Metro Lex News

Lexington has been awarded a $22 million federal grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant to address safety concerns and reconstruct critical roadways. Mayor Linda Gorton expressed her gratitude to the various individuals who worked together to secure the funding, including Senator McConnell, Senator Paul, Rep. Barr, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Kentucky Secretary of Transportation Jim Gray.

Mayor Gorton emphasized the significance of the grant, stating, "We are thrilled to receive this federal support to make improvements along the New Circle Road corridor on the north side." She further explained that the funding will enable critical upgrades to be made, such as reducing pedestrian incidents and injuries, increasing lighting, improving neighborhood access, and creating new shared-use paths. These improvements align with Lexington's Complete Streets policy, which aims to create safe and efficient streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

The focus of the Safe Streets for Lexington project will be on the Northeast New Circle Road, which has been identified as the city's number one Priority Safety Corridor. This commercial and residential corridor has experienced a high number of fatal and serious injury crashes from 2015 to 2021, with 34 such incidents occurring during that period. Nearly half of these crashes involved pedestrians or cyclists, who often lacked access to sidewalks or bike facilities and faced limited safe pedestrian crossings.

The $21.7 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation will be allocated to three significant efforts to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes along the Northeast New Circle Road. Mayor Gorton expressed her appreciation for the funding, stating, "This is one of the largest federal grants in Lexington's history." She highlighted her personal efforts in advocating for the grant during her visit to Washington, where she discussed the city's safety concerns with congressional representatives and the Biden administration.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also played a role in supporting the grant application. He contacted the Secretary of Transportation to express his support for the city's efforts in improving road safety. Senator McConnell stated, "Traffic fatalities continue to take a tragic toll on communities across the Commonwealth, especially on New Circle Road in Lexington. Fortunately, we are taking important strides to reduce this deadly trend, and I'm grateful to see today's significant investment help deploy commonsense safety improvements in the community."

Congressman Andy Barr echoed Senator McConnell's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the funding in facilitating safety and infrastructure improvements on Northeast New Circle Road. "I was honored to support the City of Lexington's grant application and will continue to advocate for improved infrastructure across the Sixth Congressional District," Barr said.

The $22 million federal grant represents a significant step towards enhancing road safety in Lexington. The improvements that will be made along the Northeast New Circle Road corridor are expected to have a positive impact on reducing accidents and ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.lexingtonky.gov/news/12-13-2023/lexington-secures-22-million-federal-funding-safety-improvements