Widening I-64 through Cherokee Park?

Transportation is a huge sustainability issue that is often hard to balance. On one hand you need to be able to get where you need to go, and on the other hand traffic brings noise, pollution, and safety concerns into our communities. Studies show that foot traffic revitalizes downtown businesses and encourages people to create a more dense, rich, and sustainable downtown area. Vehicle traffic does exactly the opposite.

Our metropolitan planning organization (“KIPDA”) is in the process of amending the region’s Horizon 2030 Transportation Plan. The current plan includes a project to widen I-64 through the Cochran Tunnel (KIPDA ID #389). This will bring more trucks and traffic into the heart of our city and divert funds that could be used for a more sustainable traffic plan such as diverting traffic through an east-end bridge or a light rail system along I-64 to reduce rush hour loads.

The last day of the public comment period is next Tuesday and we encourage you to write your city representative. 8664.org has created a special page on their site to make it easy for you to generate an email and gather more information about this issue.

http://www.8664.org/kipda/

Please tell your friends and neighbors about this issue.