Infrastructure Expansion
Transportation Infrastructure Planning
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) - The Radcliff-Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization was established in 2003 as a result of meeting population thresholds set by the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act thereby requiring Metropolitan Planning Organizations for "urban areas" exceeding 50,000 in population.
The MPO was created to ensure existing and future expenditures for transportation projects and programs in our region are based on comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing planning. The MPO is governed by a Policy Committee, of which I serve as Chairman. The MPO also has a Technical Advisory Committee comprised of local transportation officials, community representatives, and members of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet who work to provide guidance and assistance to the Policy Committee.
In the spring of 2005 we completed the first Urbanized Area Metropolitan Transportation Plan and earlier this year we completed the first five year update/revision of the plan. The Radcliff-Elizabethtown MPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan is the primary tool for establishing transportation needs within our area and now extends through 2035. The plan provides recommendation for developing an improved transportation system, with an emphasis on highways, while also giving consideration to potential needs for other transportation modes in the future. The plan also identifies available financial constraints, based primarily on federal and state funding, and presents recommendation for future scheduling of proposed projects.
Among the many recommendations of the plan are thirty highway projects rank ordered to be addressed or "scheduled" within the State's Six-Year Road Plan as funding becomes available. Some the priority projects topping the list and funded in the current bi-annual "State Road Spending Plan" are the extension of Ring Road to the Western Kentucky Parkway and adding a new interchange on I-65 in the Glendale area to improve access to and development opportunities for the Glendale Industrial site. Also included in the funded State Road Spending Plan to specifically address our transportation needs resulting from the transformation of Fort Knox are the construction of the Elizabethtown to Radcliff Connector Road, the extension of KY 313 to US 60, and a new bypass around the western side of Radcliff connection from KY 313 to the Fort Knox main gate on US 31W adjacent to the Bullion Depository. Additionally, funding is also provided for improving Wilson Road and access to US 31W in Radcliff. Initial planning and design for the widening of KY 251 (Shepherdsville Road) from Ring Road to KY 313 is also among the top priorities for the State's Road Plan in Elizabethtown.
Public Transportation - The need and desire for public mass transportation continues to grow in our region. The Transit Authority of Central Kentucky (TACK) is the state designated Human Service Transportation Delivery provider for transportation services to Medicaid recipients, the blind, vocational rehabilitation recipients, senior citizens under Title III, foster care participants, and the mentally challenged within Hardin County - to include the cities of Radcliff, Elizabethtown, and Vine Grove.
The Transit Authority of Central Kentucky also provides demand response service for all other citizens living in the unincorporated areas of Hardin County. Because "on demand service" is funded through federal rural transportation funding, federal regulations prevent the use of these funds to provide "open to the public" demand service within the urban areas of Elizabethtown and Radcliff.
Additionally, TACK is contracted with the federal government to provide a park and ride express commuter bus transportation service for employees traveling from Elizabethtown and Radcliff to Fort Knox on a daily basis. Van pool resources are also provided by TACK to assist with the transportation of Fort Knox employees from the rural areas of Hardin County as well as from surrounding counties.
The rapid growth for our community resulting from the transformation of Fort Knox has undoubtedly increased the desire for urban area public transportation services for non-government program reimbursed riders. Hardin County Government, along with the cities of Elizabethtown and Radcliff recognize this potential increase in demand and has taken the first steps toward identifying the action required to meet those needs.
During Fiscal Year 2005/2006 the Radcliff-Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization, completed a study conducted by Wilbur Smith and Associates to investigate the need for and feasibility of a public transportation system within Hardin County. In late 2008 the MPO revalidated and updated information provided from this study.
This public transit study outlined the needs for public mass transportation, estimated costs, summarized funding options, and recommended future implementation of transportation in three phases. Initially the combined capital investment costs and first year annual operating costs for all three phases were estimated at $994,500.
Phase I of the recommendation was to provide fixed-route service along U.S. 31W between Elizabethtown and Radcliff. Phase II would provide east-west fixed route service within Elizabethtown and the Radcliff-Vine Grove area. Phase III would add service between Fort Knox and Radcliff.
A significant portion of this plan is now in place with the Fort Knox park and ride express bus service for federal government employees traveling from Elizabethtown and Radcliff to the post. The initial start-up cost to implement the remaining portion of the three phase public transportation plan is estimated at approximately $900,000 in today's dollars. Recurring operating costs to provide services for non-federal government employees is estimate at nearly $500,000 annually.
As we near the culmination of the BRAC transformation for our community, we are aware the time to expand public mass transportation's services has arrived. To that end, the Metropolitan Planning Organization continues to work in partnership with the TACK and the State Transportation Cabinet to identify available funding streams and grant opportunities to move the initiative forward. While economic times have temporarily reduced the opportunities for funding new initiatives, we have well documented our needs and stand ready and prepared to execute our plans when resources become available.