Rightsizing

What is Rightsizing?

Rightsizing, also called a road diet or roadway reconfiguration, is a proven safety countermeasure according to the Federal Highway Administration. Rightsizing makes our streets safer and calmer by reducing speeding and weaving between lanes. Rightsizing can also make streets more inclusive and comfortable no matter your mode of transportation. One of the most common rightsizing strategies is simply restriping a four lane street with two travel lanes in each direction into a three lane street with one travel lane in each direction and a center two-way left turn lane (TWLTL). This strategy has been proven to reduce both the number and severity of crashes.

Benefits of rightsizing may include:

• Reduced rear-end and left-turn crashes due to the dedicated left-turn lane.
• Reduced right-angle crashes as side street motorists cross three lanes instead of four.
• Fewer lanes for pedestrians to cross.
• Opportunity to install pedestrian refuge islands, bike lanes, on-street parking, or transit stops.
• Traffic calming and more consistent speeds.
• A more community-focused, Complete Streets environment that better accommodates the needs of all road users.

Upcoming Rightsizing Projects

The following roads are expected to be rightsized in 2023:

Stilz Avenue (Frankfort Ave - Lexington Rd)

Background Information

• Where: Stilz Avenue, between Frankfort Ave (US 60) and Lexington Rd (US 60A)
• What: Reduce pedestrian crossing along Frankfort Ave at Stilz Ave and add a bike lane along part of Stilz Ave
• When: May/June 2023
• Who: Louisville Metro Government
• Why: Rightsize the corridor at the same time as regular maintenance.

Please review both preliminary designs and provide feedback using the links below.

1. Stilz Avenue: Bike Lane East Side
   • Limits removal of on-street parking to stretch along the Water Co. property
   • Connects to existing bike lane
   • Offers a consistent roadway geometry
   • VIEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR STILZ AVENUE: BIKE LANE EAST SIDE
2. Stilz Avenue: Bike Lane West Side
   • Limits removal of on-street parking to stretch along the Water Co. property
   • Offers a "climbing lane" for steepest elevation change on Stilz Ave
   • Shifts the street centerline to allow for bike lane
   • VIEW PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR STILZ AVENUE: BIKE LANE WEST SIDE

CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PRELIMINARY DESIGNS

The public comment window closes on April 28, 2023.

S. 7th Street (Magnolia Ave - Industry Rd)

Background Information

• Where: S. 7th Street, between Magnolia Avenue and Industry Road
• When: Fall 2022 - DELAYED DUE TO CONTRACTOR ERROR
• Who: Louisville Metro Government
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, and marked shoulders.

View the striping plans

Crash Data

• 179 crashes in a 3-year period (June 2019 - May 2022)
• 2 fatalities
• 79 injuries (28% of crashes resulted in injury)
• S. 7th St (from Magnolia to Hill) ranks #18 in Top 40 Road Segments for crashes in the Louisville region.
• S. 7th St & Hill St ranks #3 in Top 40 Intersections for crashes in the Louisville region.

Public Meetings

A virtual public meeting was held on July 7, 2022 to discuss the planned rightsizing project.

View the slide deck

An in-person public meeting was held on July 12, 2022 at McFerran Preparatory Academy (1900 S. 7th St).

Lexington Road (Payne St - Baxter Ave)

Background Information

• Where: Lexington Road, between Payne Street and Baxter Avenue
• When: Spring/Summer 2023
• Who: Louisville Metro Government
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, bike infrastructure, and dedicated on-street parking.

View the striping plans

Submit your feedback

Public Meetings

An in-person public meeting was held on December 7, 2022 at Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana (2115 Lexington Rd).

Frankfort Avenue (US 60) (Stilz Ave - Lexington Rd)

Background Information

• Where: Frankfort Avenue (US 60), between Stilz Avenue and Lexington Road
• When: 2023
• Who: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, with public outreach conducted by Louisville Metro Government.
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, on-street parking, and marked shoulders.

View ALTERNATE 1 striping plans for Frankfort Avenue (last updated December 12, 2022)

View ALTERNATE 2 striping plans for Frankfort Avenue (last updated March 10, 2023)

Submit your feedback for Frankfort Avenue rightsizing

View submitted public comments received between October 27, 2022 - February 14, 2023.

View presentation from 3/23/23 public meeting

View Public Comments - Public Meeting 3/23/23

In the News

Leaders plan to make changes along stretch of Frankfort Avenue to improve safety, WLKY.com, January 30, 2023.

Small business owners speak out against plan to reconfigure traffic on portion of Frankfort Avenue, WDRB.com, February 23, 2023.

Business owners concerned state plans to change Frankfort Avenue would deter customers, WHAS11.com, February 23, 2023.

Public Meetings

An in-person public meeting was held on December 12, 2022 at St. Joseph Children's Home (2823 Frankfort Ave).

Another in-person public meeting was held on February 23, 2023 at Hillcrest Tavern (3212 Frankfort Ave).

Third public meeting:

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 6:30pm

St. Joseph Children's Home

2823 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206

Brownsboro Road (US 42) (N. Ewing Ave - Mockingbird Gardens Dr)

Background Information

• Where: Brownsboro Road (US 42), between N. Ewing Avenue and Mockingbird Gardens Drive
• When: 2023 
• Who: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, and marked shoulders.

Baxter Avenue (US 31E) (E. Broadway - E. Market St)

Background Information

• Where: Baxter Avenue (US 31E), between E. Broadway and E. Market Street
• When: 2023 
• Who: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, removal of lane lights, dedicated on-street parking, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections.

Rightsizing in Louisville

Many Louisville streets have already benefited from rightsizing. Here is a map of completed and proposed rightsizing projects.

Considering Rightsizing

In order to be considered eligible for rightsizing, streets must have:

• Four or more lanes, and
• Average daily traffic (ADT) of less than 20,000 vehicles

Research traffic counts

Other considerations used to determine if a rightsizing project is appropriate include:

• Crash data
• Left-hand turning movements
• Speeding and lane weaving
• Pedestrian safety

Completed Rightsizing Projects

Lexington Road (US 60A) (Grinstead Dr - Stilz Ave/Garden Dr)

Background Information

• Where: Lexington Road, between Grinstead Drive and Stilz Avenue/Garden Drive
• When: Spring 2020
• Who:  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, with public outreach conducted by Louisville Metro Government.
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving. This configuration matches a western portion of Lexington Road between Grinstead Drive and Payne Street, which is Metro-owned and was rightsized in 2017.
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, and marked shoulders.

Southern Parkway (KY 1020)

Background Information

• Where: Southern Parkway, between 3rd Street/Oakdale Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue/Kenwood Way
• When: May 2021
• Who:  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, with public outreach conducted by Louisville Metro Government.
• Why: Improve safety at the same as a scheduled repaving.
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, and marked shoulders

Crash Data

Between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019, there were 218 crashes along a 1.3-mile stretch of Southern Parkway between 3rd Street/Oakdale Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue/Kenwood Way. In 2019, a 20-year old died after they lost control of their vehicle and struck a tree. Additionally, according to the Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA), Southern Parkway between 3rd Street/Oakdale Avenue and I-264 ranks #32 in the Top 40 Road Segments for Crashes.

Traffic Counts

Traffic count data shows approximately 12,500 vehicles per day use Southern Parkway between 3rd Street/Oakdale Avenue and I-264. Traffic count data shows approximately 15,000 vehicles per day use Southern Parkway between I-264 and Woodlawn Avenue/Kenwood Way.

Public Meetings

A virtual public meeting was held on April 26, 2021 to discuss the planned rightsizing project.

View the slide deck

Watch the recording

Note: To view the recording, please enter: 2PbMEhry

An in-person public meeting was held on April 28, 2021 at the gazebo at the intersection of Southern Parkway and Woodlawn Avenue. This "open house" style of meeting offered an additional opportunity for planners, engineers, and neighbors to talk one-on-one, in depth, about the planned rightsizing project. Despite heavy rains for the first half-hour, attendance was steady. Concerns and ideas included both support and opposition for the project, a desire to reduce speeding and crashes, and a universal appreciation for the beauty of Southern Parkway.

Taylor Boulevard/Winkler Avenue (US 60A)

Background Information

• Where: Taylor Boulevard and Winkler Avenue, between Berry Boulevard and 3rd Street
• When: August/September 2021
• Who:  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, with public outreach conducted by Louisville Metro Government.
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving.

View the striping plans

Download one-pager on the project

Crash Data

• 732 crashes in a 5-year period (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2021), 1.7 miles
• 3 FATALITIES (2 were pedestrians), 299 injuries Top collision types: Rear end (29%), Angle (28%)
• Over 10% of all crashes occurred at the intersection of Taylor Blvd & Central Ave

In the News

This project was featured by WDRB on July 16, 2021 and August 8, 2021. You can access the articles below.

City leaders working on reconfiguration plans to reduce collisions in south Louisville intersection, WDRB.com, July 16, 2021.

Public meeting to be held to solicit answers for accident-prone intersection in south Louisville, WDRB.com, August 8, 2021.

Public Meetings

A virtual public meeting was held on August 4, 2021 to discuss the planned rightsizing project.

View the slide deck

Watch the recording

An in-person public meeting was held on August 10, 2021 at the South Louisville Community Center.

Lexington Road (US 60A) (Stilz Ave/Garden Dr - Frankfort Ave/Shelbyville Rd)

• Where: Lexington Road, between Stilz Avenue/Garden Drive and Frankfort Avenue/Shelbyville Road
• When: October 2021
• Who:  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, with public outreach conducted by Louisville Metro Government.
• Why: Improve safety at the same time as a scheduled repaving.
• Pre-rightsizing: Four (4) travel lanes
• Post-rightsizing: Two (2) travel lanes, a center turn lane, dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections, and marked shoulders.

View the striping plans

Crash Data

• 251 crashes in a 5-year period (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2021), 1.3 miles
• 54 injuries
• Top collision types: Angle (31%), Rear end (20%)
• Nearly half of all crashes occurred in the four blocks between Bauer and Frankfort avenues. In other words, 17% of the road segment accounted for 47% of all crashes. Safety improvements were evaluated for this stretch of Lexington Road over 30 years ago. At the Vogue Center, head-on parking was replaced with protected angled parking when it was redeveloped around 2005.

In the News

This project was featured on WDRB on September 14, 2021. You can access the article below.

Construction project to make Lexington Road safer to continue in the coming weeks, WDRB.com, September 14, 2021.

Public Meetings

A virtual public meeting was held on September 14, 2021.

View the slide deck

Last updated: March 20, 2023