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State rejects on-street parking for Grand Avenue; Fort Thomas advances bike-lane striping plan
Summary
City staff told the Planning Commission the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet declined to approve on-street parking for the upcoming Grand Avenue repaving; staff submitted a striping plan that proposes two travel lanes, a center turn lane and bike lanes on both sides. Curb replacement and catch-basin repairs were also discussed.
Fort Thomas staff told the Planning Commission on March 19 that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will not approve on-street parking as part of the upcoming repaving of Grand Avenue, but staff has submitted a striping plan that would add bicycle lanes on each side and maintain two travel lanes plus a center turn lane.
The city is scheduled to repave Grand Avenue either this fall or next spring, and staff said they met with state representatives and presented three options, including on-street parking and bump-outs. According to staff, KYTC representatives told the city on the spot that they would not approve parking for this project and instead favored a striping layout with bike lanes.
Why it matters: Grand Avenue is a key corridor in Fort Thomas; the decision affects parking patterns, pedestrian crossing treatments and bicycle connectivity. Residents and the commission had previously discussed on-street parking and curb bump-outs during a 2002 plan update; the current project focuses on striping and drainage/curb repairs.
Details discussed - Striping plan: Staff submitted a striping plan proposing two travel lanes, a center turn lane and bike lanes on both sides. The plan may differ by segment; staff said more substantial changes (for example adding a multipurpose lane by moving curbs) would require curb reconstruction and are not part of the current state-led project. - Project limits: Staff reported the project will extend down Grand Avenue to Churchill and the intersection with South Fort Thomas; earlier planning documents had covered only Highland to South Fort Thomas. - Curb and drainage: Staff provided the state with linear footage estimates for curb replacement and identified several catch basins that need replacement; the city hopes the state will incorporate those repairs into the contract.
Next steps: Staff will await the state’s final striping plan and incorporate curb/catch-basin work if the KYTC contract allows. The commission indicated interest in pursuing longer-term concepts (such as expanded roadway or bump-outs) in future projects that would require additional engineering and right-of-way work.
