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History of Louisville's Bridges

Dear Supporter,

Thanks to your support our campaign is now kicking into high gear. We've hired a Campaign Manager. The timing is critical because we need to educate more people about 8664 before the 2008 legislative session. Our Gallery at 327 East Market St. will be open during normal office hours starting next Monday.

Like the Mayor, John Yarmuth appears fixated on downtown bridge

Last Wednesday, Congressman Yarmuth responded to 8664 supporters. In his email, he states "I do not believe downtown's serious congestion problems - present and future - can be solved without the construction of a downtown bridge." That says it all. During the campaign and since, he has made positive statements about the 8664 vision, but he appears to be firmly in camp with his neighbors and other River Fields board members.

We urge you to contact Congressman Yarmuth and ask him to explain how a 23 lane Spaghetti Junction is going to improve downtown's traffic congestion. Urge him to do the right thing for the entire city and support 8664.

Congressman John Yarmuth
319 Cannon House Office Building
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5401
RepJohnYarmuth@mail.house.gov

Historic Perspective on Louisville's Bridges

Since at least the early 70's a small group of influential Louisvillians have fought to stop the East End Bridge. Citing land development profiteering, suburban sprawl and governmental waste, they have used an organization named River Fields to make their case.

But in 1994, the East End Bridge opposition put their strategy in place. That's the year that Downtown Development Corporation (DCC), a private non-profit organization whose board is appointed by the Mayor, released a study to refute the need for an East End Bridge. The study argued that Louisville's greatest traffic problems are centered on Spaghetti Junction. Fair enough. But the study went further and asserted that the only way to correct SJ's traffic congestion is to build a new Downtown Bridge. Brilliant! Since that day the East End Bridge opposition isn't against an East End Bridge, they are for a Downtown Bridge.

Thirteen years later, our city - and our nation - has evolved and changed in many meaningful ways. Regardless, DDC is still run by individuals with ties to River Fields (Chair Mary Griffith, spouse of RF General Council and Vice Chair Jim Welch Jr., past RF President) and their strategy remains the same: support the $2.6 Billion downtown portion of the Bridges Project that will build a Downtown Bridge and expand Spaghetti Junction to 23 lanes.

The time to build the East End Bridge is now and the reason to do it is 8664! It's about the greater good. It's about regionalism. It's about economic growth and competitiveness. It's about air quality. It's about restoring our waterfront and embracing the idea of a City of Parks.

What's more, it's about fixing Spaghetti Junction. Not by inviting 20% more trucks and traffic through the heart of the city as the Bridges Project does, but by simplifying the interchange and reducing the number of trucks by 10,000 to 15,000/day.

We need your help to make it happen. Contact your elected officials today.

Upcoming Events

Waterfront Wednesday, This Wednesday from 5 pm until dark.
Come pick up free yard sign or a t-shirt for a $10 donation.

Trolley Hop, Friday, October 5th 6 - 10 pm
327 East Market Street

8664 Symposium, location and date TBD
To include transportation engineers, civic leaders and activists from cities that have successfully reclaimed their waterfronts.

We need volunteers. If you have time to support the cause, please contact Joe Burgan at 502-298-5418 or info@8664.org.

Future email topics We need your help today!

Thanks for your time and for keeping the faith.

Peace,

Tyler Allen and JC Stites
www.8664.org

PS We need renderings of our proposed Waterfront Boulevard and Waterfront Park West. If you can help, shoot us an email at info@8664.org. Thanks.

Mission

To advocate for the revitalization of Louisville through the removal of Interstate 64 along the riverfront and the adoption of a transportation plan that will provide long-term benefits to the region's citizens, neighborhoods, environment and economy.