Additional public grant funding will go toward the advancement of Lexington’s downtown linear park project. Governor Steve Beshear made the announcement at city hall on Wednesday.
The $2.7 million will go to support design and construction of Town Branch Commons along a section of Vine Street. Governor Beshear says a protected pedestrian crossing will be established near the Lextran Transit Center. “The signal for the pedestrian crossing will include a phase to allow buses to safely exit the transit center,” said Beshear.
The money is for the design and construction of the trail along Vine Street from Limestone to Quality Streets. Lextran General Manager Carrie Butler says that also includes upgrades to bike paths and sidewalks. “The pedestrian improvements to the sidewalks and the bike paths and connecting throughout downtown, that’s really where people will see the big difference and will make it more inviting for people to come down to access the transit center on foot or on bike,” explained Butler.
The city of Lexington is contributing over $682,000 in matching funds. Downtown Development Authority President Jeff Fugate says work on this particular section of the park should begin about a year from now. “And what these two grants will do is basically allow us to build the trail and the streetscape improvements between Third Street, coming down Midland Avenue, around the corner down Vine Street to Limestone,” said Fugate. “So, it’s almost about half the length of the entire trail.”
The entire Town Branch Commons Trail project includes water, biking, and walking features.?
