Florence reviews Transportation Improvement District study to speed local road and utility projects

Florence officials on Monday heard a presentation on a proposed Transportation Improvement District, a special-purpose public entity created under Kentucky law that would let the city and Boone County coordinate, fund and fast-track local transportation and related infrastructure projects.

Consultants and state officials told the council the TID could assemble multiple funding sources, issue revenue bonds, accept state and federal grants and accept private contributions to move projects faster than relying solely on traditional state funding cycles.

Wade Williams, a consultant with the Montrose Group, said the firm drafted a report at the council’s request describing how a TID would operate and what it could and could not do. “This is a way, local control, local funding, along with the state, and you get your projects built and quicker,” said Sal, a former Kentucky state representative who helped draft the enabling legislation. Williams added the report explains staffing, governance and eligible project costs.

The study recommended establishing the city as the district boundary, appointing a five-member board of trustees with staggered terms, and including a nonvoting county planning commission representative. Council staff and consultants recommended board composition emphasize transportation/infrastructure expertise, economic development experience, financial/accounting skills and a regional planning representative.

Consultants identified three project “buckets.” Top priorities include a citywide master traffic study, a Mall Road connector, Old Hopeful Church Road improvements and work on Evergreen Drive. Short-term safety and flow improvements listed include reconfiguring intersection lanes at Mall Road and Kentucky 18 and addressing stacking on Houston Road at Kentucky 18. Longer-term economic-impact projects cited included an on/off ramp along Weaver Road and connections around Donaldson Road.

City staff described staffing and funding options for a TID. The presentation noted a TID may finance, construct, maintain and operate transportation projects; issue revenue bonds; accept grants; acquire and dispose of property; and use professional services and planning costs as eligible expenses. The consultants said the enabling statute (KRS) provides the legal framework and that the statute prohibits condemnation and special assessments or taxation by the district as drafted.

Councilmember Diane said the public services department would likely administer the work if the council moves forward and emphasized the need for a dedicated project manager. “I would like to establish and oversee … a project manager that is gonna work on getting the funding and then establishing the projects and getting these projects built,” Diane said.

Eric Hall, who introduced the presentation and spoke about next steps, said staff would seek initial funding and that formation of the district and board could move quickly once an ordinance is adopted. He said Boone County passed its ordinance and had already secured funding commitments; consultants said Boone County had roughly $10,000,000 identified after formation.

The presentation concluded with a recommendation that the council consider an ordinance to establish the district, define its governance and operational parameters, adopt bylaws, appoint trustees and consider initial appropriations for staffing and professional services. No vote on the ordinance was taken at the meeting.

Council members said they want copies of the full report and additional time to review the proposal and staffing and budget implications before any formal action.

The consultants and staff offered to answer questions and supply additional detail on project scoring, legal constraints under the KRS statute and funding scenarios if the council asks the item to return for ordinance introduction.