Matt gets it right in identifying the ideal electoral platform for the fall: No tolls, and by extension, a complete re-examination of the Bridges Project.
Who wants this one? Are there any Democrats with a pulse within reading distance?
Tolls on existing bridges, instituted years in advance of the (plausible) East End bridge and (unnecessary) downtown bridge, will have the obvious and devastating effect of reversing the bulk of progress we've made over a period of decades in convincing Louisvillians to patronize Southern Indiana, and to regard us as part and parcel of metro Louisville.
Tolls will gut the very tongue-in-cheek concept of "regionalism" that non-governmental apologists like 1SI touts, its front man's eyes rolling as palms slowly extend to relieve the rubes on the New Albany city council of money for use in advocating damaging policies precisely like tolls on bridges.
Surreal does not do it justice. The various monied interests that pay to sit on the inner cabal that formulates 1SI policy to the exclusion of well-intentioned small-fry members are laughing at you, CM Gahan -- and at council persons McLaughlin, Benedetti, Zurschmiede, and especially Caesar, himself a member of 1SI, whose vote in favor of handing 1SI dollars to purchase sand to throw back in the faces of New Albany was at best a flagrant conflict of interest, and at worst a slap in the face of his own downtown and to its small business district.
We must say no to tolls, writes Nash, and it's true. Who will be the ones to pick up this heaven-sent fumble -- even 1SI cannot come up with a convincing public relations spin in favor of tolls without grimacing -- and run with it into the fall elections?
Thanks Matt for putting pen to paper for this issue. I'm always surprised at the number of people in this area who have no idea what the bridges project entails, but once they find out what it's about, they're against it. We need to continue to spread the word about this boondoggle for the wealthy contractors/engineers that make up the 1SI board, a plan that will hurt Hoosier families and businesses on an unprecedented scale.
ReplyDeleteWhy 1SI doesn't care about this fact is beyond me...
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ReplyDeleteI don't know what our Asian friend said, but he ended it with emphasis!
ReplyDeleteThe literal translation is:
ReplyDeleteTrapped in the weak environment, the wise use of the environment ~ ~ refueling!
Saying no to tolls is a total cop-out, and does nothing toward addressing the fundamental catastrophe of the Bridges Project. Being anti-tolls is akin to the tea-baggers who receive medicare and are anti-public option for health insurance. OK, we want something, but we do not want to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteAny campaign that wishes to effectively address regional transportation options must first be anti- new bridges (both bridges are unnecessary). That means ORBP, 8664, and Steve Wiser's local access bridges. Every investment in automobile infrastructure increases automobile congestion. Traffic engineers have known this for 50 years, every though they are unlikely to discuss it.
The solution is an incremental planning process that involves eliminating auto commuters through expanding transportation options on existing, but unused infrastructure.
This starts with 1) Completing the Big 4 Bridge ($12 million). 2) Opening the K & I for bike and pedestrian access (which would only require a condemnation order by Louisville). 3) Funding for more TARC routes in Southern Indiana. As of now there are 3 routes to NA, one is an express route, which runs twice a day, one does not run after 7 pm or on weekends, and the other takes over an hour to get from New Albany to downtown Louisville.
4) Investment and planning for a streetcar that runs from IUS to downtown Louisville across the K & I bridge on existing tracks ($75 million).
These alternatives could easily be implemented for under $250 million. If tolling cars on existing bridges were offered as an option to pay for this infrastructure, I would eagerly be one of the biggest tolling supporters.
I agree with you, Josh, but the "no toll" is not a cop-out in my mind.
ReplyDeleteRather, it is an invitation to the previously oblivious to listen to the remainder of your argument.
Whatever one's opinion of Bolshevism, Lenin's "Peace, Bread, Land" was a simple and succinct way to introduce the doctrine.
Yes, but Lenin was offering something in his introduction. The "no-tolls" campaign offers nothing but a reactionary stance that still allows the biggest urban planning debacle of the 21st century to be shoved down our throats, so long as we can still cross the existing bridges toll-free.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am suggesting is a more proactive campaign that demonstrates the lack of need for new highway infrastructure altogether, and one more in line with Lenin's offering of hope during the bleakest of times.
Such as: CAN'T WAIT TO BIKE/WALK THE K&I BRIDGE
I'm printing up the bumper stickers now.