HIGDON, STORM APPLAUD LEGISLATURE'S ROLE IN SECURING
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MOUNTAIN PARKWAY EXPANSION
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2024)—Today, Senate Transportation Chair Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, and Vice Chair Brandon Storm, R-London, released a joint statement regarding the $116.3 million federal infrastructure grant secured to expedite the final segment of the Mountain Parkway expansion. The $150 million general fund allocation championed by Higdon, Storm, Eastern Kentucky delegates, and the Kentucky General Assembly made this federal funding possible. It provided the executive branch with the necessary resources to move forward in the grant application process.
"Today's announcement is a massive win for Eastern Kentucky and the whole state. First, on behalf of my Senate colleagues, Brandon Smith, Johnnie Turner, and Phillip Wheeler, we thank the hardworking Kentucky taxpayers. Our constituents entrust us to use the public dollars they make possible wisely, and this project is one way we ensure it benefits our residents directly.
"We're proud of what we accomplished in the General Assembly by putting $150 million from the state's general fund into this project. It would not have been possible without the advocacy of Sens. Smith, Turner and Wheeler, and House colleagues. The commitment made pulling down these federal dollars possible and our request more competitive.
"The Mountain Parkway expansion isn't just about building a road. It's about making things safer, improving quality of life, boosting the economy, and connecting Eastern Kentucky better to the rest of the state. This has been a priority for us in the legislature, and it's great to see that effort pay off.
"We thank the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Secretary Jim Gray for doing their part in securing this grant, along with all the state and local leaders who backed it. With this funding, we're making sure Eastern Kentucky gets the infrastructure it needs to grow and thrive.
"We can't wait to see the project completed and its positive impact on our communities and the entire commonwealth."