Stimulus Watch

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PURPOSE AND NEED

The proposed Newtown Pike Extension (NPE) will extend existing Newtown Pike from West Main Street to South Broadway and South Limestone. The proposed NPE is a four-lane boulevard with bicycle lanes and sidewalks from West Main Street to Patterson Street, and a four-lane boulevard to South Broadway (US 68). It also contains a two-lane roadway with on-street parking, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks that runs southeast from its intersection at Patterson Street, across South Broadway by way of a new bridge, and along Scott Street, to intersect with South Limestone Street opposite the University of Kentucky’s main entrance gate. The purpose of the proposed project is to extend and improve Newtown Pike in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky in order to (i) improve traffic flow of through traffic and to draw unnecessary traffic out of downtown Lexington and (ii) improve access to the University of Kentucky central campus area via more efficient vehicular routings. The specific elements of the project’s purpose are to:

• Reduce automobile congestion;

• Improve traffic flow by drawing unnecessary traffic out of downtown;

• Provide more efficient vehicle routing to and near the University of Kentucky;

• Improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment;

• Improve safety of vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and bicyclists; and

• Provide an opportunity for redefining and improving the attractiveness of downtown

• and in surrounding areas, without imposing an undue burden on other areas.

An extension of Newtown Pike has been evaluated as a part of street improvement discussions since the 1930s.

Project web site: http://www.newtownextension.com/index Download the very detailed pdf: http://www.newtownextension.com/images/pdfs/technical_documents/Final_NPE_ROD_Oct07.pdf

The Newtown Pike Extension dovetails nicely into the Manchester Street/Distillery District Project.

[edit] Points in Favor

This project is important in finishing Lexington's ability to make a favorable impression for the FEI games in 2010.

[edit] Points Against