From KY 89 at the northern city limits of McKee to the recently improved section of US 421 just north of the Jackson-Rockcastle County line. Six-Year Highway Plan, Item No ¥

Jackson Co. / Item No Why are we here? Provide information to you about the planning study and the proposed project Listen to what you have to say about: – Possible issues, concerns, and impacts – Sensitive areas that should be avoided, if possible – Possible alternatives

Jackson Co. / Item No Road Building Process First step is Long-Range Planning Identification of all proposed improvement needs by local communities, counties, and regions – $50 billion in projects identified on current needs list Prioritization of needs for Statewide Transportation Plan – About $800 million per year in proposed projects in current Plan

Jackson Co. / Item No Road Building Process The Statewide Transportation Plan is a 20-year planning document that includes: – Six Year Highway Plan – 14-Year Long Range Element However, there are a lot of identified needs that cannot be met with available funding over this 20-year period

Jackson Co. / Item No Road Building Process 2 Yrs. Project Planning and Programming 4 Yrs. Preliminary Design & Environmental Studies 6 Yrs. Final Design 7 Yrs. Right of Way 8 Yrs. Utility 10 Yrs. ConstructionOperations

Jackson Co. / Item No Purpose of Study Listen to and share information with local officials, government agencies, other interested parties, and the public at large Identify known issues, concerns, and constraints Define project goals Develop and evaluate project alternatives Make recommendations

Jackson Co. / Item No What about environmental issues and public input … Study will follow the project scoping process defined in the 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Public, government agencies, and other interested parties are encouraged to provide input on issues, impacts, and alternatives.

Jackson Co. / Item No The No-Build alternative is given equal consideration along with proposed “Build” alternatives. Study information and findings will be used in future decisions on the project. What about environmental issues and public input?

Jackson Co. / Item No This study will help us to… Understand how local citizens feel about the proposed project Identify issues and concerns so they can be considered early in the project development process Define the purpose and goals for the project Avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive areas in the natural and human environment

Jackson Co. / Item No Reduce the amount of additional work or rework Accelerate project delivery Create a project that local citizens can support The study will also help …

Jackson Co. / Item No What will the study include? Public Involvement Environmental Overview Transportation Analysis

Jackson Co. / Item No What will the study include? Public involvement – Meetings with local officials – Open-house public meetings – Coordination with and input from State agencies Federal agencies Interest groups

Jackson Co. / Item No What will the study include? Environmental Overview – Natural environment Lakes, creeks, wetlands, wildlife, plant life, terrain, scenery, etc. – Human environment Communities, homes, businesses, churches, parks, cemeteries, schools, environmental justice, historic and archaeological sites, farmland, recreation and tourist areas, economy, jobs, quality of life, etc.

Jackson Co. / Item No What will the study include? Transportation Analysis – Purpose and goals of project – Highway design issues Existing conditions, number of lanes, lane width, shoulders, curves, grades, etc. – Operations data Traffic volumes, highway capacity, and crashes

Jackson Co. / Item No Study Area

Jackson Co. / Item No Project Description Develop and evaluate alternatives for the possible reconstruction of US 421: – From KY 89 north of McKee in Jackson County – To improved US 421 near Bighill in Rockcastle County, north of the Jackson-Rockcastle County line.

Jackson Co. / Item No Description of Existing US 421 Federal Functional Classification = Rural Minor Arterial State System Designation = Rural Secondary Average daily traffic (ADT) between 3,930 and 5,160 vehicles per day (vpd) Percent trucks between 4.1% and 9.7%

Jackson Co. / Item No Description of Existing US 421 Two-lane highway with: – 9-feet wide driving lanes – 2-feet wide shoulders mph speed limit Rolling terrain

Jackson Co. / Item No What have we done so far? Developed Preliminary Project Goals Looked at existing conditions of major state roads in the study area Met with local officials Identified local, state, and federal agencies to receive information and provide input

Jackson Co. / Item No Preliminary Project Goals… Provide improved regional access along an improved route that will: – Support economic development initiatives by opening up this low- income area – Improve access to jobs, hospitals, services, shopping, and schools in Berea, Richmond, and Lexington.

Jackson Co. / Item No Help alleviate public concerns about safety and travel time along the existing US 421 corridor by providing alternatives for improved roadway geometrics. Another Preliminary Project Goal …

Jackson Co. / Item No Some of the issues so far… Possible family clusters along US 421 Availability of suitable relocations along the existing route Impacts on the Daniel Boone National Forest New residential development and new/improved businesses in Sandgap Possible caves and karst topography near the Rockcastle County Line

Jackson Co. / Item No Some more issues of concern… The historic Cox Simpson House, in Morrill, currently receiving Transportation Enhancement Funds for improvements Grade issues near Sandgap Possible disturbance to a divide near the Jackson-Rockcastle County Line that separates the drainage basin Possible impacts to a watershed near Morrill that drains into the Owsley Fork Reservoir

Jackson Co. / Item No What happens next … Review public input – Oral comments made at tonight’s meeting – Survey questionnaires received after tonight’s meeting

Jackson Co. / Item No Get input from local, state, and Federal resource agencies and other interests Summarize public and agency input to identify: – Issues, impacts, and concerns – Possible highway alternates What happens next …

Jackson Co. / Item No Develop and evaluate project alternates Hold another meeting with Local Officials and Public in about 2 to 3 months to present proposed alternates What happens next?

Jackson Co. / Item No Help yourself to refreshments Visit the exhibits and talk one-on-one with the staff Please complete and turn in your Survey Questionnaire BEFORE YOU LEAVE ….

Jackson Co. / Item No Please visit the exhibits! Exhibit Boards – Study area – Traffic and crash data – Preliminary environmental concerns – Other improvements Map Drawing – Identify areas to avoid, if possible – Identify areas to improve

Jackson Co. / Item No From KY 89 at the northern city limits of McKee to the recently improved section of US 421 just north of the Jackson-Rockcastle County line. Six-Year Highway Plan, Item No ¥ Your comments are important to our decision making process! Thank you for coming!!!