Overview
The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) works every day to make the Cincinnati metro a national leader in addressing regional transportation, planning, and environmental needs. As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region, we coordinate, cooperate and communicate with local governments, businesses, community groups, and the larger public to create an efficient multimodal transportation system and improve the economic vitality of the place we call home.
OKI projects and initiatives include:
Road and bridge projects
Movement of freight
Bike lanes/multi-use paths
Clean air and water
Pedestrian safety
Land use
What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization?
A Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization. It comprises representatives from local government and governmental transportation agencies.
An MPO has many responsibilities that can be linked back to three basic requirements:
1. Metropolitan Transportation Plan (long-range)
2. Transportation Improvement Program (short-range)
What is a Regional Council of Governments?
OKI is also a regional council of governments — a group of business and community organizations committed to developing collaborative strategies to improve the quality of life and the economic vitality of our region. Learn more about the OKI region.
We are a Forum for Problem Solving
Inherent in our functions, OKI is a forum for our members to share transportation, environmental, economic, and other challenges for which causes and solutions cross political boundaries.
We work with stakeholders to solve interstate dilemmas, create far-reaching development plans, and break through political bureaucracy. We provide services to the public and advocate for federal funding.
As an MPO, OKI has final authority over all federal dollars spent on surface transportation in the region. We invest about $40 million to $80 million and oversee another $400 million in projects each year.
Transportation and Beyond
In addition to transportation, OKI performs air and water quality planning; promotes and facilitates ridesharing; and coordinates intergovernmental review of federally funded projects. We also provide technical aid to member governments; maintain social and economic data for planning purposes; and we coordinate with state and federal agencies.
Transportation Improvement Program
The Transportation Improvement Program provides funding for federal highway and transit initiatives for the OKI region. The TIP may include capital and non-capital surface transportation projects, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and other transportation enhancements.
Funding Through the Project Prioritization Process
OKI provides funding through our Project Prioritization Process (PPP). As in most metropolitan areas, the need for transportation investment in the OKI region exceeds the funds available. Our PPP is a competitive, transparent approach that determines which projects move forward, prioritizing those that are likely to have the greatest impact on the overall transportation system.
View all our funding opportunities available through OKI’s PPP.
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310 Program)
Under OKI’s 5310 Program, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) provides funds for equipment to support transportation services for the elderly and people with disabilities. To qualify for funding, services must be in areas where transportation is insufficient or unavailable. OKI manages the program for agencies in our eight-county region.
Unified Planning Work Program
A Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is an annual statement of work that identifies priorities and activities within a metropolitan planning area. At a minimum, it includes: a description of the planning work and resulting products; who will perform the work; time frames for completing the work; the cost of the work; and the sources of funds.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
The OKI Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) is an initiative established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DBE ensures that firms owned and controlled by minorities, women and other socially and economically disadvantaged individuals have the opportunity to grow and become self-sufficient, so as to compete on an equal basis with non-disadvantaged businesses.
Title VI and Title II
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, OKI operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age and/or disability. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI or Title II may file a complaint with OKI.
