Award-winning Corridor Plan for West Kentucky Street Embraces the Unique Culture and Identity of Louisville’s Downtown Neighborhoods

The West Kentucky Street Corridor Plan has been recognized with the KAPA Merit Award for Outstanding Corridor Plan.

The Kentucky Chapter of the American Planning Association recently honored the West Kentucky Street Corridor Master Plan with the Merit Award for Outstanding Corridor Plan.  Located near downtown Louisville, the section of West Kentucky Street between Dixie Highway and 4th Street currently stands as a complicated array of varying lane widths, one- and two-way vehicular traffic, poor pavement conditions, railroad crossings, bike lanes, and generally unsafe conditions for users. However, this particular section also connects a variety of land uses including residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional – which presented an exciting opportunity for a rebranding and redevelopment plan highlighting and connecting all uses in one complete vision. 

Through extensive site analysis and stakeholder and community engagement, we were able to understand and respond to the current and future needs of the corridor’s users and business owners. As part of our community engagement strategy, we created a “mobile studio” that visited community events to garner feedback and ideas. Using the data collected, the conceptual plans provide recommendations for multi-modal transportation, lane width reductions, better pedestrian circulation, and green infrastructure improvements. As an added layer, the design team incorporated public art, a mural, and interpretive signage to establish an authenticity unique to the area. When implemented, this strategy will promote a safer, greener, more expressive and connected urban corridor.