$6.5M for congestion mitigation and air quality
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2015) — Gov. Steve Beshear and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) officials today announced the award of $6.5 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and $1.2 million to Lextran to improve safety and air quality in Kentucky’s second-largest city. The grant awards total $7.7 million.
“These road and trail projects will help Lexington continue to strive to have a clean, healthy environment to support its strong quality of life for families and businesses,” Beshear said.
The $1.2 million CMAQ funds for Lextran, the Transit Authority of Lexington, will be provided for the purchase of buses powered by compressed natural gas.
The remaining funding will help Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government complete several local projects:
- Brighton Rail Trail Bridge Phase IV: $2,182,302-Design and construction of a bridge and trail connections across Man o’War between Helmsdale Place and Pink Pigeon Parkway.
- Fiber Optic Cable: $424,000-Installation of fiber optic cable at Clays Mill Road from Twain Ridge Road to Keithshire Way and at Man o’War Boulevard from US 27 to Ft. Harrods Drive.
- Turn Lanes at Manchester and Forbes: $714,296-Widening of east and westbound approaches of Manchester Street at the South Forbes Road intersection to provide dedicated left turn lanes from Manchester Street to northbound and southbound Forbes Road.
- Squires Road Sidewalk: $165,093-Construction a new sidewalk on the north side of the 200 block of Squires Road.
- KY Horse Park Legacy Trail Extension: $2,513,609-Construction of a 1.8-mile extension of the Legacy Trail shared use path located along the southern and western property boundaries of the Kentucky Horse Park.
- West Hickman Trail: $760,710-Construction of a shared use trail within Veterans Park. This will be an extension of an existing trail within the park that connects to an elementary school.
- Hope Center Trail: $324,092-Construction of a 1,500 foot shared use trail located off Loudon Avenue near downtown Lexington. This is an extension of the Legacy Trail and connects to the Coolavin spur of the Legacy Trail and will connect to the North YMCA Legacy Trail Head.
- Fourth Street Corridor Enhancements: $1,040,000-Construction of new sidewalks, drainage improvements, wayfinding and signage, street and pedestrian lighting along 4th street between Jefferson and Upper Streets, and intersection traffic calming at Fourth and Jefferson, Fourth and Broadway and Fourth and Upper Streets.
- Town Branch Commons: Midland Section-$3,200,000-Construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities which will connect to other similar improvements in downtown on Main and Vine Streets. This section will eventually connect Town Branch Trail to Legacy Trail through downtown.
“We know that, decades ago, people moved to where the jobs were,” Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said. “But today, jobs go to where the people are. And people are going to cities where they can find a high quality of life. These are the kinds of projects that improve quality of life in Lexington.”
Federal CMAQ funds are for innovative transportation projects or programs aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. Kentucky annually receives CMAQ funds for use in areas striving to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Such areas are designated “nonattainment” or “maintenance” for the standards.
CMAQ funds are available to state and local government agencies as well as private entities through public-private partnerships. Nonprofit organizations may also apply in partnership with state or local government agencies.
KYTC solicits applications for CMAQ funds and makes awards. The cabinet’s Office of Local Programs administers all CMAQ funds and project applications.
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