Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity Study to be focus of upcoming public meeting

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today announced a public meeting will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2021, to provide an update on the Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity Study and to take in public feedback regarding potential improvement concepts. The meeting will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at East Jessamine Middle School.

A live presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m. to provide an overview of the study, and the study team will be available throughout the evening to answer questions. The meeting will be held in person, but all meeting materials and a link to the presentation will be posted on the project website.

The Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity Study is examining current conditions related to safety and mobility within the study area and evaluating how to improve east-west connectivity. Demographic trends show that the population of Jessamine County is expected to increase by more than 40 percent by the year 2040, and Fayette County is expected to grow by more than 33 percent. The current roadway network will not support this level of growth.

The current study will not consider any connections or roadway improvements that would cross or impact the Kentucky River. No decisions regarding specific roadway alignments have been made and local input is helping to shape next steps.

“Since our previous dialogue with the public last year, our team has conducted a thorough review of the input we received and used that feedback to inform the technical analysis that also has been conducted,” said Casey Smith, Planning Supervisor for KYTC and Project Manager for the Jessamine-Fayette Connectivity Study. “The project team has developed conceptual improvements that promote safety and increase connectivity, and we are ready to show those to the public and receive their feedback.”

Smith continued, reiterating that public input is a critical component of the study process and encouraged the public to visit JessFayStudy.com to review the initial improvement concepts and provide their comments.

“In our last round of public outreach, we heard from several hundred local residents who weighed in on their travel experiences within our study area,” said Smith.

“More than 75 percent of those who responded to our first survey indicated that they think improvements are needed now. In addition, they said that increasing congestion, narrow travel lanes and shoulders, and too much truck traffic using local roads are issues that should be addressed,” he said.

Updated study information and meeting exhibits will be available at JessFayStudy.com following the July 22 public meeting. Comments provided within 30 days will be recorded as part of the formal study documentation, but input can be provided at anytime throughout the study process.

The Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (LAMPO) is partnering with KYTC on the study.