Scott Wartman

swartman@nky.com

The Kentucky Senate on Thursday passed legislation that would prevent tolls on the Brent Spence Bridge.

The legislation, which was added to a bill that allows private financing of public projects, must go back to the House, which is expected to concur with the minor changes made to the bill. The House had already passed the bill with the toll ban amendment.

Once the House concurs, it goes to Gov. Steve Beshear for his signature into law.

Beshear hasn’t said whether he’ll sign the bill, but he’s been a proponent of public-private partnerships, which is known as P3. Even if he vetoed the bill, with no authorization in law for public-private partnerships, tolls could not happen on the Brent Spence.

When asked about the bill on Wednesday by the Enquirer, he released a statement expressing disappointment in the amendment to ban tolls on the Brent Spence.

“The only way a project like this can move forward is with the financing options provided by tolls,” Beshear said in the statement. “We will continue to work with legislators in the House and the Senate as this bill moves through the legislative process.”

The public-private partnership legislation passed by the Senate doesn’t just pertain to the Brent Spence. It would allow the government to use private money for any public project in the state.

State Rep. Arnold Simpson, D-Covington, added the amendment to prevent tolls on any federal highway in between Kentucky and Ohio. Simpson designed it to apply to the Brent Spence but leave tolls an option for other areas of the state.

Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said he voted for the bill to ensure the Brent Spence won’t be tolled. The federal government should pay for bridge that carries such a large portion of interstate commerce, Thayer said.

“The Brent Spence Bridge carries I-75, one of the greatest arteries of commerce from North to South,” Thayer said. “It should not be the responsibility of the citizens of Northern Kentucky to bear the burden of the cost of this bridge.”