Thursday, December 02, 2010

Bridges Authority committee meeting is this morning at Kye's.

This morning Curtis Morrison, one of several rabble rousers for Say NO to Bridge Tolls, sent this message to members of the Facebook group. I had an obligation on the calendar and will try to drop in for the last half. Anyone able to attend, please try to make an appearance.

Tolling Authority committee will be Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at Kye's, Jeffersonville, Indiana. Chairman Buddecke has promised to have audio at this one so the audience can actually hear what they're saying.

Will be interesting to see if the Authority acknowledges receipt of the "Toll the Sherman Minton while we're at it"-plan submitted to them by the GLI, and One Southern Indiana-sponsored Bridges Coalition. We're hoping to have lots of folks at this meeting! If we don't, these clowns at the Tolling Authority might very well be able to steamroll these tolls right on through.

Keep in mind, they've asked permission to toll all existing bridges, new bridges and the Spaghetti Junction. We must come together and Say NO to Tolls! See you at the meeting!

8 comments:

Iamhoosier said...

Yet another meeting when the working public can't attend. Thank you Bridges Authority. May I have another?

Lounativ said...

Something to think of - business wise and such - if they plan to toll the bridges - who will be hurt the most? The businesses in S. Indiana as well as the workers that travel to and from Louisville to S. IN and the people of West Louisville who depend on getting to New Albany to shop and exercise.

I had the privilege of meeting two such women at the YMCA last evening. They live and work in Louisville but find that living in the West End with its lack of stores and restaurants has them making the trek to New Albany to fulfill those needs. We chatted about the grocery they were already members and working out at the Y and places they enjoy going to in our fair town. These ladies are not the only ones.

If you were to go to the NA Plaza Kroger on any given day, you will find many people from Louisville in the parking lot and the store. This is due to the great produce, service and location. Same thing with the restaurants.

I asked them if they would still come to New Albany if it would cost them $1.50 to do so and they both said no. I can't say that I blame them.

It is suicide to the communities and their inhabitants to have anyone pro-toll. The only people benefitting are those in charge of receipt of the tolls and the industries that would be served by the East End Bridge. For those who hate to get stuck in bridge traffic in the AM - leave a little earlier.

Iamhoosier said...

I live on the north side of NA. Work on the south side of L-ville. 21.4 miles. Most days it takes me 30 minutes or less to work. Not an unacceptable length time, imo.

Karen B said...

I grew up here but spent 4 years in California. People complaining about it taking 10-15 minutes to get across the bridge, or a total commute time of 20-30 minutes to get to work need to spend some time in San Francisco and/or LA. San Francisco has plenty of toll bridges to snarl traffic, too, so that would be a nice comparison. The ORBP keep saying that businesses are choosing not to locate here because of the "traffic congestion" on the bridges. If these alleged businesses have any kind of national presence, they'd already know that Louisville traffic isn't that bad, even at rush hour.

Karen B said...

(and to be clear--that wasn't aimed at you, Iamhoosier. I've heard other folks complain about how "long" their 20-30 minute commute is and how "long" it takes them to get across the bridges.)

Iamhoosier said...

I knew that Karen, but appreciate your "concern"!!

RememberCharlemagne said...

"The ORBP keep saying that businesses are choosing not to locate here because of the "traffic congestion" on the bridges."

I hear this arguement too, but I think this is far reaching.

I also here that businesses locate to areas for their arts but I think this is just as far reaching.

I guess it depends on the business.

RememberCharlemagne said...

Lounativ the ladies that you met would be pleasntly suprised that there is a better Kroger in Portland right off the Watterson than the one off of State St.

They would save a lot on gas. Funny that they haven't seen it you can't miss it.