I am often amazed by how quickly my brain can absorb a new acronym so that I can barely remember a time when I didn't know what it meant. This has been the case with ARRA (pronounced air-rah), the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Many people just simply call it The Stimulus.

I use the word ARRA about 10 times a day, usually while harassing someone at KIDPA or Public Works, asking for lists of ped/bike projects. I was happy when I discovered the following sources of information: a list of ARRA projects from KIPDA including this list of sidewalk improvements. The new Louisville at Work website is also a helpful source of information about local ARRA projects. I am sharing these resources with you, dear readers, to spare you the pain I experienced while trying to find them.

Last night, the Lexington City Council approved a controversial plan to build sidewalks along a portion of Tates Creek Road. Most folks weren't sure which way the vote was going to go.

From a Herald-Leader article before the vote: "Sidewalk plan upsets residents:"

Council member Julian Beard, whose district includes the west side of Tates Creek, and Cheryl Feigel, whose district is on the east side, are opposed to the sidewalks. Beard doesn't think people will use them. "My constituents don't see people walking along the road," Beard said, adding that when he drives along Tates Creek, "I never, I mean never, have seen anyone walking."

Supporters of the sidewalk have pointed out that there is a goat trail worn into the grass on the side of the road which drivers probably don't see when they are whizzing by at 45 miles per hour or more.