Louisville Loop Master Plan loopmasterplan_draft_041813sm_0 | Page 28

Park, which was the first time this major event has been hosted in the
United States. Eva Bandman Park is located directly adjacent to the
Louisville Loop approximately one mile northeast from mile 0 of the
Loop and is expected to continue being a popular destination for sport
enthusiast as well as a premier venue in the local, regional, national,
and international cyclo-cross circuit of competitions.
Soft surface trails are a complementary component of the Louisville
Loop and serve as both additional pedestrian connectors and as rec-
reational facilities for hiking, trail runners, mountain biking and eques-
trian use, where appropriate. These trails provide access to natural
resources in a sustainable way while protecting the land, soils, habitats,
native species, significant historical areas, vistas and geological forma-
tions. Soft surface trails are featured amenities at a number of parks
within the Loop corridor. Currently, several miles of hiking trails exists in
public parks such as Cherokee, Iroquois, and Jefferson Memorial For-
est and will be an amenity in the Parklands of Floyds Fork. Equestrian
trails are being developed in the Jefferson Memorial Forest and are
planned for the Parklands project.
Transit
Transit Authority of River City’s (TARC) recognizes that the Loop will
be used for both recreation and transportation purposes and serve as
a critical connector of neighborhoods, activity centers, and parks. All
TARC full-size buses are equipped with bike racks on board providing
the option for users to carry their bikes to their destination. Currently,
the built Loop alignment passes within a ½ mile of 85% of bus routes.
The future alignment of the Loop will pass within a ½ mile to 94% of
the bus routes. The routes with the highest frequency (60 or more trips
per day) and greatest ridership will also be directly connected to the
Louisville Loop.
There are segments of the future Loop alignment that will require
further effort to assure the connectivity with transit. The three eastern
segments in the River Road, Northeast, and Floyds Fork areas have
limited transit options. TARC’s priorities to the Loop include assuring
good connection between Loop and existing transit routes, improving
pedestrian and bicycle connections to transit routes, improving transit
facilities to accommodate pedestrian and bicycles, especially to meet
ADA requirements by bringing people to the Loop by bus, assuring
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TARC is involved in road improvement projects that affect bus
circulation and bus stop location. Coordination between TARC
and Loop planners will be critical to assure all these elements
are addressed.
Regional Impact
Due to the Louisville Loop’s broad scope and comprehensive
reach, once built, it will form the framework of a regional trail
system. As a recreation and transportation facility for Louisville
Metro, its impact will greatly affect the quality of life for the resi-
dents of the Louisville Metro region. However, in the long-term,
one of its benefits will be its central location and connectivity
within a regional trail system tied to adjacent counties within
the Kentuckiana area. Within the last few years, significant
trail systems have been planned, designed, and implemented
along the Ohio River on the southern Indiana side connecting
New Albany, Clarksville, and Jeffersonville to the terminating
point of the Big 4 Bridge, the start of the Louisville Loop. Once
completed, the Ohio River Greenway and the Big 4 Bridge will
provide the critical juncture of a developing regional trail system.
Further northeast of Jefferson County, in recent years planners
in Oldham County have been planning and designing trails for
an Oldham County greenway system. In March of 2008, the
Oldham County Fiscal Court approved the Oldham County
Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenway Trails Master Plan. One
of the key features of the plan is the concept of the Interurban
Greenway which would connect Oldham County to Jefferson
County and the Louisville Loop.