Oak Street’s wide lanes and lack of traffic calming features encourage speeding and attract heavy truck cut-through traffic. Semi-trucks barrel down a corridor lined with senior housing, schools, and family homes, where many residents don’t have access to cars and must walk to access services, businesses, and public transit.
According to American Community Survey Census data, in two tracts of the Oak Street corridor, 40-55% of households lack car access, near the highest levels in the city. These neighbors depend on safe sidewalks and crossings. Instead, they face:
- Heavy trucks using Oak Street as a neighborhood cut-through, often unable to safely navigate turns onto side streets
- Crumbling sidewalks that force wheelchair users and people with mobility devices into the street
- High-speed vehicle traffic that makes crossing dangerous and discourages customers from visiting local businesses
- A hostile environment for the pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users who make up some of Louisville’s highest rates of non-car commuters
We urge Mayor Greenberg and Metro Government to fully fund the $2.2M Oak Street Streetscape Project in the FY27 budget to deliver critical safety improvements extending from Preston Street to Seventh Street.
What $2.2M Delivers
This $2.2M investment will provide:
- Overdue sidewalk repairs. Some sidewalks are in such disrepair as to be unusable by folks in wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Long overdue repairs restore freedom of movement for all.
- Floating curb extensions at intersections. Create a visual cue for drivers to slow down while providing protection for pedestrians crossing the street. These proven traffic calming features make crossings safer for students, families, and seniors walking to businesses, schools, and transit stops.
- Gateway medians. Visually narrow the street to slow traffic and prevent unsafe lane changes. Slower, more predictable vehicle traffic improves pedestrian safety and comfort.
- Street Trees and Increased Visual Appeal. Trees block noise, provide shade, and promote a welcoming environment. Businesses benefit from a more walkable, inviting corridor.
Why a Safer Oak Street Matters
Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety & Accessibility
- High concentration of senior housing: Puritan, Baptist Towers, Christian Care, and Treyton Oak Towers house hundreds of older adults who depend on safe, accessible sidewalks
- Schools at all levels: Students deserve safe routes to and from school
- 40-55% of households lack car access: These neighbors have no choice but to walk, bike, or take public transit and they deserve infrastructure that works for them
Business District Revitalization
Dating to the 1920s, Oak Street was once a vibrant commercial corridor offering many stores, services, and amenities. Today, many of the same buildings with their charming storefronts remain, but commercial spaces struggle with high turnover.
- Customers won’t walk to businesses if they fear for their lives crossing the street.
- Businesses can’t thrive when speeding traffic and heavy trucks dominate the environment
- A calmer, more welcoming Oak Street creates the conditions for economic success
Oak Street needs our support!
In June 2024, a car traveling at a very high speed crashed into a tree at the Second Street intersection, closing businesses for months, displacing residents, forcing one business to relocate, and taking the driver’s life. While this is an extreme example, the Louisville Vision Zero dashboard and visible car debris from countless other accidents along Oak Street demonstrate the damaging effects these high speeds have on business activity and public enjoyment of the corridor.
Crash Data
Here are some quick facts about crashes on Oak Street between 7th Street and I-65:
- There were 250 crashes between 2020 and 2024.
- There were 104 reported injuries caused by crashes between 2020 and 2024.
- There were two reported deaths caused by crashes between 2020 and 2024.
- 4th and Oak is the most dangerous intersection, with 35 reported crashes between 2020 and 2024.
Car debris from a crash litter the sidewalk at 4th & Oak as a resident walks to the store in the background.
Join us to demand a safer Oak Street for All!
The Old Louisville Mobility Coalition, Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, along with many other residents, businesses, and groups have shared feedback with Louisville Metro Government over the years to improve the situation. In 2017, these efforts produced an Oak Street Streetscape plan, but this plan was costly at over $7M at current costs and was never fully funded. Beginning in 2024, renewed cooperation produced a more cost-effective plan that can be fully funded at $2.2M and finally deliver the improvements long sought by the community.
We envision an Oak Street corridor that can be mentioned in the same breath as Bardstown Road or East Market Street, a vibrant, active streetscape showcasing the best of our people and neighborhood.
Funding the $2.2M streetscape improvements is the essential next step in unlocking this potential. We ask Metro Government to act now to make Oak Street a safer and more vibrant corridor.
We have sent direct letters to Mayor Greenberg and now need your help to demonstrate broad community support.
h/t Philly Bike Action for page design inspiration and support
143 Total Signatures!
Last updated: April 19,6:00pm ET
Organization Signers (7): Old Louisville Mobility Coalition, Old Louisville Neighborhood Council, Limerick Neighborhood Association, Ouerbacker Court Neighborhood Association, Treyton Oak Towers Resident Association, Hazelwood Neighborhood Association Incorporated, Highlands-Douglass Neighborhood Association
Business Signers (6): Bridge Kids International/Our Place at Ben Washer Park, DuPont Manual Apartments, Lally Law Office PLLC, Louisville Triumph FC, Old Louisville Candy Kitchen, Oak Street Rendezvous
Individual Signers (130)
Words from Supporters
“Accessibility along the Oak Street corridor is essential, especially around our building, which is home to more than 300 senior residents. Many of our residents rely on safe, accessible sidewalks, curb ramps, and supportive infrastructure to move through the neighborhood comfortably and independently. These improvements make it easier for residents to be out, stay active, and fully enjoy the surrounding community.”
– Treyton Oak Towers Resident Association Representative*
Our customers often come to our business from other parts of the city and are wary of driving on Oak street.
– Old Louisville Candy Kitchen*
The sidewalks are in horrible shape and are dangerous for customers.
-Oak Street Rendezvous*
I ride my bicycle to work on or across Oak Street every day and I know first-hand how unsafe and unpleasant Oak Street is right now. I am confident this investment will provide huge returns in terms of increased safety, property values, and small business development!
–Justin M.
Walkability and proximity to businesses!
–Brent S.*
I’m really interested in walkability improvement and increasing the urban tree canopy. Our neighborhood is so unique, I’d love to see more care given to the neighborhood corridors.
–Rachel D.*
Having lived on or near Oak for 20 years it has been frustrating to see the starts and stops especially between 1st and 4th. Some city investment alongside the private could hopefully revitalize corridor.
–Derek R.*
Safer sidewalks for my pets/myself and child to walk around the neighborhood
–Andrea T.*
Oak St is the commercial spine of OldLou. Streetscape improvements to improve safety, functionality, and aesthetics will draw more people to the area to both bolster existing businesses and open new ones, providing more resources to both residents of OldLou and adjacent neighborhoods. OldLou is already one of the densest and most walkable neighborhoods in the city, with higher than average percentages of residents who don’t own cars. Safety and accessibility improvements here will already be primed for success. Let’s ensure Oak St is a destination and not just a cut through to get to/from the highway.
–Ian V.
250 trucks on average pass by our homes 24 hours a day, destroying our property, and making people sick. this road was never meant to be used for heavy traffic… I got knocked to the ground when I tried to go across a crosswalk and a semi truck decided to make a turn directly in front of me On a red light. I’m handicapped, with an eyepatch and having to use a cane to get around. This area was so Dangerous, my wife and I left after the house and the neighborhood we loved after 18 months…
– Steven S.
Pedestrian/Biker safety, Truck traffic, speeding vehicles. This is long overdue for our neighborhood to flourish.
-Missy V.*
I lived on Oak Street at Brook for 17 years ago. As a pedestrian and bicyclist I found Oak Street too dangerous to be on safely and had to go out of my way to avoid it.
-Jim O.
Old Louisville is an often forgotten neighborhood. We should be the crowning jewel. We desperately need traffic calming features because this is a neighborhood and not a highway. We need to stop being treated as a cut through and an emergency route. Lighting would help keep it safe. Traffic circles, speed bumps or anything would help keep this neighborhood walkable and safer for the large population of disabled folks and pedestrians alike
-Jennifer F.*
Speeding and running red lights in Old Louisville is a hazard.
-Valerie A.*
As a person with a young family in this neighborhood this is especially important to me in regards to the safety measures it will provide for our young family. We want to see Oak Street do more than survive, but thrive and if the streets were safer we would be frequenting businesses there more and other business would be attracted to the area which drives tax dollars. This is a win win for the neighborhood and the city at a low cost in the grand scheme of things.
-Bonnie L.*
Small businesses are trying to make the 4th and Oak area a place for neighbors to come and support their businesses. It’s an opportunity to get together in the neighborhood and get to know each other and how businesses can partner to make the area thrive.
-Karen T.
I live on Garvin and I witness the issues on Oak every single day. I witness the dangers for our senior citizens that need to get to the local businesses.
-Kathy N.*
We need traffic enforcement. Stop signs are safer than stop lights. And better pedestrian safety. I would rather make our neighborhood safer for pedestrians than convenient for semi trucks.
-Jeff C.*
It’s the main commercial area for the Old Louisville neighborhood. It’s nearly unwalkable and many people avoid it altogether for that reason. It lacks cleanliness, appeal, safety, and needs significant improvement.
-Jonathan K.*
I am tour guide who walks guests through this area , please make it safe for all!
-Angelique S.*
Improving Oak street and disallowing large trucks to roam fragile streets is not only important from a safety standpoint but in the assistance of improving this special neighborhood. Who wants to sit outside at a cafe when large trucks spitting out toxic fumes are rolling by. Improving Oak will not only encourage new business/jobs it will also encourage a stronger/safer community where residents will actually enjoy their walks and their community as a whole without having to worry about falling or God forbid being hit by large trucks.
-Britni S.
Oak Street has been underserved for decades. It is THE commercial corridor in Old Louisville, which is THE premier historic neighborhood in Louisville. With more investment in the Oak Street Corridor, we can add to the safety and attractiveness of the corridor to draw in better businesses, as well as the foot traffic to support them. We are not at a loss for population, or nearby populations with money to spend (it’s all mansions down most streets!) Which begs the question…what is holding this neighborhood back? The answer is investment by the city. That is what is holding us back. With some smart investments, I believe we can start a fire down Oak that will take hold and begin to connect us to the other improved neighborhoods like Germantown and Shelby Park.
-Dusty S.*
Oak Street is the backbone of our neighborhood. When it’s healthy, the neighborhood thrives—bringing business, nightlife, and renewed energy back to our community.
-Paige H.*
I walk, bike, drive, and take the bus on Oak Street and it is unsafe for all modes of transportation. Safe streets are the lowest common denominator for working class Louisvillians to access our neighborhoods.
-Michael B.*
I live between 6th and 7th on Oak, and the truck traffic is out of control. We are awakened nightly by semi’s who barrel through. I often see cyclists and pedestrians struggling to share the road and/or cross safely. There is a beautiful community here, but unfortunately because of lack of care, it feels often unsafe and unkempt. Business owners and neighbors alike are teammates, loving and caring community members! We deserve some attention to improve this lively and unique street.
-Annabel A.*
I use a wheelchair or a walker most of the time. This needs to be taken care of. I’m 74 and it’s bad enough trying to get through an intersection when the curbs are difficult and uneven sidewalks.
-Alida C.*
I live on Oak St in Old Louisville. The truck traffic causes disruptions throughout the day. Our historic home shakes, we hear the loud brakes and engines, and the trucks take a long time to turn corners often requiring that passenger cars or busses with students get out of the way. Old Louisville is a community, with children playing, people walking the neighborhood and heavy truck traffic is not conducive to a peaceful neighborhood experience. The trucks contribute to a decline in road integrity, consistent pot holes and other hazards. Oak would be much safer if we had more restrictions on heavy truck traffic.
We also need safer bus stops, clearing street lines, and improved sidewalks. The community ambassadors are a welcome presence in the neighborhood and I say hello and thank them every chance I am given.
Please make Oak safe for our children, our pets, and our differently-abled residents!
-Sarah S.*
*Old Louisville or Limerick resident, business, or organization.