bridge, it's currently being studied by Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's administration. That study is due by the end of September, 2017. Platt says the next step after that is getting Ohio and Kentucky to agree on a funding plan to present to the federal government. Kentucky legislators last year voted to ban tolling as a way to fund a replacement.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.