Revitalization Commission Agenda and Packet 2024 06 26

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Revitalization Commission Minutes May 22, 2024 Page 3 of 7 underpass at front street. Due to railway discussions, the implementation was delayed. Approvals have been received but the LRC would need to discuss as the budget item was not carried forward for this project. Commissioner Harald asked who is responsible for building and maintaining the trails in Lafayette. The Director of Community development highlighted the trail system. The Director of Public Works commented that if the underpass is approved, the trail system related to this project will be completed. The portion through the Lafayette sports complex will depend on Lafayette completing their plan of that space. Chair Adler asked for more information on where the rail would be located, and the likelihood of the project being completed. There was a discussion around commuter rail and FRCC passenger rail. Commissioner Iglesias asked if there has to be an underpass to provide parking. It was noted that if parking areas were installed at this time, there is no good crossing point. There was a discussion around the Highway 42 improvements, the lack of and need for a safe crossing, possible impacts from commuter rail, connectivity via trail systems in the city and surrounding areas, and the increase of pedestrian traffic at the last two installed underpasses at Kestrel and Davidson Mesa. Commissioner Iglesias asked if there are plans for other things on the east side of Highway 42. It was noted that, other than the expansion of sports complex, there is a lot of existing development with "latent demand" that will likely be seen with the improvement. It will encourage more people to use it as a safe place to come to Louisville. Commissioner Tofte commented that the hawk signal is on a city street, whereas this is a state highway, which is a totally different situation for a hawk signal. He noted that with the increased speed limits on Highway 42, it will be much less safe to cross. The Director of Public Works noted that the east side of Highway 42 is the core problem we're trying to solve with the Highway 42 improvements for multi -modal north- and south -bound traffic. Commissioner Lipton asked who is funding the Highway 42 project. The state is funding 60% of the Highway 42 corridor and DRCOG will fund a portion of the proposed underpass. Commissioner Lipton wants to know who is funding the rest of this project and why is Louisville being asked to fund a component of this project when the bulk of the project is non -Louisville regional/state high volume road. With other big state projects, are they funding underpasses under other projects like the diagonal project or are they asking municipalities to fund these types of projects. Commissioner Lipton doesn't think it's the LRC's role to weigh in whether we need an underpass here or not. He feels this is for other members of the local, state and county government to determine. He noted that, from the LRC view, the issue is whether the LRC wants to fund an underpass, contingent upon a broader analysis of what the LRC goals are. Commissioner Lipton commented that he feels he doesn't have the information to focus on a single large project without knowing the scope of other LRC projects. He noted that it would be difficult for him to make a decision today on funding this project. He also asked about parking on the other side of Highway 42, specifically, what capital plan is that included in, and will it come to the LRC for additional funding? He also asked that, if the role of the LRC is to eliminate blight in