BY GREGORY A. HALL and PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Tristate leaders are planning a trip to Washington next week to lobby local congressmen for more money to study light rail transportation and improve traffic on the Interstate 71 corridor.
That will come about two weeks after project supporters, Terrace Park Republican Rob Portman and Southgate Republican Jim Bunning, said they wouldn't request any additional money without more specifics. "Give us a chance to make another run at Washington," said Warren County Commissioner Larry Crisenberry, president of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments.
They won't be alone in the lobbying effort. Representatives of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. will meet with Mr. Portman to rally support for light rail. Also, 25,146 people have signed petitions supporting the mass transportation system. The OKI council's I-71 corridor committee has been looking for three years at ways to improve traffic flow between the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport and Paramount's Kings Island. The group recently selected light rail as the preferred alternative for the 33-mile strip. Early estimates call for a price tag of at least $1.1 billion.
OKI representatives said Thursday that details Mr. Portman wants about local matching money for federal funds and a more definitive cost of the light rail system will come later. They already have $4 million to have preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies, but are requesting an additional $7.7 million. The additional money is what Mr. Portman and Mr. Bunning objected to last week when asked to seek money for this year's budget, which takes effect Oct. 1. Kenton County Commissioner Bernie Moorman, the I-71 corridor committee chairman, said getting the money next year would be sufficient.
"We're not ready to give up yet," he said, responding to comments from members of the executive committee questioning whether the congressional demands could be met.
Mr. Portman said $4 million is enough. He wants OKI to match one-for-one every federal dollar, meaning the planning group would have to raise $4 million more.
OKI officials contend they only need a 20 percent match for the preliminary studies.
Mr. Bunning wants OKI to conduct a $500,000 study of elevated rail before he'll seek more funding. The OKI executive committee made the request for the money Thursday.
Congress is on vacation next week, so the OKI delegation plans to meet with staff members. Meanwhile, DCI directors will meet with Mr. Portman on Monday.
"We want to tell Mr. Portman and his staff that we need this, and we at least need to learn more about it," said John Schneider, transportation adviser to DCI. "This is a good plan that will serve a lot of people. There is a consensus on both sides of the river that we need to move forward to next phase."
Where support is lacking is among Hamilton County commissioners, said Brian Besanceney, Mr. Portman's spokesman. At least one commissioner, John Dowlin, has suggested light rail be dropped, in favor of cheaper methods to relieve congestion.
Not being able to count on the support, especially the financial support, of the county is an obvious stumbling block, Mr. Besanceney said.
The petitions were collected during a 1996 door-to-door campaign by the environmental group Ohio Citizen Action.
"If they want to see overwhelming support, then we can show them," said Rachael Belv, Ohio Citizen Action Southwest Ohio director.
