Monday November 17, 2025
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SubscribeLouisville has received $1.5 million in federal funding for a project to improve conditions in downtown Louisville for pedestrians and people with disabilities, among others, Mayor Greg Fischer and Gov. Steve Beshear announced today.
When the work is completed, sidewalks in the project area – South Fourth Street between West Chestnut and Broadway – will be repaired or rebuilt to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and to encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Current conditions, including deteriorated pavers, have significantly limited ADA mobility.
“South Fourth Street is a valued asset to our downtown economic development,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Our goal is to attract people living, working, shopping and dining in downtown Louisville and this investment from the state helps to make that continual mission possible.”
The funding announced today will build upon the $1.5 million in Metro funds already spent on enhancements along South Fourth Street between Muhammad Ali Blvd and Chestnut St., as well as Gutherie St. and complement the $100 million in private sector investment currently being made in the area.
“Projects such as these enhance a community’s transportation choices and therefore enhance the quality of life for citizens of the community,” Gov. Beshear said. “This award furthers the City of Louisville’s larger plan for making it easier for pedestrians to get around downtown.”
The project area is near a number of non-profit agencies – the Salvation Army, Volunteers of America, KentuckianaWorks and the Housing Partnership – that work with the disabled, veterans, the elderly, the poor and minorities.
Other work is to include enlarged tree wells, restriping of pavement on Fourth Street, and there will be parking on both sides of the street.
The funding is through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), a reimbursement program administered by the Office of Local Programs in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid.
TAP assists communities in funding transportation improvements such as safe bicycle and pedestrian facilities, scenic routes, beautification, and other investments. Projects may be a mix of elements and accessible to the general public or targeted to a broad segment of the general public.
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there are no meetings of the Metro Council and its committees scheduled for next week. The Metro Council will resume its meeting schedule on Monday November 30th. Everyone has a safe and joyous holiday!
Meeting times are subject to change. Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair of each Committee. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be acted upon by a committee.
To review all agendas of the committees of the Louisville Metro Council, go to the Metro Council Clerk’s web page at: http://louisvilleky.gov/
All meetings are aired live on Metro TV Insight Cable Channel 25 and Channel 99 for UVERSE subscribers. Meetings are also streamed live on the Metro Council’s website. Go tohttp://louisvilleky.gov/
For More Information Contact:
Tony Hyatt: 574-4137 / 526-3622
Stephen Haag: 574-1204 / 645-1752
Planning & Zoning – Tuesday, November 10th 1:30pm
This is the regular meeting of the Committee. The agenda is pending.
While items may be on the agenda for this Committee, this does not mean all items will be acted upon or discussed. Please check with the Committee Chair prior to the beginning of the meeting.
Public Works, Bridges, and Transportation – Tuesday, November 10th 3:00pm
The Committee will hear from Jeffrey Brown and Dan O’Dea from Metro Public Works and Assets on the progress for adopting a new road scoring system for paving. The Committee also has on its agenda:
- A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept $44,535 of additional funding from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for continuation of the design and construction phase for the Portland Elementary Safe Routes to School Project
- An Ordinance regarding parking for veterans who have been issued a Purple Heart license plate
- An Ordinance amending the Metro Code of Ordinances relating to flood plain management
- A Resolution requesting MSD to create a flood plain buyout program.
- An Ordinance amending the Metro Code of Ordinances regarding historical landmarks and preservation districts as it relates to the salvage and preservation of brick pavers removed from streets and alleys
Labor & Economic Development – Tuesday, November 10th 4:00pm
The Committee has the following items under review
- A Resolution encouraging the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to pass legislation during the 2016 Legislative Session to increase the minimum wage for the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky consistent with the increases made in Louisville.
- A Resolution involving two parcels of property at the intersection of Muhammad Ali Blvd., 30th Street and West Market Street
Appropriations NDF’s CIF’s – Tuesday, November 10th 5:00pm
The Committee will review grant requests for Neighborhood Development Funds and Capital Infrastructure Funds of the 26 districts of the Louisville Metro Council.
Community Affairs – Wednesday, November 11th 1:30pm
The Committee will hear from Jeana Dunlap for a discussion of vacant and abandoned properties and Metro Housing Issues
Health, Education & Housing – Wednesday, November 11th 2:30pm
The Committee will review a resolution authorizing the Mayor to accept a grant of $271,534 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to be administered by the Department of Public Health and Wellness Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods.
Public Safety – Wednesday, November 11th 3:30pm
The Committee will continue its review of an ordinance dealing with Short Term Rentals. The agenda is pending.
Government Accountability & Ethics – Wednesday, November 11th 4:30pm
The Committee will hear from Debbie Fox of EMA and Metro Safe to discuss present and future plans and receive an update on projects and processes.
Committee on Contracts/ Appointments – Thursday, November 12th 3:00pm
The Committee will review pending contracts and appointments to Boards and Commissions of Metro Government.
Budget – Thursday, November 12th 5:00pm
The Committee has three ordinances for review dealing with budget amendments including:
- Transfer of capital cumulative reserve funds to the project titled Zoo Beautification
- Appropriating $260,000 Metro Parks Agency receipts to be received per a Memorandum of Agreement with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy towards the Boone Square Park Renovations Project
- Appropriating $225,000 Metro Parks Agency receipts to be received per a Memorandum of Agreement with the Metropolitan Sewer District to mitigate the impacts of the sanitary sewer project on McNeely Lake Park
Meeting times are subject to change. Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair of each Committee. While an item may be listed, it does not mean a committee will act upon all items.
To review all agendas of the committees of the Louisville Metro Council, go to the Metro Council Clerk’s web page at: http://louisvilleky.gov/
All meetings are aired live on Metro TV Insight cable Channel 25 and Channel 99 for UVERSE Subscribers. Meetings are also streamed live on the Metro Council’s website. Go to:http://louisvilleky.gov/
As of 10:16 PM today, 100% of the counties have reported their results. In Jefferson County, 193,875 ballots were cast for about a 35% turn out. This figure is slightly higher than the state average, although some counties had a turnout in excess of 40%. Throughout the Commonwealth, there are approximately 3.2 million registered voters. With just under 1 million ballots cast today, the 2015 elections saw a voter participation rate of 30.7% – slightly higher than the previous gubernatorial election of 2011. Fair autumn weather is thought to have played some part in this year’s increased turnout.
The state received 52 complaints of fraud throughout the day, with the highest concentration coming from Jefferson County, which tallied 13. Statewide, complaints included reports of polling place disruption, vote buying and selling, and electioneering.
2015 election results follow; winners are in blue: Continue reading
Event set for Saturday, November 7th from 9:00am to 2:00pm
Brightside is putting out a call for volunteers this Saturday to help expand Metro Louisville’s tree canopy with a Community-Wide Planting Day set along West Broadway.
“A goal of 150 trees planted is what we are hoping for and we need volunteers if we are going to reach that goal,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “The city has an ambitious plan to replace our tree canopy after years of neglect and destruction by the forces of nature and disease.”
The Brightside Community – Wide Planting Day is set for Saturday, November 7th from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Volunteers should meet at the Shawnee Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library, 3912 West Broadway
Brightside will assist the volunteers in planting 150 trees along West Broadway from 20th Street to 44th Street.
“If you want to be a part of helping beautify this area as part of our sustainability efforts and improving the environment I would encourage you to come and join the volunteers, “says Hamilton. “ We are only asking people to plant one tree per volunteer. If enough people show up to help we can have the planting done in no time.”
For more information about the Brightside Community-Wide Planting Day or if you want to register, call 574-2613 or visit www.Brightsideinc.org
Sign will welcome everyone to South Louisville neighborhoods at Third Street and I-264 exit ramp
Four South Louisville Neighborhoods now have an official welcome sign! On Monday, Council members Marianne Butler (D-15) and Dan Johnson (D-21) unveiled a new 60”x48” welcome sign for the Beechmont, Iroquois, Oakdale and Wilder Park Neighborhoods.
“This welcome sign is a great enhancement for communities,” said Butler. “Welcome signs are an invitation to come have a great time while you are here and become part of our community.”
“It is with a great deal of pride that we let people let people traveling Third Street know that they have entered into a part of our city where well established neighborhoods call home,” said Johnson. “This sign will stand for a very long time to recognize these amazing neighborhoods.”
The new sign is located where Third Street and the I-264 ramp meet. The sign is made of cast aluminum.
Grant covers Dixie Highway improvements from downtown and beyond
Metro Council President David Tandy (D-4) joined other Metro Council members, Congressman John Yarmuth, Governor Steve Beshear, Mayor Greg Fischer and members of Jefferson County’s Legislative Delegation on Monday to praise the announcement that Metro Louisville will receive a $16.9 million TIGER Grant for the Dixie Highway Master Plan.
“Dixie Highway is just as vital to Metro Louisville as any interstate when it comes to moving people to and from destinations and helping our economy and local businesses,” said Tandy. “We on the Metro Council continue support and advocate for improvements and the modernization of this vital highway.”
The TIGER Grant, along with $11 million in state funding, will improve Dixie Highway by constructing multipurpose lanes for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. There will also be state of the art traffic synchronization for better traffic flow. The funding will also provide TARC with more buses and develop modern rapid transit lanes.
The President said this grant is another enhancement of transportation for Metro Louisville’s urban core.
“It is easy to forget that Dixie Highway begins at 18th Street and Broadway. This grant will help correct traffic flow problems in our downtown and then move out to Algonquin Parkway, Shivery and the Watterson Expressway and then on to the Gene Snyder,” said Tandy.
The grant will also develop landscaping and center medians along the Dixie Highway corridor as a way of improving traffic flow in and out of business locations
“Improving Dixie Highway is just as significant to our infrastructure as the current Ohio River Bridges Project. Both projects will be another plus in Metro Louisville’s favor when it comes to business and travel and our economy.”
