At the Crossroads: Thriving New Urbanism is Working for Competitor Cities as Louisville Languishes in the Past

If one element of liveability is more mobility choices then good bicycle facilities that connect people with destinations in addition to recreational opportunities means greater livability.  Based on State Police records, accidents involving bicycles are distributed pretty evenly all over town indicating that better bicycle facilities increases mobility and safety for all.  

"According to AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), 'All roads, streets, and highways, except those where bicyclists are legally prohibited, should be designed and constructed under the assumption that they will be used by bicyclists. Therefore, bicyclists’ needs should be addressed in all phases of transportation planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation.' Also, design standards for bicycle and pedestrian facilities are addressed thoroughly in the Complete Streets Manual.  How would you grade our progress toward achieving these goals?  What would your organization’s wish list include that would bring the grade up?"

The question below looks at past development trends and questions the possibility of changing past growth patterns. It also adresses the idea of a designated Urban Growth Boundary like Portland Oregon and other US and international cities have implemented. The remaining largely rural land area in Jefferson County outside of the 2010 Census Urban Area Bounday (UAB) lies mostly east of Floyds Fork and is currently under development pressure.  There is a serious effort by government and the Floyds Fork area community (links below)to manage the development intentionally with the goal of preserving the rural character of the area and protecting the watershed using ideas like regional and neighborhood centers, conservation districts, Transfer of Development Rights, and other land use planning tools. It is not yet certain how development will evolve east of Floyds Fork.

"Looking at the UAB Map (linked below), it is evident that Jefferson County is almost completely developed and it’s hard to deny that we have become a typical metropolis characterized by sprawling auto centric development.  Over the past 20 years in the US the idea of “smart growth” using Form-Based Codes that favor context sensitive, environmentally conscious, multi-use, people oriented space has gained favor as the primary development planning framework over single use zoning rules. Given that Louisville is almost completely developed, are the ideas of "smart growth" and a designated "urban growth bounday" even relevant anymore? Why or why not? What if anything would be on your “smart growth” wish list?"  

Link to 2012 Census UAB map.

Link to Floyds Fork Area Growth Framework Image

Link to Louisville Metro planning documents relating to Floyds Fork 

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There are a number of documents that validate CART's Title VI complaint against the Bridges Project. THIS document is a direct compliant made to the KY General Assembly in 2002 and THIS one identifies health impacts of inequality that will be perpetuated if the Bridges Project is completed.  Please support CART by joining us.

Mark Rabinowitz of road-scholar.org makes the case for reduced highway spending as higher oil prices stop the growth of vehicle miles travelled. Read more here.

The New Devonian Calendar was created by a group of Louisvillians calling themselves the Divine Dipsters.  It's not  the usual calendar!  It begins when the Mayan Calendar ends on December 21st of this year.   It  redesigns the year into quarters of 3 months with 28 days in each.  Between the quarters are week long celebration periods around the solstices and equinoxes.   All paintings are by Louisville Artist Peggy Sue Howard, and the calendar would be worth purchasing just for these.  The entertaining text explains the calendar and includes as application for New Devonian Sainthood.  The graphics on the Solstice and Equinox pages are artistic and informative.  Profits are being divided between CART and the Clifton Universalist Unitarian Church for their handicap ramp.  This is a limited edition of 1000 Units - (think Gutenburg Bible of the New Age.)

This is a guest post by CART attorney Clarence Hixon.

 Hillview City Center, October 12, 2012

I attended the Hillview meeting on behalf of CART.  During the meeting KIPDA staffer Mary Lou Hauber presented a plan for an Interim Transportation Improvement Program (Interim TIP) which she called an "update."

This new "Interim" TIP would have a promulgation track with a new conformity analysis in January and public comment period in March. This would be a TIP covering a four year period for projects using federal funds from 2013 to 2017.

Ms. Hauber seemed to stammer around avoiding an explicit discussion of why KIPDA has to prepare an "Interim TIP" but stated it was being done as "a precaution" in case anything should happen and the present TIP should be rejected.

CART has scheduled two public meetings to discuss the lawsuit recently filed against the Ohio River Bridges Project.  

Wednesday, Sept 12^th, 6:30 PM,  Spalding University Lectorum, corner of 4^th and Breckinridge Sts.

Saturday, Sept 29^th at 1:30 PM in the Shawnee Public Library, at 3912 W. Broadway.