EnergyState: Daniel London
November 10, 2023
Since 1968, the Lincoln Trail Area Development District has sought to bring local, civic and governmental leaders together to accomplish objectives that cannot be achieved by the governments acting separately.
Serving Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington counties, our vision is to be the state’s premier locally based, regionally focused integrator and collaborator, enabling our stakeholders to create a better everyday life for themselves and their constituents.
As the prospect of significant regional expansion looms, the need for a shared and harmonized vision among regional leaders becomes increasingly vital. This imminent growth has been meticulously detailed in a report commissioned by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and carried out by the Louisville-based consulting firm L.B. Schmidt & Associates titled Measuring the Impact of the BlueOval SK Battery Park on the Elizabethtown Metro Area.
The insights gleaned from this report have been beneficial for LTADD as we strive to convene regional leaders and stakeholders in a judicious examination of the most effective approaches to manage our region’s expansion. We aim to translate these strategies into actionable plans, considering both leadership and financial aspects, to ensure they can become a tangible reality.
Our news conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony this week, where we unveiled our 2024 legislative priorities and celebrated the opening of our new headquarters in Elizabethtown, was a key milestone in our commitment to fostering sustainable development and prosperity in the Lincoln Trail area.
Our priorities, crafted in close collaboration with regional leaders, encompass various critical areas, reflecting the voice of our communities and emphasizing the importance of this public perspective for our elected state officials as they enter the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly.
Transportation is a core focus of our agenda, recognizing the need to improve multi-modal movement and expand infrastructure to accommodate the influx of development. In response to the demands of BlueOval SK, our top priorities include a mass transit study, constructing new routes to connect counties and undertaking significant road widening and highway construction projects.
Notable among these is the expansion of Ring Road in Elizabethtown, widening of U.S. 150 from the Bluegrass Parkway and the construction of a new interchange with Interstate 65 at Gilead Church Road. These projects are not just about improved transportation; they are about facilitating growth, connectivity and opportunity.
Housing is also a vital component of our strategy to address regional growth. Our vision is to increase the availability of affordable and quality housing, reduce waiting periods and promote population growth. To better understand the housing needs of our community, we are proposing a comprehensive housing study that will assess inventory and requirements for different housing levels.
Utilities are the lifeblood of any growing region. Our top priorities are expanding water and wastewater treatment capacity, upgrading water line networks, expanding natural gas transmission and improving key infrastructure, including the Elizabethtown Regional Airport.
Among our legislative priorities are projects to expand the Hardinsburg water treatment plant and Hardin County wastewater, upgrade the Bardstown wastewater and water treatment plant and extend the LG&E gas line to Hart and LaRue counties, among other essential initiatives.
Social and human capital development is also central to our vision for a prosperous and inclusive community. Our actionable items include the initiation of a regional child care study, renovation of outdated industrial/manufacturing training facilities at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and the expansion of ECTC’s Springfield campus to include welding, industrial maintenance and nursing. Legislative priorities include funding for Phase II renovation of ECTC’s Technical Building and increasing funding for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship.
Ensuring access to quality healthcare and promoting safe environments are vital for a thriving region. To that end, we believe that the construction of a regional first responder facility in Glendale and new fire stations in Elizabethtown and Hodgenville should be prioritized. Our legislative priorities include supporting the Certificate of Need program and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for overseas physician recruitment, ultimately enhancing access to quality healthcare.
As BlueOval SK continues to shape our region’s growth, LTADD is ready to embrace the opportunities it presents.
