Louisville will spend $30,000 to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to unlock the potential for future infrastructure improvement grants ahead of anticipated regional growth.
According to staff with the East Tennessee Development District, the plan would help town officials identify infrastructure in need of upgrades and repairs to improve local road safety.
Chris Oelgotz, a planner for the East Tennessee Development District, has been working with Louisville to help the town secure grant funding. He said the funding will not cover construction. However, with a Safety Action Plan in place, the town would become eligible for grants covering a number of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s approved safety countermeasures.
“That could be for new stoplights, stop signs, roundabouts, or if you need to realign a road. It can be used to put in a sidewalk, bike lanes or essentially anything except paving as part of routine maintenance,” Oelgotz said.
He said town officials are eyeing culverts related to the local road network, especially as the town anticipates future growth.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisville had a population of about 4,400 in 2020, up from 2,300 in 2010. As the town adds housing, officials will need to update infrastructure to accommodate access. Updating culverts protects the road network from potential washout and erosion.
The action plan process will identify specific locations the town wants to address, allowing officials to get ahead of construction needs.
Louisville will pay a $30,000 share, or 20%, of the $150,000 project cost. The remainder will be covered by funding allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The entire process, once underway, varies by government but typically takes about eight months.
Oelgotz said Louisville is waiting to contract for services related to the process and added that contract wait times can be extensive. Some 2024 awardees are still waiting for contracts.
