People Over Pavement

No, this project is much more harmful than fixing the bridge. What is being sold as a bridge replacement project is actually a massive 8-mile long highway expansion through community space in Cincinnati and Covington neighborhoods. ODOT’s own traffic counts show a historical DECREASE in daily traffic, putting into question the need for a massive expansion from 8 to 16 lanes crossing the Ohio River. In ODOT’s current plan, the Brent Spence Bridge will continue to be used indefinitely.

Today, congestion issues are self regulated due to the current capacity of the highway. If the highway were expanded, it would encourage drivers to take more trips on the highway that they normally would have combined or not taken at all. If the highway were expanded, it would quickly fill back up.  This has happened over and over again in cities across the country.

The lawsuit aims for defendants to reassess the project through a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which would include studying alternative designs that could reduce the project’s impact and provide residents of the region with more transportation choices.

The original Environmental Assessment (EA) was from 2012 and the project has changed substantially since then. A full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has never been conducted on this project. ODOT released their Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) this past May, giving any organization or person 6 months to file a lawsuit. Our groups are filing within the window it is allowed to, even if the project has been in the talks for 20+ years.

The NEPA lawsuit is asking for ODOT and the listed agencies to conduct a full EIS. This includes addressing the current congestion issues as well as future congestion issues. We are thinking about the longevity and impact a highway expansion will have on the Greater Cincinnati Region; who will be living here when the job is complete and what outcomes do we actually want?

The best way to reduce congestion is to provide multi-modal forms of transportation in areas where improved transportation choices are needed. Similarly to induce demand with car capacity, you can induce demand for public transportation, just like our Streetcar and Metro. The Brent Spence Bridge carries a large amount of regional traffic, and building multi-modal options for this traffic allows more choice and eventually reduces car traffic.

The problem with the highway is related to the larger problem throughout our region and nation - an overwhelming focus on car centricity. Cars have often been the key to getting around in the US for decades now, but people need to have the ability to choose safer, more accessible, and greener modes of transportation. Investing in a massive highway project means failing to make necessary investments in improved bike, pedestrian and transit infrastructure in our community.

While CTSD has worked with Bridge Forward, we are separate organizations. Bridge Forward’s advocacy is focused on reducing the footprint of the I-75/71 interchange west of downtown and increasing connectivity between downtown, Queensgate, and West End. CTSD seeks to address the harms caused by highway expansion throughout the corridor, especially in minority-neighborhoods, and to advocate for comprehensive solutions and alternatives to massive expansion that are created by the community.