As Covington's downtown continues its revitalization, residents and businesses moving into the neighborhood deserve safe streetscapes to call their own. Recently, history repeated itself at Fourth and Scott streets, when a driver crashed into a parked vehicle, sending it crashing first into a person walking and then through a storefront. When will enough be enough? It's time we demand the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) take further action to make Fourth Street (KY-8) the safe, community-oriented corridor the Licking Riverside and nearby Downtown Covington and Central Riverfront districts deserve. 

Sign our petition to make your voice heard.
(If your ZIP code is from outside Covington, please indicate your connection to the city (i.e., frequent visitor, own a business/work in town, etc.) in your submission.)

History

It was just around lunchtime on Monday, April 6, 2026, when a nightmare became reality at Fourth and Scott streets in Covington's Licking Riverside Historic District. A driver on the multi-lane, one-way state highway crashed into a parked pickup truck, launching the truck through a crosswalk, striking a person using the crosswalk before crashing into up-and-coming neighborhood butcher shop and deli, Reka's corner storefront. The terrifying ordeal hospitalized two people, and the struck pedestrian remains traumatized, on a long road to recovery from their injuries.

Unfortunately, this crash was a repeat of recent history. At roughly the same time of day, on March 10, 2022, 38-year-old runner Dennis Rahtz was crossing the same intersection when a TANK bus -- turning from Scott onto Fourth -- struck and dragged him down the road. Rahtz did not survive his injuries, resulting in charges against the bus driver and a lawsuit against the transit agency.

These incidents mark a disturbing pattern that points to a larger issue with Fourth Street. While we're grateful for the new dedicated bike lane, the road's one-way, multi-lane alignment -- without more traffic-calming measures, especially at intersections -- sets the stage for tragedies like these.

With the new bike lane, and a new bridge slated to reconnect the neighborhood with Newport's developing Ovation and Levee district, the time is now to ensure this street and local economic hub is welcoming and accommodating for all, residents, business owners and visitors traveling by all modes and abilities.

Please take a moment to sign our petition, showing KYTC there is strong community support for further safety improvements along Fourth Street. Once we've gathered signatures, we'll transmit those signatures and any messages from you to the City of Covington City Commission and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6.