Not so bad, after all.

All this talk of cars and public transportation ...

Somewhere between leaving the Pizzeria & Pub and reaching I-65, the Volvo sprung a coolant leak, the arrow pointed red, steam hissed out the hood, and we pulled off at Kopp Lane and Eastern Boulevard to phone in a Ken Towery strike.

My first reaction was joy at having decided earlier not to make the drive to Bloomington today. How far would we have gotten before the antifreeze began spewing, and which cow would have cared?

The tow truck took a bit, and then the mechanics informed us they didn't have the proper adapter for the pressure test. We eventually took a Checker Cab home, and looked back on two hours utterly lost.

Funny thing is, it was fairly funny throughout. The tow truck driver was a rare wit, explaining how much he loves his job even when towing repos at 2 a.m. We had a great chat with the fellows at Towery's, including up-to-date accounts of their parents' holiday choices. And, the cabbie was vastly entertaining as he reminisced about the hurricane in 2008, when he and the preacher across the street watched a tree fall atop a neighbor's car.

Today's posting has no real meaning, other than to observe that an ability to laugh at the ludicrousness of a situation is perhaps the best way to skate through it. We'll now go back to walking -- to the Parish Green, and then to Bank Street for a Progressive Pint with my cousins. Life is a pain in the ass. It's also quite enjoyable at times.

And some not so great news...

TARC's entire 2011 budget: $63.5 million

Amount pledged to Bridges Project in 2011 by Kentucky Legislature: $185 million

And we're told we had no choice but to cut public transit services (about $5.5 million for the year) because we just can't afford them.

Great news about a great woods: The Dr. Sherman A. Minton, Jr. Nature Preserve.

Save a pre-meeting article by Lesley Stedman Weidenbener I haven't seen much ink devoted to it, but the Indiana Natural Resources Commission voted at their May gathering to dedicate approximately 1,300 acres just west of New Albany as the Dr. Sherman A. Minton, Jr. Nature Preserve.

The land is "generally north of Blunk Knob Road, west of Budd Road and east of Ind. 11" and described by the Department of Natural Resources as “a dramatically dissected complex of steep forested hills and mesic ravines" that serves as home to several endangered species including bobcats, gray bats, and various types of warblers. A drive up Blunk Knob Road, which shoots straight uphill from the point at which Budd Road and Five Mile Lane converge, proved the description apt and has me eager for further exploration.

In an email response, Lee Casebere of the Division of Nature Preserves said, "The DNR has owned this property in Floyd County for several years. The recent action by the Natural Resource Commission was to designate it as a 'dedicated' nature preserve. That action establishes a permanent, restrictive easement on the land so that it may be used for no other purpose except as a nature preserve on into the future. Dr. Minton was a well-known herpetologist, and the property has a diverse representation of reptiles and amphibians. Naming the site for him was 'a natural' since he grew up in New Albany."

"The property is open to the public, but there are no parking areas or trails, therefore access is not good. We hope to provide better access in the future, but it could be quite some time before that happens."

With such a tremendous, seemingly pristine resource to the near west and the Loop Island Wetlands on our eastern border, we're reminded that adaptive reuse of the urban core is about much more than the spaces bounded by concrete and bricks.

HISKES: 10 ways cities and towns can kick the offshore-oil habit.

While Louisville and Southern Indiana citizens await the results of a dance contest between Wall Street honchos, foreign investors, special interest lobbyists, and an "authority" with little transportation and community development expertise, even less diversity, and no public accountability as part of a financial process that's already five years behind in service to a project that, according to current schedules, won't be finished until approximately 2030 making it even more outdated and unsustainable upon completion than when originally imagined, other local governments are rapidly moving forward with more cost effective, long-term solutions.

HISKES: 10 ways cities and towns can kick the offshore-oil habit

With the Gulf oil spill continuing unabated, powering a 21st century economy on a 19th century fossil fuel looks less and less smart by the day.

Luckily, we've got other options. I described the most promising steps the federal government could take toward reducing oil use in transportation systems last week. But local governments don't have to wait for federal action. Through smart land use, cities, towns, and many rural areas can give residents the option of driving less -- a direct way to stem the demand for offshore (and foreign) oil.

I spoke with leaders of the Smart Growth movement, along with advocates for economic justice, to learn about solutions that don't require new technology and, in many cases, pay for themselves.

A jeer to the school corporation for sending tax revenue elsewhere.

Seeing as the newspaper's random archiving generator missed it, here's one of those occasional "just for the record" moments: Loyal blog reader Mark Cassidy's Jeer in yesterday's Tribune.

JEERS ... to the NA-FC School Corp. for sending out a summer reading list and just listing "big box" stores such as those in Louisville. Are they not aware that sales tax revenue funds the schools and purchases at local book retailers add to that pie? Not to mention all the other benefits of buying local. Grade "F".

Did Tony Bennett and Mitch Baby approve this message?

Today's Tribune column: "Can ‘shift happen’ in New Albany, too?"

Blog readers will recognize the reference to "buy local first" in Somerville, Massachusetts, to which I appended ten local commandments from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The latter have been discussed here virtually from this rag's inception. I decided to print them in the newspaper today in the hope that area politicians (and sadly, more than a few merchants) might take notice, most for the very first time.

You already know what I think. We can unite pragmatically as a community to achieve something of substance, or, conversely, we can go back to babbling fruitlessly about abortion, television idols, Obama's birth certificate, immigration, or numerous other topics over which individuals possess exactly zero control on a local basis.

For heaven's sake, even Steve Bush -- a Republican Republican, as opposed to our curious "stroke 'em if ya got 'em" species of Democrat Republican -- now concedes on the record the remote possibility of rehabbing the Annex. Apparently anything's possible, these days.

BAYLOR: Can ‘shift happen’ in New Albany, too?

In the craft beer business, we have creatively adapted an old activist mantra to suit our specific circumstances: “Think globally, drink locally.”

Enjoy your Hummer drive to the foot of the driveway to collect your on-demand right wing propaganda.

I love it.

One day it's "Drill Baby Drill," and the next, it becomes "let's not politicize this environmental tragedy."

Yep, the nuances of irony escape the Right (referred to in my household as "the Wrong"), but one thing's for sure: Petroleum addiction crosses all party lines -- right, One Southern Indiana?

I've heard talk of a "Nuke option" for the oil spill. The nuke option would best be directed against both of America's main political parties.

That's insomnia for you ...

St. Paul's Art on the Parish Green (with NABC beer), this weekend, June 5 & 6.

Did you know that St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located just around the corner from the Publican's household, is the oldest Episcopalian congregation in Indiana? It dates back 175 years.

The coming weekend will be St. Paul's 4th annual Art on the Parish Green. The church's historic grounds are given over to a multitude of arts and crafts, with live music, food and beer from the New Albanian Brewing Company (tentative choices: Abzug, Community Dark and Elector). Don't forget the Sunday hours, enabling you to make Fest of Ale and Art on the Parish Green in one entertaining weekend. For complete information, hit the Internet:

Art on the Parish Green web site

Art on the Parish Green Facebook site

Parking, events, etc: Merchant Mixer minutes from May 26, 2010.

I'm operating under the assumption that the minutes from last week's Merchant Mixer are meant to be shared, and I do so, in this space, in case any downtown business owner missed reading the report. It was the first mixer that I've attended, and it was highly informative. Along these general lines, my Thursday column for the Tribune is about organizing a "buy local first" movement. Thanks to Curt and Pam Peters for these notes!

Merchant Mixer
Minutes
May 26, 2010

Approximately 28 were present including representatives from Harvest Homecoming, Printer Plus, River City Winery, Carnegie Center, City of New Albany, Shall We Dance?, PNC, AAA Plumbing, Farmers’ Market, Develop New Albany, Honeymoon Mansion, Thorpe Woodworks, Riverfront, Bicentennial Committee, Main Source Bank, Prestons, Conner Jewelers, The Tribune, NABC/Bank Street Brewhouse, Studios, and Gallery on Pearl.

Several brought appetizers, beverages, and desserts. Thanks!

Mayor England talked about a new approach to street parking in the heart of downtown. A group from Louisville recently ate and shopped downtown on their first trip here for those purposes and were dismayed to get a parking ticket. So the mayor is calling off ticketing on the central downtown streets so that customers can eat and shop at their leisure, but he expects EVERY MERCHANT, BUSINESS OWNER, AND WORKER downtown to park in the parking garage, farmers’ market area, or other public space off the streets so that the street parking is reserved for customers only. Reasonable monthly passes for the garage and farmers’ market are available from Marcey Wisman, the City Clerk. The 2-hour parking limit signs will remain but will not be enforced. The businesses are expected to police their employees. A map will be distributed by the city to businesses covering this. C. Peters suggested that new signs be put up saying, “Customer Parking Only.” - On a related point, street sweeping downtown will be done earlier in the morning.

Kerry Nicolas from HHC reminded everyone to send in booth reservations within the next few days. Booth spots that are only walkways to stores do not need to have someone in them the full specified time, but booths that sell or display things do.

Information was shared about:
The Riverfront Stage events including the great opening the previous Saturday and the wonderful schedule of free events throughout the summer
Exclusively New Albany (this year called, “It Takes a Village”), will feature food and exhibits at the Mayor’s house on the evening of Thursday, June 17; tickets in advance are available for $30 from DNA website (www.developna.org) and The Gallery on Pearl

The Glass Art Society exhibits at several venues in New Albany on June 11 (evening) and June 12 (afternoon); merchants are urged to be open for the busloads of people coming from the national GAS conference in Louisville for this – notify Karen Gillenwater at the Carnegie if you will be open
The bicentennial art walk also on the evening of June 11 featuring five new sculptures and historians at each of the sites
The wonderful new park next to the Scribner House

Announcements were made about several things including the opening soon of La Bocca Italian restaurant and in July of La Rosita Mexican restaurant. Plans are underway for a Bicentennial Park at the corner of Pearl and Spring. It was suggested that we have downtown “block captains” to help with communication.

It was a good meeting. - Curt & Pam Peters

The 5th Annual Keg Liquors Fest of Ale is this Saturday, June 5.

Submitted ... NABC will be there with Rosa, our draft truck.

Beer-lovers can take a trip to the Fest of Ale; 5th annual event benefits Crusade for Children

CLARKSVILLE, INDIANA - Some folks enjoy their beer so much that they'd gladly take a trip around the world to sample the wares. But if time and money are a little tight right now, the Keg Liquors Fest of Ale will condense the experience into one spring afternoon - and for a good cause, to boot.

The 5th annual Fest rolls around on Saturday, June 5, from 3-7 p.m. For the second year, it's on tap for St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 320 N. Sherwood Ave., Clarksville, Ind.

More than 40 breweries and three craft brew distributors will serve samples of more than 150 craft and import beers, and four fine wine distributors will serve wine samples. The St. Anthony's Men's Club will cook up hamburgers, hot dogs, brats and the like, and there'll be live music and a silent auction.

The overall atmosphere is fun and relaxed - participants are invited to bring a lawn chair and kick back for a few hours.

And Fest of Ale is a fundraiser for the WHAS Crusade for Children. Last year the event raised more than $3,500. "We are looking to top that number this year," says Todd Antz, who owns Keg Liquors.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the event. They're available now at Keg Liquors, 617 E. Lewis & Clark Pkwy., Clarksville; New Albanian Brewing Company; 3312 Plaza Drive, New Albany; BBC Taproom, 636 E. Main St., Louisville; or online.

The Fest is scheduled rain-or-shine. Current plans call for it to be held outdoors under a tent, as it was last year, but it can move inside in the event of inclement weather.

For a list of participating breweries, go here. This list is still growing as the festival approaches. For other information, go here.

A response to Michael about the Bridges (part 1).

Roger published a post regarding oil addiction addressed to One Southern Indiana President Michael Dalby. I made a comment about something Dalby once said to me, and, rather than address the concerns raised by the original post - namely, how advocating an increase in regional oil dependency equates to leadership - someone using the handle "Michael" challenged me with the following:

Jeff, how is it that you and only you can possibly be right? As I look back at years of public hearings and input on this project, I see an open process that through negotiation and compromise has brought us to where we are today...two bridges and the re-work of Spaghetti Junction. Tyler Allen ran his campaign as a referendum on the ORBP and got less than 8,000 votes (while the three candidates that openly support the project garnered over 80% of the Democratic vote). I believe the majority of citizens in this region want a comprehensive and safe transportation solution for the next 50-100 years. That's what we are working toward.

I'll take the first part first with the rest to follow:

Jeff, how is it that you and only you can possibly be right?

Unlike Michael does here, I've never made the claim that it is I alone who is singularly correct in assessing regional transportation plans. My point has always been the exact opposite: a large and growing body of evidence from around the country frames the Ohio River Bridges Project as anathema to regional economic progress and sustainability.

What follows is an extremely brief examination of a small amount of that evidence, the tip of a proverbial 'berg based on a short short this morning. It took longer to format it for Blogger than to gather it. Readers will notice that many of the references made here are from several years ago, further making the point that they do not constitute radical new ideas but rather information commonly available for quite some time.

Earlier this decade, the City of Louisville hired the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC, whose mission "is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals: Strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system."

The Brookings Institution was charged with making recommendations to move the Louisville metropolitan area, including Southern Indiana, forward as Louisville and Jefferson County, KY, governments were about to merge. It's report, BEYOND MERGER: A Competitive Vision for the Regional City of Louisville, found the region to be facing two major challenges: "a workforce that is limited in size and skills that will hamper the city's ability to mature its low-wage, service economy to a higher-wage one" and "the region is growing in a decentralized and divided way that will ultimately harm the area's quality of life and hinder low-income households' access to opportunities."

The transportation section of the report presents several findings:

1. While other transit options have gone largely ignored, we have been aggressively building roads at a rate far greater than peer cities.
2.Due to that construction, the number of miles driven in urbanized Louisville have grown much faster than the population.
3. That increase in Vehicle Miles Traveled has led to increased congestion.
4. While those new roadways have been aggressively pursued, existing ones have not been properly maintained.
4. They did mention one positive: TARC ridership had increased.

Excerpts from the heading "What This Means":

The region’s aggressive road-building strategy may not necessarily improve mobility. Granted, the Louisville transportation system remains less snarled than troubled systems in cities such as Atlanta. But rising congestion and increasingVMT combined with deteriorating road conditions are clearly making it harder for Louisvillians to get around. Meanwhile, transit remains a limited option for most residents thanks to the region’s intense focus on freeways and arterials. Taken together, these trends pose a serious threat to the region’s quality of life.

Current transportation patterns could also exacerbate growth and environmental imbalances across the region. Aggressive road building—coupled with proposed large-scale transportation corridor projects—can redistribute business and residential development. Recent evidence suggests that new highways and interchanges become conduits for decentralization. In this fashion, proposed transportation improvements in eastern Jefferson County could weaken older sections of the new Regional City, further isolating the western corridor.14 Pollution tied in part to motor vehicle exhaust emissions, at the same time, continues to complicate economic development planning. From 1998 to 2000, the counties with the worst ozone air pollution in the states of Indiana and Kentucky were both in the Louisville metropolitan area. Clark County, Indiana and Oldham County, Kentucky each offer the most unhealthy air in their respective states. Oldham recently replaced Jefferson County as the worst in Kentucky.15 And these ratings have impacts beyond their undesirable health effects, including the possible loss of federal transportation funds.16 TARC, the regional public transit system, is actively responding to these negative trends with reduced fares, and plans to add electric buses and light rail to its fleet.

Current trends could also undermine the region’s leadership in the distribution and logistics industry. Louisville’s competitive advantage in freight handling depends on the uninhibited movement of goods through and between the region’s major air and rail hubs, its port, and its interstate highway net- work. However, the efficiency of all of these facilities would be compromised by the traffic delays, deteriorating roads, and decentralized development that could result from an ill-considered road-building program. That suggests the need for the Regional City to weigh carefully the full impact of all proposed transportation improvements so as to protect and grow its critical logistics and distribution sector.

Likewise, the Harvard Graduate School of Design produced a supplementary report, "Metro Louisville Moving Forward", (sorry, no link yet) that specifically "questioned the priority of allocating $1.9 billion for highway improvements [the Kentucky and Indiana bridges project] while leaving the funding of a light-rail system to be addressed at a future time." It's hard to imagine that they would think, now that bridges project cost estimates have skyrocketed, that it would suddenly be a better idea.

Writing for the Infrastructurist, Yonah Freemark, a Gordon Grand Fellow from Yale University, named the Ohio River Bridges Project the #1 most ridiculous new road being built in America.

Hank Dittmar's 2002 testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affiars' Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation also provides clues to the depth of information available that reaffirms the Bridges Project in it's current form as counterproductive. Mr. Dittmar is a member of the board of directors of the Surface Transportation Policy Project. His inclusion isn't remarkable because of that affiliation but because of the sources upon which he's able to draw to make his case.

Some excerpts:

Transit ridership has increased each of the last four years, revealing a growing interest in transit in a range of city types and locales. A preponderance of this ridership growth is in New York City, as a preponderance of transit use is centered in New York. However, many other cities and urban areas around the country are experiencing increased ridership. In fact, the greatest percentage increase in the first four quarters of 2001 occurred in communities with 50,000-99,999 in population, where bus ridership grew 10.25% over 2000 – which also was a banner year for transit. And what is happening in big cities like New York (2.9%), Washington (5.85%), and Los Angeles (15.8%) cannot explain an 11.7% increase in Albuquerque, 6.7% in Providence, 7.7 % in Denver, 5% in Boise City, or 15.67% in Oklahoma City.

------

A recent survey by Jones Lang LaSalle in its Property Futures publication found that 77 percent of New Economy companies rated access to mass transit as an extremely important factor in selecting corporate locations. According to the 2001 survey of 350 New Economy companies: "Employers concerned with staff retention regard the public transportation issue as critical. Young and cyber-savvy staff increasingly reject the traditional commuter lifestyle . . .Urban locations, though not always CBDs, will continue to be desirable. This is reinforced by the importance of public transportation to companies and workers." An example in Atlanta was the decision by BellSouth to relocate its entire Atlanta metropolitan workforce – some 20,000 workers – into three locations within walking distance of Metro stations.

Moreover, overwhelmingly, replacement jobs continue to be located in established urban areas near transit. While some researchers have made much hay arguing that most "new jobs" are located in exurban locations, the fact remains that most job openings are for replacement jobs. As Qing Shen of the University of Maryland demonstrated in a recent study of the Boston metropolitan area, "pre-existing employment is still highly concentrated in the central city." (Qing Shen, Winter 2001)

-----

By the late 1990s, real estate analysts began to see accessible urban locations in a new light as well. The 2001 issue of Price Waterhouse Coopers’ Emerging Trends in Real Estate continued to advise investors to seek out opportunities in what they dub 24-hour cities, with mixed-use development and mass transit access. According to the report, which is compiled from dozens of interviews with real estate investors and professionals:

"Major 24-hour metro markets maintain their pre-eminence while some suburban areas struggle with sprawl and congestion issues. ‘Subcities’—our new term for suburban locations that are urbanizing and taking on 24-hour market characteristics—show particular promise for investors." (Price Waterhouse Cooper and Lendlease, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2001,) Recent brownfields legislation should improve the interest in existing urbanized locations even more.

Increasingly, real estate investors are looking for value in established communities. Price Waterhouse Coopers’ Emerging Trends report for 2002 - prepared post 9/11 - warns investors away from apartments, retail, and auto dependent suburban locations, while advising investors to buy and hold in 24 cities.

Interviewees have come to realize that properties in better planned, growth-constrained markets hold value in down markets and appreciate more in upcycles. Areas with sensible zoning (integrating commercial, retail and residential), parks and street grids with sidewalks will age better than places connected to disconnected cul-de-sac subdivisions and shopping strips, navigable only by car. Booming populations and wide-open spaces in the Sunbelt’s expanding suburban agglomerations can provide developers and investors with short-term opportunities to cash in on growth waves – but the returns, on average have not been competitive . . . Markets served with mass-transportation alternatives and attractive close-in neighborhoods should be positioned to sustain better long term prospects as people strive top make their lives more convenient. (Jones Lang LaSalle, 2001)

-----

The consumption of transportation has a major impact on household budgets for all Americans. The American Automobile Association estimates the annual cost of owning and operating an automobile at $7,363 in 1999. About 75% of that cost is fixed costs such as car payments and insurance, and this means that there is little financial incentive for drivers to drive less once they made the investment in a car. Nationally, transportation expenditures account for 17.5% of the average household’s budget, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by the Surface Transportation Policy Project and the Center for Neighborhood Technology (STPP & CNT, Driven to Spend, 2000). The proportion of household expenditures that is devoted to transportation has grown as our use of the automobile has grown, from under 1 dollar out of 10 in 1935 to 1 dollar out of seven in 1960, to almost 1 dollar out of five from 1972 through today.

The transportation burden borne by American households falls most heavily upon the poor and lower middle class, as the less a family makes, the more of its budget goes to transportation. The poorest quintile of American households spend 36 percent of their budgets on transportation, while the richest fifth spend only 14 percent. This means that the poorer a family is, the less money it has available for other expenses such as housing, medical care or savings. In fact, transportation takes up the second largest percentage of the household budget, ahead of food, education, medical care and clothing, only behind expenses for housing.

-----

The growing proportion of consumer expenditures that is devoted to transportation inhibits families from devoting their income to saving or investing, and indeed may be part of the reason why so many families have to send two people to work. For the fact is that spending on transportation by poor families, unlike spending on home ownership or investing in education, has a very poor return on investment because autos, unlike houses, are depreciating assets. Ten thousand dollars invested in a car declines to a value of about four thousand dollars in ten years time, while investment in home ownership builds equity and often appreciates. Similarly, investment in college education for one’s children increases their earning power over their lifetime. The fact that the poorest families must spend over a third of their income on transportation means that they are least able to invest in activities that offer them the opportunity to build wealth. It is indeed ironic that many progressive social scientists believe that the best way to help former welfare recipients secure jobs is to give them automobile purchase assistance, thereby trapping them into the poverty cycle even more profoundly, as the poor typically end up with less reliable cars which are more expensive to operate and maintain.

Some lending institutions are also changing loan criteria to reflect the hundreds of dollars in savings per month that can be experienced in denser, transit rich neighborhoods. The Location Efficient Mortgage (SM) a product of Fannie Mae and a consortium of groups called the Institute of Location Efficiency, allows prospective homebuyers in denser transit-rich neighborhoods to use their transportation savings to help them afford a home in these neighborhoods. The program, which has been introduced in Chicago and Seattle and San Francisco, is under study in Atlanta, Portland and Philadelphia, and Fannie Mae has announced plans to introduce a less comprehensive product with smaller savings in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Baltimore. In essence, financial institutions are now sending a message – if you save money by driving less, we’ll take that into account and offer you more funds to purchase a home. This kind of market adjustment is a positive response to the economic benefits of transit investment upon households.

-----

As indicated earlier, real estate investors are recognizing that development near transit has locational advantages, and a new style of development is emerging in response to this fact. Transit oriented development is the new term used to characterize mixed use, walkable development located within one-half mile of a transit stop, and evidence indicates that as new transit systems – whether light or commuter rail or rapid bus – are introduced, development follows. A recent study by the University of North Texas found that the new DART system in the Dallas region has already generated over $800 million in development, and that the full system is projected to generate $3.7 billion in economic activity upon build out. (University of North Texas, 2000). Typical of these projects is Mockingbird Station, which features a multi-screen cinema, upscale retail, office space and 211 loft apartments within walking distance of the light rail stop. The project was built without public subsidy.

The potential for transit oriented development to build economic value and staying power in a region is evidenced in the National Capital region by both Montgomery County, Maryland and Arlington County, Virginia. My organization is completing a case study of Arlington County, which has pursued a policy of concentrating its development activity along the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor since the construction of the Washington Metro. Our forthcoming study found that development along transit allowed the County to capture over 13 million square feet of office space and 2 million square feet of retail since 1980. The corridor has increased in population from 19,838 in 1980 to 34,485 in 2000, reversing a steep population decline in the Seventies. Land value within the corridor near the four stations increased by 81 percent from 1992-20002, an average annual increase of 6.1 percent, generating over $109 million in property taxes in 2002 alone. The corridor generates approximately 33% of the County’s real estate tax on 7.7% of the County’s land. According to the study, "Even with the economic downturn and the residual affects of the 9/11 incident (which affected Arlington directly through the bombing of the Pentagon and the subsequent shut down of National Airport and several major arterials), February 2002 vacancy rates were at 10%. This is half of the vacancy rate of suburban office concentrations in outlying Virginia such as Tyson’s Corner and Reston. Office rents in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor also command a rent premium over other office locations in the Northern Virginia marketplace." (TransManagement, Inc. for Great American Station Foundation, forthcoming)

The National Association of Realtors and Transportation for America commissioned a survey in 2009.

A results summary:

To accommodate future U.S. population growth, which is expected to increase by 100 million by 2050, Americans favor improving intercity rail and transit, walking and biking over building new highways. When asked what the federal government’s top priority should be for 2009 transportation funding, half of all respondents recommended maintaining and repairing roads and bridges, while nearly one third said “expanding and improving bus, rail, and other public transportation.” Only 16 percent said “expanding and improving roads, highways, freeways and bridges.”

When asked about approaches to addressing traffic, 47 percent preferred improving public transportation, 25 percent chose building communities that encourage people not to drive, and 20 percent preferred building new roads. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed believe the federal government is not devoting enough attention to trains and light rail systems, and three out of four favor improving intercity rail and transit.

Those results have been echoed locally as well:

In order to update its long range plan recently, TARC utilized community outreach to help determine direction.

Results Summary:

• Community outreach conducted as part of the report mirrored prior studies: Louisville residents desire convenient, fast, frequent and affordable transit. Community leaders and residents highly value existing bus service, would like to improve services for seniors and ranked a light rail system and intercity passenger rail as the top improvements that they would use.

• A look at TARC’s short-term and long-term financial outlook illustrates that TARC must have new or greatly expanded funding sources in order to develop advanced transit modes such as Light Rail or commuter rail or even to significantly expand existing bus service.

• New avenues for expansion of transit services may come from changing federal transportation policies and funding, prompted by the current economic crisis and the recent spike in gas prices. (The report was completed in advance of recent discussion regarding economic stimulus funding for transit.)

Though admittedly unscientific, Business First conducted its own Business Pulse Survey poll to gauge what its readers were thinking about 8664, asking, "What do you think of Louisville Metro Council's decision to examine the 8664 proposal?" 55% of respondents answered "It's worth examining the merits of the proposal."

Respected urban development consultant Aaron Renn (a Southern Indiana native), has also chimed in against the Bridges and for 8664.

Here's a recent video featuring several, local well-known thinkers, developers, philanthropists, and representatives expressing disdain for the Bridges project and support for 8664.



So, it's hardly me and only me and I'll remind again that this only a tiny fraction of readily available information pertaining to urban transportation planning and impacts in general and Louisville or Louisville-like situations more specifically. If Michael would care to begin his refutations here, I'll follow up with more information regarding his other claims later.

Something else for non-Democrats not to campaign against?

Are we really having a conversation, Mitch ... er, sorry, I mean Ed? Is it like the "conversation" that 1SI's Mr. Dalby insists we've been having about bridges, or is it some other kind?

'Round these parts, conversations are starting to mean as much as da baits do.

CLERE: A history lesson to start the summer, by Ed Clere.

... The last day of school is a sad day at five area schools - four in Floyd County and one in Clarksville - that are closing for good. The closings were blamed on a recent cut in K-12 funding by Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has the unenviable task of balancing the state's books during a deep recession. The governor's cut may have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, but much of what happens in education — and in government in general — is the result of many decisions over many years, and the five school closings were no exception.

That's why it's so important for all of us to understand how government works - in this case, how education funding works. In no way am I suggesting that K-12 education is receiving too much funding. In fact, some reforms and initiatives may require additional funding. Others won't. In any case, the conversation continues.

This is the cost of your oil addiction, Michael Dalby ...

... and you still want to build how many new traffic lanes across the Ohio River while avoiding any substantive discussion of public transportation? Can you tell me how any of this approximates leadership, beyond leading money into the pockets of 1SI's board?

Fury and despair as BP says leak could last months

An uncontrollable fountain of oil could gush into the Gulf of Mexico until August, the Obama administration warned today, as BP conceded it was moving to a containment strategy after failing to plug the well at the centre of the most environmentally disastrous spill in US history.

A baseball card, so to speak.

Beak's Best remained on tap at Louisville Slugger Field on Sunday evening. In dealing with a stadium concessionaire, there are no sure things, and so I can't predict whether NABC will continue as a progressive beer option as the baseball season proceeds. With palpable optimism, our artist in residence, Tony Beard, has produced this baseball-themed homage to Beak's and its namesake, Dr. Donald Barry. Don is returning to New Albany later this week for his annual visit prior to decamping for Europe, where he'll enjoy more favorable exchange rates.

Jeffersonville: Where the approaches to the Big Four Bridge formerly rested.

Rewind: Two Memorial Day posts from 2008.

Two ruminations from two years ago. First, there's war as obscenity irrespective of "sides" occupied by the dead.

Memorial Day as a universal concept.

... For me, it's a far more worthy holiday is it prompts introspection into the sacrifice made by all soldiers in all places and times, the vast majority of whom have been little more than cannon fodder and largely without any identifiably personal stake in the outcome of battles fought for reasons that have nothing whatsoever to do with those doing the actual dying.

Second, there are local symbols, and then there are local entitites congenitally allergic to symbolism.

Thinking about Muhammad Ali and the Democrats on Memorial Day.

A year ago this weekend, Mrs. Confidential and I visited the foremost destination for foreign tourists who come to Louisville, and I urged readers to do the same: C'mon, who could turn down an afternoon at Louisville's Muhammad Ali Center?

We've been back for a repeat look, and enjoyed the experience just as much the second time.

McDonald Lane improvements could be another first step for bicycling in New Albany.

Glancing at the calendar, I see that it's 2010 (Year 3 A.K. -- After Kochert).

Accordingly, no road improvement project such as the one outlined below should be considered for implementation without a commensurate and safe bicyling advocacy component. After all, McDonald Lane is ideally situated to link Community Park with access to the Greenway via a future bike lane on Slate Run Road. Speaking of transportation on two wheels, Matt Nash's column today provides encouragement to bike to work.

Improvements planned for McDonald Lane; Public hearing to be held June 8 at Our Lady, by Chris Morris (Tribune)

New Albany city officials are looking for public input for the proposed improvements to McDonald Lane from Grant Line Road to Charlestown Road.

New Albany Mayor Doug England said public input is vital to making sure the improvements “are the best fit for our community.”

Open thread: Downtown parking.

The Tribune's Chris Morris provides coverage of yesterday's merchant mixer.

Downtown New Albany merchants discuss parking; Two-hour parking restrictions relaxed.

Many customers are having problems finding open parking spaces, and England said it’s an issue he is ready to address. He said two-hour parking regulations downtown along Market and Pearl streets have been lifted until further notice. He also said business owners and their employees need to park in paid city lots and not in front of store fronts.

“You’ve created a vibrant business area. People from Floyds Knobs and Louisville are coming downtown,” England told the business owners. “I have ordered the police department not to do anything in a four-block radius when it comes to parking. We want you all to police your own parking.”

Non-enforcement is a persistent New Albanian way of life, but in this instance, it's being openly announced.

My personal view is that it would be easier to train your cat not to chase mice than it is to succeed in convincing employees not to take the best customer parking spaces; it's generational, and hard-wired in their DNA. It's also never been an issue for me to walk a few blocks to get where I'm going. Then again, as often reminded, I'm "lucky" to be able to do that.

And, I live in Midtown.

Do we have any agreement on the best way forward for downtown parking, including business, pleasure and residential? What is being suggested by merchant self-enforcement?

If you have thoughts, please air them. There's something about this topic that confuses me, but I can't quite decide why that is.

Today's Tribune column: "A veritable cabal of babble."

I do fairly precise work. I try to place quotation marks in the "right" place, spell words correctly, and use bold print and italics for emphasis when merited. When the makers of FORMICA command the use of caps and ®, it's what I try to do. Then I hand it over to someone else, and try not to look at it again, so that I don't want to scream the way I do today, when I couldn't resist looking.

No matter. Never mind. Thou shalt not be a control freak. Here is today's Tribune column, and a glimpse into the Gang of Four's gravy-bedecked, broken-stringed, decision-making process. We can only hope that some day, Naygain and McWafflin clue us into the broader specifics of their action plan to thwart progress in New Albany.

BAYLOR: A veritable cabal of babble

... “I don’t have a problem with that,” spluttered Cappuccino as delicately ground, meaty shrapnel trickled daintily onto the yellowed Sui-Generis® brand of paper plate, “but I’m sick and tired that it’s just now coming to my heartfelt attention, not that I don’t already know more about whatever you just said than you do."

New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater performances for Friday and Saturday.

Not every performance at New Albany's Riverfront Amphitheater this summer will be accompanied by adult libations. When they are, please accept no substitutes, and be sure to ask for fresh, locally brewed craft beer. Irrespective of the evening's choice to provide a catering permit for the amphitheater, shouldn't buying local be the goal ... and buying local doesn't mean offering Bud Light, does it?

Louisville area breweries include: Bluegrass Brewing Company, Browning's Cumberland Brews, and NABC.

The press release below was submitted.

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Friday, May 28

Summer Concert Series: Eight Inch Elvis

Eight Inch Elvis, a six-piece, rock variety band will perform Friday at New Albany’s Riverfront Amphitheater as a part of the city’s Summer Concert Series. The group plays something for everyone, from classic rock to new country, modern pop and your favorite dance and party songs.

Saturday, May 29

Performing Arts Series: Floyd Central Theater to perform Rivertown Cabaret

The award winning Floyd Central Theatre Arts Department under the direction of Chris Bundy will present an ecclectic evening of music and comedy on the New Albany Riverfront Stage on the evening of May 29th at 7:30 p.m., part of the city’s Performing Arts Series.

Part one of the evening is entitled, "The Rivertown Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and features songs and comedy with a pioneer flair takin on the fun of an old time traveling medicine show. Some of the featured songs include, Raise-A-Ruckus; Oh Susannah; Down ToThe River To Pray; My Sweatheart's The Man-In-The-Moon; and a large selection of songs from the Broadway musical, Big River.

Following a short intermission, the troupe of talented performers will continue the evening with a Broadway Cabaret featuring hits from more contemporary musicals.

The performance is made possible through a grant from the Horseshoe Foundation.

Both events will begin at 7:30 p.m., and are free to the public.