What Part of NO Does ORBP Not Understand?

This morning's C-J notes that Jim King is considering a resolution opposing tolls on existing bridges. King doesn't get an A for it -- he states that he would only support the resolution if it contained language supporting the two-bridge solution. Still, it's good to see King supporting the "Say No to Tolls" group.

The part I don't get is the response of the bridge commission. In the print version (not in the online version), their representative basically said that it was a bad idea to rule out any form of funding at this time, including tolls. The commission wants to keep all its options open, including tolling.

Have these people lost the ability to hear and see? Do they not read the polls that show huge opposition to tolls, especially on existing bridges? Do they not hear the ongoing call from all corners to build the East End Bridge first, then see if we even need the downtown bridge? Last month the New Albany city council passed a resolution both opposing tolls AND encouraging the commission to get started on the EEB.

It is time for the new mayor of Louisville, whomever that may be, to take hold of this project and get it off the dead-end path it is on, even if the C-J and River Fields get the vapors. We need to get the hazardous traffic out of downtown and on the 265 loop. We need to protect Butchertown and the Great Lawn. And we need to make it plain to the ORBP commission that tolls on existing bridges is a non-starter. Here's hoping that the commission has a group miracle and recovers the ability to see and hear again.

The Steamroller Express Has Left the Station

The only thing surprising was the speed. And even that wasn't that surprising.

The Steamroller Express, captained by David Tandy and Kevin Kramer, rolled through The Transportation and Public Works committee last night and passed a resolution that allows the Beshear-Abramson ticket to appoint anyone they want to make all the decisions about the Bridges project. They also rejected a motion to hold hearings on the bridges project.

Unless Metro Council develops a spine -- an unlikely prospect -- there is only one thing to say:

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EE Bridge 1st -- Why So Hard To Understand?

The Bruce Maples Bridge Plan:

1. Build the East End bridge first.
2. Once it's up and running, wait about six months for the traffic patterns to settle out, then do an exhaustive traffic study across the region. Post all of the results on a public web site, along with whatever analysis is done, to enable a robust public debate about next steps.
3. Base the decision on building the downtown bridge, and on implementing 8664 (two separate issues), on the new traffic study as well as regional transportation options, funding possibilities, and projections for automobile use over the next 50 years.

Why is this so hard to understand? Why would we approach the bridge question any other way?

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