I-66 Southern Kentucky Corridor between the Louie B. Nunn (Cumberland) and Daniel Boone Parkways Pulaski and Laurel Counties Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Six Year Highway Plan Item # 11-66.00 Prepared for: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Planning Frankfort, Kentucky Prepared by: WILBUR SMITH ASSOCIATES ENGINEERS — PLANNERS Lexington, Kentucky June 2000 SOUTHERN KENTUCKY CORRIDOR (I-66) Somerset to London Planning Study TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1-1 A. Project Background ................................................................................................. 1-1 B. Previous Studies...................................................................................................... 1-1 C. Purpose ................................................................................................................... 1-1 D. Project Study Area................................................................................................... 1-5 E. Report Contents....................................................................................................... 1-5 2. Study Area Conditions........................................................................................................ 2-1 A. Socioeconomics and Land Use ............................................................................... 2-1 B. Existing Study Area Characteristics......................................................................... 2-7 C. Traffic and Operational Conditions ........................................................................ 2-15 D. Planning Level Environmental Considerations ...................................................... 2-21 3. Proposed Corridors............................................................................................................. 3-1 A. Key Corridor Development Issues .......................................................................... 3-1 B. Proposed Corridor Options ...................................................................................... 3-4 4. Analysis of Alternatives....................................................................................................... 4-1 A. Traffic and Socioeconomics..................................................................................... 4-1 B. Environmental Issues .............................................................................................. 4-9 C. Engineering and Construction Costs ..................................................................... 4-24 5. Public and Agency Involvement.......................................................................................... 5-1 A. Public Meetings ....................................................................................................... 5-1 B. Other Public Input.................................................................................................... 5-3 C. Resource Agency Input ........................................................................................... 5-5 D. KYTC Intradepartmental Input................................................................................. 5-6 6. Recommendations and Conclusions................................................................................... 6-1 A. Development of Recommended Corridor................................................................. 6-1 B. Recommended Corridor Evaluation......................................................................... 6-6 C. Priority Segments and Implementation.................................................................... 6-9 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix A .............................................................................................. Public Airport Facilities Appendix B .................................................................Planned and Programmed Improvements Appendix C .............................................................................................. Critical Accident Rates Appendix D ......................................... Federal and State Threatened and Endangered Species in Pulaski and Laurel Counties Appendix E ..........................................................................Kentucky Geological Survey Report Appendix F................................................................ Typical Sections/Proposed Design Criteria Appendix G.................................................................Public and Agency Involvement Materials Page i SOUTHERN KENTUCKY CORRIDOR (I-66) Page No. Somerset to London Planning Study 5.2 Summer 1999 Public Input Questionnaire Summaries................................ ......5-2 5.3 Spring 2000 Public Input Questionnaire Summaries ................................ .........5-3 LIST OF EXHIBITS Page No. 6.1 Recommended Corridor................................ ................................ ....................6-4 6.2 Approximate Location of I-66/I-75 Interchange................................ ..................6-3 1.1 Corridor 3 – The Transamerica Corridor (Interstate 66) ................................ ....1-2 6.3 Design Consideration for I-66/I-75 Interchange................................ .................6-5 1.2 Proposed I-66 Corridor Through Kentucky (50 mile Corridor Width) .................1-3 6.4 Potential Louie B. Nunn (Cumberland) Parkway Interchange............................6-5 1.3 1995 Estimates of Persons in Poverty ................................ .............................. 1-4 6.5 Potential Daniel Boone Parkway Interchange ................................ ...................6-6 1.4 Proposed I-66 Corridor Project Location................................ ........................... 1-6 6.6 Recommended Corridor Traffic Volumes ................................ ..........................6-7 2.1 Block Group Population ................................ ................................ .................... 2-1 6.7 Recommended Segment Priorities................................ ................................ ..6-10 2.2 Population Characteristics ................................ ................................ ................2-2 2.3 Labor Force Characteristics................................ ................................ ..............2-4 LIST OF TABLES 2.4 Earnings Information................................ ................................ ......................... 2-5 2.1 Population Estimates ................................ ................................ ........................2-1 2.5 Employment Characteristics ................................ ................................ .............2-6 2.2 Labor Force Characteristics................................ ................................ ..............2-3 2.6 Regional Tourism................................ ................................ .............................. 2-8 2.3 Study Area Industry ................................ ................................ ..........................2-3 2.7 Land Use Classification ................................ ................................ .................... 2-9 2.4 Existing Route Inventory................................ ................................ .................2-11 2.8 Regional Truck Network................................ ................................ .................. 2-10 2.5 Highway Characteristics ................................ ................................ .................2-11 2.9 Existing Bridge Inventory ................................ ................................ ................ 2-13 2.6 Area Industrial Facilities................................ ................................ ..................2-15 2.10 Kentucky Intermodal Facilities ................................ ................................ ........2-14 2.7 Traffic Characteristics ................................ ................................ .....................2-16 2.11 Year 1998 Level of Service and Average Daily Traffic Volumes...................... 2-18 2.8 Level of Service Definitions................................ ................................ .............2-17 2.12 Year 2010 Level of Service and Average Daily Traffic Volumes...................... 2-19 2.9 Critical Accident Rates................................ ................................ ....................2-17 2.13 Year 2030 Level of Service and Average Daily Traffic Volumes...................... 2-20 4.1 Average Traffic Volumes................................ ................................ ...................4-1 3.1 Potential Interchange Sites................................ ................................ ...............3-1 4.2 Projected Traffic Volumes for the Years 2010 and 2030 ................................ ...4-2 3.2 Existing Exits 38 and 41................................ ................................ .................... 3-2 4.3 Time and Distance Savings for Year 2030................................ ........................4-1 3.3 Major Areas of Avoidance................................ ................................ .................3-3 4.4 Daily VMT & VHT for Year 2030 ................................ ................................ .......4-1 3.4 Study Corridors................................ ................................ ................................ .3-5 4.5 Accident Reduction and Cost Savings for Proposed Corridors..........................4-6 4.1 Projected