Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $1,999,481 to Louisville Metro Government to fund improvements to the city’s aging traffic management system.
Senator McConnell helped secure this funding by supporting the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and shepherding the bill through the Senate. Signed into law in 2021, this legislation established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) program that funds today’s award. The IIJA will invest billions of dollars into Kentucky to improve the Commonwealth’s roads, bridges, railroads, riverports, airports, broadband, and more.
In November of last year, the Senator also advocated for Louisville Metro’s competitive grant application in a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Traffic-related fatalities in Louisville have risen significantly in recent years. Today’s funding will help modernize Louisville’s outdated traffic management system with an intelligent, sensor-based platform. These updates will reduce vehicle congestion and make roads safer for Kentuckians in the Commonwealth’s largest city. Once deployed, this new system can be scaled up to meet Louisville’s transportation and safety needs city-wide.
“Louisville’s roads should keep us on the go, but more importantly, they should keep us safe. From trucks hauling cargo cross-country to families driving to school each day, everyone benefits from a safer, more efficient transportation network,” said Senator McConnell. “I’m pleased to see the bipartisan infrastructure law deliver more wins for Kentucky, and I look forward to working with my hometown to meet our transportation priorities and bring down roadway fatalities for good.”
“On behalf of the people of Louisville and Metro Government we are excited and grateful for this award to implement our ViaSmart proposal. This funding will be used to install smart technology at four of our most dangerous, flood-prone underpasses. This will allow us to better manage traffic flows, enhance public safety, and support our Vision Zero goals. Thank you to the Department of Transportation and the SMART program for this important investment,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.
“This is great news not only for the safety of drivers in Louisville, but this investment will help us alleviate traffic congestion and modernize our city’s traffic management system. I want to thank Senator McConnell for his continued work on behalf of our city. These investments would not be possible without his leadership,” said Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini, 19th District.