UofL, other partners planning to improve part of 3rd Street corridor near campus

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Change is being proposed to make improvements to a street corridor around the University of Louisville's campus. 

The university, along with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Louisville Metro, wants to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety along Second and Third streets between Eastern Parkway and West Cardinal Boulevard.

The project recommendations include a variety of changes, and include adding bike lanes, left-turn lanes, changing part of Third Street from a one-way to a two-way, and closing a portion of Second Street to cars.

UofL said the east-west intersections within the area "are frequently used by a high volume of students, faculty, and other pedestrians and cyclists. During the 5-year (2017-2021) historical crash review, three vehicle-pedestrian crashes occurred and one vehicle-bicyclist crash occurred along Third Street."

Thursday afternoon, the university and its partners hosted a public meeting to review its proposals and receive feedback.

Mark Neff takes classes at UofL and has found parts of the corridor to be problematic.

"There are people that run the red when it says do not pass, or do not take a right on red," Neff said.

He is concerned about the idea to change part of a one-way to a two-way.

"I'm not a fan of all this narrowing of lanes I'm seeing take place," he said. "When I was an undergraduate there was an underpass where students could cross underneath and get up the other side, I don't know why they filled that in." 

The plans are in the design phase, and officials are working to secure federal funding. 

A construction schedule has not yet been determined, but it is expected to take place over the course of the summer months while fewer students are on campus.

To submit your feedback on the proposal, click here.