10/28/2026
Woodford County Fiscal Court Votes to Partner with City of Versailles to Fund Critical Safety Improvements on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
VERSAILLES, KY — The Woodford County Fiscal Court voted to approve a conditional funding partnership with the City of Versailles to deliver long-overdue traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
With more than 1,200 vehicles passing through daily, MLK Jr. Blvd. serves as a heavily traveled corridor through a dense residential neighborhood. The narrow roadway currently lacks sidewalks, creating significant safety concerns for local residents, pedestrians, neighborhood children, and motorists alike.
Under the approved measure, the Fiscal Court has committed up to $25,000 toward the project in joint partnership with the City, contingent upon the City of Versailles finalizing its engineering and installation plan for traffic-calming measures.
The safety initiative is the direct outcome of collaborative community meetings involving city leadership, local law enforcement, and an engaged coalition of neighborhood residents and citizens. For years, neighbors along the boulevard have voiced serious concerns regarding through-traffic speeds and pedestrian vulnerability, expressing unified support for immediate municipal action.
Woodford County Road Supervisor Scott Dean supported the recommended measures and Magistrate John Gentry spearheaded the effort within the Fiscal Court to prioritize and secure county matching funds, ensuring the community's long-standing safety needs were addressed.
"This is a vital, long-overdue investment in the safety of our neighborhoods," said Magistrate John Gentry. "Families and children live, walk, and play along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. By listening to our residents and partnering directly with the City of Versailles, we are taking decisive action to slow down traffic and protect everyone who uses this street."
The proposed safety plan involves the potential deployment of engineered speed tables, a modern traffic-calming mechanism distinct from traditional speed bumps
Unlike abrupt "speed bumps" often found in parking lots, speed tables are longer, flat-topped asphalt elevations designed specifically for residential collector streets.
They are engineered to gently reduce vehicle speeds to 15–20 mph while maintaining smooth traffic flow, preventing damage to everyday vehicles.
Because of their wider wheelbase profiles and gradual approach ramps, speed tables allow emergency services, fire engines, and school buses to navigate the corridor safely without significant response time delays.
This joint investment reflects an ongoing, proven track record between the Woodford County Fiscal Court and the City of Versailles to pool resources for community infrastructure. Over recent years, both governing bodies have successfully co-funded multiple sidewalk installations, pedestrian crossings, and roadway safety initiatives across the community, ensuring local tax dollars work efficiently to build a safer, more connected Woodford County.
Work on the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. project is expected to begin following final plan approval by the City of Versailles and the Fiscal Court.
