State officials have notified opponents of widening Chenoweth Lane that the 3-lane widening will no longer be considered. I urged the State to take that option off the table in a letter I sent in December.  The State's recent letter says:

"The decision was made to remove the 3-lane widening of Chenoweth Lane from consideration for this project because 1) the capacity analysis and future traffic growth do not warrant three lanes throughout, 2) public opposition to the widening, and 3) the benefits will not be realized by the cost of a three lane widening project (Cost/Benefit ratio). Other alternatives are still being considered and will be presented at the next public meeting at the end of February."

Among the other alternatives discussed in the past were changes in drainage, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.  Our eNews will publicize the late February meeting when the date is announced. 

Bicycling for Louisville, a group which works for a bicycle-friendly community as well as smarter urban development, healthier lifestyles, environmental stewardship, and a strong local economy, is celebrating 2015, and kicking off 2016, TONIGHT, Thursday, January 28 from 5:30 - 9:00 pm at St. John NuLu Theatre (629 E. Market Street) - and you are invited.  The event features open tabling time, a talk from Mayor Greg Fischer, brief presentations, music by Appalatin, great company and refreshments.  

The event will also be the kickoff of a new program – “Streets for People”, which will focus on “complete streets,” including designing roadways to be comfortable and convenient for all users in all modes of transportation.  A few ways to achieve this are to convert one-way streets to two-way, improve the transit experience for TARC riders, increase pedestrian access and safety, and add bike lanes when safe and appropriate.

“We’d like to see traffic calmed while increasing access for everyone,” said Chris Glasser, B4L Executive Director. “That’s what Streets for People is all about. Traffic engineers tend to design roadways to move cars as quickly as possible from point A to point B, at the expense of making the roadway a pleasant environment for people.”

Read more about Bicycling for Louisville and Streets for People in this Insider Louisville article - http://insiderlouisville.com/metro/communities/bicycling-for-louisville-to-launch-streets-for-people-a-new-advocacy-project-aimed-at-improving-roads/ - and join the party TONIGHT. 

My office is partnering with the Louisville Asset Building Coalition to provide FREE tax preparation services again in 2016. The service is FREE if you earned $55,000 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less in 2015 or if you quality for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Call the office today to see if you qualify and make your appointment! Appointments are available on four Fridays (Feb. 5, Feb. 19, Mar. 18 and Apr. 1) between 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please call the office at 574-3908 to make an appointment. 

Last week our eNews featured the Louisville Metro ordinance requiring property owners to clear their sidewalks of snow within twenty-four hours.   Thanks to everyone who did that last week!  It’s the law – and the neighborly thing to do.    It’s important for all of us but particularly vital in an area like D9, with a large number of blind and visually impaired residents.

Walking as a regular mode of transportation is a sustainable practice.  It can result in the decreased use of fossil fuels and a reduction of carbon emissions on the individual level.  In addition, walking helps us gain a new perspective on our communities and their environments.

Doing all we can to keep sidewalks walkable is a goal of the Neighborhood Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Committee, a joint venture of Butchertown, Clifton, Clifton Heights and Crescent Hill.   The group has worked on a Safe Passage Initiative and created two brochures for the project.  The business version includes details of the rules and regulations that apply to keep the sidewalk clear for pedestrians.  The public version has general information for all users of sidewalks. Click each title to display a PDF of each brochure.

Check them out – and keep our sidewalks walkable.

We’d like to feature your sustainability story - a resident or business doing good things for the environment.  Riding the bus, bicycling, walking, gardening and more - our eNews will feature practices which can benefit all of us.  Send your story to Bill Hollander or Kyle Ethridge. 

Many of us in Louisville Metro Government are working on efforts to increase high speed Internet service in the community.   It’s important for economic development and job creation.  Google Fiber is evaluating coming to Louisville and AT&T has announced plans to add GigaPower residential and small business service here.  

I am often asked what citizens can do to help bring high speed service to Louisville.  The answer is express your interest! 

Without any obligation, you can let both Google Fiber and AT&T know that you are interested in faster connections by entering your address.  Google Fiber’s Louisville page is here: https://fiber.google.com/cities/louisville/.  You can see more information on AT&T’s GigaPower service – and sign up for future updates - here: https://www.att.com/shop/internet /gigapower/coverage-map.html. 

The 9th District Urban Services District (USD) will have junk collection set-out on a select weekend in February, depending on your address.  You may begin setting out your junk Friday afternoon prior to your junk pick-up week and must have it all out by Monday at 6:00 AM.  For your specific junk set-out weekend please visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-9 and scroll to the bottom of the page to “MyLouisville” and enter your address, call the office at 574-1109, or email Kyle Ethridge.  For collection guidelines please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/services/junk-and-bulk-trash-disposal. You may now sign up for junk set out reminders by email and text under “MyLouisville”.

The Clifton Center has partnered with Old National Bank and Strothman and Company to offer COMPLIMENTARY tickets for Louisville students to attend concerts offered as part of the Center’s Louisville Heritage Project that features cultural traditions rooted in different regions from around the world and the U.S.   

Students in grade school through college (up to age 23) are invited to enjoy and discover musical traditions from Latin America to Appalachia with the Heritage Passport Program.  In addition to free admittance to select Live at the Clifton Center concerts, participating students will receive a passport that they will get stamped at each concert they attend, giving them a chance to earn a Clifton Center T-shirt! 

WHEN?
Eric Bibb and Corey Harris – Thursday, February 4
Dom Flemons  - Thursday, March 3

Free student tickets are available at the door prior to each concert.  To reserve free students tickets and verify student status in advance, please email ktidwell@cliftoncenter.org or call (502) 896-8480, ext. 303. Tickets will be held at WILL CALL for pick-up the night of the concert.  College students will need to present valid ID at Will Call.   Students will receive their Passport at the first concert they attend. For questions, please contact Kristen at ktidwell@cliftoncenter.org.

Tolling isn’t expected to begin until late this year, but now is the time for residents to learn more about RiverLink. RiverLink is the new, all-electronic tolling system making the Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project possible.

RiverLink open house events are planned for most Tuesdays and Thursdays in February and March. All open houses are scheduled for 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Tolling is expected to begin late this year, when capacity is added to the system. That means either the improved John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge or the new East End bridge will be complete and open to traffic.

The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge, the improved Kennedy Bridge and the new East End bridge will be tolled. Initial toll rates range from $1 to $12, depending on the size of the vehicle, whether a transponder is used and how often a driver crosses a tolled bridge.

The open house events will give drivers a chance to learn more about RiverLink, and ask any questions they may have. Displays will include information on how all-electronic tolling works, what transponders are available, what payment options exist and initial toll rates.

The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) and the Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA) will also be available to discuss cross-river routes and the Ticket to Ride rideshare program.

Here is a schedule of RiverLink open house events:

• Tues., Feb. 9 – Newburg Community Center, 4810 Exeter Ave.
• Thurs., Feb 11 – Douglass Community Center, 2305 Douglass Blvd.
• Tues., Feb 16 – Shively Community Center, 1902 Park Rd.
• Thurs., Feb 18 – Spalding University, 901 S 4th Street

All open house events are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For directions or further information, call 502-891-2529 or email riverlinkopenhouses@gmail.com.

Louisville Metro Meals on Wheels recipients are getting handmade Valentine’s Day cards created by youth volunteers. DoSomething.org, the largest organization for young people and social change, has teamed up with Meals on Wheels America for the third annual Love Letters campaign.

The popular campaign, encouraging young people to create handmade Valentine’s Day cards to lift the spirits of older adults this holiday season, runs through February 15, 2016 and cards will be included in meal deliveries to Meals on Wheels clients across the country. Young people who sign up at DoSomething.org/loveletters and report back with a photo will be eligible to win a $5,000 scholarship.

To donate cards to the local Meals on Wheels program, drop them off any weekday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 810 Barret Ave., Suite 260.  Be sure to register your support at DoSomething.org/loveletters.  Feel free to contact Trina Mitchell, Volunteer Coordinator for the Louisville Metro Senior Nutrition Program at 574-6420 or Trina.Mitchell@louisvilleky.gov with any questions.

Meals on Wheels delivers to seniors in D9 from United Crescent Hill Ministries and the Jewish Community Center. To learn more about eligibility or how to volunteer, click here.

The St. Matthews Area Ministries cordially invites you to the 1st annual Share the Love Shindig on Saturday, February 13, from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. at Wildwood Country Club, 5000 Bardstown Road. Come celebrate and extend your compassion for the unmet needs in our community. Event includes a dinner and dance and cost is $40 per person. Music by Disoriented Pedestrians and Doo Whop All Stars. For tickets please contact Julie Abbott (893-0205 or julieabbott@stmam.com).

The Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana (WAC) is pleased to announce the David Hershberg Scholarship for international study in the summer of 2016.

The grant was established by the Hershberg family and is administered by the World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana. The WAC is an organization whose mission is to improve intercultural understanding through collaboration, coalition-building, diversified programming, and increased community involvement. A selection committee will evaluate applications on the basis of academic merit and the importance of study abroad for the personal, intellectual, and professional development of the candidate.

Scholarship funds of at least $1500 can be used to help defray the costs of international travel, lodging, and maintenance for a period of at least 21 days of study or research outside the United States. 

Application deadline is February 19, 2016
Awards will be announced between the end of March and early April 2016 for educational activities to take place between May and September 2016.

For more information on how to apply please visit: http://www.worldkentucky.org/programs/hershbergScholarship.cfm