RESOLUTION NO. ______________, SERIES 2022
Title
A RESOLUTION CALLING ON GOVERNOR BESHEAR, GOVERNOR HOLCOMB, AND KENTUCKY AND INDIANA LEGISLATORS TO DIRECT FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TO THE OHIO RIVER BRIDGES PROJECT (AS AMENDED).
body
SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBERS WINKLER, PIAGENTINI, REED, FOX, DORSEY, ARTHUR, AND PRESIDENT JAMES
WHEREAS, the Ohio River Bridges Project is a transportation project in the Louisville Metropolitan area consisting of the reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange; the completion of two bridges over the Ohio River: the Abraham Lincoln Bridge connecting Downtown Louisville with Jeffersonville, Indiana and the Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting Prospect, Kentucky with Utica, Indiana; and the reconstruction of ramps on Interstate 65 between Muhammad Ali Boulevard and downtown Louisville;
WHEREAS, the Ohio River Bridges Project totaled $2.5 billion and is the largest transportation project to date between Kentucky and Indiana;
WHEREAS, the Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority was created in 2009 to develop a plan to finance the Ohio River Bridges Project which included financing the Project through tolls;
WHEREAS, construction on the Ohio River Bridges Project was completed in 2016 and since that time, individuals traveling on the bridges constructed through the project have borne the burden of financing the project by paying tolls;
WHEREAS, as of December 31, 2020, tolls collected from the Ohio Bridges Project were $386.9 million;
WHEREAS, on February 28th, 2022, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced they would jointly pursue up to $2 billion in federal funding to drastically reduce traffic congestion on and around the Brent Spence Bridge, which connects Covington Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio, through repairs to the existing bridge and construction of a new bridge, which would avoid the need for tolls to finance the project;
WHEREAS, Metro Louisville supports the Northern Kentucky project, and as the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville’s infrastructure needs are valuable to the entire Commonwealth;
WHEREAS, the direction of federal infrastructure funding towards the Ohio Bridges Project would allow the removal of tolls on these bridges, thereby alleviating a substantial burden on individuals regularly traveling on these bridges and providing an additional investment into the Louisville Metro economy; and
WHEREAS, while there may be some limitations on using these federal funds, innovative financing and toll credits toward future projects are achievable.
WHEREAS, the Mayor has publicly called on Governor Beshear, Governor Holcomb, and the Kentucky and Indiana legislators to direct federal infrastructure funding to the Ohio River Bridges Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (“THE COUNCIL”) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Council joins with the Mayor in urging Governor Beshear, Governor Holcomb, and Kentucky and Indiana legislators to invest in the people and economy of Louisville Metro by directing federal infrastructure funding to the Ohio Bridges Project to allow the removal of the tolls and alleviate the burden they place on individuals using the bridges for vital transportation.
SECTION II: This Resolution shall take effect upon its passage and approval or otherwise becomes law.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Sonya Harward David James
Metro Council Clerk President of the Council
________________________________ _____________________________
Greg Fischer Approval Date
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
By: ____________________________
R-055-22 Ohio Bridges Project Federal Funding