The funding, allocated through three federal programs – the Surface Transportation Program (STP, $37.6 million), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ, $37.7 million), and the Surface Transportation Program for Northern Kentucky (SNK, $10.1 million) – was announced by OKI Board President and Clermont County Commissioner Edwin Humphrey.
"The funding approved by the OKI Board of Directors is the first and most important step in developing a more complete transportation infrastructure for the Tri-state area," Humphrey said. "Never before has infrastructure been as important to the region's economic development, improved safety and environmental well-being. Our health, jobs and incomes depend more and more on an efficient and varied means of transportation."
Projects receiving funding include:
- $7.4 million – a total of two CMAQ allocations – to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) to replace 22 Metro buses with new mini-hybrid diesel buses;
- $6 million in STP funding for reconstruction of the road network as part of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati's Lick Run daylighting project in South Fairmount, including the conversion of Queen City and Westwood avenues back to two-way traffic;
- $5.95 million in STP funding to correct vehicle clearance issues at the railroad overpass at Madison and Kenwood roads in Madisonville;
- $4 million in CMAQ funding to the City of Cincinnati to install fiber optic interconnect cable in traffic signals between City firehouses and police stations;
- $4 million in CMAQ funding to extend the Ohio River Trail along Kellogg Avenue, from Salem Avenue to Sutton Road;
- $2.56 million in CMAQ funding to SORTA for the design, engineering, land acquisition, and construction of a Northside Transit Center;
- $1.92 million in CMAQ funding to renovate and expand the Cincinnati Barge & Rail Terminal intermodal port at 1707 Riverside Drive, adding solar energy, conveyor, handlers, paving, security, crane and dock apparatus;
- $1.2 million in SNK funding to the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky for the purchase of four 40-foot, low-floor replacement buses with bike racks, security cameras, and wheelchair access;
- $1 million in SNK funding for the repaving and installation of new curbs and gutters on Carothers Road in Newport, from Monmouth Street to the designated right-turn entrance into Newport Shopping Center;
- $631,524 in SNK funding for full-depth construction of Latonia Avenue in Covington, from Madison Avenue to Southern Avenue, and Southern Avenue from Latonia Avenue to Grace Avenue;
- $622,000 in SNK funding for construction of a sidewalk along the south side of Ky. Route 1120 (Memorial Parkway), between Pavilion Parkway and Wilson Road; and
- $441,240 in SNK funding to the City of Covington for the reconstruction of Caroline Avenue from 34th Street to 36th Street, under the railroad underpass.
OKI, Greater Cincinnati's metropolitan planning organization, includes representatives from local governments, business organizations, and community groups that produces long- and short-term transportation and economic development plans for the counties of Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren in Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton in Kentucky; and Dearborn in Indiana.
Previous reading on BC:
$2.5M FTA grant to provide Metro with six more 'mini-hybrid' buses (7/25/12)
OKI seeking consultant for NKY traffic count (6/22/12)
'Lunken to Salem' trail underway (6/19/12)
MSD completes Lick Run plan (5/30/12)
Cincinnati approves application for transportation funding (4/9/12)
