FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear ceremonially presented $6.75 million in funding for a new transit center and parking garage in downtown Frankfort at a news conference on Wednesday, July 13. 

What You Need To Know

  • Funding comes from two grants through the Federal Transit Administration

  • The proposed facility includes a 300-space parking garage and 5,000-square-foot building for office use

  • The facility will anchor Capital Plaza redevelopment efforts

  • Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray and Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson also participated in the ceremony

“To build a better Kentucky, we must invest in our infrastructure. And this includes funding for better and more accessible transportation facilities,” Beshear said.

“Our Kentucky families depend on safe roads and bridges, public transportation options and a robust infrastructure system to get to school, work and places of worship. Team Kentucky is working hard to ensure our communities have safe and efficient transportation systems in place for our people and for ongoing economic growth.”

State and local officials joined Beshear for the ceremony, including Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray and Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson. Beshear presented a ceremonial check on behalf of the state.

Funding for the project comes from two grants awarded to the state by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The larger grant is $5.5 million from the FTA CARES grant, which provided funding to help transit agencies across the country keep operating at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city also received a $1.25 million grant through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, made possible by the FTA Section 5311 Program.

The proposed facility will include a 300-space parking garage and a 5,000-square-foot enclosed building on the ground level for the Frankfort Transit administrative offices and transit user public space. In addition to Frankfort Transit operations, parking spaces will be available for general public use as well as nearby hotel and commercial development.

Renderings for the proposed facility show its location right across from the Mayo-Underwood state building, tucked beside the former Frankfort YMCA building.

“Frankfort is on the move, and we are incredibly grateful to Gov. Beshear and Secretary Gray for their support of this transformative project,” Mayor Wilkerson said. 

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