- The EE Bridge provides more benefit at much less cost
According to the Environmental Impact Statement, the East End Bridge will provide more cross-river mobility at a much lower cost. Inidana's Governor even said they would consider lending us the money to build the bridge. While the $2.6 Billion expansion of Spaghetti Junction will only create bigger bottlenecks at Hospital Curve and the Cochran Tunnel.
- Tolls will open the Record of Decision ("ROD") for River Fields
River Fields is the small organization that has pushed for the Downtown Bridge and has funded the opposition the the East End Bridge for decades. Their attorney Bob Griffith said, "We look forward to participating in the review that will be necessary to comply with environmental laws if tolls are chosen as part of this financial plan."
- Louisville's Traffic congestion is declining
According to INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, Louisville's congestion declined by 39% in 2008. This is consistent with the State's traffic numbers which indicate that the average vehicles per day on the Kennedy Bridge was down 15,000 in 2008. Look for an in-depth traffic analysis post within the next few days.
- Tolls will restrict "cross-river mobility"
The purpose of the Ohio River Bridges Project is to increase "cross-river mobility," but tolling our bridges will have the opposite effect. To strengthen our regional economy, we need to leverage all the people and resources in the region.
- Frankfort should invest in Louisville
Louisville generates the most tax reveneue for the state, but we receive a very small portion back in spending. Investing in Louisville's outdated infrastructure will provide the state with the highest possible ROI.
2 Tolls will open the Record of Decision ("ROD") for River Fields
LMAO ... You are insinuating that we can just forget about the rape of downtown and the construction of the I-65 bridge without opening the ROD? IANAL, but something tells me that might significantly change the scope of the project, and might require the re-opening of the ROD as well.
All paths lead to re-opening the ROD.
Well, if River Fields is successful in re-opening the ROD, I would guess all bets are off. Any changes would be possible.
I would add a #6 to this: These tolls obviously constitute a brutal "Hoosier commuter tax" as Hoosiers would have to use the bridges far more regularly for commuting purposes. We're basically having Indiana pay for Kentucky's development. How's that for passing the buck? And that's not even taking into account the reduced Southern Indiana commerce from Kentuckians choosing not to cross the bridges to go shopping and such.
Also I want to note to everyone that I started a discussion on LouHI about tolling alternatives: http://www.historyandissues.org/louisville/viewtopic.php?t=1446 -- please check it out and help us brainstorm.
Probably true, though our current path (tolls) is due in part to the former President of River Fields and Vice Chair of the Bridges Coalition suggesting tolls. Mayor Abramson has been playing games with the future of our city and it needs to stop. If we decide as a community to focus on the East End Bridge first and foremost, we will have a much greater likelihood of success.