Why do we need plans and studies?
Plans and studies help us use our limited resources – time and money – in the most effective way. Plans set goals and identify priorities. Studies dig deeper and offer solutions to transportation problems and local issues. They are important tools for building a transportation network that works for everyone – whether they walk, bike, ride, or drive.
The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) looks 25 years or more into the future, guiding transportation improvements for our area. The MTP defines big-picture goals along with strategies to achieve them. The MTP is informed by traffic and safety data, changes in employment and population, and input from residents and local officials. The MTP helps us determine how we can best improve mobility, safety, and access for everyone – in whatever way they choose to move around our community.
We’ve updated the MTP! This happens every 5 years and the last update was in 2019. You can read more about the 2024 update, explore recommendations, and find ways to get involved here.
MPO Director, Chris Evilia, talks with LexTV about the MTP2050. Check it out below!
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan guides how we can make bicycling and walking reasonable, comfortable options for getting around in our region. The plan describes policy changes, new programs, and physical improvements (like new multi-purpose trails). The big-picture goal is to make it easier for everyone to walk and bike by connecting bikeways, sidewalks, and trails all across our community.
The Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP, is a shorter-term list of projects with a four year timeline. Projects in the TIP must meet two requirements. TIP projects are 1) ready for some stage of implementation and 2) have a formal commitment of funding in the next 4 years. In general, these are also the highest-priority projects identified in the MTP. Projects can include roadway retrofits, new construction, bike/pedestrian improvements, studies, plans, and more.
The TIP just got updated! We regularly review all the projects in the TIP, adding new projects when they meet the requirements (see above). Project phases are: design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction. You can read more about the TIP and see the proposed projects here.
MPO Staff Present the TIP
Chris Evilia (MPO Director), Stuart Kearns (Senior Planner) and Hannah Crepps (Senior Planner) discuss the latest draft TIP. This 30 min presentation is full of great details and more information about the TIP and its proposed transportation projects. Check it out!
The Participation Plan guides how LAMPO connects with the people that live, work and travel in our community. We use the Participation Plan to find out what transportation issues are most important to the community and what ideas people think best address those issues. The Participation Plan identifies how we at the MPO will engage and inform people in a meaningful way. Especially when we develop plans, projects, and policies.
The Participation Plan was most recently updated and adopted by the Transportation Policy Board in April 2022.
Got an idea of how we can improve? Email LAMPO staff member Hannah Crepps at hcrepps@lexingtonky.gov.
The Title VI Program Plan is an important document because it describes how LAMPO ensures that everyone has an equal chance to be a part of our work. By following this plan, we make sure all persons have the opportunity to participate in the development of our policies and programs. Got an idea for how we can improve? Email LAMPO staff member Hannah Crepps at hcrepps@lexingtonky.gov. Access the complaint form.
The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) describes what regional transportation planning activities LAMPO and our partners hope to accomplish in the coming year. It lists specific tasks, who is responsible, and how each task will be funded. Tangible outcomes are defined, and a timeline for the year’s activities is also included.
This is a study to explore the feasibility of a shared-use trail along Virginia Avenue, Red Mile Road, and Forbes Road. It is the latest effort to expand the trail network in Lexington. The purpose of the Campus to Commons Trail Study is to make biking and walking safer and easier so that anyone can get where they need to go however they get around. There are four objectives:
- Find the best fit for a biking/walking route
- Improve safety at intersections along the route
- Make a realistic, usable plan for future changes
- Connect with community along the way
This route is an important connection between North Lexington and the area around the University of Kentucky campus. It links together many local businesses and residential areas, adding a much-need route to a growing part of town. The study started in the fall of 2023 and was finished in June of 2024.
Transportation leaders in the Lexington area, including Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) have established a goal of working towards zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2050. The Lexington Safety Action Plan (SAP) is part of this effort to change the way streets and roads are designed, developed, and maintained.
The SAP includes an analysis of existing safety conditions and historical trends. It explores systemic needs. It also offers projects and direct strategies to tackle needed change.
Imagine New Circle is an opportunity to take a fresh look at the future of one of Lexington’s most important roads – from Newtown Pike to Richmond Road – and help it better meet community needs while preserving its unique cultural features. This study brought together residents, business owners, policymakers, and other community members. The goal was to imagine how northeastern New Circle Road can be improved over the coming decades.
The ideas gathered were combined with research data and national best practices to create a roadmap for northeast New Circle Road’s future. This will help guide new designs, new policies, and decision-making by Lexington’s city government.
The Wilmore Trail Feasibility Study is a recent effort in Jessamine County. It looks at the condition of biking in Wilmore along a specific area: from downtown on Main Street north 2.5 miles to the intersection of KY 29 and US 68. The consultants used site analysis, field research, public input and more to consider options for adding a biking and walking trail along this route.
The biking community in Wilmore advocates for improved connections and better access. This study document shows what opportunities there are for bringing their advocacy to life. Check it out!
The MPO has created many other plans and studies over the years to better guide how we use our limited resources – time and money. The plans and studies identified below focus on specific areas or corridors (roads) in our area. All of these documents have been completed within the last 5 years. These guiding plans and studies continue shaping conversations and are helping us implement improvements across the Lexington area. For those interested in older efforts and more historical context, check out our archive.
