The main reason we can't get the bridge:

 

Ban on earmarks.

 

Congress banned earmarks in 2011 after the tea party won in 2010.

I'd be in favor of some sort of "grand bargain" that imposes a regional transportation tax that would providing funding for large-scale regional transportation needs, which would include the bridge and a light rail system.

$5 is way too much. Reduce that and add a fee to driver license and vehicle registrations and tags.

Talk about a boondoggle. 49% of the bridge will not be covered by gas taxes!!

 

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2013/01/23/drivers-cover-just-51-percent-of-u-s-road-spending/

$1.50 each way could bring in around $100 million a year If the 200k daily crossings hold up. What are they going to charge in Louisville for their bridges?

The Build Our Bridge Now coalition has issued a response to an attempt by a local coalition to petition KY Gov. Beshear to rescind his agreement with Kasich:

 

New Bridge Advocates: "Ditch the scare tactics, learn the truth"

 

The Build Our New Bridge Now coalition, supporters of public-private partnerships to finance the Brent Spence Bridge project, issued a response Tuesday to what it called "scare tactics" in the debate over tolls and other issues facing the bridge's construction. On Monday, a petition effort was launched by Covington activists that aims to end the agreement between the governors of Ohio and Kentucky to construct a bridge in a manner that would likely involve tolls.

 

Here is the text of the coalition's response:

 

As the Coalition has begun to gain momentum, we have encountered some groups that wish to diminish our traction. With a project of this magnitude, it should be expected to hear plenty of misinformation and scare tactics to avoid progress. This Coalition was formed to encourage action among our region and elected officials. Our goal is to build a new bridge safer, quicker and with the most benefit to our community. We encourage open discussions with community members and stakeholders and we do not believe in spreading false facts or using scare tactics to advance our cause.

 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about every group interested in the bridge project.

 

 

 

U.S. Senate supports amendment by Sen. Rob Portman

 

Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/senator-rob-portman-to-highlight-brent-spence-bridge-redevelopment#ixzz2Zz6rRoCW

There should be an emphasis on repairs and maintenance over building new. And "functionally obsolete" should not be lumped in with "structurally deficient" as though they are equivalent.

Agreed. There should be a notable preference between a replacing a bridge with a ranking that basically says, "immediate danger of collapse" to the other which is merely an inconvenience to drivers.

The Northern Kentucky Tea Party wants everyone else to pay for their bridge

 

Rather than strangling our economic engines with tolls and other user fees, there is a solution that will spur development, create jobs and bring consumers. This solution will cost Northern Kentucky and the entire commonwealth drastically less than the $500 million a year that tolls will cost our community.

 

In 2012, the commonwealth collected over $3 billion from the 6 percent sales tax and almost $838 million in fuel taxes, for combined revenue of $3.838 billion. By eliminating Kentucky taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, making those fuel sales subject to the state sales tax instead, and by increasing the sales tax to7 percent, the commonwealth can increase its sales tax revenue to more than $4.2 billion and have more than $357 million year after year in additional funds for badly needed transportation infrastructure.

 

Read the article because it is a hoot.

 

Essentially, they are trying to increase the cost of all products (except fuel, which will be cut in half at today's gas prices) to pay for transportation projects. The author claims that cheap gas will bring people into their state. So they want drivers to pay less for their roads, and they want a regressive tax to be increased to pay for drivers. All to avoid a toll on those who use the bridge. Interesting that the Tea Party hates tolls more than taxes.

The Build Our New Bridge Now Coalition ("a group of individuals and organizations in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area pushing to build a new, and rehab the old, Brent Spence Bridge") sent out an email this morning containing the following excerpt:

 

State of the Federal Highway Trust Fund

 

Check out this great infographic that shows how the Federal Highway Trust Fund can't keep up with our nation's infrastructure needs. By 2015, the Congressional Budget Office projects that the fund will not be able to meet its current obligations.

 

Well, the BONBN coalition obviously doesn't think that we should be building less infrastructure. The want a new $3 billion bridge, after all. So the question becomes, how do they want to replenish the federal highway trust fund to pay for this infrastructure.

 

Turns out, the group refuses to take a stance on whether the new bridge should be tolled. Their FAQ page is full of waffling, unlike the official Brent Spence Bridge Corridor website, which is full of PR promoting the benefits of tolling.

be afraid - be very afraid

"terribly deadly and unsafe"

 

bridges don't kill people, people kill people

 

except when it's the BSB. 

 

hyperbole much?

^^wow. It's almost like when people say "no one goes there because it's too crowded".

 

Also, it's interesting that they don't set any level of comparison between what would happen without a new bridge, and what would happen with a new bridge. For all I know, those projections would be the same if we do build a new bridge. how much will the bridge help? That video is simply drawing a conclusion for cause and effect from a single data point.

Oh god. Can't believe tax dollars went to make that blatant propaganda.

Atlanta don't have that kinds travel times. What makes them think Cincinnati will? 4 hours from one side of the metro to the other? NO WAY. LA is not even that bad.

If Vehicle Miles driven has steadily been declining since 2002 nationally, why is OKI forecasting an increase for the Cincinnati MSA?

Are these projections from 1998 or something? 

If Vehicle Miles driven has steadily been declining since 2002 nationally, why is OKI forecasting an increase for the Cincinnati MSA?

To be fair rush hour is now lasting to almost 7 pm now. Not so 5 years ago.

WTF!?!  Did OKI really make that video? It's completely misinformed and looks like it was made by some guy who hasn't left his basement in a few weeks.

 

Is there any way we can force OKI to get its head out of its ass? How are they funded?  Who's making their decisions?

If Vehicle Miles driven has steadily been declining since 2002 nationally, why is OKI forecasting an increase for the Cincinnati MSA?

To be fair rush hour is now lasting to almost 7 pm now. Not so 5 years ago.

Staggering people's shifts would be a lot cheaper than building another bridge.

Perhaps it's time to talk rail again...

OKI, on FB, sez they have seen population & employment growth in the area.

They have seen no reduction in miles traveled locally.

Cincinnati Business Courier article from two years ago today: Boehner won't OK earmarks for Brent Spence Bridge.

 

Who wants to bet the whole project is cancelled before construction ever begins?

Why would they cancel because of him? I don't think any major project around here got earmarks. This will get built. Just not 100% by the feds. They will match our local funds.

Why would they cancel because of him? I don;t think any major project around here got earmarks. This will get built. Just not 100% by the feds. The will match our local funds.

 

There is so much opposition to tolling, which is the only reasonable way it gets paid for, short of some hail mary miracle.I don't think it will be canceled, but it might be 2 decades before funding actually shows up.

The key is the federal gasoline tax.  When that is raised, the party picks up where it left off. 

Well there is your hail mary miracle.

^I think a lot of people at the federal level, Obama included, know that the state DOT's are irreversibly corrupt, and that any and all new money injected into their budgets from the federal level will be spent overwhelmingly on frivolous low ROI projects.  But it's backfired because people like Kasich are pulling off these totally nuts public-private partnerships on frivolous roads like the $400 million Portsmouth Bypass. 

Cincinnati Business Courier article from two years ago today: Boehner won't OK earmarks for Brent Spence Bridge.

 

Who wants to bet the whole project is cancelled before construction ever begins?

 

That just guarantees tolls on the new bridge. If Louisville is receiving two tolled bridges for its $4 billion Ohio River Bridges Project, then I would assume Cincinnati could for its own project. There is political support on both sides, if you discount the Tea Party.

OKI, on FB, sez they have seen population & employment growth in the area.

They have seen no reduction in miles traveled locally.

ok, this map kinda proves OKI's point on driving not going down in the area

 

http://m.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/08/americas-driving-less-and-evidence-suggests-it-cant-be-just-about-economy/6706/

Wonder why ND has gone up so much? Natural gas. Just like in NE OH.

it's a percent change. Since ND has such a small population, all the new jobs have brought in a lot more drivers & since stuff is so spread out, people are driving further distances to get to the jobs.

I'm guessing...

ok, this map kinda proves OKI's point on driving not going down in the area

 

http://m.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/08/americas-driving-less-and-evidence-suggests-it-cant-be-just-about-economy/6706/

 

I went car-free in Milwaukee, WI in June of 2005.  You're welcome, World.  ;-)

Officials hope to break ground on Brent Spence replacement in 2015

Chris Wetterich Staff reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier

 

 

Ohio and Kentucky officials hope to break ground on a new Brent Spence Bridge by 2015, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock told the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati chambers of commerce on Monday.

 

Hancock and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jerry Wray said tolls remain a likely source of funding for the project, primarily because the United States highway trust fund doesn’t have the money to fund such projects.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2013/10/officials-hope-to-break-ground-on.html

A national transportation network for the price of one highway bridge

 

"In response to a letter from a constituent urging him not to cut Amtrak funding, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), who represents areas north and west of Cincinnati, said he would rather see Amtrak’s entire annual federal grant used to replace the Brent Spence Bridge, which carries Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington, KY."

How is I-69 being paid for? Tolls? That's the new NAFTA highway through Indiana and other states.

The proposed Interstate 69 bridge over the Ohio River between Henderson, KY and Evansville, IN will most likely be tolled - similar to the reality of not being able to afford such expensive spans in northern Kentucky to Cincinnati (Brent Spence Bridge) and the Interstate 65 northbound and Interstate 265 crossings between Louisville, KY and southern Indiana. Local leaders for the Interstate 69 bridge aren't happy - and I'm curious as to why such a span is needed when the existing twin US 41 bridges are functionally, not structurally, obsolete and are still in good condition. Down the road? Sure, but one bridge is just over 40 years old; the other is over 70.

Because backward states believe that highways, casinos, and bridges ARE their economic salvation....

 

http://www.urbanophile.com/2013/10/24/highways-casinos-and-bridges-or-the-insatiable-demand-for-boondoggle-highways/

There's lots of asking questions out loud in that article, but unfortunately, I'd say the answers to all of them are merely, "corruption". Calling it pork is merely sugarcoating the pure corruption that is going on.

 

 

"With the Brent Spence Bridge replacement – a $2.5 billion mega-project that includes not only a new span over the Ohio River, but the complete reconfiguration of the 7.8-mile interstate corridor surrounding it – the devil is in the details.

It’s the impact of those details, Covington leaders are increasingly concerned, that is not getting enough attention."

"“It throws a complete monkey wrench into our plans for regenerating Covington,” said City Commissioner Steve Frank."

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131129/NEWS0103/311290042

So the price is almost 4 billion now and may all be payed for by tolls. No way locals can absorb that.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131231/NEWS/312310061/EXCLUSIVE-OH-KY-proposal-Tolls-pay-bulk-Brent-Spence-project?nclick_check=1

Sure - and it also carries inter-state traffic. With two bridges in Louisville (Interstate 65's second span and Interstate 265) that will be tolled electronically, and a study for a new Interstate 69 bridge at Henderson, KY - Evansville, IN that has all but concluded tolling is the only option, you'll see these proposals happen much more often. It wasn't that long ago that tolls were the defacto method of paying for large highway projects, such as turnpikes, bridges and tunnels. It was only when we became entirely dependent on TEA-21 and other programs that we relied on the federal government for generous matches. Toll it for the users that will use it.

I'll feel a lot less negative about the project if this is the financing plan they stick with.

I would be 100% behind this bridge if it included any sort of multimodal component. I don't even care if they make the new bridge all freeway and the old bridge pedestrian rail andocal traffic. But to spend THAT much of my tax dollars on something that thousands of car-free people are explicitly excluded from using (based entirely on horrifically flawed traffic projections) is insanely wasteful and shortsighted.

^ No kidding. They think 230,000 a day will use this toll bridge?

letter writer suggests legalizing marijuana to help pay for the bridge.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2014/01/03/legalizing-marijuana-could-help-pay-for-bridge/

Maybe we should be using the gasoline tax to subsidize people's cannabis habits.

Well they already use tabocco tax to fund other things.

If people hate tolls so much, then build a smaller bridge that doesn't require tolls to fund.