KYTC works to improve pedestrian and driver safety

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Six people have been hit and killed by cars in Lexington this year, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

With each pedestrian death comes renewed calls to improve safety in Lexington.

"Safety of the public is the number one priority for the Transportation Cabinet and Team Kentucky," said PIO for the Department of Highways District 7 for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Natasha Lacy. "That includes motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and those that might be using scooters or nonmotorized vehicles."

Lacy says cabinet engineers routinely study potential improvements for all highway users based on need and funding.

"Currently, we have audits for different intersections that we're conducting and reviewing those to see what type of changes we can make," said Lacy.

The cabinet says their engineers are going to busy areas, like Winchester and Nicholasville Roads, to see if intersections would benefit from additions such as crosswalks or additional lighting.

If community members want to request these changes, Lacy says those requests should be sent to your city or county local government, even if the road is a state road.

"We always welcome local government to send requests to us, because we're willing to review those at any time, and we do that on a regular basis to see what the needs for the public are," said Lacy.

With each request, there's a set of criteria the cabinet goes through. For example, with a sidewalk request, they'll review the area for need, safety, feasibility, ADA compliance, nearby existing crossings and pedestrian facilities, and what devices would be necessary to facilitate a safe crossing.

Lacy says that outside of construction projects, the state does not construct sidewalks, and the city does street lighting through the state's permit process.