The Brent Spence Bridge is essential infrastructure to the American economy. Every year, an estimated $417 billion of freight crosses the bridge. By 2030, the amount of freight is expected to increase to $813 billion. The current bridge is out-of-date and overburdened, and modernizing the Brent Spence corridor will help accommodate the increased demand. Since taking office, Congressman Davis has been working to ensure that this vital transportation corridor is properly funded.
On April 5, 2011, Congressmen Davis and Steve Chabot [OH-01] testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit to advocate for a provision in the next highway bill for a mechanism to fund critical infrastructure projects like the Brent Spence Bridge that impact the nation as a whole, i.e. infrastructure projects that have major national importance but whose price tag exceeds the transportation budgets of the States in question.
Click here to watch Congressman Davis testify about the pressing need to move forward with the rehabilitation and expansion of the Brent Spence corridor. You can read his testimony here.
Congressman Davis has advocated for the project to over sixty House Members, and he has met personally with several key decision-makers, including:
- Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee John Mica [FL-07];
- Congressman Jimmy Duncan [TN-02], Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee; and
- Speaker of the House John Boehner [OH-08].
In 2009, Congressman Davis and former Congressman Steve Driehaus [OH-1] unveiled a new study by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) underscoring the benefits of the Brent Spence Bridge rehabilitation project. You can read more about the study by clicking here.
With strong leadership from Senator Bunning and assistance from Senator Voinovich, Congressman Davis was able to help secure $46.5 million for the Brent Spence Bridge project in the 2005 federal highway funding bill.
It is worth noting that the majority of federal transportation funds are distributed according to a formula directly to the States. In Fiscal Year 2008, Kentucky received $603 million from the federal highway trust fund. Despite the fact that these are federal funds, decisions on how Kentucky spends the money are made in Frankfort by the legislature and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
You can learn more about the Brent Spence Bridge project by clicking here.
Read More
Learn more about Congressman Davis' work to gain funding for the Brent Spence Bridge project.
September 2, 2011
Column by Congressman Davis and Congressman Chabot on prioritizing transportation funding for the most needed projects
April 5, 2011
Congressman Davis and Congressman Chabot Testify on Needed Reforms to the Nation's Surface Transportation Programs
March 11, 2011:
Congressman Davis Leads Group Letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Asking that the Administration’s Highway Bill Proposal Help Fund Projects Like the Brent Spence Bridge
February 3, 2011:
Congressman Davis Leads Group Letter to Chairman John Mica Asking Him to Visit the Brent Spence Bridge and Hold a Listening Session
August 2009:
OKI Executive Director Mark Policinski applauded Congressman Davis' work on the Brent Spence Bridge Project.
June 16, 2009:
Reps. Davis, Driehaus Unveil New Study in Support of Brent Spence Bridge Project
April 28, 2009:
Congressman Davis and Congressman Driehaus Testify in Support of the Brent Spence Bridge Project
June 18, 2007:
Fighting for the Taxpayers
June 15, 2007:
Congressman Geoff Davis Fights to Increase Transparency and Accountability in Congressional Spending
July 10, 2006:
Congressman Geoff Davis and Congressman Steve Chabot Host U.S. Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Maria Cino
July 29, 2005:
The Cincinnati Enquirer: $45M for bridge study OK'd
July 29, 2005:
Rep. Geoff Davis statement in final passage of the highway bill
July 28, 2005:
Rep. Geoff Davis secures Highway Dollars for the 4th District
May 14, 2005:
The KY Post: Lobbying has its perils
