Federal economic stimulus dollars have begun to materialize in Lexington in the form of $23 million for projects in downtown Lexington and Jessamine County.
Mayor Jim Newberry said the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, involving officials from both Fayette and Jessamine counties, voted Wednesday to allocate the funds, including $12 million for the Newtown Pike extension; $5.4 million for LexTran; $4.7 million for the Legacy Trail; and $1.1 million for the downtown streetscape project.
Funding allocated for Newtown Pike will enable construction of a proposed four-lane boulevard between Main Street and Versailles Road. The project entails a new bridge spanning Town Branch, street lights, sidewalks and bike lanes.
LexTran will purchase new buses, a new radio system, more shelters and benches.
Main Street will be getting a sprucing for the World Equestrian Games with new, wider sidewalks and rain gardens between Broadway and Elm Tree Lane. The sidewalk design will accommodate outdoor cafes and gathering spaces.
Exciting biking advocates in Lexington, the first two phases of the proposed Legacy Trail, a 7-mile stretch linking the Northside YMCA with the Kentucky Horse Park will be completed.
Steve Austin, director of the Legacy Center at Blue Grass Community Foundation, said the final phase stretches from the Northside YMCA to the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden on Third Street. Mayor Newberry said he is actively pursuing funding sources for the final phase so the entire trail can be completed in time for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.
The Legacy Trail was identified by local citizens as a priority "legacy" initiative, a permanent project that could grow out of the World Games. The other legacy Project identified by citizens is the revitalization of the 3rd Street corridor, where the Legacy Trail terminates at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden.
And Jessamine County receives money for renovations in downtown Nicholasville, a stormwater sewage system for Wilmore plus a pair of highway projects in the county.
Many of the projects result from years of planning and public input. All, according to Mayor Newberry, are shovel ready.