January 26, 2016. Louisville, KY. The Kentucky Derby Festival unveiled one of the first signs of spring this morning – the 2016 Pegasus Pin image. This year’s pin design features the newly opened Abraham Lincoln Bridge and was released as part of a sponsorship announcement with RiverLink, the new all-electronic tolling system, making the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project possible. RiverLink is partnering with the 2016 Festival to help reach drivers, provide the information they need and answer their questions about how to travel the new bridges in the most affordable way possible. Tolling is not expected to begin until late 2016.
“As the Kentucky Derby Festival has offered shared experiences for all of Kentuckiana – we feel there’s no better partner to represent the 2016 Pegasus Pin than RiverLink,” said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Just as the bridge facilitates easy travel between states, the pin allows easy access and entry to nearly half of our events and concerts.”
“As part of our overall public outreach campaign, we will be sharing with people the benefits of all-electronic tolling,” said David Talley, Innovative Finance Manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “Our goal is to go from very low awareness to virtually universal awareness in just two-weeks time. Only the Derby Festival can help us do that.”
As part of the partnership, RiverLink is one of the sponsors of this year’s Pegasus Pin Program. RiverLink will also have a presence at several Festival events, beginning with Thunder Over Louisville and including the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glow, Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade and many others. RiverLink representatives will be on site, at these events, to share information on how the new system will work.
“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to reach the huge crowds that Thunder Over Louisville and other Derby Festival events draw, where we will bring information to residents on both sides of the river,” said Clint Murphy, Director of Tolling Oversight, Indiana Department of Transportation.
About RiverLink: RiverLink is the all-electronic tolling system making the Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project possible. There will be no toll plazas, no coin machines, no lines and no stopping. The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge, the improved Kennedy Bridge and the new East End bridge will be tolled. The Sherman Minton Bridge and the Clark Memorial Bridge will not be tolled in connection with the project. Tolling is expected to begin in late 2016.
About Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project: The Ohio River Bridges Project includes two new bridges and their approaches, an improved Kennedy Bridge and reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange, where I-65, I-64 and I-71 come together in downtown Louisville. Find all of the latest traffic information and more details at www.kyinbridges.com.
About Kentucky Derby Festival: Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
