The transformation of Drescher Bridge Avenue in Clifton Heights continued this week, with the installation of new Brightsites to beautify the area.   The Brightsites include viburnum, hydrangeas, boxwood, honey locust, dogwood trees and decorative boulders.   A new fence separating the area from the storage facility to the east will be installed soon, the Brightsite closer to Brownsboro Road will be expanded and at least one bench will be added.  

The Brightsites are funded through District 9 Community Infrastructure Funds and a grant from WLKY, which is located at the top of Drescher Bridge Avenue.  WLKY has also agreed to maintain the sites for at least three years.  Many thanks to WLKY Channel 32!

Installation of the Brightsites follows work earlier this year to install new curb, guttering and sidewalks along Drescher Bridge Avenue, between Brownsboro Road and Delmont Avenue. The project, which also included drainage improvements and repaving from Brownsboro Road to Thompson Avenue, was funded by District 9 Community Infrastructure Funds, along with funds from the Metropolitan Sewer District and Metro Public Works.   

I recently walked Brownsboro Road with members of the Neighborhood Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Committee (a joint effort of  Clifton, Clifton Heights, Crescent Hill and Butchertown), and other volunteers,  to identify sidewalk issues, particularly as they affect blind and visually impaired residents and wheelchair users. 

As a result of the inspection and follow-up efforts,  volunteers have cleared a bus stop pad which had become overgrown, LG&E has added a concrete pad to allow access around a utility pole and, this week, Metro Public Works (shown here) made sidewalk repairs near Bingham Park to eliminate tripping hazards. 

There is always more work to do to make our sidewalks safer but I thank the Committee and volunteers for bringing these issues to my attention and everyone involved for completing these improvements. 

Sidewalk repair can be a sustainability issue - if you are cutting away sections to make sidewalks safer and then recycling the parts you remove. 

That’s happening already in parts of District 9 and you’ll be seeing more of it in 2016.  Both the City of St. Matthews and Metro Public Works have contracted with Precision Concrete Cutting to use its patented approach to eliminate tripping hazards.  Rather than pouring new sidewalk panels, the company cuts the existing concrete to create a smooth walkway.   An animated demo from the company is here: http://www.safesidewalks.com/animation/animation.html.

The City of St. Matthews recently used the process on Eline, Fairlawn and Iola from Lexington Road to Willis Avenue.  A total of 119 tripping hazards were eliminated in a day and a half, at the remarkably low cost of $6,506.25.  That is in keeping with the average 70% reduction in costs from the more traditional process of removing and replacing whole sections of concrete. 

Louisville Metro has used the process in a downtown pilot project and I was happy to hear at a Public Works Committee meeting this week that it will be available in Louisville Metro neighborhoods in 2016.  I’ve already made some suggestions for locations in District 9. 

Here’s the Sustainability Story- the company uses a vacuum cutting method that catches the minimal dust created by the process.  The dust and concrete waste is then taken to a facility and recycled.  It’s a real example of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

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. 

An increase in bicycle ridership in Louisville has brought with it an increase in abandoned bicycles, bikes left unattended in one spot for days or even months. Public Works will soon begin removing bikes that are abandoned on sidewalks or other public right of way areas.

Bikes reported as abandoned will first be tagged with a warning notice. If a bike has not been moved within 14 days from the notice date, Public Works will remove it and place it in storage for another period of 14 days under authority of Louisville Ordinance 97.074.

Any bike not claimed within 14 days of being placed in storage by Public Works will be donated to a nonprofit agency or otherwise disposed of. Bikes that appear to be abandoned in the right-of-way should be reported to MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000. Callers are asked to identify the bike with as much detail as possible, including the color of the bike frame, the type of bike and the location.

An abandoned bicycle usually has missing or damaged parts, flat or missing tires, or is in unusable condition. If the bike has been locked to the same location for more than a month, it is likely abandoned and should be removed.

TARC and Louisville Metro’s Public Works and Assets are partnering this year for the 17th annual Design-a-Bus contest, featuring artwork by schoolchildren throughout the Louisville area. This year’s theme is “Look Alive Louisville,” based on the commitment by both organizations to help promote pedestrian and vehicle safety. 

The Design-a-Bus contest is open to all elementary and middle school students in Jefferson, Oldham and Bullitt counties in Kentucky and Floyd and Clark counties in southern Indiana. Twelve winners will be chosen to have their posters displayed on a TARC bus, and winners and their adult guests will be invited to participate in the Pegasus parade celebrating their victory. Artwork becomes the property of TARC. 

Potential ideas for artwork could include illustrations of: how pedestrians can use attention, predictability and visibility to stay safe and avoid accidents while riding the bus, walking or biking; how drivers can use attention, right-of-way and traffic signs and symbols to avoid collisions; illustrating ways both agencies help improve safety conditions in the Louisville area.

For further inspiration, students are encouraged to visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/public-works/look-alive-louisville and ridetarc.org

Entries should be in marker, crayon or paint and submitted on 11-by-17 white paper, or digitally through a JPEG or PDF file. Entries will be judged on visual appeal, creativity, originality and message. All artwork is to be produced by the student only. This year's entry deadline is Friday, Feb. 26, 2016.

Entry forms must be attached to hard or digital copies. For copies of entry forms, visit  www.ridetarc.org or e-mail Russell Goodwin at rgoodwin@ridetarc.org or Jessica Holman at jholman@ridetarc.org. Digital copies of entries with forms attached can also be sent to Russell and Jessica. Paper entries should be sent to TARC, c/o Marketing Department, 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY. 40203