Bridges Authority To Meet In Coming Weeks

The fourteen member panel appointed to oversee the construction of two new Ohio River bridges could begin meeting soon.The bi-state authority is scheduled to meet before the end of the year, but an exact date for the first meeting has not been set. The group will consider, among other issues, how to pay for the multi-billion dollar project. Authority member Joe Reagan is confident the group will come up with a solution that's free of the political wrangling he says has hindered the bridges plan in the past."This project can be laid out in a very fact-based, decision making manner which is not driven by election cycles. In the past this project has always been subjected to either the two year congressional cycle or the four year gubernatorial cycle."Reagan, who’s also the president of Greater Louisville, Inc., says tolling is a possible funding option, but it's one of many,and the authority will consider all options in future meetings. Some of those meetings, Reagan says, will be open for public input."Obviously this has to be done in a public and transparent manner," he says. "And this is a great gift to the community to have this structure."The panel will continue meeting into 2010, with several public hearings planned.