It’s been some time since we have had multiple snow events, and time for a few reminders about Louisville Metro’s streets and sidewalks.

Snow removal on Metro-maintained streets is done by a 300-member snow team which uses 160 pieces of equipment to clear 1,362 miles of road.  Snow routes include arterials, the major commuting paths through the city, streets that run between and feed traffic onto arterial roads and connections to major local employers, hospitals, schools, and emergency routes. Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to clear all neighborhood streets. Adding a street to the snow routes means removing another street.  In six years in office, quite a few snows and several requests, Metro Public Works has not added a street in D9. To see a map and learn more about snow removal on Metro streets, click here. 

Regarding sidewalks, under Metro ordinance, businesses and persons owning or occupying property abutting a public street are required to clear the sidewalks within 24 hours after the snowfall ends. That’s particularly important on heavily traveled sidewalks like those along Frankfort Avenue. The snow is to be placed either on private property or in the public driveway at a distance not less than 12 inches from the curbing of the sidewalk. In no event shall the snow be so placed as to obstruct the free passage of water in the gutter or in the direction of any sewer or catch basin.  The ordinance is here.

Because some folks may need assistance with meeting their obligations, I encourage residents to be aware of neighbors who may need help with snow removal.  Reach out and provide a helping hand. You will benefit your neighbor, pedestrians who use the sidewalk, and yourself as you give service - and keep D9 walkable.

Not much has changed on the COVID-19 vaccination front since our last newsletter. The limited supplies of vaccines have been put to good use and Governor Beshear has added childcare workers to the current Phase 1B, which corrected a glaring inequity in the previous system. Louisville has also published data on the age, race and zip codes of people getting vaccines and taken much-needed steps for a more equitable distribution system. 

We are getting closer to moving to Phase 1C, but there is no announced date for that move, or how or when the hundreds of thousands of Louisvillians in Phase 1C will be prioritized. 

While we wait, non-medical first responders, K-12 educators, childcare workers, and individuals 70 and over are prioritized in Phase 1B.

PHASE 1B

If you are listed in Phase 1B, register for your appointment through one of Metro’s healthcare partners. Check especially on Fridays, when hospitals learn how much vaccine they will receive in the following week. When you register please remember the following:

1. Do not sign up with multiple providers. Due to available supply, appointments are limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment.
2. Individuals without internet access can have a family member or friend register them.
3. If you have health insurance, including Medicare, you must bring your insurance card. There is no cost to you, regardless of your insurance status. All sites operate by appointment only and will require proof of age (such as a valid state identification) on arrival.

Here are the healthcare partner sites:  

Norton Healthcare (which is creating a waitlist; call 502-861-4499 for assistance)
UofL Health
Baptist Health
Walgreens 

PHASES 1C, 2-4

Kentuckians ages 60-69 are in Phase 1C, along with many other people.   At Louisville’s current rate of vaccine supply, vaccinating Phase 1B may take through April, although there are some indications that Phase 1C will open before then as vaccine supplies increase.

To stay informed on vaccine efforts in Louisville, please sign up now for weekly Covid-19 updates.

Until vaccinations are generally available – which is months away – the virus, and new, more infectious variants, will continue to spread and there will be more illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. Please continue doing your part and maintain a six-foot space between you and others, wear your mask when out in public, avoid large groups and stay home as much as possible.    

To see Louisville’s COVID-19 data dashboard, including total number of cases, deaths, testing locations and more, click here. 

The latest news about COVID-19 in Kentucky is here.

It’s time to clean house and get ready for another large item collection if you live in the 9^th District Louisville Metro Urban Services District (USD). You may begin setting out your junk on Friday, February 26, in the afternoon. All junk must be set out by Monday, March 1 at 6:00 a.m. Some items (hazardous materials, construction debris, etc.) are not collected and these guidelines are being strictly followed. For collection guidelines, please click here.

To sign up for large item set out reminders by email and text, or to find out if you are in the collection area,  click here and enter your address. After selecting your address from the list of suggested addresses, you can view collection dates by month, or sign up for reminders.

Every winter, yard waste collection in the Urban Services District is done BY REQUEST ONLY. The service is still available, but since the amount of yard waste generated is far less in the winter, it is more efficient to only collect when needed. 

How to Make a Request 

1. Call Metro311 at 311 or 574-5000 or email metro.311@louisvilleky.gov. 
2. Be prepared with the following information or include in your email: ​First and last name, address, phone number, set out location (front, rear, side, alley, etc.), and approximate number of containers, bags, or bundles.
3. Your appointment will be scheduled on your regular collection day THE FOLLOWING WEEK. (Example: If your regular yard waste collection day is Friday, and your request is made on Monday, February 22, your yard waste will not be collected until Friday, March 5.) 
4. Set out yard waste no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before your appointment and no later than 6 a.m. the day of your appointment. Be sure to follow the collection guidelines.

Regular weekly yard waste collection without requests will resume the week of April 5. 

KIPDA needs your input on the specific issues and needs you face on a daily basis when you travel to work, school, recreational activities, or making deliveries. The desired outcome of this outreach effort is to better understand what transportation improvements are needed throughout the region. 

KIPDA is currently updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). Connecting Kentuckiana 2050 will replace the current MTP as the long-term vision for transportation in the region. To learn more about Connecting Kentuckiana 2050, click here.  

A key component in the planning process is better understanding the wants, needs, and frustrations you experience when traveling to work, school, the store, or around town. KIPDA aims to identify your needs through a survey and interactive public comment map. The interactive map allows you to pinpoint specific locations throughout the region that disrupt your travel. This could include traffic, crash related delays, lack of adequate bicycle paths or sidewalks, long waits at stoplights, or lack of transit stops or routes.  

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and provide feedback on the interactive map found here. The survey will be available until mid-March.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Greg Burress by email at greg.burress@kipda.org or by phone at 502.266.6144, extension 123.

More information about the KIPDA MPO can be found here. 

JCPS seniors can go to college for free through a new scholarship offered by Evolve502.

The scholarship, which launched Oct. 1, allows eligible students in the Class of 2021 to begin postsecondary studies tuition-free at any Kentucky Community and Technical College school, including Jefferson Community and Technical College, or Simmons College of Kentucky to pursue an associate degree or career credential, or take 60 hours of credit. The Evolve502 scholarship is a last dollar scholarship, meaning Evolve502 will fund the difference between federal and state financial aid and college tuition.

The application takes about five minutes to complete online at evolve502.org/scholarship. Once applications are submitted and reviewed, applicants will receive a follow-up email with next steps including completing the federal financial aid form and applying to eligible colleges.

In addition to the scholarship, Evolve502 is offering opportunity grants to support students whose families earn less than $40,000 annually. The opportunity grants are $1,000 per semester ($2,000 maximum per year) and can be used to assist in costs outside of tuition including healthcare, transportation, books and more. The grants will automatically be given to Evolve502 Scholarship recipients who meet qualifications. 

The deadline to apply is June 30.