8664

8664 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 (I-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."

8664
Logo
Formation2005 (2005)
HeadquartersLouisville, Kentucky
Co-founder
J.C. Stites
Co-founder
Tyler Allen
Website8664.org

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

  1. Build the East End bridge as currently set forth in the Ohio River Bridges Project
  2. Realign I-64 onto I-265 using the new bridge, with the remaining parts of I-64 redesignated as I-364
  3. 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 number of supporters signed up on the 8664 website continues to grow (now over 11,000).

History

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]

Louisville businessmen Tyler Allen and J.C. Stites co-founded the campaign in 2005. Tyler Allen has talked to several government agencies to support the movement, including communities which wouldn't be immediately affected by new bridges.[2] The campaign has also presented several annual public meetings with presentations from various transportation officials and activists.

On October 31, 2007, a committee of the Louisville Metro Council announced that they would be holding public hearings on the 8664 plan.[3]

In 2009, Tyler Allen left the campaign to run for Mayor of Louisville in 2010.

Criticism

Critics believe that it would create endless red tape through the federal government. Other critics believe it is "too little, too late".[2] 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".[1]

See also

References
  1. "Louisville could use more 'visionaries' like Tyler Allen". Louisville Business First.
  2. The News and Tribune - 8664 founder presents plan to Clarksville Council
  3. Green, Marcus (2007-10-31). "Council to hold hearings on 8664 idea". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  4. Man on fire: A chat about the future by Stephen George, Leo Weekly Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
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