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Boone County fiscal court approves TID-backed turn-lane project to speed school-area safety work
Summary
Boone County’s fiscal court unanimously approved a Transportation Improvement District (TID) recommendation to add turn lanes on Kentucky 14/Walt Ryan Way to improve safety and accelerate a state project near the new Walt Ryan Intermediate School.
A unanimous Boone County Fiscal Court approved a TID-backed plan on Feb. 18 to install turn lanes on Kentucky 14/Walt Ryan Way intended to improve traffic flow and safety for the Walt Ryan Intermediate School and adjacent athletic fields.
Larry Brown, chairman of the Transportation Improvement District, told the court the TID is a pilot under Kentucky law that can pursue grants and partner with state and federal programs but does not have taxing, condemnation or special-assessment powers: "We cannot do any of that," Brown said. He described the TID as accountable to the fiscal court and required to hold public hearings before pursuing projects.
The county judge/executive and staff said the location was selected partly for time sensitivity: the school is open and enrollment and traffic are expected to increase. Rob Franksman, county public-works staff, said the arrangement lets the county combine phases such as design, right-of-way and utilities to avoid multi-year delays typical of the state’s six-year program and to get the work done sooner.
Brown said the TID’s initial request to the state had been $1.2 million with a $400,000 design component; the memorandum of agreement combined those elements and increased the reimbursable amount to about $1.6 million. He reported the TID’s seed money from the court ($50,000) remains largely intact after start-up expenses.
Commissioners pressed staff about how public hearings are advertised and expressed concerns about property acquisition and the limits of eminent-domain authority. Brown and staff said public-notice procedures follow statutory minimums but that the board will use county channels and weekly updates to broaden outreach. The court emphasized that any eminent-domain action would be taken by the fiscal court itself, not by the TID.
On a motion by Commissioner Flagg, seconded by Commissioner Brewer, the court approved a resolution endorsing the TID-recommended turn-lane project and authorizing the necessary steps to pursue the reimbursement-based agreement with the transportation cabinet. The vote was four-zero. The court and TID said they will return with more detailed scheduling and financing decisions as the project progresses.
