The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) is a council of local governments, business organizations and community groups committed to developing collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life and the economic vitality of the region.
Formed in 1964, OKI has spent 45 years cultivating partnerships and alliances that range from the federal government to local councils. Its 117 members represent governmental, social and civic groups from nearly 200 communities in the eight-county, three-state region.
Together, OKI works to solve interstate dilemmas, create far-reaching development plans, break through political bureaucracy, provide services to the public and advocate for federal funding.
OKI has final authority over all federal dollars spent on transportation in the region. This past year, OKI approved roughly $40 million in funding for projects in this region.
While OKI’s primary mission has been transportation, OKI is not confined to just highways and pavement.
- OKI helps communities develop Land Use, Infrastructure, Capital Improvement, Economic Development and Greenspace strategies. An emerging toolbox, including guidance on writing better comprehensive plans, sample ordinances and a fiscal impact analysis model, will aid local decisions that maintain the region’s vitality.
- OKI continues to work on water quality issues across the region with a number of public, private and civic sector groups, including the Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities. The Mill Creek is a vital but much abused waterway in the center of the OKI community.
- OKI’s Clean Air Program is leading the fight for cleaner air in the region by bringing ozone and particulate matter pollution issues to the forefront of people’s minds.
Other OKI projects include…
Brent Spence Bridge Cooperative: OKI is working closely with local officials, the business community, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Ohio Department of Transportation to develop strategies for the replacement of this vital river crossing.
Freight: The movement of freight dominates the region’s roadways both now and in the future. OKI is leading the initiative to address how to handle the growing amount of freight on the highways and working to move it from the roads onto rails and the river.
RideShare: For more than 25 years, OKI’s RideShare program has offered Tri-State commuters alternatives to driving alone to and from work. RideShare helps commuters save money through the formation of carpools and vanpools.
I-471 Corridor Study: The study contains important project recommendations that support the quality of life and land use visions of Campbell County along this booming corridor in Northern Kentucky. Mobility, connectivity, accessibility, safety, congestion management and air quality are all key project recommendations from the study.
Homeland Security: OKIis working with emergency responders and others to assess regional capabilities in the case of disaster.
Geographic Information System (GIS): OKI has partnered with local, state and federal agencies to develop a regional GIS which serves as a support tool for transportation and environmental planners.
Uptown Transportation Study: This critical study investigated improvements to, from and within the Uptown area which is home to 60,000 employees and 70,000 residents. The recommendations of the study include more than $190 million in improvements to this thriving area. A second phase of study, which focuses on improving access to I-71 in the vicinity of Martin Luther King Drive, will begin in the spring of 2009.
2030 Regional Transportation Plan: This plan serves as a blueprint for transportation projects in the OKI region through the year 2030. It addresses current and future needs created by growth and development. At the same time, it responds to Federal Highway Administration and Clean Air Act requirements to mitigate congestion and address air quality and other environmental, social and financial issues.
Bike Plan: This plan will work to develop a regional bicycle system that is integrated with other transportation systems in the Cincinnati region. The plan is expected to secure adequate funding for bicycle improvements, as well as encourage and support bicycle safety, education, and enforcement programs.
By focusing the collective strength of organizations from the region, OKI has accomplished more in terms of growth, development and quality of life improvements than any other entity in the Tri-State. The impact is seen and felt in nearly every major project being undertaken in the region. These projects continue to support OKI’s mission of promoting regional cooperation and growth
January 2009 |
