Transportation changes to Nicholasville Road
Here's one thing this week to watch in city hall... a presentation in the Planning & Public Safety Committee on the Imagine Nicholasville Road project and changes it may one day bring to one of Lexington's busiest streets.
📺 - Watch this presentation live on Tuesday, March 2nd, at 1:00pm.
Why should you care?
Have you experienced traffic on Nicholasville Road? We sure have! Nicholasville Road traffic is one of the most talked-about congestion issues in the city. This presentation will highlight some potential changes that could alleviate that traffic - including enhanced pedestrian and mass-transit connectivity and contemporary development styles. If you have ever been frustrated sitting in traffic on Nicholasville Road, you should pay attention to this presentation.
What is Imagine Nicholasville Road?
Imagine Nicholasville Road (INR) is an implementation strategy of Lexington's 2018 Comprehensive Plan, titled Imagine Lexington. INR will set guidelines and guardrails for development strategies along the Nicholasville Road corridor, including a specific focus on transit. Here are the main aspects of what INR is focusing on:
Introducing more housing
Different types of land use
Creating a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape
Improving public transit access along the corridor and increasing its use
Lexington's Division of Planning developed most of INR's components right before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This timing meant that a significant part of the public engagement process occurred digitally, which, if you aren't plugged into the city's channels, may be why you are just now hearing about it.
This presentation reviews three of the main changes that INR could bring to how Nicholasville Road develops in the future:
Moving towards complete streets.
Implementing bus rapid transit (BRT).
Encouraging transit-oriented development.
Complete Streets
"Complete streets" are streets that account for multiple transportation forms - including cars, buses, bikes, and walkers. Contemporary urban planning theory emphasizes complete streets, which evidence shows bring a range of benefits - from public health to economic development.
As of now, INR proposes several different approaches to implementing complete streets on and around the Nicholasville Road:
More pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure throughout the corridor - examples of this would include:
Building a shared-use path (expanded sidewalks that accommodate bicycles) between Southland Drive and Man o' War
Car-protected bike lanes near UK campus
Bring pedestrian striping for street crossings
Changes to the auto transit scheme - examples include:
Turning restrictions to prevent lanes from being held up
Roundabouts on streets that connect to Nicholasville Road instead of stoplights/signs
Removing some of the reversible lanes that cause Nicholasville Road to go down to one one-way lane traffic during rush hour
Enhanced transit - covered below.
You can see examples of these approaches on the Imagine Nicholasville Road website.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Bus rapid transit is essentially a bus line that functions as a rail line would. BRT lines typically provide a dedicated lane of the road so that buses don't get clogged in auto traffic, lane cut-outs and platforms for passenger boarding to keep traffic flowing, and more. BRT usually will offer significantly reduced travel times for transit riders and reduce auto traffic congestion.
INR suggests introducing an 8-mile long BRT line on Nicholasville Road with the following elements:
A mix of bus-only lanes, combo bus-only and right-turn-only lanes, and signal prioritization.
Buses running every 15 minutes.
12 BRT stations to provide a dedicated space and structure for boarding with seating, lighting, and messaging.
BRT stations would include real-time bus arrival displays.
A "park and ride" facility at Brannon Crossing, allowing travelers to park their car and ride the bus into town.
The Division of Planning believes this would reduce travel time via bus by up to 25%
Transit-Oriented Development
Transit-oriented development is an approach to real estate development that emphasizes building amenities (housing, businesses, jobs) close and accessible to transit lines. Advocates insist that transit-oriented development is better for communities because it provides better access to amenities, reduces traffic congestion, travel times, and carbon impact, and more.
INR proposes three places along Nicholasville Road in need of redevelopment that could catalyze transit-oriented development for the whole corridor. These aren't confirmed redevelopment plans in process - they are concepts for consideration. Planning's presentation only features one of these three; we'll detail them all below.
Fayette Mall
A transit-oriented redevelopment of Fayette Mall could add the following features:
BRT line stations that pull the BRTs directly into the mall area.
Shared parking garages.
Apartments and new business development in many of the current parking areas.
Pedestrian connection from the mall to Shillito Park via a bridge.
South Park Center
A transit-oriented redevelopment of South Park Center (home of Best Buy, Office Depot, and other stores) could add the following amenities:
Direct access to a BRT transit stop.
A townhome development on the rear parking and access areas of South Park stores.
A new greenspace/park to capture stormwater behind Fayette Park apartments.
New apartments and development in the parking lots facing Nicholasville Road.
Gateway access
Emmert Farm
A transit-oriented redevelopment of Emmert Farm (current site of UK Horticultural Research Farm at the corner of Man o' War and Nicholasville Road) could add the following amenities:
Direct access to a BRT transit stop.
Four-story multi-family housing along both Nicholasville Road and Man o' War.
Centralized greenspace featuring playgrounds, fields, and gardens.
Five-story office building.
Hotel & event center.
Shared parking garages.
Each of these examples - and the INR plan more broadly - show how the Imagine Lexington Comprehensive Plan shapes the City of Lexington's vision for long-term development. Here are some takeaways:
Many ways of connecting - INR and Imagine Lexington (IL) are encouraging ways of traveling through Lexington that aren't just by automobile. Bike and pedestrian paths are being encouraged, and transit is receiving more focus than in the past.
More density - INR and IL are encouraging multi-family housing across the city, not just in purely residential neighborhoods.
Mixed uses - INR and IL are encouraging developments that feature residential spaces alongside commercial spaces
Updates - as of 3/8/21
Want to get involved? Here's how.
Reach out to relevant service or advocacy organizations -good options for this issue would be: Fayette Alliance, Commerce Lexington, Fayette County Neighborhood Council, & Build a Better Lexington.
Apply to be on a Board or Commission - good options with vacancies (as of 2/28) for this issue would be: Economic Development Investment Board, Infrastructure Hearing Board, and the Transit Authority Board