8664.org

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

8664.org is a grassroots campaign located in Louisville, Kentucky. Its stated mission is "to advocate for the revitalization of Louisville through the removal of Interstate 64 along the riverfront and the adoption of a transportation plan that will provide long-term benefits to the region's citizens, neighborhoods, environment and economy."

The movement wishes to alter future plans for Louisville's interstates, formally referred to as the Ohio River Bridges Project, with three major components:

Build an East-end bridge (as currently set forth in the ORBP)
Realign I-64 onto I-265 using the new bridge
Replace the Riverside Expressway from I-65 to 22nd Street with an Olmsted styled parkway, similar to already existing roads like Eastern Parkway in Louisville.

8664 proponents hope that the implementation of their plan will expand interest in Louisville's waterfront and reduce the need for a new downtown bridge, which would negatively impact Butchertown and the Old Jeffersonville Historic District in Jeffersonville, Indiana. 8664's plan would also involve extending the city's flagship Waterfront Park to the west side of downtown Louisville.

The first serious talk about eliminating the I-64 section was in 1999, when the president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., Doug Cobb, proposed it. However, it gained little attention at the time.^[1]

Tyler Allen, who heads the movement, has talked to several government agencies to support the movement, including communities which wouldn't be immediately affected by new bridges.^[2]

Critics believe that it would create endless red tape through the federal government. Other critics believe it is "too little, too late".^[3] Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson referred to proponents of the 8664 plan as "young idealists".^[4] Even the 1999 proponent, Doug Cobb, now dismisses it as a "paper dream".^[5]

Regardless, the number of supporters signed up on the website continues to grow (now over 10,000). JC Stites, the co-founder of 8664 said recently that they plan to release a traffic analysis conducted by a nationally renowned transportation planner this fall. He also suggested that their plan may cost half as much as the Ohio River Bridges Project and could be completed in half the time.

On October 31, 2007, a committee of the Louisville Metro Council announced that they would be holding public hearings on the 8664 plan.^[6]