By Mike Rutledge
NKyTribune contributor
State Rep. Addia Wuchner and the Northern Kentucky Legislative Caucus have scheduled a transportation summit for Oct. 23.
The goal is to build some consensus on the need for a Brent Spence Bridge replacement and a proposed extension of Interstate 71 through southern Campbell and Kenton counties.
The Caucus has invited a range of people to serve on a panel – including those opposed to a new bridge and those who want a bridge, but not if that involves tolls.
Also invited are those who contend a new eastern corridor extending I-71 through Campbell and Kenton could eliminate the need for a new $2.6 billion span adjacent to the existing Brent Spence Bridge.
Officials have not determined all the details of what they’re calling the “NKY Legislative Caucus Bridge and Bypass Summit,” including whether the general public will be given time to address the local lawmakers during the event. At the very least, the public will be invited to attend and listen to presentations by groups that represent the spectrum of viewpoints on the bridge.
“We are excited, and looking forward to the conversation – it’s been a long time coming,” said Marisa McNee of Covington, a spokeswoman for Northern Kentucky United.
The group opposes tolls for the bridge, and also has argued that Northern Kentuckians should have more of a voice in determining the transportation possibilities.
“We’ve wanted the conversation to be broader about the possible alternatives for solving some of the transportation issues,” McNee said. “We are very active on the side of ‘no tolls for the Brent Spence Bridge,’ but also we would like to see lots of alternatives discussed. So our coalition is obviously very supportive of the discussion of the bypass.”
Wuchner, chairwoman of the legislative caucus, and the vice chairman, state Sen. Wil Schroder, sent a letter Thursday to Northern Kentucky United and several other organizations, asking them to present their viewpoints to the caucus.
The summit is scheduled to take place at the Northern Kentucky University METS Center, 3861 Olympic Blvd., in Erlanger.
Those invited include are Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock, Transportation Cabinet District 6 Chief Engineer Rob Hans and Mark Policinski of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
Also invited are representatives from the organizations Cincy East Bypass Solutions; Build our Bridge Now; Kentuckians for Better Transportation; and Northern Kentucky United.
State Rep. Arnold Simpson, whose Covington district is most affected by the bridge decision, and who opposes tolls to build the bridge, said he looks forward to hearing the various perspectives with all interested groups in the room.
“I think it’ll be very refreshing to have a forum, and an opportunity to hear from people on both sides of the equation express themselves on the importance of the merits of their preferred alternative,” Simpson said. “I commend Addia Wuchner for the leadership she’s taken, and Wil Schroder. I think it’s going to be a wonderful opportunity to hear the experts on the matter,” Simpson added.”
Wuchner could not be reached for comment for this story, but has said in the past she planned to convene a summit so the caucus could begin to hear from all factions, and begin a dialogue that brings everybody to the table.
The goal is to have a consensus on what all parties agree on and given the spectrum of opinions, that list currently isn’t very long.
Those invited to participate applauded the caucus’ efforts.
“The conversation about how best to solve our region’s transportation needs is important, necessary, and long over-due,” said Phyllis Sparks, spokeswoman for the Citizens for the Cincy Eastern Bypass Solutions. “We look forward to the opportunity to present the bypass solution to the caucus.”
Patrick Crowley, spokesman for Build our Bridge Now, commended the caucus for trying to get information out there.
“There are those who are against it, and there are those who have other plans,” Crowley added. “You can’t just say ‘no,’ this bridge needs to be replaced and you can’t just divert traffic. Even if there would be an eastern bypass, you’d still have to replace the Brent Spence Bridge, and make it safer, and ease congestion, which will improve the economy. That’s what we want to come out of this.”
Crowley agrees with the perspective that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to do this project without tolls.
“We’ve tried. There have been some people working on this for a decade, and the money just isn’t there from the feds and from the states,” Crowley said. “So I think for the project to happen, there’s going to have to be a toll.”
The invitation letter asks everyone to commit to attending the entire summit from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., in an effort to facilitate informative and frank discussions amongst summit participating partners.
“Listening is the first step, when you really want to hear what the other has to say….The future of our region requires our collective willingness to listen, enter in to dialog and explore the details of these critical transportation issues.”