Winchester delays decision on taking Main Street from state; commissioners ask state contact for written terms

Winchester — Business and downtown advocates renewed a request that the city take ownership of a segment of Main Street from the state to allow local control of streetscape improvements, but the City Commission declined to commit and directed staff to obtain written terms from the state.

Presenter Chad Wahlberg, a member and former president of the downtown Main Street group, told the commission Main Street Winchester (formerly Winchester First) had vetted a petition to transfer ownership. He described the proposed transfer as limited to West Lexington from Maple up to Main Street, and said the state had indicated the city would effectively get control within months though deed transfer might not finalize for about two years and the road would revert to the state if the city chose not to keep it.

"This will allow you guys to make alterations without all the red tape," Wahlberg said, listing improvements in the downtown master plan that local ownership would make easier: ADA-compliant crosswalks, string lights, trees and curb changes.

Why it matters: local ownership would let the city implement design changes recommended in its downtown master plan and could enable use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds for infrastructure work. Commissioners said the move could also transfer maintenance responsibilities — including traffic-signal upkeep — and could increase the city's long-term costs.

Commission concerns and clarifications

- Timing and cost uncertainty: several commissioners said they preferred to wait until the city's larger "high side" street project is underway or partially complete to avoid unknown costs tied to subsurface conditions. The commission was told the high side project advertisement would go out Friday with a bid opening on March 14. - Maintenance and equipment: commissioners noted accepting the street would likely require taking over maintenance of traffic signals (the intersection at Lexington Avenue and Broadway was mentioned) and that signal maintenance can be costly; one commissioner cited ongoing annual maintenance costs of "$10,000 plus." - Reversion and written terms: commissioners expressed skepticism about a verbal state assurance that the road would revert to the state if the city rejected responsibility later. They asked for a written agreement and asked city staff to confirm the state's draft document's terms before action.

Actions and next steps

Commissioners directed city staff to contact the state representative Casey Smith and to continue following up. The commission specifically directed City Manager Bruce to contact Smith weekly until a written response was received, and to place the item back on the agenda once the city had the state's written terms. Several commissioners said they remained ambivalent: supportive of downtown improvements but hesitant to assume unknown long-term maintenance and reconstruction costs before the high side project progressed.

Clarifying details and local context

- Segment length: the proposed transfer covers 2,640 linear feet (about 40 percent of a mile), according to figures presented at the meeting. - Cost estimates: a national/Kentucky average estimate for street ownership and initial improvements was cited at about $17,000 per mile in the presentation (presenter framed this as a national/Kentucky average); commissioners flagged costs for curb, gutter and signal maintenance as additional unknowns. - Funding options discussed: downtown advocates suggested using TIF or other local funding sources to pay for improvements; commissioners noted TIF revenues are being reserved for the high side project.

Ending

The commission did not approve a transfer and deferred a decision. Staff were instructed to secure written terms from the state contact Casey Smith, and the item will return to the commission agenda after the city receives that response.