This online petition is being organized through Tina Ward-Pugh's office. Please take a moment to sign it.

Some businesses are attempting to organize against the Brownsboro Road Diet.

You Can Help

What is the Brownsboro Road Diet?

Thursday, May 19^th at 2:00 pm in Metro Council Chambers, a metro council subcomittee will examine the Brownsboro Road Sidewalk and Road Diet. If it is passed, and if the Mayor's budget address does not interfere, then it should be on the full Metro Council agenda on Thursday, May 26^th at 6:00 pm. Both events held in Old City Hall.

The neighborhood organizations are asking for people to come out and show support. However, the only opportunity to speak will be at the full metro council meeting on the 26^th, which you must call ahead to request. We'll see about getting signs again, so you can show your support without speaking.

Note: this is an update to a previous post.

Updated Again: new time has been found!

Updated: Event has been cancelled!

Cancelled: Thursday, May 5th Transportation/Public Works Committee Meeting, 2pm - please plan to attend

Probably Cancelled: Thursday, May 12th Metro Council Meeting, 6pm - please plan to attend

Attend the Final Public Meeting!

These are the final public meetings on the Bike Master Plan and Pedestrian Master Plan before Council takes them up for voting. They've been in development since the walking summit and the last bike summit. They've been evolved through a ton of public input and dogged determination on the part of Metro government (Thanks!). They should be adopted!

If you have ideas on how they can be improved, this is your last best chance. They'll have a host of interactive displays and developers on hand to explain and answer.

If you want to show political support for bicycling and walking, we're fairly certain that Council (and the new Mayor) will be setting priorities in part based on public turnout and support for these plans. So come to the one closest to you. Heck, come to two or three - can't hurt, can it? :)

• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 6, 3110 Lexington Road
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 7, 6104 Bardstown Road
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Public Forum Dec 9, 460 Northwestern Parkway

More information at the links above.

Motion introduced opposing the levying of tolls on existing infrastructure in order to pay for new motoring infrastructure. The motion has over 16 co-sponsors in a 26-seat body, so it is sure to pass. See the C-J article. Louisville will join New Albany, which passed a similar measure, opposing tolling and the construction of a new I-65 bridge if tolls would be required.

Photo deep-linked from the Courier-Journal

The Courier-Journal posted this story yesterday about the convtroversy over the ad benches that have been appearing along Louisville's state highways. 

The Cincinatti company claims they are aboveboard and have their ducks in a row:

Bruce Graumlich, president of the Bench Billboard Co., said he would only answer questions posed in writing. He said that his company has “sought and received permits” for the benches and that all are “lawfully placed.”

However, the benches, which have been placed on state highways, are not permitted, says KYTC:

Louisville Metro Council has moved swiftly to enact congestion pricing (tolls) on Ohio River Bridges. You've got to love our great city, which has stumbled on a good solution to the bridge congestion problem (tolls), but rather than just implement it and be done, we now also have to build some useless additional bridges, whose capacity will quite possibly never be used. Now that the bridge congestion problem is solved, its a shame we couldn't use the revenue to do something smart, like build a sustainable transit system for our city. 8664 has more on last Thursday's transportation subcommittee meeting.

I believe the next hurdle is the Thursday night metro council meeting, 6pm.

From a City Press Release:

A second round of federal stimulus projects will create 1,300 jobs by building new walking paths, sidewalks and bike lanes across Louisville, Mayor Jerry Abramson announced today.

The $14.7 million in projects including extending the walking and biking path through Seneca Park; bike lanes along a portion of Taylorsville Road and $7.4 million worth of new sidewalks in various neighborhoods.

“These projects put people back to work – and they help us create a healthier hometown by encouraging walking and biking,” Abramson said.

Amen to that.

The two PAL passenger coaches are visible behind the engines in this photo from the PAL website.

On the morning of November the 8th, 2008, Jefferson, Hardin, and Meade counties will play host to something not seen in a generation in these areas: passenger rail service along the Paducah and Louisville Railway.

For one round trip only, there will be a commuter "inspection train" operating from Louisville, through Shively, West Point, Fort Knox, Mulldraugh, North Radcliff, Vine Grove, and Cecilia.

The trip is to draw attention to the huge economic potential that the Paducah and Louisville tracks hold in terms of adding capacity to Highway 31-W aka "Wide Wide Dixie Highway", one of the regions most congested corridors.

About the Inspection Train

Seating on the inspection train is going to be extremely limited, because we can use just the two passenger cars you see above. Because of that, seats are invitation only, and reserved for elected officeholders, transportation professionals, members of the media, and a small staff of volunteers, most of them FRA certified.

Update: New photo-op location added at Southwest Government Center - more info below the fold.