8664
{{Short description|Highway removal campaign in Louisville, Kentucky, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{update|date=September 2016}}
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{{Infobox organization
| name = 8664
| logo = 8664.org (logo).png
| logo_size = 100px
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| logo_caption = Logo
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| formation = {{Start date|2005}}
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| headquarters = Louisville, Kentucky
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| leader_title = Co-founders
| leader_name = J.C. Stites
Tyler Allen
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| website = {{URL|8664.org}}
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8664 was a grassroots campaign based in Louisville, Kentucky, that aimed "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".{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
The movement wanted to alter plans for Louisville's interstates, which are formally referred to as the Ohio River Bridges Project, with three major components:
- Build the East End bridge as set forth in the Ohio River Bridges Project
- Realign I-64 onto I-265 using the new bridge, with the remaining parts of I-64 redesignated as I-364
- 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 hoped the implementation of their plan would 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 have involved the extension of city's Waterfront Park to the west of downtown Louisville.
Over 11,000 supporters signed up on the 8664 website.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-20 |title=Grassroots Efforts "Crushed" by Louisville's $2.6 Billion Bridge Boondoggle — Streetsblog USA |url=https://usa.streetsblog.org/2013/11/20/grassroots-efforts-crushed-by-louisvilles-2-6-billion-bridge-boondoggle |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=usa.streetsblog.org |language=en}}
History
{{Expand section|date=January 2010}}
The elimination of the I-64 section was proposed in 1999 by the president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc. Doug Cobb but it gained little attention at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2006/02/13/editorial2.html|title=Louisville could use more 'visionaries' like Tyler Allen|work=Louisville Business First}}
Louisville businessmen Tyler Allen and J.C. Stites co-founded the 8664 campaign in 2005. Allen talked to several government agencies to support the movement, including communities that would not be immediately affected by new bridges.[http://newsandtribune.com/clarkcounty/x519363815/8664-founder-presents-plan-to-Clarksville-Council The News and Tribune - 8664 founder presents plan to Clarksville Council] The campaign presented several annual public meetings with presentations from transportation officials and activists.
On October 31, 2007, a committee of the Louisville Metro Council announced it would be holding public hearings on the 8664 plan.{{cite news |first=Marcus |last=Green |title=Council to hold hearings on 8664 idea |publisher=The Courier-Journal |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1719344091.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+1,+2007&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Hearings+to+be+held+on+%278664%27+proposal |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131205053/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1719344091.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+1,+2007&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Hearings+to+be+held+on+'8664'+proposal |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |date=2007-10-31 |access-date=2007-11-01}}
In 2009, Tyler Allen left the campaign to run for Mayor of Louisville in 2010.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Criticism
Critics believed the 8664 campaign's proposal would have created red tape through the federal government. Other critics believed the plan was "too little, too late". Louisville mayor Jerry Abramson referred to proponents of the 8664 plan as "young idealists".[http://leoweekly.com/news-features/major-stories/features/man-fire-a-chat-about-future Man on fire: A chat about the future by Stephen George, Leo Weekly] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726214633/http://leoweekly.com/news-features/major-stories/features/man-fire-a-chat-about-future |date=2011-07-26 }} The 1999 proponent Doug Cobb dismissed the plan as a "paper dream".
See also
- Abraham Lincoln Bridge, the downtown bridge 8664 opposed building
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.8664.org/}}
- [http://www.8664.org/assets/FINAL%208664%20Feasibility%20Study%20Nov%2028%202007.pdf 8664 Feasibility Study] by Walter Kulash
- [http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/index.html Removing Freeways - Restoring Cities]
- [http://www.loupatriot.com/news/2006/04/19/News/8664-1865883.shtml Revitalizing downtown or creating commuter chaos?] by Elizabeth Post, Louisville Patriot April 19, 2006, Accessed May 16, 2007
- [http://newsandtribune.com/local/x519361263/Opinions-vary-on-interstate-fixes-in-Floyd-and-Clark-counties Opinions vary on interstate fixes in Floyd and Clark counties] by David Mann, December 29, 2006
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Category:Political movements in the United States
Category:Transportation in Louisville, Kentucky
Category:Transportation in Clark County, Indiana
Category:Proposed roads in the United States
Category:2005 establishments in Kentucky