SPARTA, Ky. (July 1, 2011) – Kentucky Speedway, Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet have collaborated on a comprehensive traffic and parking plan to accommodate more than 100,000 race fans who will converge at the Speedway July 7-9 for a NASCAR tripleheader weekend that will feature the inaugural “Quaker State 400.”

“We want to make sure our guests have a safe trip to and from the Kentucky Speedway for the first of many Sprint Cup races,” said Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “The Kentucky Speedway has worked with our cabinet and other local and state government agencies to accommodate the thousands of race fans who will be attending.”

Kentucky Speedway General Manager Mark Simendinger said a plan was carefully crafted to ensure maximum ease and efficiency for race fans traveling to and from the Speedway, just off Interstate 71 at Sparta, in Gallatin County.

“We consulted with officials from Atlanta Motor Speedway, our Speedway Motorsports, Inc., sister facility, and state officials to formulate the best possible plan for accommodating in-bound and out-bound traffic utilizing Interstate 71 Exits 57 and 55. We have an efficient blueprint under which fans will be directed to exit our facility in the same direction in which they entered. We encourage fans to build extra time into their travel plans, follow posted signage and exercise patience,” Simendinger said.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet suspended highway construction activity on I-71, beginning Thursday, June 30, to allow northbound and southbound lanes to operate at full capacity. Construction is scheduled to resume on Monday, July 10.

Following are tips for fans visiting the speedway for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “UNOH 225” July 7, the NASCAR Nationwide Series “Feed The Children 300” July 8 and the historic “Quaker State 400”:

• To create two lanes of continuous southbound traffic toward Kentucky Speedway, the I-75 north ramp at Exit 173 will close on Tuesday, July 5. A signed detour will direct traffic north to I-75 Exit 175 at Richwood. Traffic will then be directed south on I-75/I-71 where it will be able to access I-71 south at Exit 173.

• Fans traveling I-75 south should remember to take Exit 173 to I-71 south and proceed to Exit 57.

• Three miles from the track, I-71 expands to three lanes in each direction for traffic traveling to and from the Greater Cincinnati area.

• Fans with vehicles bearing parking credentials should use I-71 Exit 57.

A comprehensive Kentucky Speedway entrance plan will direct fans traveling from Greater Cincinnati and points north to I-71 Exit 57. Fans traveling I-71 north to Kentucky Speedway from Louisville, Ky., and points south will be directed to I-71 Exit 55.

Following each race, fans parked in Kentucky Speedway Lots D and E on the southwest and west side of the facility will be directed to state Route 1039, where they will be able to travel south to access both I-71 north and south via Exit 55. Fans also will have the option of traveling north on state Route 1039 in the direction of Markland Dam, Belterra Casino Resort & Spa and U.S. 42 north and south.

Guests parked in Kentucky Speedway Lots G, H, I and J spanning the northwest and southeast end of the track, as well as those parked in Lots A, B, and C on south side of the Speedway, will be directed to KY 35, where they will be able to access I-71 north or south.

Kentucky Speedway is able to accommodate approximately 33,000 vehicles in its 10 parking lots. Fans can access free KOI Auto Parts shuttle buses and speedway trams at eight locations on a new access road that encircles the Speedway.

Complete information regarding traffic and parking can be found in the maps section of the official Kentucky Speedway Fan Guide at www.kentuckyspeedway.com.

Tickets for each event that comprises the first NASCAR tripleheader weekend in Kentucky Speedway history, along with infield Fan Zone passes and “Quaker State 400” race day Pit Road Club hospitality tickets, can be reserved at www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-7223 or by visiting the Kentucky Speedway ticket office at 1 Speedway Drive in Sparta, Ky., just off I-71 Exit 57 and Highway 35 north.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 30, 2011) – As Kentuckians take to the roads to celebrate the nation’s independence, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) encourages motorists to do so safely.

“If you’re hosting a party this holiday weekend, remind your guests to plan a safe way home ahead of time,” said Boyd Sigler, Director of the Kentucky Highway Safety Programs. “Always offer alcohol-free beverages during the event and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver. Impaired driving is simply not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real.”

Of the 760 highway fatalities that occurred in Kentucky last year, 20 percent were due to alcohol. Seven deaths occurred on Kentucky roadways over the 2010 Independence Day weekend.

For drivers traveling greater distances this holiday weekend, the KYTC suggests getting the latest road information in advance by calling 511 or logging onto 511.ky.gov.

Travelers across the state may receive emergency roadside assistance from the Transportation Cabinet’s SAFE Patrol. Assistance is available daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. by calling 877-FOR-KYTC.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 21, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews continue work to clear and repair roads damaged by heavy rains Monday.

Most roads in southeastern Kentucky that were closed due to slides, washouts or water over the road have reopened. But while roads are passable, they are less than ideal.

Motorists in affected areas should continue to use caution and never drive around barricades or through high water.

In addition, the KYTC is providing equipment such as pumps and dump trucks to counties that have requested them. Crews are patrolling flood-prone areas and are ready to respond to additional flooding. They also are responding to calls about flooded roads that come from law enforcement or the public at large.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 20, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews have responded to a number of mudslides and flooded roads caused by heavy rains today, primarily in southeastern Kentucky.

Some of the slides were quickly cleared, while other roads remained closed due to slides, washouts or water over the road. As of noon more than a dozen roads were reported closed in at least eight counties, primarily in southeastern Kentucky.

Several of the closures were reported in Knox County, where KYTC employees also assisted in search-and-rescue efforts in the affected area.

State crews have been busy placing signs to warn motorists of the closures, monitoring the flooding and reopening roads as water recedes. Motorists should use caution and never drive around barricades or through high water.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 14, 2011) — Traffic on I-64 west at mile marker 29 will be reduced to one lane June 14 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight due to bridge maintenance.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 10, 2011) – Gov. Steve Beshear has directed the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to undertake 19 emergency maintenance projects to repair sections of highway pavement damaged by severe weather last winter.

Gov. Beshear said the cabinet will use $13.6 million of contingency funds for the projects, most of which are on interstate highways and Kentucky parkways. The projects are being added to the cabinet’s 2011 highway maintenance schedule.

“The recent severe winter took a toll on many of our major roadways,” Gov. Beshear said. “We have stretches of pavement too heavily damaged to wait for the Transportation Cabinet’s next regular maintenance program in 2012.”

Gov. Beshear said it was necessary to use contingency funds because the projects are not scheduled in the Kentucky Highway Plan and current-year maintenance funds have already been committed. Damage to the routes in question escalated after the Highway Plan was passed by the Legislature. Moreover, the Legislature approved a plan only through 2012, not through 2016, as the Governor recommended.

Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said the cabinet will be getting the projects to contract as quickly as possible. “It is important to get these repairs completed this year. The damage will only get worse if delayed until 2012,” Hancock said.

The projects involve the following routes and counties:
• Interstate 24 – McCracken County.
• I-64 – Jefferson, Fayette and Bath counties.
• I-71 – Carroll County.
• I-75 – Grant, Scott and Rockcastle counties.
• I-265 – Jefferson County.
• Breathitt/Pennyrile Parkway – Hopkins County.
• Ford/Western Kentucky Parkway – Muhlenberg and Hardin counties.
• Nunn/Cumberland Parkway – Barren County.
• Collins/Bluegrass Parkway – Anderson County.
• Combs/Mountain Parkway – Powell County (2 projects).
• Hal Rogers Parkway – Clay County.
• U.S. 23 – Floyd County.
• KY 80 – Pulaski County.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 10, 2011) – The rest area for eastbound travelers on Interstate 64 in Clark County will be closed at noon EDT today – June 10 – to allow for relocation of water and sewer lines.

 The closure is expected to last six weeks. Relocation of underground lines was necessitated by the construction to widen I-64. The rest area is just beyond the exit to the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 3, 2011) – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced the awarding of nearly $75 million in contracts by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for projects to improve highway safety and mobility across the Commonwealth.

The projects include funding for bridge deck repair, road maintenance, highway safety improvements and a new, state-of-the-art “double crossover diamond” interchange in Fayette County.

“My administration remains committed to improving highway safety and infrastructure in Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “Funding these projects will enable us to rehabilitate deteriorating highways and bridges and ease traffic congestion. We also will add safeguards, in the form of cable guardrail, to more median area of Interstates 64 and 65.”

All the contracts were awarded on the basis of competitive bidding. The Transportation Cabinet received and announced the bids on May 20. Some of the more notable awards included:

• Concrete overlay on the Audubon Parkway from mile point 8.5 to the Green River bridge, and bridge deck overlay on the KY 416 bridge in Henderson County. Bid: $14,999,399. Contractor: The W.L. Harper Co.

• Highway extension of Murray-Mayfield Road (KY 80) from the intersection of KY 121 truck route east of Mayfield extending southwest to KY 303 in Graves County. Bid: $12,257,972. Contractor: Jim Smith Contracting Company LLC.

• Shoulder improvements and widening of U.S. 41A and modification of I-24/U.S. 41A interchange at Fort Campbell, in Christian County. Bid: $10,519,571. Contractor: Rogers Group Inc.

• Double crossover diamond interchange on Harrodsburg Road (U.S. 68) at New Circle Road (KY4) in Fayette County. Bid: $5,670,646. Contractor: L-M Asphalt Partners Ltd.

• Deck rehabilitation on the Glover Cary Bridge (KY 2262) over the Ohio River at Owensboro. Bid: $3,000,000. Contractor: Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc.

• Bridge painting and cleaning, various counties of Department of Highways District 10-Jackson region. Bid: $2,621,720. Contractor: Troy Painting Inc.

• Median cable barrier installation on I-65 in Bullitt County and I-64 in Franklin and Woodford counties. Bid: $1,543,863. Contractor: Crowley Company Inc.

Work schedules are contained within individual contracts for each project. Results of the May 20 letting are posted at http://transportation.ky.gov/contract/.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 31, 2011)– Volunteers will be out in force next week to summer scrub Kentucky highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today that Adopt-a-Highway Summer Scrub Week will be June 5-11.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

More than 900 groups participate in Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway program, which was established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 6,800 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

The Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and supports tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in the Bluegrass State.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to the community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking responsibility for an area roadway, you set an example in your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of highway litter. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers help save thousands of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that a clean environment is a shared responsibility.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep adopted areas reasonably litter-free. The cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit our Web site at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov .

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 17, 2011) – Over 50,000 standard-issue license plates with the national motto “In God We Trust” have been sold since the plate was introduced in January.

This year, for the first time, Kentucky motorists registering passenger vehicles are able to choose between two standard-issue license plates. Both feature the “Unbridled Spirit” brand, but one plate also bears the national motto, “In God We Trust.”

Both plates are available in county clerk offices for the standard-issue fee of $21 each. Unlike a special license plate, there is no extra fee for a standard-issue plate.

Sales of the “In God We Trust” plate thus far in 2011 totaled 50,261 at the close of business on Friday, May 13. That was about 15 percent of new standard-issue plates purchased. Sales of the other “Unbridled Spirit” plate stood at 275,459.

The Legislature, through KRS Chapter 186, has given the Transportation Cabinet responsibility for registration and regulation of motor vehicles.

The statute sets minimum requirements for a standard-issue plate – the Kentucky name, county name, three letters and three digits – but does not dictate design. It has been five years since Kentucky’s last license plate design change.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 12, 2011) – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced that the state will invest more than $3.1 million in 2011 for needed improvements to short line railroads in a dozen Kentucky counties.

Improvements include replacement or rehabilitation of rails, rail beds and railroad crossings.

“This is an investment in Kentucky’s economy because freight railroads are indispensable to our economy,” Gov. Beshear said.

“Freight rail companies, including the eight short lines that operate in Kentucky, contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy each year in the form of wages and benefits, and that’s only part of the story,” Gov. Beshear said. “They provide business, industry and agriculture with a market connection that is safe, efficient and environmentally sound.”

The state funding – assistance grants totaling $3,138,726 – is from the Short Line Railroad Assistance Fund maintained by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

All the grants but one represent half the cost of a project, with each railroad providing the remainder as a match. The exception is a project to replace a Paducah & Louisville Railroad bridge at Muldraugh, in Hardin County. That grant is $1 million toward a project that will cost $8 million.

A summary of grants:

R.J. Corman Railroad-Central Kentucky Line
$463,038 for a rail siding at Midway, Woodford County.
$645,828 for rail line expansion at Lexington Center, Fayette County.

Paducah & Louisville Railroad
$1 million for bridge replacement at Muldraugh, Hardin County.
$39,150 to rehab crossing on KY 1646 in Elizabethtown, Hardin County.
$34,740 to rehab crossing on KY 920 in Leitchfield, Grayson County.
$25,344 to rehab crossing on KY 907 in Louisville.

TennKen Railroad
$196,740 for rail replacement, Fulton County.

Louisville & Indiana Railroad
$183,635 for repair of Ohio River bridge pier, Jefferson County.

TransKentucky Transportation Railroad
$359,901 for tie replacement and rail bed rehab in Bourbon, Nicholas, Fleming and Mason counties.

Kentucky Railway Museum
$190,350 for track and crossing rehab and repairs in Nelson and LaRue counties. (The museum also stores railroad rolling stock and is therefore a part of the short line system.)

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 “About 250,000 Kentuckians have valid motorcycle licenses or permits,” Gov. Beshear said. “It is especially important that drivers be aware of motorcycles on the streets and join in the safe sharing of roadways throughout Kentucky, especially during the seasonal return of motorcycles.”

Last year in Kentucky, there were 1,963 crashes and 1,544 motorcycle-related injuries. Seventy-eight people were killed in motorcycle crashes. “Clearly, there’s a need for greater motorcycle awareness and safety,” said Boyd Sigler, director of highway safety programs for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Highway Safety encourages drivers to safely share the road with motorcyclists by:

• Remembering motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any other vehicle on the roadway.
• Allowing more lane width and following distance for motorcycles to maneuver or stop safely.
• Checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic and at intersections.
• Signaling one’s intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.

Additional motorcycle safety information is available from the Governor’s Commission on Motorcycle Safety and Education, kentuckymotorcycleeducationandsafety.ky.gov/.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 1, 2011) — A split second of driver distraction can turn a highway work zone into a death zone.

Nationally, someone is killed every 13 hours – and injured every 13 minutes – as a result of an accident in a highway work zone. Last year in Kentucky, the toll was one person killed and 116 people injured.

The figures underscore the importance of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s work zone safety campaign April 4-8, in conjunction with National Work Zone Safety Week. The cabinet is hosting events across the state to highlight the safety message.

“Sadly, people are killed every year in highway work zones, but that doesn’t have to happen,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Drivers have the power to turn those statistics around by paying attention to their surroundings and obeying work zone restrictions.”

Work zones can involve highway construction and maintenance workers, utility crews, mowing contractors, brush cutters and tree trimmers. Eighty-five percent of those killed are motorists.

The Transportation Cabinet will invest in hundreds of highway projects again this year. Traditionally, the highway construction season kicks off in April. Cabinet engineers and contractors work cooperatively to design projects and work schedules that minimize delays and crashes.

 “Work zone safety concerns all of us,” said Boyd Sigler, director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Programs. “Every driver has a responsibility in keeping our roadways safe. By working together, we can end the needless loss of life in highway work zones.”

The cabinet asks motorists to practice 10 work zone safety tips:

• 1. Expect the unexpected.
• 2. Slow down.
• 3. Don’t tailgate. Keep a safe distance between vehicles.
• 4. Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.
• 5. Pay attention to signs.
• 6. Obey road crew flaggers.
• 7. Stay alert and minimize distractions.
• 8. Keep up with the traffic flow.
• 9. Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.
• 10. Be patient and stay calm.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 14, 2011)  – Volunteers will be out in force next week to spring clean Kentucky highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today that Adopt-a-Highway Spring Clean Week will be March 20-26.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

More than 900 groups participate in Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway program, which was established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 6,800 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

The Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and supports tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in the Bluegrass State.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to the community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking responsibility for an area roadway, you set an example in your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of highway litter. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers help save thousands of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that a clean environment is a shared responsibility.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep adopted areas reasonably litter-free. The cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts.

HOW DO I JOIN?
Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit our Web site at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov .

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 2, 2011) — Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews will begin treating for noxious and nuisance weeds throughout the state this month. The treatments aid in controlling the spread of undesirable plants along state highway rights of way.

The cabinet, in accordance with KRS 176.051, targets Johnson grass, giant foxtail, Canada thistle, nodding thistle, multiflora rose, black nightshade, wild cucumber and kudzu.

Property owners can learn more about specific treatments in their areas by contacting their district highway office.

Left uncontrolled, noxious weeds can grow so large that they interfere with a driver’s line of vision on highways. They can also damage pavement and embankments and clog ditches, causing drainage problems.

Noxious weeds often invade and destroy the roadside turf grass, leaving these areas vulnerable to erosion. They can also smother native plants through rapid reproduction and long-term persistence.

Motorists are reminded to use extra caution when crews spraying for weeds are out on the roadways.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2011) – High winds from early morning storms in eastern Jefferson County significantly damaged a historic house being preserved as part of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.

The 1820s, Greek Revival house, which is known as Rosewell, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It sustained broken windows and major damage to its roof. A number of trees near the house were toppled.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which owns the property under preservation requirements of the Bridges Project, has assigned contractors to temporarily cover the roof and windows to prevent additional water damage. Structural engineers will be called in to assess the integrity of the building.

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Click here for a KYTC photo, taken today, of damage to the exterior of Rosewell.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 14, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock and Indiana Commissioner of Transportation Mike Cline today announced they will update the construction proposal for the Ohio River Bridges Project and seek federal approval to begin construction in 2012.

The two states, working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will update the original construction proposal with new information – including proposed cost-saving options and limited tolling scenarios – under a federally prescribed process known as a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

The two states plan to present the draft SEIS to the FHWA by summer. A public comment period will follow the FHWA review and a final document could be completed by December.

The update will focus on changes that could have environmental impacts that were not evaluated in the original Environmental Impact Statement process, which led to the 2003 Record of Decision. The update will evaluate the cost-saving approaches recommended by the two governors and Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher:

 • Rebuilding the Kennedy Interchange in the existing location rather than move it south

 • Reducing the East End bridge, roadway and tunnel from six lanes to four lanes, with the option to add two lanes later if traffic demand warrants

 • Removing the proposed pedestrian and bike path from the design of a new downtown I-65 bridge as a result of a separate project to complete the Big Four Bridge pedestrian walkway and bike path

The review will also consider the impact of collecting tolls on the new and improved I-65 bridges downtown and the new East End bridge.

The update will continue the extensive public involvement process that has been a hallmark of the Bridges Project. Citizens will be invited to offer their input on the proposals being considered in the SEIS review.

The update process will move forward on a parallel track with the work of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, which is developing a proposal to close the financing gap to fund the project.

The Bridges Authority, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation are co-hosting an industry innovation forum this week to showcase the Bridges Project and explore creative approaches to project development. More than 700 people in the construction and financing industries have registered to attend.

Once the updated construction proposal for the Bridges Project receives federal approval in early 2012, the states will be on track to begin contracting and construction in the second half of 2012.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway crews have been out overnight and continue efforts today to clear roadways of snow and ice brought by a winter storm affecting all but a northern portion of the state.

Motorists are advised to check road conditions, and avoid unnecessary travel in areas where those conditions are adverse. Snowfall amounts exceeded forecasts, and plunging temperatures limit the effectiveness of salt treatments. Even as the weather cleared, crews remained hard at work because of the likelihood that frigid temperatures would create slick spots even on treated highways.

Western Kentucky was particularly hard hit. In Livingston County, ice formed on the Interstate 24 bridge over the Cumberland River; a crash at the bridge required traffic to be detoured.

Transportation Cabinet crews work as long as necessary to clear roadways of snow and ice. Statewide, Transportation Cabinet maintenance crews have a fleet of 1,065 snow plows and can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:

• Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
• Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
• Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.
• Beware of ice as temperatures fall and roadways refreeze. A mechanical breakdown is especially dangerous in bitter cold.
• Keep a blanket, flash light and emergency supply kit in your vehicle. • Stay in the vehicle if you become stranded. Help will come.

 Road conditions throughout the state can be found on the Transportation Cabinet website at www.511.ky.gov, by calling 511 in Kentucky or 1-866-737-3767 for out-of-state callers. Links to weather updates, weather safety tips, including winter driving tips, can be found on the KYEM website at www.kyem.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway crews today plowed and treated roadways throughout the Jackson Purchase and much of the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky as a new winter storm moved eastward.

State and local officials urged motorists to restrict travel in western Kentucky because of hazardous driving conditions – especially in Caldwell and Christian counties. Snowfall amounts exceeded forecasts, and plunging temperatures limited the effectiveness of salt treatments.

“Transportation Cabinet crews will do everything possible to keep roadways open,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “But when conditions are hazardous, motorists should drive only when absolutely necessary.”

Charlie O'Neal, assistant director of operations for Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM), said his agency was in communication with local emergency management officials. If requested, “we are standing by to coordinate any assistance,” he said.

Statewide, Transportation Cabinet maintenance crews have a fleet of 1,065 snow plows and can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:

• Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
• Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
• Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.
• Beware of ice as temperatures fall and roadways refreeze. A mechanical breakdown is especially dangerous in bitter cold.
• Keep a blanket, flash light and emergency supply kit in your vehicle.
• Stay in the vehicle if you become stranded. Help will come.

Road conditions throughout the state can be found on the Transportation Cabinet website at www.511.ky.gov, by calling 511 in Kentucky or 1-866-737-3767 for out-of-state callers. Links to weather updates, weather safety tips, including winter driving tips, can be found on the KYEM website at www.kyem.ky.gov.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2011) – The Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport has received the first Southern Region Administrator’s Outstanding Airport Award for 2010 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The award was presented on Jan. 27, during the FAA Southern Region Conference in Atlanta.

“There was just a lot of pride and care taken in the airport,” said FAA Regional Administrator Doug Murphy. “What sets it apart is it’s an airport where the community pulled together to make it a great, feel-good place – from those who work there, to the farmer who lives across the street, all the way into the city and county. This kind of makes them the little airport than not only could, but did.”

“This is even more remarkable in that over 600 other airports were in the running for this prestigious recognition,” said R. Winn Turney, commissioner of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Aviation. “We, along with the FAA and the locals, put a substantial monetary investment in that facility.”

The Transportation Cabinet allocated $4.75 million to the airport. That allocation included $3.5 million for improving 5,500 feet of runway, $750,000 for a new terminal facility, and $250,000 for expanded parking areas.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 2, 2011) – While a major winter storm has missed much of Kentucky, high winds blowing through the state today have created hazardous driving conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory until 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST). Sustained winds of 30 mph and gusts to 45 mph are expected through this afternoon. Strong winds can make driving difficult, particularly for high profile vehicles, such as trucks, busses and recreational vehicles.

“Even though the storm missed us, we still encourage drivers to use caution in these windy conditions,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock. “High winds can make driving tricky. We’re passionate about highway safety, so we remind folks to drive smart.”

During periods of high winds, motorists are advised to:
• Keep both hands on the steering wheel
• Allow extra space between vehicles as high winds can blow vehicles off course
• Stay alert for items blowing onto the roadway
• Exercise particular caution when encountering traffic signals that are flashing or inoperative

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) highway crews have been clearing roadways across much of the Commonwealth today.

Improving weather conditions have allowed some crews to complete their task of clearing roads of the latest snowfall. Other crews have been able to draw back to spot treating slick areas.

Plowing and salting efforts continued through the afternoon in most of the Department of Highways’ districts. Those efforts had been under way statewide throughout the day as the storm moved from west to east.

Crews had enough of a break before the latest storm to get equipment ready again and to replenish salt supplies.

“Our maintenance crews keep themselves well-prepared, and as usual, we will work as long as necessary to keep roadways open and as safe as possible,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

When winter storms strike, the cabinet can respond with a fleet of 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:

• Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
• Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
• Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

 ###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) highway crews are clearing roadways across the Commonwealth today.

Activity began first in the Department of Highways’ western districts and has spread to all districts as the storm moved from west to east. By late morning crews in all districts were plowing.

Crews had enough of a break between storms to get equipment ready again and to replenish salt supplies.

“Our maintenance crews keep themselves well-prepared, and as usual, we will work as long as necessary to keep roadways open and as safe as possible,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

KYTC maintenance crews work around the clock to keep roadways open in winter. When winter storms strike, the cabinet can respond with a fleet of 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:

 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) highway crews are clearing roadways in nearly every county west of Interstate 75 this morning.

Crews in the Department of Highways’ eastern districts are gearing up for snow and ice action as a new winter storm moves west to east.

Crews had enough of a break between storms to get equipment ready again and to replenish salt supplies.

“Our maintenance crews keep themselves well-prepared, and as usual, we will work as long as necessary to keep roadways open and as safe as possible,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

KYTC maintenance crews work around the clock to keep roadways open in winter. When winter storms strike, the cabinet can respond with a fleet of 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:

 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!

 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.

 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

Activity by highway district:

DISTRICT 1 – Paducah
Plowing and Treating:
HICKMAN
GRAVES
CALLOWAY
LIVINGSTON
TRIGG
CRITTENDEN
MARSHALL
LYON
CARLISLE

 DISTRICT 2 – Madisonville

Plowing:
OHIO
UNION
MCLEAN
DAVIESS
WEBSTER
HENDERSON
HANCOCK
CALDWELL
CHRISTIAN
HOPKINS
MUHLENBERG

DISTRICT 3 – Bowling Green
Plowing and Treating:
MONROE
ALLEN
SIMPSON
METCALFE
EDMONSON
BARREN
BUTLER
WARREN
LOGAN
TODD

DISTRICT 4 – Elizabethtown

Treating: BRECKINRIDGE
Plowing:
WASHINGTON
GREEN
GRAYSON
MARION
Plowing and Treating:
TAYLOR
NELSON
HARDIN
LARUE
MEADE
HART

DISTRICT 5 – Louisville
Treating:
SHELBY
TRIMBLE
OLDHAM
HENRY
Plowing and Treating:
BULLITT
FRANKLIN
SPENCER
JEFFERSON

DISTRICT 6 – Covington
Spot Treating:
OWEN
CARROLL
GALLATIN
BOONE
KENTON
CAMPBELL
Treating:
GRANT
ROBERTSON
HARRISON
PENDLETON
BRACKEN

DISTRICT 7 – Lexington
Spot Treating: MADISON
Treating:
BOURBON
MONTGOMERY
GARRARD
FAYETTE
Plowing and Treating:
SCOTT
WOODFORD
ANDERSON
MERCER
JESSAMINE
CLARK
BOYLE

DISTRICT 8 – Somerset
Plowing and Treating:
LINCOLN
CASEY
PULASKI
WAYNE
RUSSELL
MCCREARY
CLINTON
ROCKCASTLE
CUMBERLAND
ADAIR

DISTRICT 9 – Flemingsburg

Standby:
MASON
NICHOLAS
FLEMING
BOYD
GREENUP
LEWIS
ELLIOTT
ROWAN
BATH
CARTER

DISTRICT 12 – Pikeville

Standby:
FLOYD
KNOTT
JOHNSON
LAWRENCE
PIKE
MARTIN
LETCHER

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 24, 2011) – After five days of battling the latest winter storm, highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) today completed the job of clearing roadways of snow and ice.

With the possibility of a new winter storm later in the week, the cabinet’s maintenance crews will gear up again, which includes restocking salt supplies.

“The Transportation Cabinet will continue to do everything that’s necessary to keep roadways cleared of snow and ice. The cabinet also works with many local governments, and we are doing all we can to help them meet emergency needs for salt,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

KYTC maintenance crews work around the clock to keep roadways open in winter. When winter storms strike, the cabinet can respond with a fleet of 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

Motorists are advised to:
 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 24, 2011) – Highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) are plowing roadways today in a number of counties, mainly in the east. Crews mostly are treating trouble spots.

KYTC crews work as long as necessary to keep roadways open in winter. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists to:
 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

Activity by Department of Highways districts:

DISTRICT 1 – Paducah
Counties Out:
Spot Treating:
CRITTENDEN

DISTRICT 4 – Elizabethtown
Counties Out:
Spot Treating: WASHINGTON
Treating: TAYLOR
Plowing and Treating:
NELSON
MARION

DISTRICT 5 – Louisville
Counties Out:
Spot Treating: BULLITT, OLDHAM
Standby:
FRANKLIN
SHELBY
SPENCER
HENRY
JEFFERSON

DISTRICT 6 – Covington
Counties Out:
Spot Treating:
GRANT
ROBERTSON
OWEN
CARROLL
GALLATIN
HARRISON
PENDLETON
BRACKEN
KENTON
CAMPBELL
Treating: BOONE

DISTRICT 7 – Lexington
Counties Out:
Spot Treating:
ANDERSON
BOURBON
MADISON
MERCER
JESSAMINE
CLARK
MONTGOMERY
BOYLE
GARRARD
FAYETTE

DISTRICT 9:  - Flemingsburg
Counties Out:
Treating:
MASON
NICHOLAS
FLEMING
BOYD
GREENUP
LEWIS
ELLIOTT
ROWAN
BATH
CARTER

 DISTRICT 12 – Pikeville
Counties Out:
Plowing and Treating:
FLOYD
KNOTT
JOHNSON
LAWRENCE
PIKE
MARTIN
LETCHER

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2011) – Highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) this afternoon are working on roadways in most areas of the Commonwealth.

Activity includes treating or spot treating in the Jackson Purchase and Pennyrile regions of western Kentucky, most counties of the Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Louisville highway districts, and all counties of the Covington district.

Crews have been on standby in the Flemingsburg and Jackson districts and in most counties of the Lexington District. In eastern Kentucky, brine has been applied to roadways in most counties of the Pikeville District to prevent icing.

KYTC crews work as long as necessary to keep roadways open in winter. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists to:

 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!

 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.

 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

The cabinet’s SAFE Patrol drivers will work an extended schedule during the current winter storm for the sake of motorists whose vehicles become disabled on Kentucky interstates and parkways. Drivers will begin patrols at 4 a.m. (local times) on Friday, two hours earlier than normal. Shifts end at 11 p.m. (local times). For SAFE Patrol assistance, call 511 or toll-free at 1-877-FOR-KYTC (1-877-367-5982.)

 ###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2011) – Highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) are working mainly in the northern quarter of the Commonwealth to clear roadways this morning.

At 10 a.m. EST, crews are treating or spot treating roadways in a general band of counties bordering or near the Ohio River, from Bullitt County in the west to Boyd County in the east. The crews are from the Louisville, Covington, Flemingsburg and Lexington districts of the Department of Highways. In addition, crews from the Madisonville District are treating roads in Henderson and Union counties.

KYTC crews work as long as necessary to keep roadways open in winter. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists to:

 Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!
 Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.
 Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2011) – New snow and wind-driven drifts meant ongoing efforts Wednesday by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews to clear roadways across most of the Commonwealth.

Crews in several of the 12 Department of Highways districts worked through the night, with fresh crews brought on this morning to continue the snow-clearing efforts. Contractor plows have been out in areas where those efforts are needed as well.

Nearly statewide, crews have been plowing, salting or treating slick spots, or employing a combination of those efforts. An exception is in Kentucky’s westernmost counties, where improving conditions meant snow removal activities were largely complete.

Condition reports on major routes are available at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

Any new snow, drifts, and cold temperatures can produce slick spots on roadways that were previously cleared. Motorists should use extra caution when driving in winter weather. Allow plenty of room for snow plows and other equipment. Remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has responsibility for clearing about 27,000 miles of roadways, including more than 1,400 interstate and parkway miles. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet contracts with 361 private plow operators.

 ###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews continue efforts to clear roadways of snow from a storm that affected the Commonwealth for a second day Wednesday.

Plowing, treating and spot-treating efforts continue as needed. Crews in several of the 12 Department of Highways districts worked through the night battling new snow in some areas and wind-driven drifts in others. In areas where needed, fresh crews were brought on this morning.

Because of earlier snow removal efforts and improving weather, work has been largely completed in far western Kentucky. But new snow falling farther east has kept those crews hard at work. Contractor plows are out in areas where those efforts are needed as well.

Condition reports on major routes are available at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

Any new snow, drifts, and cold temperatures can produce slick spots on roadways that were previously cleared. Motorists should use extra caution when driving in winter weather. Allow plenty of room for snow plows and other equipment. Remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has responsibility for clearing about 27,000 miles of roadways, including more than 1,400 interstate and parkway miles. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet contracts with 361 private plow operators.

###

3:30 p.m. EST update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2011) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews using salt trucks and snow plows have been out in force throughout Tuesday clearing snow from roadways in the Commonwealth.

Plowing, treating and spot-treating efforts continued as needed Tuesday afternoon, with fresh crews taking over for those who had in some cases started their work day in the overnight hours. In some areas contract crews as well were working to clear roads for the evening commuting hours.

Tuesday’s storm produced widespread snow across Kentucky, prompting road-clearing activities in each of the 12 Department of Highways districts.

“Safety on our roadways is our top priority,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Our crews work as long as necessary to keep our roadways cleared of snow and ice.”

Even as weather conditions improve in some areas, crews will be monitoring roadways and treating with salt as necessary. Motorists should be aware that flurries and falling temperatures in the evening can produce slick spots on roadways that have been previously cleared.

Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather. Allow plenty of room for snow plows and other equipment. Remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Condition reports on major routes are available at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has responsibility for clearing about 27,000 miles of roadways, including more than 1,400 interstate and parkway miles. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet contracts with 361 private plow operators.

 ###

11:45 EST update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2011) – Salt trucks equipped with snow plows are out in force across the Commonwealth to clear roadways of snow that is widespread across Kentucky.

In areas where the snow was expected to arrive first, many of the crews reported in at midnight or in the early morning hours as local highway districts monitored the storm’s approach. By midday, plowing and treating activity was reported across much of the northern half of the state. Treating or spot treating was underway in nearly every county in the rest of the state.

With continued snow in the forecast, crews expect to be salting and plowing highways throughout the day in many areas. The cabinet keeps supplied with salt through contracts with vendors from as far as New York, Louisiana and Kansas.

Motorists should use extra caution when driving in winter weather. Allow plenty of room for snow plows and other equipment. Remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Condition reports on major routes are available at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has responsibility for clearing about 27,000 miles of roadways, including more than 1,400 interstate and parkway miles. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet contracts with 361 private plow operators.

“Safety on our roadways is our top priority,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Our crews work as long as necessary to keep our roadways cleared of snow and ice.”

 ###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2011) – Salt trucks are out in force across the Commonwealth, with crews in most counties treating or spot treating to clear roadways of snow. Enough snow has fallen to require plowing some highways, including in the Louisville area, northeast Kentucky and a few western Kentucky counties along the Ohio River.

As of about 10 a.m. EST Tuesday, crews reported road-clearing activity in nearly all counties. With continued snow in the forecast, crews expect to be salting and plowing highways throughout the day in many areas.

Motorists should use extra caution when driving in winter weather. Allow plenty of room for snow plows and other equipment. Remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has responsibility for clearing about 27,000 miles of roadways, including more than 1,400 interstate and parkway miles. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet contracts with 361 private plow operators.

The cabinet keeps supplied with salt through contracts with vendors from as far as New York, Louisiana and Kansas.

“Safety on our roadways is our top priority,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Our crews work as long as necessary to keep our roadways cleared of snow and ice.”

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2010) – Students from Randall K. Cooper High School in Boone County, Williamstown Independent Schools in Grant County, Whitney Young Elementary in Louisville and Gamaliel Elementary in Monroe County have taken first place in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 2010 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest.

“The purpose of the contest is to increase environmental awareness among children,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “We hope to educate our young people about the damaging effects of litter, and to change attitudes and behaviors about littering.”

The first-place winner in each of four categories receives a $100 savings bond, while second-, and third-place winners each receive a $50 savings bond. All the winners receive framed prints of their posters. Awards will be presented during a luncheon ceremony Friday, Dec. 17, at the Executive Mansion in Frankfort.

The winners are:

6-8 age category
First Place - Devan Brooks, Gamaliel Elementary (Monroe County) Second Place - Kailey McMurtry, Gamaliel Elementary
Third Place - Morgan Leigh Lewis, Ponderosa Elementary (Boyd County)

9-11 age category

First Place - Jennifer Romero-Acosta, Whitney Young Elementary (Jefferson County)
Second Place - Dakayla Rose High, Whitney Young Elementary
Third Place - John Roland Smith,  Ben Johnson Elementary (Breckinridge County)

12-14 age category
First Place - Jessica Dunham, Randall K. Cooper High School (Boone County)
Second Place - Alex Donalson, Verity Middle School (Boyd County)
Third Place Dalton Allen,  Monroe County Middle School

15-17 age group
First Place - Appy Webster, Williamstown Independent Schools (Grant County)
Second Place - Kayla Gaddis, North Bullitt High School (Bullitt County)
Third Place - Anna Ramirez, Williamstown Independent Schools

The Transportation Cabinet received 1,986 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest entries from students throughout the Commonwealth. Calendars featuring the winners’ posters will be provided to all the winners and their classrooms.

This year’s contest judges were Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Joe Meyer, Georgetown College art galleries director Laura Stewart, Kentucky State University professor Reba Rye, Transportation Public Affairs Executive Director Chuck Wolfe, and Miranda Thacker, statewide coordinator. Judges did not know the identities of the artists or their schools.

“With so many excellent posters this year and a tremendous amount of entries submitted, it was really hard to judge,” said Meyer. “We appreciate all the hard work and effort the students put into their posters. Every entry is a winner.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urges students and teachers to get an early start on the 2011 poster contest. The cabinet will begin accepting entries on March 1, 2011. The entries will close on Sept. 30, 2011.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2010) – Highway crews of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) continue to work to clear roadways of snow and ice over roughly an eastern third of the Commonwealth this morning.

Crews are plowing and treating roadways in higher-elevation eastern and northeastern counties that comprise the Flemingsburg and Pikeville districts of the Department of Highways.

Elsewhere, crews continue to treat or spot-treat roadways amid overnight occurrence of black ice in central and southern Kentucky – the Lexington, Somerset, Jackson and Manchester districts, plus Franklin County of the Louisville District.

Crews have completed work in roughly the western half of the Commonwealth, plus northern counties of the Covington District.

KYTC crews work as long as necessary to keep roadways open when winter storms strike. The cabinet’s vehicle and equipment fleet includes 1,065 snow plows. In addition, the cabinet can call on more than 350 snow-removal contractors.

The cabinet reminds motorists to:

_Exercise greater caution when driving. Slow down!

_Give a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy highway equipment.

_Eliminate distractions while behind the wheel.

Condition reports on major routes are available by calling 511 or by logging onto the 511 travel and traffic information website, 511.ky.gov.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2010) – An updated financial plan for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project was approved today by two oversight authorities, clearing the way for submission of the plan to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

“I appreciate the hard work and sense of purpose that went into producing an updated financial plan,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “It’s another important step toward our shared goal of figuring out how to deliver this vital project as quickly, efficiently and economically as possible.”

The plan contains cost estimates and schedules for delivery of all sections of the project – an East End bridge with approaches on both sides of the river, a downtown bridge with an Indiana approach and a reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange, where Interstates 64, 65 and 71 converge in downtown Louisville.

The bi-state Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, created to oversee the project’s construction and financing, approved the updated plan at a meeting today in Louisville. The statewide Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority approved the updated plan at a subsequent meeting in Frankfort.

The 2010 Kentucky General Assembly mandated an update of the project’s initial financial plan for submission to FHWA by Dec. 31. The plan will be further refined by the bi-state authority as work on the project continues.

The plan can be viewed and downloaded from the bi-state authority’s website, www.bridgesauthority.com.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2010) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) road crews are preparing for the next round of winter weather expected late Wednesday into Thursday.

Highway district crews have been hauling salt from storage areas to maintenance facilities. Crews continue those efforts today in order to replenish salt supplies before any snow, sleet and freezing rain begins to fall.

With precipitation predicted to fall during overnight hours, KYTC road crews will be held over past their normal work schedule. Contract crews will be used as well.

“Our crews are prepared to work long hours to keep roadways cleared of accumulation as much as possible,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Most districts report that with thousands of tons of salt already spread on roadways earlier this week, there is still a substantial amount of salt residue on the pavement. That means in those areas no pre-treating with brine will be required for this weather event.

Ahead of the storm, crews in local highway districts have been checking equipment, making repairs and generally preparing for extensive efforts to clear roadways once the storm hits.

Motorists are advised to give a wide berth to plows, salt trucks and other snow-clearing heavy equipment. To be effective in dispersing de-icing material, trucks tend to travel at a slower speed. A snow plow may create a snow cloud which can cause a “whiteout” –zero visibility condition – so keep a safe distance from the trucks.

As KYTC crews have made preparations for clearing roadways, motorists should also be prepared for driving in snow and ice by following these tips:

• Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized – check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers and windshield washer.

• Check the forecast and call 511 or visit 511.ky.gov for the latest condition reports before traveling. Avoid nonessential travel if conditions are dangerous.\

• Dress warmly for the weather –in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, in anticipation of unexpected emergencies.

• Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and to prepare for possible lengthy delays on the roadway.

• Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route.

• Carry a cell phone.

• Make sure your vehicle has an emergency care kit. It should include jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, blankets, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, and traction material.

• Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Do not use cruise control.

• Give a wide berth to snow removal equipment.

• Remember that bridges and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.

• Stopping in snow requires more braking distance than stopping on dry pavement – up to four times more distance. Make sure to put plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead.

• Be visible. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility, so drive using low-beam headlights.

• Steer into the skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.

 ###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2010) – Gov. Steve Beshear today announced a project to install new runway lighting systems and make other safety and navigational improvements at the airports serving Lake Barkley and Kentucky Dam Village state resort parks.

Federal Aviation Administration grants will cover 95 percent of the estimated $667,000 cost.

“Being a native of western Kentucky, I know firsthand the importance of these very popular resort parks and their airports,” Gov. Beshear said. “This is a much-needed project that will improve safety and should dramatically lower maintenance costs.”

 Runway lighting systems at both airports are about 30 years old and have repeatedly been damaged by lightning over the years. “Both systems are high maintenance, and parts of both systems are out of service,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “With the availability of FAA grants, this is an opportune time to make these significant improvements.”

“We appreciate the cooperation of the Transportation Cabinet on this project involving our park airports,” Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow said. “These safety improvements are important for our guests and allow us to keep this service operating at these two parks.”

Five D Enterprises Inc., of Harlan, is the contractor for the project, which will include installation of runway lights at both airports. There also will be a new beacon at Lake Barkley and new lights on the parallel taxiway at Kentucky Dam Village. Pilots can activate the lights and other navigational aids from the air.

In addition, both airports will be outfitted with new equipment that assists pilots in landing – a precision approach path indicator, which helps orient a pilot vertically to ensure the aircraft does not touch down too soon or too late, and special flashing lights that identify the ends of a runway.

### 

“Young drivers are four times as likely as adults to be killed in a car crash,” said KOHS Executive Director Chuck Geveden. “Driver distraction, lack of experience and skill, alcohol and the lack of seatbelt usage all contribute to the high number of fatalities in this age group.”

Last year in Kentucky, there were 28,207 total crashes involving drivers under 21 years of age. These crashes resulted in 9,348 injuries and 136 fatalities.

“Car crashes remain the number one killer of teens and October continues to be our single biggest battleground month,” said Lisa Ripley, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance. “While promoting teen driver safety requires a year-round commitment, the fall time frame is critically important. As teens return to school, attend homecoming and begin managing very busy schedules, we want them to keep safe driving practices at the top of their minds because our data shows this is one of the most dangerous times of year for teens to be on the road.”

Students drove the KOHS distracted driving (D2) simulator, which gives lifelike exposure to the dangers of distracted driving without putting teenagers at risk by mimicking and displaying the handling characteristics of a vehicle. Drivers can receive and send phone calls and text messages while attempting to obey the rules of the road.

“The growth in popularity of electronic devices is vying for the attention of young drivers over the act of driving itself,” said Geveden. “Far too often, the devices are winning and our kids are losing.”

Distracted driving comes in many forms, from texting and talking on a cell phone, to eating, playing with a radio, and talking to passengers. All too often, the result is tragic. In 2009 teenage drivers accounted for 14,505 distracted driving related crashes, resulting in 4,531 injuries and 40 fatalities on Kentucky roadways.

Kentucky’s new texting law bans texting for all drivers while the vehicle is in motion. For drivers under 18, use of all personal communication devices such as cell phones and pagers is not allowed while the vehicle is in motion.

For more information about teen driving safety, please visit www.nhtsa.gov; www.distraction.gov; and http://highwaysafety.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2010) – Distracted driving is threatening the lives – and taking lives – of young drivers. To raise awareness of the danger, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is sponsoring a video Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest for public and private high schools throughout the state.

“We want to encourage young drivers and passengers to use good judgment in the vehicle,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock, who is Gov. Steve Beshear’s designated representative for highway safety. “By getting teenagers involved in the education process, we hope to save even more young lives.”

In Kentucky last year, there were more than 28,200 crashes involving drivers under 21. Of those crashes, over 14,500 – more than half – were due to a young distracted driver.

“Many people think a driver is only distracted when talking on a cell phone or texting, but distraction takes various forms,” said Chuck Geveden, KOHS executive director. “The driver can be eating, drinking, changing the radio or talking with passengers.”

Informational packets were mailed to schools this week, inviting teens to create scripts for 30-second PSAs focused on distracted driving risks and/or prevention strategies. KOHS will host a press event at the winning school and the winners will be recognized at the Kentucky Lifesavers Conference at the Galt House in Louisville on April 26, 2011. The winning PSA will air at the Boys’ and Girls’ Sweet 16 basketball tournaments in March 2011. It also will air during the KOHS statewide distracted driving campaign in October 2011 through broadcast agreements with Big Blue Sports Marketing and WAZOO Sports Network.

Registration will open Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. EDT and close Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. EDT. The 30-second PSA must be submitted to the KOHS by Feb. 1, 2011 at 4 p.m. EST. Additional information can be found at http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/psa_video_contest.asp or call the KOHS at 1-888-374-8768.

###

WINCHESTER, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2010) – Gov. Steve Beshear today marked a milestone in the project to complete the widening of Interstate 64 from Lexington to the Mountain Parkway in Clark County.

The Governor, joined by legislators and local officials in Clark County, presided at the ceremonial opening of a new bridge that will carry US 60 – the Mount Sterling Road – over the widened Interstate, just west of the Mountain Parkway interchange.

The I-64 widening includes the addition of a second lane for traffic exiting onto the Mountain Parkway, which required a longer US 60 bridge overpass.

“Today we celebrate a milestone in a very important project – the widening of another section of Interstate 64,” Gov. Beshear said. “When it’s completed, I-64 will be six lanes all the way from Lexington to the Mountain Parkway. This is a $32.8 million investment in our highway system, and it’s an investment I do not hesitate to make.”

The widening project is scheduled to be completed in July 2011. Gov. Beshear noted that demolition of the old US 60 bridge and construction of the new took just two months. “I want to compliment the entire project team for getting this important part of the job completed so quickly,” he said.

I-64 now carries about 46,000 vehicles per day in the project area. Traffic volume is projected to increase to 85,000 vehicles per day by 2031.

“The widening of Interstate 64 is a very significant project that will have a positive impact on safety and commerce for many years,” said state Sen. R.J. Palmer II, of Winchester. “The opening of this bridge also is vital to future economic development for the region. These projects are positive investments in our infrastructure from which we will see rewards well into the future.”

“This is great news for our community,” said Rep. Don Pasley, of Winchester. “As Clark County continues to grow, its infrastructure has to follow suit, and this project is certainly a step in the right direction. It definitely will help us improve our economic development.”

New highway signs for BCTC Winchester-Clark County Campus

Also today, Gov. Beshear presented one of four new highway signs that will direct I-64 traffic to the vital and growing Winchester-Clark County campus of Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC).

“This campus has become a very important part of this community,” Gov. Beshear said. “Folks in this community already know that. The 913 students currently enrolled here already know that. But a sign on the Interstate tells everyone traveling this way that there’s something important here in Winchester and Clark County.”

Dr. Augusta A. Julian, president and CEO of BCTC, said everyone associated with the Winchester-Clark County campus takes pride in its important role.

“We at BCTC are excited that the campus has grown so quickly and continues to be a key partner in this great community,” Dr. Julian said. “We appreciate the support of the Governor’s Office and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to help people find their way to higher education in Winchester-Clark County.”

“The BCTC campus is an invaluable asset to our community,” Sen. Palmer said. “I am grateful to the Transportation Cabinet for providing new signs to direct traffic to the campus from I-64.”

Rep. Pasley said the campus “is the most significant long-term improvement we’ve made in our community in a generation. It has been an irreplaceable asset since it opened its doors, but it is playing an even bigger role now because of the economy. I’m proud that we can make many more people aware of what we have to offer.”

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2010) – Three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed in vehicles according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s why the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is hosting a Facebook Friday in honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 19-25.

Parents and caregivers may submit questions on Friday, Sept. 24, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. EDT through the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety – Child Passenger Safety Program page found via http://www.facebook.com. Participants will receive a live response by nationally trained technicians who will offer tips on how to properly protect their kids.

“It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to make sure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Boyd Sigler, KOHS director of highway safety programs. “We are urging everyone to log on and ask our experts their questions. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children nationwide. In 2009, 22 children age 15 and under were killed in motor vehicles on Kentucky roadways. Eleven of them were unrestrained.

“Child passenger safety technicians regularly report a misuse rate of over 90 percent at events throughout the state,” said Erin Goin, KOHS statewide child passenger safety coordinator. “The vast availability of information on the internet, combined with the many types of car seats and differing laws in surrounding states, is generating confusion among parents.”

Kentucky law requires all children under seven who are between 40 and 50 inches tall to be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat. However, Safety Belt Safe USA recommends children stay in a booster as long as possible since seat belts are made for adults.

“The law is certainly a step in the right direction; however, because seat belts are designed to fit people who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, we encourage the use of boosters until the maximum height and weight limit specified by the seat manufacturer is reached,” said Goin.

While this Kentucky-hosted Facebook Friday will be with live technicians, the site will continued to be monitored for questions on a weekly basis.

When correctly installed, safety seats are 71 percent effective in reducing infant fatalities, 67 percent effective in reducing the need for hospitalization and 54 percent effective in reducing fatalities of children ages 1 to 4. A properly installed belt-positioning booster seat lowers the risk of injury to children by nearly 60 percent, compared with seat belts alone.

For additional car seat and booster information visit http://highwaysafety.ky.gov.

###

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2010) – Steve Waddle, a civil engineer who has spent a 22-year career with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, has been appointed State Highway Engineer by Gov. Steve Beshear.

Waddle has been acting State Highway Engineer since October 2009. As chief engineer for the Department of Highways, he oversees the department’s three offices – Project Development, Project Delivery and Preservation, and Highway Safety – which together contain 14 divisions.

“The post of State Highway Engineer is one of the most important positions of any administration, and Steve Waddle has done an outstanding job while serving in an acting capacity,” Gov. Beshear said. “This permanent appointment will further enhance our management team at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.”

Waddle joined the cabinet in 1988, a year after graduation from the University of Kentucky College of Engineering, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering.

Early assignments included resident engineer for reconstruction of the US 127 corridor through Franklin and Anderson counties. He was the Division of Construction’s field liaison for the US 119, US 23 and US 460 corridor projects in eastern Kentucky and for construction of the William H. Harsha Bridge over the Ohio River at Maysville.

Waddle was appointed deputy state highway engineer for project development in March 2009. He was director of the Division of Construction Procurement at the time and continued in the dual role through June 2009. Secretary Hancock said Waddle would retain project development responsibilities as State Highway Engineer.

“One of Steve’s real strengths is his years of experience in highway construction,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “His permanent appointment as State Highway Engineer is important for continuity of leadership in the cabinet.”

“I am grateful to Governor Beshear and Secretary Hancock for their confidence in me, and I look forward to helping continue the important work of the cabinet to build and maintain a modern, safer transportation system,” Waddle said.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2010) – Volunteers will be out in force next week to “fall sweep” along Kentucky highways. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today that the Adopt-a-Highway Fall Sweep Week will be held Sept. 19-25.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Nearly 1,100 groups now participate in Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway program, which the cabinet established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,000 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said.

By reducing litter, the Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and makes it easier to promote tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in our Bluegrass State. The Transportation Cabinet salutes all participants and thanks them for their tireless efforts.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to your community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking personal responsibility for one of your area roadways, you will be setting an example for your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of litter from Kentucky roadways. As an Adopt-a-Highway volunteer, you will save thousands in taxpayer dollars and demonstrate to others that a clean environment is important.

 Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep the area reasonably litter-free. The Cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts throughout the year.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup. Your Adopt-a-Highway coordinator will help you get in touch with your county’s maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of your pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov.

###

Hancock is active in transportation issues on the regional and national levels. Prior to his presidency, he served as vice-president of SASHTO. He serves on the boards of SASHTO and its parent organization, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). He has served on several AASHTO and SASHTO committees, including the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways and, since 1989, four consecutive AASHTO transportation reauthorization committees.

SASHTO member states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Puerto Rico. Hancock, a native of Princeton in Caldwell County, is a career KYTC employee.

His diverse experience with the Cabinet includes work as State Highway Engineer, Assistant State Highway Engineer for Program Management, Deputy State Highway Engineer for Planning, and Chief of Staff to the Secretary. He served as Acting Secretary before being named to his current position in July.

His introduction to the cabinet came in 1975, when he was awarded a Transportation Engineering Scholarship. Hancock is a 1978 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Engineering.

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“Labor Day is historically a period of heavy highway travel, and drivers need to be focused on the roadway,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “A heightened awareness and sense of safety will be especially important in our construction zones. We do as much as possible to ensure that traffic can flow smoothly, but lane restrictions cannot always be avoided.”

An array of highway signs and electronic message boards will warn motorists of these closures:

Interstate 24, Christian County – Westbound traffic restricted to the left lane near the 82 mile marker, between the Cadiz and Fort Campbell/Hopkinsville exits, because of excavation for a new interchange on the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway. Eastbound lanes are not affected. Lengthiest delays are likely to occur with returning traffic Monday afternoon and evening.

I-64, Boyd County – Right lane closed in each direction from mile markers 184 to 191 – the Cannonsburg and Catlettsburg interchanges – for extensive paving and rehabilitation.

Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway, Barren County – Traffic restricted to left lane in each direction at the 15 mile marker because of interchange work.

William H. Natcher Parkway, Warren County – Southbound traffic shifted to left lane due to construction of I-65 on-ramp. Northbound lanes not affected.

U.S. 127, Mercer County – Two lane closures – north and south of Harrodsburg – will be established at 6 p.m. EDT Monday. Northbound traffic restricted for completion of paving between mile markers 2.8 and 4.0 south of Harrodsburg. Traffic in both directions restricted between mile markers 6.0 and 9.6 north of Harrodsburg. For information on work zones and potential delays on routes in Kentucky, plus links to highway information in neighboring states, go to www.511.ky.gov.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 26, 2010) — The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is joining law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation to take part in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving.

KOHS officials, along with the Lexington Division of Police and former University of Kentucky head football coach Rich Brooks, promoted the campaign during a news conference today at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. The campaign began Aug. 20 and runs through Labor Day.

“All too often, we see innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life,” said KOHS Executive Director Chuck Geveden. “That is why law enforcement officers throughout the state are working to keep drunken drivers off the road.”

Drunken driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Also according to NHTSA, young people age 21 to 24 account for the highest percentage of impaired drivers in fatal crashes.

Brooks frequently speaks to young people about the responsibility that comes with the freedom to make choices in life, and warns of the negative consequences that could follow.

“Even if you beat the odds and walk away from a drunken driving crash, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, lost work time and other expenses,” said Brooks. “The greatest risk, however, is taking someone’s life.”

Last year, Kentucky recorded over 5,400 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 203 deaths and over 2,600 injuries. Fayette County ranked No. 2, with 475 such collisions, which caused 208 injuries and six fatalities.

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Cmdr. Michael Blanton said enforcement officers are out in force during this holiday period.

“We’ll be out day and night, but with a special emphasis during the high-risk nighttime hours, when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” Blanton said. “We will be watching, and if you are driving impaired, I guarantee you will be arrested.”

During the 2009 Labor Day holiday weekend, 10 people were killed and over 340 were injured on Kentucky roadways. Six of those deaths involved alcohol.

Brooks warned everyone to think before getting behind the wheel. “A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit, but that doesn’t mean you can safely drive at 0.07,” said Brooks. “Impairment begins as soon as you take that first drink, affecting your reaction time and ability to think clearly.”

Geveden encouraged motorists to take a simple precaution to help prevent injury or death.

“Wearing a seat belt is not only the law in Kentucky, but it is your best defense against an impaired driver,” said Geveden.

Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is illegal in every state. All states also have zero tolerance laws, which means it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. The national crackdown, led by NHTSA, combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

“The message is clear and simple,” said Blanton. “If you are over the limit, you will be under arrest.”

###

Exposure to the contest and to the Adopt-a-Highway program provides young people with a sense of ownership in Kentucky’s highways and stresses the importance of keeping Kentucky’s highways clean and free of litter. The contest is aimed at educating and encouraging children not to litter and to spread the message to others.

“Through this program the cabinet hopes to increase environmental awareness and stewardship among children and to bring about a change in attitudes and behaviors concerning a growing problem with litter,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “With your child’s help a change in attitudes could result in a pleasing change of scenery. We encourage all students to participate in this worthy contest,” Hancock said.

Parents, teachers and family members are asked to encourage children to participate in the contest. The entry form with the necessary certificate of authenticity can be obtained by contacting the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Office of Public Affairs.

The form also is available online at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov;  Click on poster contest.

 Entries must be postmarked by Sept. 30, 2010.

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Gov. Steve Beshear today joined the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety and Louisville Metro Police Department to announce that KOHS will join law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation, Aug. 20 through Labor Day, to take part in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving. The campaign was announced today during a news conference at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.

“Highway safety has always been a high priority of this administration,” Gov. Beshear said. “We fully support this campaign and law enforcement officers throughout the state working to keep impaired drivers off the road.”

Drunken driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008 alone, nearly 12,000 people were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

“A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit, but that doesn’t mean you can safely drive at 0.07,” said KOHS Executive Director Chuck Geveden. “Impairment begins as soon as you take that first drink, affecting your reaction time and ability to think clearly.”

Last year, Kentucky recorded over 5,400 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 203 deaths and more than 2,600 injuries. Jefferson County ranked No. 1, with 935 such collisions, causing 508 injuries and 21 fatalities.

Lt. Col. Vincent Robison, of the Louisville Metro Police Department, said officers will be out in force during this holiday period.

“We’ll be out day and night, but with a special emphasis during the high-risk nighttime hours, when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” Robinson said. “We will be watching and if you are caught driving impaired, I guarantee you will be arrested.”

During the 2009 Labor Day holiday weekend, 10 people were killed and more than 340 were injured on Kentucky roadways. Six of those deaths involved alcohol.

Geveden warned of the consequences of driving while impaired.

“Even if you beat the odds and walk away from an impaired driving crash, violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, lost work time and dozens of other expenses,” Geveden said. “The greatest risk, however, is taking someone’s life.”

Gov. Beshear encouraged motorists to take a simple precaution to help prevent injury or death.

“Wearing a seat belt is not only the law in Kentucky, but it is your best defense against a drunk driver,” said Gov. Beshear.

The national crackdown, led by NHTSA, combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity.

“The message is clear and simple,” said Gov. Beshear. “If you are over the limit, you will be under arrest.”

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The twin basket handle, tied-arch spans will carry US 68 and KY 80 across Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, forming unique gateways at the eastern and western entrances to the LBL and adding a signature attraction in Kentucky's Western Waterland region.

“Construction of these new bridges will create two new landmarks for our state,” Gov. Beshear said. “Just as the Land Between The Lakes is unique, these bridges across Lake Barkley at Canton and across Kentucky Lake at Aurora will provide a signature gateway to the natural beauty that attracts thousands of tourists to Western Kentucky each year.”

The new bridges will be the only basket handle, tied-arch bridges in Kentucky and among fewer than a dozen built worldwide. Gov. Beshear announced the selection of the striking design in July 2009 following a three-year public participation process that included input from more than 300 citizens. Since then, engineers have moved ahead with preliminary work to prepare for more detailed engineering that is now required.

Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock noted that the Lake Bridges Project has many complexities.

“The next phase of design encompasses alignment issues, structure layout, and anticipated construction issues,” Hancock said. “This intermediate design phase is expected to take about 9 months to complete and is among the various steps required to commence final design and engineering plans. It's a painstaking process, but because of the size, complexity, and cost of this project, the Cabinet is determined to get it right.”

The new, four-lane bridges will replace a pair of functionally obsolete two-lane steel bridges that were built in 1932 to span the mighty Cumberland and Tennessee rivers – long before the rivers were impounded to form the lakes and the LBL.

Each of the new bridges will be 550 feet long with travel lanes 11 feet wide. They will have 4-foot-wide shoulders and an 8-foot-wide hike and bike path that will extend through LBL along the US 68/KY 80 Corridor.

The bridges are being designed by two firms – Michael Baker Jr. Inc. and Palmer Engineering. In addition to the design contract, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has awarded a contract for geotechnical work required to evaluate foundation requirements at both bridge sites.

Each bridge will cost an estimated $165 million to build. Construction of the new crossings is expected to take five to six years each. The entire US 68 corridor reconstruction, including the bridges project, is expected to be complete by late 2017.

###

Most of the crashes occurred in the western Kentucky counties that constitute Department of Highways District 2, headquartered in Madisonville. Two work zone crashes occurred in District 2 in the past week, including one Tuesday that left a contractor employee in critical condition.

“In the months of April, May and June of this year, District 2 employees and our contractors have had numerous life threatening situations with traffic while they were doing their jobs repairing and expanding our roadway system,” said Kevin McClearn, District 2 chief engineer. “Our highway workers are faced with a job environment every day that depends on motorists reading signs and following directions. Lives can be endangered by careless and distracted driving.”

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said drivers should always be focused on the road, but work zones especially require their undivided attention. “The key is to avoid distractions generally,” Hancock said. “That’s why we are convinced that Kentucky’s new law prohibiting texting while driving will save lives.”

Last year in Kentucky, nine people died and nearly 140 were injured in highway construction and maintenance work zones. The most recent figures available from the Federal Highway Administration show there were 720 work zone fatalities in 2008. Nationally, four of every five victims of a work zone crash is a motorist, not a highway worker.

Recent work zone crashes in Kentucky:

  • April 6 – Two KYTC employees were injured when their vehicle was struck from behind by a van near the Slaughters exit of the Breathitt-Pennyrile Parkway

. • April 7 – A KYTC employee flagging traffic in a work zone on US 41 in Muhlenberg County was struck when one vehicle failed to slow for the work zone and crashed into another. The employee has not yet returned to work.

 • April 16 – A commercial vehicle struck a construction barricade on the US 60 Green River Bridge at Spottsville, in Henderson County. No workers on the bridge were injured, but the truck driver was charged with wanton endangerment, careless driving, disregarding a traffic control device and operating an over-sized vehicle in the work zone.

 • June 10 – A tractor-trailer blocked the US 60 Green River Bridge at Spottsville for more than two hours after attempting to pass through work zone restrictions and hitting a barrier wall. No injuries, but the driver was cited for failing to obey a traffic control device.

 • June 15 – Two construction workers replacing guardrail on the Audubon Parkway were injured when the driver of a box truck lost control and struck the contractors’ vehicle.

 • June 18 – A motorist was killed in a two-vehicle crash within the work zone for the US 60 Bypass Extension project in Daviess County.

 • June 19 – A KYTC truck was struck by another vehicle on the Western Kentucky Parkway in Muhlenberg County while employees were assisting police with traffic control for an earlier crash.

 • June 22 – A KYTC employee checking on a contractor’s work was struck by a vehicle on the shoulder of the US 60 Bypass at Owensboro. He suffered a broken leg and remains off work.

 • June 29 – A vehicle traveling the Western Kentucky Parkway in Muhlenberg County hit a crash truck protecting KYTC employees who were filling potholes and smoothing pavement.

 • June 30 – A construction worker flagging traffic on KY 91 in Caldwell County was struck by a pickup truck and sustained a traumatic head injury. He remained in critical condition today at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has posted a work zone safety awareness video that can be viewed on the Cabinet’s webpage, http://transportation.ky.gov or on YouTube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlByKgQ4A0I)

In addition, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety offers the following work zone safety tips:

 • Expect the unexpected.

 • Slow down.

 • Don’t tailgate.  Keep a safe distance between vehicles.

 • Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.

 • Pay attention to signs.

 • Obey road crew flaggers.

 • Stay alert and minimize distractions.

 • Keep up with the traffic flow.

 • Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to http://511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.

• Be patient and stay calm.

The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today that the Adopt-a-Highway Summer Scrub Week will be held June 6-12. “The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Nearly 1,100 groups now participate in Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway program, which the cabinet established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,000 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said.

By reducing litter, the Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and makes it easier to promote tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in our Bluegrass State. The Transportation Cabinet salutes all participants and thanks them for their tireless efforts.

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to your community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky’s Adopt-a-Highway Program. By taking personal responsibility for one of your area roadways, you will be setting an example for your community.

The environment is everyone’s responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of litter from Kentucky roadways. As an Adopt-a-Highway volunteer, you will save thousands in taxpayer dollars and demonstrate to others that a clean environment is important.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep the area reasonably litter-free. The Cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts throughout the year.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

Your Adopt-a-Highway coordinator will help you get in touch with your county's maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of your pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit our website at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/. For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov.

###

As always, the new map contains a wealth of information for motorists. This year it also celebrates Kentucky’s rich equine history and welcomes visitors to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

“The Official Kentucky Highway Map is certainly a great aid for planning a trip and finding your way, but it’s also much more,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “Our highway map is part of our effort to make a good first impression on the many thousands of people who will visit our Commonwealth in 2010.”

The highway map, published annually by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is packed with information for the traveling public in general and World Equestrian Games visitors in particular. For example, it includes a prominently sized inset map of Lexington and the Central Kentucky Bluegrass Region, including the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the World Equestrian Games.

Fourteen other inset maps detail downtown Lexington, the Louisville area, downtown Louisville, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Paducah, Elizabethtown-Radcliff, northern Kentucky, Covington-Newport, downtown Frankfort, Richmond-Berea and Ashland.

Leaping equine steeplechasers, caught by the camera in mid-air, decorate the cover of the map. The back of the map highlights Kentucky culture – food, music, museums and more – along with information about Kentucky traffic laws, sharing the road with bicyclists and the emergency services offered by the SAFE Patrol – Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies – of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

“The cabinet takes pride in the quality of the Official Kentucky Highway Map,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “We believe it is an invaluable resource for all motorists but especially for visitors.”

“The map is a great way to let our guests know about Kentucky attractions and points of interest,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Marcheta Sparrow.  “The map also includes all of our Kentucky State Parks and historic sites, along with federal parks.”

Among improvements in the 2010 edition, county boundaries were subtly enhanced to make them more easily discernible. There is a generously-sized mileage chart; indexes to counties, cities and towns, and hotline numbers for highway emergencies.

Multiple legends identify every type of street and highway, including bicycle routes and scenic byways. They also pinpoint such features as Kentucky State Parks and Resort Parks, colleges and universities, airports and river ports, hospitals, welcome centers and rest areas and Kentucky State Police posts.

###

The new site, at the same Web address of 511.ky.gov, operates on a Google Maps-based system, which will be familiar to many users.

 “Our enhanced 511 reflects an effort to provide more tools to the traveling public but also to make our information more meaningful,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock.

For example, road closures will be displayed in their entire length, rather than as a single point on the map, and users will be able to toggle between Map View and Route View. In addition, Route Report lets users choose a specific route by clicking on a link instead of searching for the route on the map.

Another new feature is a scrolling status bar that displays urgent traffic information, such as current major incidents, at the top of the page. Information about an incident can be displayed with a click. AMBER Alerts will be displayed in the same space.

A navigation bar on the left side of the screen allows users to customize their view by turning on and off “layers” of information. Users also can select city or regional maps from a scroll-down menu and immediately zoom to that area.

When there are updates on the site, the Refresh button, at the top right of the map, will appear. Clicking will refresh the page.

Upcoming events that could affect travel on Kentucky roadways will be displayed in a Future Info section, so travelers can plan accordingly. The new menu also gives links to data feeds such as RSS and Twitter.

A brief demonstration video on some key features of the new 511 site is available on the KYTC website at http://transportation.ky.gov/511/how-to-use-511.html.

The 511 service was launched in Kentucky in 2002 to provide useful and timely traffic and travel information about Kentucky roadways. A telephone version of the service is available by dialing 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 12, 2010) ­— A split second of driver distraction can turn a highway work zone into a death zone. On average, a person dies every 10 hours and someone is injured every 13 minutes in a work zone in the United States.

Last year in Kentucky, nine people died and nearly 140 people were injured in highway construction and maintenance work zones. That underscores the importance of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's work zone safety campaign April 12-16. The cabinet is hosting events across the state to highlight the safety message.

“Sadly, people are killed every year in highway work zones, but that fate is not written in stone,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Drivers have the power to turn those statistics around by paying attention to their surroundings and obeying work zone restrictions.”

More than 40,000 people are injured and hundreds are killed yearly in work zones, which besides highway construction and maintenance can involve utility crews, mowing contractors, brush cutters and tree trimmers. Eighty-five percent of those killed are motorists.

The Transportation Cabinet will invest in hundreds of highway projects again this year. Traditionally, the highway construction season kicks off in April. Cabinet engineers and contractors work cooperatively to design projects and work schedules that minimize delays and crashes. 

“Work zone safety concerns all of us,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “Every driver has a responsibility in keeping our roadways safe. By working together, we can end the needless loss of life in highway work zones.”

Geveden offered 10 work zone safety tips:

Expect the unexpected.

Slow down.

Don't tailgate. Keep a safe distance between vehicles.

Keep a safe distance from workers and equipment.

Pay attention to signs.

Obey road crew flaggers.

Stay alert and minimize distractions.

Keep up with the traffic flow.

Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.

Be patient and stay calm.

Kentucky's work zone safety campaign precedes National Work Zone Safety week, April 19-23.

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FRANKFORT , Ky. – Volunteers will be out in force next week to spring clean Kentucky highways. The Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced today that the Adopt-a-Highway Spring Clean Week will be held March 21-27.

“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet appreciates the efforts of our Adopt-a-Highway volunteers who help keep our highways and communities beautiful and litter-free,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

More than 1,100 groups participate in Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway program, which was established in 1988. Volunteers clean approximately 8,800 miles of roadside annually, setting an example of responsible environmental stewardship.

“The increase in group enrollment in the program shows that Kentuckians place high value on maintaining and improving the scenic beauty of our state,” Hancock said. 

The Adopt-a-Highway program promotes public environmental awareness and supports tourism. The program also creates a partnership between citizens, community and government, and establishes a sense of pride in the Bluegrass State. 

GET INVOLVED!

How can you contribute to the community, make a difference, send a message and educate others – all while having fun with friends and family? Join Kentucky's Adopt-a-Highway Program.  By taking responsibility for an area roadway, you set an example in your community.

The environment is everyone's responsibility. Adopt-a-Highway provides the opportunity to be a part of the solution. Each year, the KYTC spends about $5 million and 200,000 worker hours to remove 96,000 bags of highway litter. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers help save thousands of taxpayer dollars and demonstrate that a clean environment is a shared responsibility.

Any permanently established business, association, community or public organization, or government entity can adopt a stretch of highway. A wide range of groups throughout Kentucky now participate, including homemaker clubs, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, high school organizations, service clubs, veterans, college fraternities and sororities, sports teams and church groups, among others.

Volunteers adopt two-mile sections of highway under a two-year, renewable contract with the Transportation Cabinet.

Adopt-a-Highway coordinators can explain the fundamentals of the program to volunteer groups, work with group members in locating an available highway, and keep them notified of news and upcoming events.

Litter pickups are held at least four times per year or as many times as necessary to keep adopted areas reasonably litter-free. The cabinet coordinates three annual clean-up efforts.

HOW DO I JOIN?

Groups interested in becoming members of the Adopt-a-Highway Program can find details and district coordinator information at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/ .  Safety guidelines are provided to volunteers and should be reviewed prior to each cleanup.

The Adopt-a-Highway coordinators help volunteers get in touch with the county maintenance crew superintendent to arrange warning sign placement on the date of pickup. Trash bags and safety vests can be obtained at each state maintenance facility, and litter removal is provided by the state highway crews.

For more information, visit our Web site at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/ .  For questions or comments, contact Miranda Thacker, 502-564-3419, or e-mail Miranda.Thacker@ky.gov .

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2010) — A weather maker surging southeastwardly from the northern Plains could bring more snow to Kentucky by Sunday, pre-empting weekend rest for state highway crews.

The National Weather Service today said snow was likely across Kentucky Sunday and Monday. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews have pretreated roadways where conditions permitted and have restocked anti-icing supplies, such as salt and calcium chloride.

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said crews have done a good job keeping roads clear this winter.

“We monitor developing weather carefully and plan and respond accordingly,” Hancock said. “As long as snow and ice are a threat, our crews will be mobilized.”

Local storm response strategies are primarily planned from the 12 highway district offices: Paducah, Madisonville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Covington, Lexington, Somerset, Flemingsburg, Jackson, Manchester and Pikeville.

During significant snow and ice events, staffing in the cabinet's 24-hour Traffic Operations Center is increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. The public can access updated travel and weather information online at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

Motorists should always use extra caution while driving in wintry weather, including allowing plenty of room for snow plows and other heavy equipment. Allow ample travel time, and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2010) — Due to inclement weather, the Kentucky graduated driver’s license class scheduled today in Whitley County is canceled.

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The new Civil Engineering Technology Scholarship Program will prepare students for work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet upon graduation. Each scholarship student will receive $2,500 per semester toward an associate's degree in civil engineering technology from the Prestonsburg or Lexington KCTCS campuses. Scholarship students agree to work for a year for the cabinet for every year they receive the award.

“Engineering technologists are critical to the cabinet's mission and involved in a wide variety of transportation functions, from roadway design to bridge inspections,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “We're excited to launch this scholarship program that will provide a pipeline of highly qualified technologists and afford selected students a unique opportunity to advance their careers.”

The Transportation Cabinet may provide summer employment for scholarship students who make reasonable progress in their academic work. 

The deadline for applying for the civil engineering technology scholarships is March 1. Recipients will be notified by April 1. The scholarships will be awarded once per year.

For more information, including an application available for download, please go to:
www.transportation.ky.gov/scholarship/engineeringtechscholarship.asp

Information on other scholarship opportunities is available at www.transportation.gov on the education link.

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Crews throughout most of the state are plowing and treating roads. Crews in parts of western Kentucky — in the Purchase and Pennyrile regions — are spot treating and patrolling for trouble spots.

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said crews are fully mobilized to handle the weather. “Our crews will work until roads are clear,” Hancock said.

Motorists should always use extra caution while driving in wintry weather, including giving a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy equipment. Allow ample travel time, and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Although thousands of tons of snow-fighting chemicals have been dispensed during the latest snowstorm, the state has ample stocks of brine, salt and calcium chloride.

Staffing in the cabinet's 24-hour Traffic Operations Center has been increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. The public can access updated travel and weather information online at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

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Kentucky graduated license classes are canceled today in Boyd, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Hardin, Jefferson, Nelson, Ohio and Warren counties.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews today are pushing back against another significant snow storm as it tracks northeastwardly through the Commonwealth.

Crews are working in all 12 Department of Highways districts to clear roads as much as possible before falling temperatures freeze surfaces and threaten to cause hazardous driving conditions.

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said crews are fully mobilized to handle the weather. “Our crews will work until roads are clear,” Hancock said.

Kentucky has ample stocks of brine — a water and salt mixture used in pretreatment — salt and calcium chloride, which, combined with salt, is also an effective anti-icing agent.

Local storm response strategies are primarily planned from the 12 highway district offices: Paducah, Madisonville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Louisville, Covington, Lexington, Somerset, Flemingsburg, Jackson, Manchester and Pikeville.

Staffing in the cabinet’s 24-hour Traffic Operations Center has been increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. The public can access updated travel and weather information online at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

Motorists should always use extra caution while driving in wintry weather, including giving a wide berth to snow plows and other heavy equipment. Allow ample travel time, and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 2, 2010) – Gov. Steve Beshear's recommended Kentucky Highway Plan for fiscal years 2010 through 2016 was presented today to members of the General Assembly.

The plan is based on a combination of traditional federal and state highway funds and bond sales. The plan identifies more projects that would be eligible for federal stimulus funding and assumes a nontraditional funding source for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project.

“This plan lays a strategic path to ensure that Kentucky 's most pressing highway improvement projects are realized,” Gov. Beshear said. “The national economy has depressed traditional funding for roads, but we cannot afford to abandon our Commonwealth's infrastructure priorities.”

“The realities of the national economy and a less reliable federal highway trust fund create significant obstacles for states trying to plan for the future,” acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “We have laid out a budgeting strategy to keep Kentucky 's highway program on track for the next several years. However, there are some long-term federal issues — including the health of the highway trust fund — that we hope will be soon addressed.”

Some highlights of the recommended plan:

•  $1.9 billion through FY 2016 for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project. The total assumes $1.44 billion of “innovative financing” to be determined by a Kentucky-Indiana bi-state authority. The total also includes $231 million from sale of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds this year and in FY 2011.

•  A $300 million sale of state road bonds, of which about $155 million would be available for new projects. The rest would be used to finish state projects from a bond sale in 2009.

•  $112 million from a second sale of bonds to support “BRAC” projects associated with the realignment of Fort Knox .

•  $330 million for new bridges over Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake .

•  $301 million through the coming biennium, and $611.1 million through FY 2016, for bridge replacements statewide.

The recommended plan can be accessed at http://transportation.ky.gov/progmgmt/2010highwayplan.html

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Several inches of snow fell over parts of the commonwealth, part of a system chased by a cold front forecast to produce gusty winds, possibly resulting in snowdrifts.

“The volume of snow hasn’t been overwhelming, but the frigid temperatures complicate our response strategy,” Acting Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Salt and other anti-icing agents lose potency in extremely low temperatures, making it critical for crews to clear as much as possible while the mercury is higher. Crews will work until roads are clear, Hancock said.

Statewide, the Transportation Cabinet has a fleet of more than 1,000 snowplows and ample stockpiles of salt and other snow-fighting chemicals. Contract crews are also helping battle the storm.

Motorists should use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Staffing in the cabinet’s 24-hour Traffic Operations Center has been increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. 

The public can access updated travel and weather information online at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 6, 2010) — State highway crews are preparing for snowfall expected to begin in western Kentucky early Thursday and sweep eastward, blanketing a region already gripped by frigid, arctic air.

District highway crews in western and central Kentucky have pretreated roadways with salt brine where possible, a process complicated by the low temperatures. Generally, pavement temperatures above 20 degrees are considered suitable for pretreating. Highway crews in eastern Kentucky have battled light snow daily this week and today were preparing equipment for Thursday’s storm.

“We are carefully monitoring the development of this weather system to ensure our crews are prepared,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said.

Statewide, the Transportation Cabinet has a fleet of more than 1,000 snowplows and ample stockpiles of salt and other snow-fighting chemicals. State and contract crews will be ready to roll as snowfall begins.

Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

Tips for winter weather driving:

• Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized. Check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers and windshield washer.
• Dress in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, in anticipation of unexpected emergencies.
• Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and to prepare for possibly lengthy delays on the roadway.
• Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route.
• Carry a cell phone.
• Equip your vehicle with an emergency care kit. It should include jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, ice scraper, blankets, nonperishable food, first aid kit, and traction material.
• Check the forecast and call 511 or visit 511.ky.gov for the latest condition reports before traveling. Avoid nonessential travel if conditions are dangerous.
• Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination. Do not use cruise control. 
• Remember that bridges and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.
• Stopping in snow requires more braking distance than stopping on dry pavement – up to four times more distance. Make sure to put plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle ahead.
• Be visible. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility, so drive using low-beam headlights.
• Steer into a skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.
• During significant winter weather events, the KYTC will provide media outlets with updated road condition reports throughout the day and night.

The emergency vehicles of Kentucky’s SAFE Patrol — Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies — will be dispatched at 4 a.m. daily this week to monitor interstates and parkways for stranded motorists. SAFE operators can be reached at 877-FOR-KYTC (367-5982).

During significant snow and ice events, staffing in the cabinet’s 24-hour Traffic Operations Center (TOC) is increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. 

The public can access updated travel and weather information online at www.511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 5, 2010) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is in winter weather mode this week — preparing for a snow storm expected to begin Wednesday, in the midst of a deep freeze that has gripped the eastern United States.

“The bitter cold compounds the problem of snow because it limits our ability to pretreat roadways for advancing precipitation,” Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “Our crews are prepared to battle the elements to keep roadways in the best possible condition.”

Many central and eastern Kentucky highway crews were treating and removing snow from an earlier weather maker on Tuesday. Crews in parts of the state have been placed on 12-hour shifts this week to aid the snow and ice response.

In addition, the emergency vehicles of Kentucky’s SAFE Patrol — Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies — will be dispatched at 4 a.m. daily to monitor parkways for stranded motorists.

Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather and remember that bridges and overpasses typically freeze before surface-level roadways.

During significant snow and ice events, staffing in the cabinet’s Traffic Operations Center (TOC) is increased to coordinate and distribute information throughout the state. The TOC, which operates around the clock, keeps highway districts informed of weather and roadway conditions and of actions such as pretreating, treating or removing snow.

Highway and weather information is available online at www.511.ky.gov or can be accessed by dialing 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 18, 2009) — The threat of severe wintry weather across the commonwealth has prompted the cancellation of all state traffic school classes and graduated driver’s licensing classes scheduled for Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19. The cancellation affects classes statewide.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. - Drunken driving is one of America's deadliest crimes. Last year, 11,773 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

That is why the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) announced today it is joining with sheriff's offices, police departments and the Kentucky State Police to take part in a national crackdown on impaired driving - Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

"Make no mistake. Our message is simple. No matter what you drive, if you are driving impaired, you will be arrested. No exceptions. No excuses," said KOHS Executive Director Chuck Geveden. "Officers will be out in force statewide conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and using undercover officers to get more drunk drivers off the road-and save lives that might otherwise be lost."

In Kentucky last year there were more than 5,000 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 2,754 injuries and 160 deaths.  Twenty fatalities - eight involving alcohol - occurred during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

"Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state, yet we continue to see far too many people suffer debilitating injuries and loss of their loved ones as a result of impaired driving," said Boyd Sigler, director of the KOHS Division of Highway Safety Programs. "This careless disregard for human life must stop."

Geveden said drunken driving is simply not worth the risk. "Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant," said Geveden. "Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver's license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses."

Sigler wants all motorists to do what is necessary to protect themselves against a drunk driver.  "Both drivers and passengers must realize that seat belts are the single most important safety device in the vehicle," said Sigler.  "Not only is it the law, it is your best defense against injury and death."

The Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. impaired driving crackdown is a deterrence program organized by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It combines high-visibility enforcement with heightened public awareness through advertising and publicity. 

This December's effort is supported by $7.5 million in national advertising to help put everyone on notice that if they are caught driving impaired, they will be arrested. 

If you see a person operating a vehicle while impaired, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.

For more information, visit http://highwaysafety.ky.gov and www.Stopimpaireddriving.org <http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/> .

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 30, 2009) – Students from Williamstown Independent Schools, Glasgow High School, Whitney Young Elementary in Louisville and Gamaliel Elementary in Monroe County have taken first place in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's 2009 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest.

“The purpose of the contest is to increase environmental awareness among children,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock. “We hope to educate our young people about the devastating effects of litter, and to change attitudes and behaviors about littering.”

The first-place winner in each of four categories receives a $100 savings bond along with a framed print of the winning poster.  The second-, third- and fourth-place winners each receive a $50 savings bond and framed prints of their posters. Awards will be presented during a luncheon ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 2, at the Executive Mansion in Frankfort . 

The winners are:

6-8 age category

First Place        Clayton Biggerstaff       Gamaliel Elementary ( Monroe County )

Second Place   Tahlon Lambdin            Rangeland Elementary ( Jefferson County )

Third Place       Brylee Pickerell            Joe Harrison Carter Elementary ( Monroe County )

9-11 age category

First Place        Sonia Linan Ortega       Whitney Young Elementary ( Jefferson County )

Second Place   Hanson Zhou                Williamstown Independent Schools ( Grant County )

Third Place       Laura Hamilton             Gamaliel Elementary

12-14 age category

First Place         Eve Berry                     Glasgow High School ( Barren County )

Second Place   Alec Dalton                  Williamstown Independent Schools

Third Place Madison Bowden         Barren County Middle School

15-17 age group

First Place Taylor Stith                   Williamstown Independent Schools

Second Place   Steve Faulkner             Williamstown Independent Schools

Third Place Charlotte Brindley         Logan County High School

The Transportation Cabinet received 1,996 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest entries from elementary, middle and high school students throughout the commonwealth.  Calendars featuring the winners' posters will be provided to all the winners and their classrooms.

This year's contest judges included Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Acting Secretary Joe Meyer, Georgetown College professor Rachel Brewer, Kentucky State University professor Reba Rye, Transportation Public Affairs Executive Director Chuck Wolfe, and Miranda Thacker, statewide coordinator.  Judges did not know the identities of the artists or their schools.

“With so many excellent posters this year and a tremendous amount of entries submitted, it was really ha rd to judge,” said Meyer.  “We appreciate all the hard work and effort the students put into their posters.  Every entry is a winner.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urges students and teachers to get an early start on the 2010 poster contest. The cabinet will begin accepting entries on March 1, 2010. The entries will close on Sept. 30, 2010.

NOTE:   The winning entries can be viewed from the KYTC newsroom.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 23, 2009) – Thomas O. Zawacki, who compiled a record of managerial accomplishment during a lengthy career in the automotive industry, has been appointed commissioner of the Department of Vehicle Regulation by Gov. Steve Beshear.

Zawacki, whose appointment was effective Oct. 16, retired in June from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. He was general manager of the General Affairs Department, with offices in Georgetown and Erlanger.

As commissioner, Zawacki will oversee a department with three divisions: Driver Licensing, Motor Carriers and Motor Vehicle Licensing.

“I’m honored to be considered for this position,” said Zawacki.  “I believe my long history of administrative management experience can bring value to the Transportation Cabinet and to the citizens of the commonwealth.”

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said Zawacki’s expertise and managerial ability are well-suited to a department that provides essential public services in every corner of the commonwealth.

“Tom’s vast leadership experience will be a valuable asset for the Transportation Cabinet,” Hancock said.

In 22 years with Toyota, Zawacki’s responsibilities ran the gamut from purchasing to production planning and new project management, facilities control, environmental engineering, corporate and business services, community relations and corporate communications.

Prior to joining Toyota, he was purchasing section manager for Nissan Motor Manufacturing USA. He began his career in the industry as a buyer for Ford Motor Co. in 1976.

In Kentucky, Zawacki also serves as chairman of the Board of Regents of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and is a former chairman of the KCTCS Foundation. He also served on the boards of the Japan-America Society of Kentucky and United Way of the Bluegrass and as president of the Center for Creative People and Organizations. He is a former chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Lexington Urban League and the Georgetown Community Hospital.

Zawacki is a native of Birmingham, Mich., and a graduate of Ferris State University. He holds a master’s in procurement management from Webster University. He and his wife, Debbie, reside in Georgetown. They have two married daughters and two grandchildren.

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“Today we take a historic step,” said Gov. Beshear, who received the recommendation. “It is a necessary step if our vision of two new Ohio River bridges between Louisville and southern Indiana is to become reality.”

The project, which also would involve the reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange, where Interstates 64, 65 and 71 come together in downtown Louisville, is currently estimated at $4.1 billion. Kentucky’s share would be $2.9 billion – too great a cost for Kentucky’s traditional system of funding transportation projects.

Recognizing that, Gov. Beshear proposed legislation for creation of a special state authority – the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority – to oversee the development and financing of “mega” projects such as the Ohio River bridges. The General Assembly enacted the legislation as House Bill 3 of the 2009 special session.

The state authority can enter into bi-state agreements with Indiana on projects that would serve both states. It also can create local authorities for projects entirely within Kentucky.

The recommendation to create a bi-state authority for the Ohio River Bridges project will require corresponding action by Indiana. Each state would have seven members on the panel. Gov. Beshear would appoint three of Kentucky’s members and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson would appoint four. The appointees would require confirmation by the Kentucky Senate and the Louisville Metro Council, respectively.

Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock serves as chairman of the state authority, which has 11 members, six of whom are private citizens. They come from across Kentucky, and all serve on the authority without salary. “Service on this authority requires a significant personal commitment, and I am deeply grateful to all those who are giving of their time and talents,” Hancock said.

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FRANKFORT, Ky.—The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet now offers 511 traffic information through Twitter. This feature provides the latest road closures, delays, construction areas, vehicle crashes and other roadway incidents.

“This service provides the customers another avenue to get the latest traffic information as they are traveling or planning a trip,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.

Sign up through Twitter to follow “KYTC511” and receive the latest updates through e-mail and cell phones. Visit http://twitter.com and sign up for a free account. Then, visit http://twitter.com/KYTC511 and click Follow.

You can also access 511 on your “smartphone” by opening your Google Maps application and searching for http://511.ky.gov/feeds/trafficconditions.xml. On the iPhone, simply visit http://511.ky.gov.

The cabinet also offers:

http://twitter.com/KYTCRevive65

http://twitter.com/KYTCI64

http://twitter.com/KYTCI75

http://twitter.com/KYTCI264

http://twitter.com/KYTCI275

http://twitter.com/KYTC

http://twitter.com/KYTCminute

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$37.6 million project ‘brings longtime vision into focus'

OWENSBORO, Ky. (Sept. 9, 2009) — Gov. Steve Beshear today joined community leaders in Owensboro to break ground on the long-awaited US 60 Bypass extension, a two-phase project that will give motorists in Daviess County a seamless, four-lane connection to area express routes.

“I know the people of Owensboro and Daviess County are excited about this project, and so am I,” Gov. Beshear said during a ceremony at Meadow Lands Elementary School, near the construction site. “The bypass extension is an important investment for this community and the transportation network of this entire region.

“Today’s groundbreaking brings a longtime vision into focus. This project is finally a reality,” Gov. Beshear said.

The $37.6 million project — the first of two extension construction phases — includes a 2.3-mile, four-lane stretch from the intersection of US 60 and Wrights Landing Road to Hardinsburg Road. The first phase also includes a half-mile connector route to Pleasant Valley Road, which will provide better access to Meadow Lands School and a new hospital planned by Owensboro Medical Health System.

When completed, the bypass extension will be part of a new, four-lane corridor from Owensboro to Interstate 64 at Dale, Ind., via US 231, which is currently under construction in Indiana. The new highway will also improve traffic flow east and north of Owensboro.

“We are very excited to see the bypass construction begin,” said Jody Wassmer, president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. “It is the final piece to a new four-lane corridor between I-64 and I-65 that promises positive economic development for this region through the heart of Owensboro and Daviess County.”

Phase 1 includes 1,782 feet of bridge structure, most of which will span the Yellow Creek wetlands.

The low-bid contract was awarded to Owensboro-based Yager Materials LLC.

Funding of the project includes $27.2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)– commonly known as the federal stimulus for transportation.

“The Recovery Act has one primary purpose – to put Americans and Kentuckians back to work – and that is exactly what it is doing,” the Governor said. “Yager Materials is an Owensboro company, and this project will mean Recovery Act payroll being pumped into the Owensboro economy.”

Statewide, ARRA projects in Kentucky had generated $1.7 million in payroll through July.

Gov. Beshear also presents funding for two Daviess County projects

Gov. Beshear also presented over $550,000 in Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for the preservation of the Utica Walking Trail and the second phase of the River Heritage History Gallery project.

The Daviess County Fiscal Court received $327,788 to assist in the rail corridor preservation and pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the Utica Walking Trail.  The trail runs along Ben Ford Road south to KY 140 in Utica and will provide a convenient and “green” transportation alternative to vehicular traffic. 

The Owensboro Museum of Science and History received $250,000 to fund the second phase of the River Heritage History Gallery project.  This specific gallery will explore the history and texture of the river community.

Transportation Enhancements are transportation-related activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, historic and environmental aspects of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure.  Federal funding is available to government agencies to provide support for transportation and community improvement projects.  TE funding is administered by the Transportation Cabinet.

Information about TE is available at http:/www.tea21.ky.gov .

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 15, 2009) – In an effort to raise awareness of traffic safety laws and encourage safe driving habits, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), an agency of the Transportation Cabinet, is sponsoring the “Blue Lights Across the Bluegrass” campaign July 20 through July 31 in counties with four or more fatalities so far in 2009.

“We are concerned with our fatality numbers,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “The year started with a reduction, but increased in May and most of June.”

Overall, fatalities are on the rise. As of July 15, there were 405 fatalities, three more than at the same time last year. Of the 335 killed in passenger car crashes, 62 percent were not wearing seat belts and 22 percent involved alcohol. Similarly, 63 percent of those killed in motorcycle crashes were not wearing a helmet.

“Our office has identified 37 counties as our target areas,” said Boyd Sigler, director of the KOHS Division of Highway Safety Programs. “Law enforcement will be out in force, citing anyone committing traffic violations. Whether you drive a car or motorcycle, you must obey the law.”

Officers will patrol all roadways in their designated city or county but with a special emphasis on areas where most fatalities have occurred.

“We hope our combined efforts will encourage everyone to wear a seat belt or helmet, drive the speed limit, and never drive impaired,” said Prather.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that seat belts, when worn correctly, reduce the risk of fatalities by 45 percent for front-seat vehicle occupants, and by 60 percent for pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants. Also according to NHTSA, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect against and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

There were 826 fatalities on Kentucky roadways in 2008, including 649 people in motor vehicles. Of those, 70 percent were not buckled up and over 20 percent involved alcohol.

Total Highway Fatalities

2000 - 823
2001 - 843
2002 - 915
2003 - 931
2004 - 964
2005 - 985
2006 - 913
2007 - 864
2008 - 826

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ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (July 1, 2009) — Work to rehabilitate two sets of twin bridges – over Green River and US 31W – continues along Interstate 65 in Hart County.

-Wednesday, July 1: Traffic will be pushed down to one lane and motorists can expect long delays while work is done on the southbound bridge over US 31W at mile marker 64.

-Thursday, July 2: Work will continue on the southbound bridge over US 31W until 10 a.m.

-Work will restart on Saturday, July 11 for the northbound bridge over the Green River at mile marker 61 at 4 p.m.

There will be a signed detour following US 31W for wide loads during the construction work.

Motorists are asked to use extra caution and reduce their speed in the area.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 1, 2009) – Effective today, July 1, law enforcement officers will no longer provide a courtesy warning to motorists who violate Kentucky’s booster seat law. Violators will be issued a $30 fine, but will have the option of purchasing a booster seat instead of paying the fine.

Gov. Steve Beshear signed legislation in April 2008 aimed at improving safety for child passengers in Kentucky. Senate Bill 120 requires that children younger than 7 and between 40 and 50 inches tall be secured in a booster seat.

“Booster seats are proven to be effective at saving young lives. This law provides a reasonable approach to help achieve our ultimate goal of saving lives and reducing injuries. I’m honored to have been a part of it,” said Gov. Beshear.

“It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to ensure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “A booster seat is designed to fit and protect those children too big for a harnessed car seat, but too small for a seat belt.”

Boosters elevate children so that the seat belt, which is designed for an adult, is in the proper position to protect the child in a crash. Children involved in crashes with improperly fitted seat belts often receive life-threatening injuries to the abdomen, neck, spine or back.

“With motor vehicle crashes being the leading cause of death for children nationwide, the law is certainly a step in the right direction,” said Erin Goin, statewide child passenger safety coordinator with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “However, because seat belts are designed to fit people who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, we encourage the use of boosters until the maximum height and weight limit specified by the seat manufacturer is reached.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a properly installed, belt-positioning booster seat lowers the risk of injury to children by nearly 60 percent, compared with seat belts alone.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 1, 2009) – The number of people killed on Kentucky’s roadways is declining, according to preliminary numbers from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), an agency of the Transportation Cabinet. There were 374 fatalities as of June 30, five fewer than at the same time last year.

“The recent decrease in fatalities is what we’ve been hoping for, considering our numbers were up in May and most of June,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Joe Prather. “However, there is still work to be done. Over half of those killed were not wearing seat belts and 22 percent involved alcohol.”

In an effort to continue the decrease in fatalities and raise awareness of traffic safety laws, the KOHS is sponsoring the “Blue Lights Across the Bluegrass” campaign July 20 through July 31 in counties with four or more fatalities.

“By closely monitoring our fatality numbers, we’ve identified 37 counties as our target areas,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “State and local law enforcement will be out in force, looking for anyone not obeying the laws of the road.”

While officers will patrol all roadways in their designated city or county, a special emphasis will be placed on the areas where the majority of fatalities have occurred.

“We hope our combined efforts will encourage everyone to wear a seat belt or helmet, drive the speed limit, and never drive impaired,” said Prather.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that seat belts, when worn correctly, reduce the risk of fatalities by 45 percent for front-seat vehicle occupants, and by 60 percent for in pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants. Also according to NHTSA, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect against and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.

“No matter what you drive – a car, truck or motorcycle – you must obey the law or you will be cited,” added Geveden.

There were 826 fatalities on Kentucky roadways in 2008, including 649 people in motor vehicles. Of those, 70 percent were not buckled up and over 20 percent involved alcohol.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 1, 2009) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky Environmental Education Council have teamed together on a survey to gauge how much the public knows about storm water pollution and how it can be reduced.

The survey is part of a public information and involvement effort that is required under a Clean Water Act permit program that governs storm water management by the cabinet and communities with populations of 10,000 to 100,000.

The permit program – Kentucky Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) Phase II – also covers illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction runoff control, post construction management, and pollution prevention from municipal operations.

The survey, which was administered by the University of Kentucky Survey Research Center, will be used in developing storm water public education and public participation goals and strategies. It will assist MS4 Phase II communities and agencies in deciding where to focus educational outreach efforts and in measuring, over time, the benefits of improved water quality resulting from a better educated public.

The telephone survey was conducted June 13, 2008, to Jan. 31, 2009, among a random sample of 4,527 adults from 26 MS4 Phase II communities.

Results indicate many respondents lack awareness of the harmful effects of storm water pollution. For example, 47 percent said they did not associate soapy runoff, from laundry or washing a car, with harm to the environment. (Fact: Certain substances in soap can cause algae blooms in water, triggering a chain reaction that uses up oxygen needed by fish and other aquatic wildlife.)

Results: http://www.stormwater.kytc.ky.gov/MCM1/mcm1_MS4surveyresults.html.

To learn more: http://www.stormwater.kytc.ky.gov/.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 30, 2009) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has launched a pilot project to improve traffic control at incident scenes along interstate highways in an attempt to reduce a special hazard to emergency responders and other motorists – secondary crashes.

The project will provide standard traffic control equipment to fire departments and emergency responders in the Frankfort area and those along the Interstate 65 corridor between Franklin and Elizabethtown.

“With this equipment and training, emergency responders will be able to provide an improved level of traffic control at incidents in these areas,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of highway safety. “The goal of this project is to improve safety at the scene of the incident for both responders and the traveling public.”

Highway crash site management and traffic control training was held today at the Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lawrenceburg Campus for 28 fire commission instructors, who will distribute the traffic control kits and train first responders at the selected locations. The training is provided through the University of Kentucky Transportation Center and the Kentucky Fire Commission.

The kits include: warning signs on a fluorescent pink background, portable sign supports, traffic cones, flagger paddles and high visibility safety vests.

The $100,000 project is funded through the cabinet’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which aims to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads through the implementation of infrastructure-related highway safety improvements. The project’s effectiveness will be evaluated by the Kentucky Transportation Center.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 29, 2009) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) is reminding everyone to “Drive Smart” during the July Fourth holiday period. Officers will be out in force, cracking down on any violation, with an emphasis on impaired drivers. The Drunk Driving. Over the Limit, Under Arrest enforcement blitz will run from Thursday, July 2 through Sunday, July 5.

“This time of year, people hit the road to join friends and family for celebrations across the state,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Through traffic safety checkpoints and aggressive patrols, state and local law enforcement will utilize all available resources in an effort to make Kentucky’s roadways as safe as possible.”

Last year in Kentucky, 67 crashes and four fatalities were attributed to alcohol during the July Fourth weekend. Of the 826 total fatalities in Kentucky last year, 178 involved alcohol. Seventeen alcohol-related deaths involved a motorcyclist.

“Too many people fail to understand that alcohol and driving don’t mix,” said KOHS Executive Director Chuck Geveden. “Driving impaired isn’t worth the risk.”

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate almost 13,000 of the 41,059 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2007 involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit in every state.

Also according to NHTSA, 41 percent of the 2,182 motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2007 had BAC levels of 0.08 or higher. Alarmingly, in fatal crashes in 2007, motorcyclists had greater incidents of illegal BAC levels than any other type of vehicle operator.

“Impaired driving is no accident – nor is it a victimless crime,” said Prather. “It’s vitally important we bring this tragic situation to an end.”

By following these easy steps, drivers can enjoy a safe and festive holiday without jeopardizing their lives and the lives of others on the road:

-Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

-Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys;

-If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;

-Use your community’s Sober Rides program;

-If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement.

Those who drive while impaired don’t only risk killing themselves or someone else. The trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be significant. Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s licenses, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses.

“No matter what you drive – passenger car, pickup or motorcycle – if you are caught driving impaired you will be arrested,” said Geveden. “Don’t let this Fourth of July blow up in your face. Remember. Drunk Driving. Over the Limit, Under Arrest.”

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 26, 2009) -- This year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement effort, coordinated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety (KOHS), cited 23,253 motorists for not buckling up.

The annual campaign, supported by more than 250 local law enforcement agencies and Kentucky State Police, was held May 18-31.

The campaign’s main objective is to encourage seat belt usage through enforcement of Kentucky’s seat belt law. In the process, officers at 908 checkpoints throughout the commonwealth also made 1,406 drunken driving arrests, 1,118 felony arrests, and 1,358 drug arrests. They recovered 61 stolen vehicles and apprehended 1,523 fugitives. They also cited 11,505 drivers for speeding and 6,724 people for having no proof of automobile insurance.

“The goal of the Click It or Ticket campaign is not to write tickets, but to save lives,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We want to educate the public on the importance of wearing a seat belt and to reduce deaths and injuries along our roadways. It’s an extra benefit when traffic enforcement leads to criminal enforcement.”

Chuck Geveden, executive director of KOHS, said law enforcement agencies are a valuable resource in reducing deaths and injuries on Kentucky roadways. “We believe our educational efforts are strengthened by working closely with law enforcement throughout the year to promote our highway safety messages,” said Geveden.

During the mobilization, those not buckled up or in violation of other laws received a citation. But those who were buckled received a different kind of ticket – a “Click It FOR Tickets” voucher, which allowed them to register to win a set of six tickets to the Kentucky Speedway.

Winners were Russ Hammermeister, of Frankfort; Walter Greene, Hopkinsville; Irene Beeler, Crestwood; Dawn Arnold, Cynthiana; Lori Eve, Frankfort, and Devon Caldwell, West Paducah. Two sets of tickets were provided to each of three races – the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the IndyCar Series.

Additional rewards were provided at about 60 McDonald’s restaurants to kick-off the campaign in central and eastern Kentucky on Monday, May 18. Police officers handed out prizes, coupons and informational flyers at area drive-thrus, giving coupons to drivers and passengers wearing their seat belts.

“We’re pleased with the results of this year’s Click It or Ticket campaign,” said Geveden. “The partnership between all the agencies, organizations and businesses involved was tremendous. If one life was saved, it was well worth the effort.”

Despite Kentucky’s primary seat belt law, Kentucky remains at the bottom nationally in seat belt usage rates, at only 73 percent.

There were 826 fatalities on Kentucky roadways last year, including 649 people in motor vehicles. Of those, 70 percent were not buckled. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans.

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According to AAA, an estimated 32.4 million people will be hitting the roads this Memorial Day weekend – a half million more than in 2008.

That means drivers need to be extremely cautious, said Chuck Geveden, director of the Office of Highway Safety (OHS). “With more cars on the roads, motorists more than ever need to follow safe driving practices. That means, among other things, wear your seatbelt, don’t drink and drive, follow the speed limit, and stay alert.”

According to OHS, there were five fatalities in Kentucky during the 2008 Memorial holiday period: one motorcyclist, one pedestrian, and three motorists – two of whom were not wearing seatbelts. One fatality involved alcohol.

So far this year, 291 fatalities have occurred on Kentucky roadways, seven more than at the same point in 2008.

The Click It or Ticket campaign, coordinated by OHS, will be in full swing throughout the holiday weekend and encourages motorists to wear seatbelts.

“Officers will still be out watching for motorists who are not wearing their seatbelts, and will be issuing tickets to those not obeying the law,” Geveden said.

The campaign runs through May 31.

When worn correctly, seat belts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45 percent – and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Kentucky remains near the bottom nationally for seat belt usage, at 73 percent.

Of the 826 fatalities in Kentucky in 2008, 55 percent were not buckled up. If Kentucky were to raise seatbelt usage to the national average of 83 percent, it would prevent 51 fatalities, 589 serious injuries, and $134 million in injury-related economic impacts.

In addition to wearing a seat belt, the OHS suggests the following safe driving tips, especially during the busy holiday travel season:

-Look ahead. Scan the road and establish a “visual lead” of 20 to 30 seconds ahead.

-Keep a “Space Cushion.” Maintain a three- to four-second gap between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

-Signal your intentions. When turning, use a signal at least 100 feet before the turn.

-Be aware. Check rearview and side mirrors approximately 10 times per minute and speedometer approximately once per minute.

-Use your headlights. Driving with your headlights on doubles the distance at which you can be seen.

-Adjust your speed on wet roadways. If the road is wet, reduce speed by five to 10 miles an hour. AVOID USING CRUISE CONTROL IN WET CONDITIONS!

-Adjust to visibility restrictions. In heavy rain or thick fog you may not see more than 100 feet ahead. To help, adjust your speed and use low-beam headlights.

-Limit cell phone usage. Using a cell phone while driving increases your chance of a crash by 400 percent.

-Buckle that child! Always properly restrain children in the back seat.

-Never drink and drive!

Travelers can obtain the latest roadway conditions by visiting www.511.ky.gov or dialing 511. For additional highway safety tips go to www.highwaysafety.ky.gov.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 6, 2009) — Gov. Steve Beshear today announced action by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to reduce the danger of “crossover collisions” on a portion of heavily traveled Interstate 75 in Rockcastle County.

A $1.25 million contract has been awarded to George B. Stone Company to install 9.1 miles of median cable barriers on a four-lane section of I-75 near Mount Vernon.

The area has been the scene of at least 12 crossover collisions, five of which resulted in fatalities.

“Highway safety is a priority of our administration,” Gov. Beshear said. “I am convinced that lives will be saved and some serious injuries prevented with the addition of these median cable barriers.”

The project in Rockcastle County is one of a series of similar actions taken by the Transportation Cabinet.

In July, Gov. Beshear, with Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, announced that 44.2 miles of median cable barriers would be installed on selected sections of I-65 in Bullitt, Hardin, Hart and Barren counties and to a section of the Gene Snyder Freeway – KY 841 – in Jefferson County. That installation work began in January.

Last November, Gov. Beshear announced that concrete temporary barriers would also be placed on about 20 miles of I-65 median not protected by cables. Those sections are in Barren, Edmonson, Hardin and Hart counties.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 17, 2009) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will kick off the roadside mowing season next week, sprucing up roadways in time for the Kentucky Derby.

“The cabinet is working to make sure our roadsides are neat and clean when the international spotlight shines on Kentucky,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather.

Crews will pick up litter and mow along major Louisville-area routes, including Interstate 65 to Elizabethtown, I-64 to Lexington, I-71 to the Carroll County line, I-264 and I-265.

The May to October mowing season will include four mowing cycles along Kentucky’s urban expressways. Three cuttings are planned along most other highways, including rural interstates, parkways and state routes. The interstate mowing contracts include litter removal.

Motorists are asked to be on the lookout for mowing crews and to use extra caution when driving through a mowing zone.

“Fast moving traffic is intimidating for all highway workers, including those on mowing tractors,” said Prather. “We ask the public to help us put safety first by slowing down and using appropriate discretion when crews are working.”

The cabinet spends roughly $25 million annually for mowing and litter removal statewide. About 75 percent of the work is performed by contractors.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 15, 2009) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet today joined veterans from across the commonwealth to help preserve the memory of American men and women lost during foreign combat. Flags to honor the nation’s prisoners of war and missing in action were raised at rest areas and welcome centers throughout the state.

“We are proud to fly these flags as solemn reminders of the great sacrifice so many have made to defend the United States of America,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Let us never forget the price so many have paid in service to all of us.”

“Prisoners of war are casualties that can all too often be easy to forget,” said Stephen Stewart, commander of American Legion Hardin Post 113. “The image of crosses lined in neat rows at Arlington and other national cemeteries reminds us of the high cost of freedom. In any gathering of veterans, the scars of war wounds and missing limbs remind us of the sacrifices of those who have fought for freedom.”

The POW/MIA flags will be flown at 24 rest areas and welcome centers across the commonwealth.

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“It only takes a second of distraction when driving through a work zone. The smallest mistake could keep someone’s mom or dad from coming home to their family,” Oney said.

Oney hopes her words can provide a reminder for those driving through highway work zones this year to be careful. In 2003 her husband, Frank Chandler, died in a work zone crash along KY 8 in Kenton County. She has teamed up with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to participate in several events marking National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 6 – 10.

The week is set aside to salute those who keep our highways in good order and risk their lives doing it. More than 40,000 people are injured and thousands are killed yearly in work zones. The majority of those, 85 percent, are motorists. Three people were killed in Kentucky highway work zones in 2008, according to police records.

Family members of victims, along with traffic safety groups, the Federal Highway Administration, law enforcement, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are taking part in events throughout the state, paying tribute to victims and raising consciousness about work zone safety.

“By talking about the issues, and taking a few minutes to reflect and remember, we hope we can save lives in the future,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary Joe Prather at an event in Louisville. “These people risk their lives every single day so we can go to work, school or the grocery store. We each share a responsibility to make highway work zones as safe as possible by slowing down and being alert when driving through them.”

“We hope this week will be a reminder that thousands of highway workers will be out in force this year, and that their lives are in our hands,” said Boyd Sigler, director of highway safety programs for the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “Work zone safety is a concern for everyone on the road.”

The Transportation Cabinet is expected to invest in hundreds of highway projects again this year. Traditionally, the highway construction season kicks off in April. Cabinet engineers and contractors work cooperatively to design projects and work schedules that minimize delays and crashes.

“Our priority is the safety of our contract employees out there working on road projects,” added Chad Larue, of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors. “We vary work hours and consider other options to ensure quality road projects and a safe working environment within the work zone.”

Here are the top 10 work zone safety tips.

Expect the unexpected. Slow down. Don’t tailgate.
Keep a safe distance between vehicles.
Keep a safe distance from construction workers and equipment.
Pay attention to the signs.
Obey road crew flaggers.
Stay alert and minimize distractions.
Keep up with the traffic flow.
Schedule enough time and call 511 or go to www.511.ky.gov for Kentucky traffic and travel information.
Be patient and stay calm.

This week’s work zone awareness events coincide with National Work Zone Awareness Week.

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That’s why the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issues a yearly reminder for those driving through them: Be careful! That’s someone’s mom or dad working out there!

National Work Zone Safety Week is being recognized throughout Kentucky, with a salute to those who keep our highways in good order and risk their lives doing it.

In Kentucky Department of Highways District 9, highway crews spent the day traveling US 23 in a first-ever Work Zone Safety Road Rally to raise awareness.

“We hope this event, and this week, will be a reminder that thousands of highway workers will be out in force this year, and that their lives are in our hands,” said Boyd Sigler, director of highway safety programs for the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. “Work zone safety is a concern for everyone on the road.”

The Transportation Cabinet is expected to invest in hundreds of highway projects again this year. Road construction projects currently under way in District 9 include:

-The $11.7 million straightening of US 60 near Rock Crusher Curve at Olive Hill. It should be finished by early fall, but contractors and KYTC crews will be working alongside traffic until then. -

-The continued $10.6 million rebuilding of 2.7 miles of KY 519 in Rowan County near Morehead will mean increased work zones along that roadway this summer.

Construction projects scheduled to begin this year include the $15 million resurfacing and repair of six miles of Interstate 64 between Cannonsburg and Catlettsburg in Boyd County, and other projects:

-Widening of KY 7 (Carol Malone Boulevard) in Grayson.

-Replacement of a bridge on KY 1959 over Everman Creek in Carter County.

-Reconstruction of two bridges on KY 7 in Greenup County, over Beechy Creek and Plum Fork.

-New bridge over the Little Sandy River on Main Street in Greenup.

New blacktop is planned on many miles of rural roadways and on at least 30 miles of major routes in District 9, including:

-A mile of US 23 in Boyd County from 40th Street to Greenup Avenue in Ashland, and two and a half miles of US 23 in Greenup County from the Little Sandy River Bridge to KY 3116.

-Nearly 11 miles of KY 59 in Lewis County.

-About 14 miles of US 62, KY 8 and KY 10 in Mason County.

-Four miles of KY 32 between Morehead and Elliottville. Just over three miles of KY 32 east of Sandy Hook.

In addition, District 9 maintenance crews in every county – Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas and Rowan – will be out this spring and summer patching potholes, repairing guardrails, replacing culverts, making sure roadsides stay in good shape and much more. Bridge crews will be inspecting everything from the Ohio River bridges to overpasses on I-64 in Carter County. Traffic crews are on track to repair and replace road signs across the district, and improve traffic signals.

Whatever the work, crews will be out on the road in force, and the Transportation Cabinet again reminds you to: Be careful! That’s someone’s mom or dad working out there!

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 13, 2009) — The number of people killed on Kentucky’s highways dropped to a seven-year low in 2008.
Transportation Cabinet records indicate there were 826 fatalities in Kentucky last year, the lowest total since 2000, when the death toll was 823. Fatalities declined for the third consecutive year in 2008.

“We are pleased to see another reduction in fatalities on Kentucky’s roadways,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, the governor’s designated highway safety representative. “However, one fatality is too many, and we look forward to a day when that number reaches zero.”

Prather attributed the improvement to a number of factors, including the primary seat belt and improved graduated license laws, increased education and enforcement campaigns and engineering safety improvements, such as wider shoulders and median cable barriers.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety coordinates statewide safety programs, including the annual “Click It or Ticket” seat belt campaign and “Over the Limit. Under Arrest” impaired driving campaign.

“We believe our educational efforts are strengthened by working closely with state and local law enforcement to promote our highway safety messages,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “The decrease shows we’re moving in the right direction, yet improvement is still needed. Everyone must take responsibility and follow all traffic laws, such as wearing a seat belt, driving sober and obeying the speed limit.”

Additionally, the Governor’s Executive Committee on Highway Safety brings together dozens of safety organizations to develop, promote and implement strategies to improve safety along Kentucky highways.

The committee focuses on certain emphasis areas, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, commercial vehicle safety, motorcycle safety and others.

“Safety is and will continue to be our No. 1 priority,” Prather said. “By working together, we hope to see yet another decrease in fatalities in 2009.”

More information regarding traffic safety statistics and educational programs can be found at www.highwaysafety.ky.gov. 

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 9, 2009) — Gov. Steve Beshear today presented $130,000 in Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds to the citizens of Greenville – an investment that continues Greenville’s efforts to revitalize downtown.

The new funding will be used for antique-style “cross-arm” traffic light poles that will replace old, wooden poles in downtown Greenville. The project will help complete Phase I of Greenville’s revitalization efforts.

“This funding will not only restore the historical value, but it invites new interests and investment for communities across the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Restoring a piece of hometown USA is important to the vitality of this community.”

In 2007, Greenville was awarded $354,400 for the renovation and beautification of sidewalks along South Main Street, which included the construction of stamped brick crosswalks leading to the courthouse and new judicial building. Funding also provided for the installation of decorative lighting along South Main Street and the Courthouse Square.

“Citizens will benefit and enjoy these revitalization efforts for generations to come,” said Sen. Jerry Rhoads, D-Madisonville. “I commend Governor Beshear and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for making these funds available.”

“We are proud of our restoration efforts and what we have accomplished for downtown Greenville,” said Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville. “The ultimate goal will be fresh store fronts, new sidewalks and new antique-style street lighting. This funding has been very beneficial for Greenville.”

The TE program provides federal funds are for transportation-related activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, historic, and environmental aspects of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure. Federal funding is available to government agencies to provide support for transportation and community improvement projects. TE funding is administered by the Transportation Cabinet.

“Crews will install two poles as opposed to four silver metal poles thereby saving taxpayer money,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “With this project, we remain committed to the effective use of those taxpayer dollars and the improvement of public safety.”

Information about TE is available at http://www.tea21.ky.gov.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 25, 2009) – The 2009 Kentucky Official Highway Map is now being distributed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to welcome centers, rest areas and state parks across the commonwealth.

The popular folding map features the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It also encourages travelers to embark upon Kentucky’s many scenic and informational driving tours.

“Kentucky offers many beautiful and historic destinations for all ages to enjoy,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “With the 2010 games quickly approaching, Jane and I are excited about sharing Kentucky’s signature horse industry with the rest of the world. We look forward to the growing enthusiasm shared by all Kentuckians.”

Just in time for spring/summer travel, the map highlights several driving tours across the Bluegrass, including the Country Music Highway, Kentucky Quilt Trail, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trail and Lincoln Heritage Trail.

“Travelers can use this as a great tool for navigation or to plan a trip to one of our beautiful state parks and attractions,” said Commissioner Mike Cooper, Department of Travel. “From Pikeville to Paducah, this map showcases many of Kentucky’s hidden treasures.”

The map also reminds motorists to take safety precautions while traveling and points out recent changes in Kentucky traffic laws: a 70 mph speed limit on rural sections of interstates and most parkways, mandatory seat belt law, double fines for speeding in designated school and work zones, and a requirement to slow down or move over for stopped emergency vehicles.

“Kentucky’s highway network sustains many livelihoods across the nation,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Our goal is to reduce the number of fatalities on Kentucky’s highways. With these precautions, we want to ensure that motorists reach their destinations safely.”

Motorists can find current road conditions for interstates, parkways and major routes by dialing 511 or visiting http://511.ky.gov/. Toll free numbers for police assistance and roadside emergencies including SAFE Patrol are also included on the new map.

The 2009 edition of Kentucky’s Official Highway map can be viewed at http://transportation.ky.gov/planning/maps/officialmap/ohm.asp.

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“The volume of debris and the potential cost to remove it is overwhelming for many of our communities,” Gov. Beshear said. “Some county judge-executives have told me that it would take a year to dispose of all the debris if they did not have extraordinary assistance.”

The Transportation Cabinet, working with the Finance and Administration Cabinet, advertised for contractors to remove debris like brush, tree trunks and limbs. The contracts do not provide for picking up storm debris such as plastic, metal or wood products such as siding, paneling or milled lumber. The service will be available to local governments for clearing rights of way of any state, county or city roadways in those counties certified as disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The number of counties and contracts could increase as FEMA’s assessment continues.

“The ice and snow storm tested our ability to respond to a natural disaster, and this debris removal is part of that continuing response,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather.

“We understand the importance of getting this debris cleared from roadways to avoid current and future problems,” said Finance and Administration Secretary Jonathan Miller. “We expedited these contracts so that we can immediately improve the situation across the state.”

Thanks to the Governor’s directive, the Transportation Cabinet will finance the upfront cost of debris removal by these contractors. FEMA will reimburse 75 percent of the costs, and participating counties and cities will be required to cover 13 percent. The state will absorb the remaining 12 percent of the costs.

Contractors will begin removing debris within 24 hours of receiving their contract. The arrangements for their work along each route will be coordinated by officials of the Transportation Cabinet, after consultation with county and city government officials representing the local area. The service will only be applied on roadways that are not already being addressed by city or county contractors or employees.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 9, 2009) — Gov. Steve Beshear joined state and local officials today to break ground for the KY 61 reconstruction project. The nearly $23 million investment will improve motorist safety while enhancing the local transportation network.

“During these difficult economic times, we have less money to spend on our infrastructure needs here in Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “However, we must find the necessary funding to keep our citizens safe and roads properly maintained. This project warrants the need for improvement”

The six mile reconstruction project begins in Sparksville and ends just south of the newly constructed ramps along the Louie B. Nunn Parkway. The new alignment consists of two lanes with truck passing lanes on steeper grades with eight foot paved shoulders.

“This investment will help ease traffic congestion and correct the steep grades, sharp curves, and narrow lane widths and shoulders,” said KYTC Secretary Joe Prather. “With this project, we remain committed to the effective use of taxpayers’ dollars while not jeopardizing public safety.”

The project also enhances the local transportation network by connecting the new interchange with the Louie B. Nunn Parkway. It also creates an improved north-south corridor from Burkesville to Columbia, which allows for easier access to the newly opened Columbia Bypass. The project’s anticipated completion date is fall 2011.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 23, 2009) — Kentucky Transportation Secretary Joe Prather today announced the addition of four corridors to the state register of Scenic Byways and Highways, including a 34-mile stretch of US 150 from Bardstown to Danville, designated the Abraham Lincoln Heritage Highway.

Other routes include the 256-mile stretch of US 68 from Reidland to Lebanon, designated the Highway 68 Heritage Corridor, the 19-mile stretch of KY 8 through Bracken County, designated the Mary Ingles Scenic Highway, and North Cleveland Road in Fayette County.

“These routes have historic and cultural significance,” said Prather. “The scenic byways designation will help identify the special qualities of these corridors and aid in their future preservation and enhancement.”

Stemming from the federal Scenic Byways initiative, the Kentucky Scenic Byways and Highways program defines a scenic byway or highway as having special aesthetic, cultural, historic or archaeological value, worthy of preservation, restoration, protection and enhancement. The program includes approximately 1,600 miles of roadway.

The process for obtaining scenic designation begins with an application through the cabinet’s Office of Local Programs. The Scenic Byways and Highways Advisory Committee reviews applications and provides recommendations to the Transportation Tourism Interagency Committee. The interagency committee then provides a recommendation to the Transportation Cabinet secretary, who makes the final decision.

Information is available at www.http://tea21.ky.gov/scenic/Scenic_Byways_Home.htm.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2009) — A newly formed Highway Fatality Review Committee, made up of representatives from the highway safety community and formed at the behest of Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather, has begun its work to reduce fatalities on Kentucky’s roadways.

The committee’s mission is to review statistical data from the University of Kentucky Transportation Center and Kentucky State Police to identify common factors in fatalities. Recommendations for appropriate action or improvements will then be made to the Governor’s Executive Committee on Highway Safety.

“Our goal is always to achieve zero fatalities,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of KYTC’s Office of Highway Safety. “That may sound like a lofty goal, but even one highway death is too many, and almost every fatality, no matter what the circumstances, could have been avoided.”

The committee will look at various crash factors including driver accountability (such as speed, alcohol use, cell phone use, or the lack of seat belt or helmet use), roadway safety features, emergency response, and traffic control devices, among others.

Recommendations may include roadway improvements, driver education, or changes in law. The committee has representatives from the Transportation Cabinet, law enforcement, emergency services, the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, and the University of Kentucky Transportation Center.

“The formation of this committee, and the spirit in which everyone has come to the table proves that we can all work together to systematically determine specific challenges and work together to improve the safety of our roadways and continue the decline in fatalities,” Prather said.

Highway fatalities in Kentucky declined in 2008 for a fourth consecutive year. KYTC’s preliminary figures indicate 822 people lost their lives on Kentucky roadways, a decline of 42 from the toll for 2007.

The second committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. EST in the Transportation Cabinet Office Building first floor conference room.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2008) — Snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice make for treacherous driving, so the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety is stepping up efforts to aid and educate motorists. Motorists should always use extra caution when driving in winter weather. But they are reminded that bridges and overpasses are typically most treacherous.

Safety Tips for Travelers during the Snow and Ice Season:

Make sure your vehicle is sufficiently winterized – check the battery, antifreeze level, heater, defroster, wipers, and windshield washers.

Dress warmly for the weather – dress in layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, in anticipation of unexpected winter weather emergencies.

Try to keep your gas tank at least two-thirds full to prevent fuel line freezing and to prepare for possible lengthy delays on the roadway.

Make sure a friend or relative is aware of your travel route.

Carry a cell phone.

Make sure your vehicle has an emergency care kit. It should include jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, blankets, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, and traction material.

Check the forecast and call 511 or log on to the 511 travel and traffic information site, http://511.ky.gov, before you leave.

If conditions are dangerous, avoid all nonessential travel. Drive carefully. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination.

Do not use cruise control.

Remember that bridges and exit and entrance ramps can be icy when other areas are not.

Leave enough room between you and the car in front of you because stopping in snow may require up to four times your normal stopping distance.

Be seen. Dull, cloudy days will cut down on visibility, so drive using low-beam headlights.

Steer into the skid. Stay calm and ease your foot off the gas while carefully steering in the direction you want the front of your vehicle to go.

During significant winter weather events, the KYTC will provide media outlets with updated road condition reports throughout the day and night.

Road conditions are described as follows: Wet pavement – Ice could form as temperatures drop. Partly covered – Markings may be obscured by snow, slush or ice. Mostly covered by snow, slush or ice. Completely covered by snow, slush or ice. Impassable – Conditions unsuitable for all but emergency travel.

The Office of Highway Safety reminds motorists that the well informed driver is constantly on the lookout for areas that might induce skidding, such as unexpected ice patches or piles of wet leaves, to be found especially in shady areas or on overpasses.

The Kentucky SAFE Patrol – Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies – operates seven days a week on Kentucky interstates and parkways. SAFE Patrol drivers are equipped with blankets, shovels, reflective cones, auto fluids and other equipment to get motorists back on the road safely. To request SAFE Patrol call 1-877-FOR-KYTC (1-877-367-5982).

If a winter storm hits, staffing in the Traffic Operations Center (TOC) is increased to aid in coordination and distribution of information throughout the state. The TOC, which operates around the clock, keeps highway districts informed of weather and roadway conditions and of actions such as pre-treating, treating or removing snow. Information: http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/.

Remember to buckle up and drive safely!

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 6, 2008) – Highway fatalities in Kentucky declined in 2008 for a fourth consecutive year. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s preliminary figures indicate 821 people lost their lives on Kentucky roadways, a decline of 43 from the toll for 2007.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky State Police and highway safety groups are encouraged by the trend of fewer fatalities.

Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, who is Gov. Steve Beshear’s designated representative for highway safety, said the continued reduction in traffic fatalities attests to the Governor’s commitment to improving highway safety.

“As a result of the efforts of all involved, we can celebrate the fact that we have 43 Kentuckians still with us today,” Prather said. “And while this reduction is encouraging, we must remain vigilant because much work remains to be done.”

“As we look forward to this New Year all Kentuckians should challenge themselves to make the commitment to buckle up,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director for the cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety. “The decision to wear our seatbelts is one of the most important choices we can make to protect ourselves in a crash.”

The cabinet’s figures are preliminary because data is still being collected. A final report is expected by March.

Kentucky’s highway death toll in 2007 was 864. Highway fatalities have declined each year since 2005, when the toll was 985.

Information: http://transportation.ky.gov/ or http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2008) — Road crews in western Kentucky are combating sleet and freezing rain that’s hindering travel on many area roadways. The system threatens other portions of the commonwealth as it treks eastward.

Transportation Secretary Joe Prather said road conditions across Kentucky will be monitored throughout the day from the Transportation Operations Center in Frankfort.

“Our crews will work hard to stay ahead of the developing weather,” Prather said. “We ask that motorists be extra careful if they’re heading out. It’s advisable to plan ahead and pay close attention to the changing conditions.”

Crews in the state’s two western-most districts – Paducah and Madisonville – are working to treat affected roadways. Several trouble spots have developed and many roads are impassable, according to district personnel. The Purchase Parkway is closed from mile marker 43 to mile marker 47. Motorists have also been advised to avoid US 641, south of Murray.

Chuck Geveden, executive director of the cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety, noted the reports of hazardous conditions and numerous highway crashes in western Kentucky. “Motorists in areas already affected should refrain from unnecessary travel, and everyone should be alert for changing conditions as this storm system moves to the east,” Geveden said.

The latest road conditions are available by calling 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2008) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety is joining state and local law enforcement agencies in a national enforcement campaign –“Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” – throughout the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The holiday season can be one of the deadliest times of the year for motorists due to an increase of impaired driving “Alcohol, drugs and driving don’t mix,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Whether someone has had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk of killing yourself or someone else. Don’t ever get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you’re impaired.”

Last December in Kentucky, 10 people were killed and 316 were injured in crashes involving alcohol. In all, Kentucky recorded 539 alcohol-related crashes during December. Nationally, 992 people were killed in crashes that involved drunken drivers or motorcyclists with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 or higher – above the legal limit.

“Law enforcement will be out in force making sure drunken drivers are off the road and under arrest,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “No amount of good cheer can save you from the consequences of drunken driving.”

Tips for a safer holiday season when alcohol is involved:

-Plan a safe way home before holiday festivities begin.
-Designate a sober driver.
-Use a Sober Rides program, public transportation or call a sober friend or family member.
-Contact local law enforcement to report drunken driving.
-If someone is about to drive while impaired, take the keys and help make other arrangements to get them home safely.

“Saving lives on our roads is our top priority, and we need everyone’s help to do it,” said Prather.

Visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org or www.highwaysafety.ky.gov for more information.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2008) — Transportation Cabinet crews in western Kentucky have mobilized snow and ice forces to combat wintry weather that threatens to make driving conditions hazardous. Crews statewide are monitoring pavement conditions as the weather maker advances across the state.

“Our crews are prepared to work around the clock to keep roads in the best possible condition,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We advise motorists to pay close attention to developing conditions and to try to avoid driving when roads get treacherous.”

National Weather Service forecasts indicate that Kentucky could receive a one-two punch, with rain today changing to freezing precipitation, beginning in western Kentucky. Another band of freezing rain is expected into Tuesday. Cabinet officials are also concerned with the rapidly declining temperature, which could freeze wet pavement.

As temperatures drop to the freezing point, crews are applying rock salt to the pavement to help prevent ice development.

Road conditions are described by these terms:

Wet Pavement – The roadway is wet. Ice could form as temperatures drop.

Partly Covered – The roadway is partly covered with snow, slush or ice. Markings may be obscured.

Mostly Covered – The roadway is mostly covered with snow, slush or ice. Roadway markers may be difficult to see because of packed snow and rutting conditions.

Completely Covered – The roadway is completely covered with snow, slush or ice and markings are obscured.

Impassable – Roadway conditions are not suitable for travel unless required by an emergency.

The latest road and weather conditions are available online at 511.ky.gov or by dialing 511.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2008) – Students from Raceland-Worthington High School, Monroe County Middle School and Oakland Elementary School, in Warren County, have taken first place in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 2008 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest.

“The purpose of the contest is to increase environmental awareness among children,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We hope to educate kids about the devastating effects of litter, and to change attitudes and behaviors about littering.”

The first-place winner in each of three categories receives a $100 savings bond along with a framed print of the poster. The second- and third-place winners each receive a $50 savings bond and framed prints of their posters. In addition, this year an honorable mention winner has been added in each of the age categories. Each honorable mention recipient will receive a certificate and a framed print. Awards will be presented during a luncheon ceremony tomorrow (Thursday, Dec.12) at the Governor’s Mansion in Frankfort.

The winners are:

Age 6-9

First Place Jillian Clarkson, Oakland Elementary School (Warren County)

Second Place Cahill Wilson, Tompkinsville Elementary (Monroe County)

Third Place Jeffrey Kinman, Williamstown Elementary School (Grant County)

Honorable Mention Brennan Stanley, Williamstown Elementary School

Age 10-13

First Place Houston Gillenwater, Monroe County Middle School

Second Place Leah Rock, Metcalfe County Middle School

Third Place Bree Grohler, West Hardin Middle School (Hardin County)

Honorable Mention Gabrielle Manion, St. Joseph School (Nelson County)

Age 14-17

First Place Sebastian Smal, Raceland-Worthington High (Greenup County)

Second Place Taylor Stith, Williamstown Junior-Senior High School

Third Place Donna Williams, Williamstown Junior-Senior High School

Honorable Mention Sara Zibart, Logan County High School

The Transportation Cabinet received 2,322 Adopt-a-Highway poster contest entries from elementary, middle and high school students throughout the commonwealth. Calendars featuring the winners’ posters will be provided to all the winners and their classrooms.

This year’s contest judges included Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Helen Mountjoy, Georgetown College professor Rachel Brewer, Kentucky State University professor Reba Rye, Transportation Public Affairs Executive Director Chuck Wolfe, and Miranda Thacker, statewide coordinator.

“With so many excellent posters this year and a tremendous amount of entries submitted, it was really hard to judge,” said Mountjoy. “We appreciate all the hard work and effort the students put into their posters. Every entry is a winner.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urges students and teachers to get an early start on the 2009 poster contest. The cabinet will begin accepting entries on Jan. 1, 2009. The entries will close on Sept. 30, 2009.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2008) — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Bicycle and Bikeway Commission (KBBC) have introduced a new grant program to support educational bike safety programs throughout the commonwealth. During a ceremony at the Kentucky Horse Park today, Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo unveiled the Paula Nye Memorial Education Grant, which will be funded by sales of Kentucky’s “Share the Road” license plate.

“Governor Beshear’s administration fully supports the efforts of the commission and so many others around the commonwealth to make Kentucky one of the world’s premier destinations for bicyclists,” said Mongiardo. “In conjunction with our efforts to promote walking and bicycling and generally healthier lifestyles in Kentucky, we have a clear obligation to promote safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike. In that regard, there could be no better use of Share the Road funds than the Paula Nye grant.”

The grant is named in memory of Paula E. Nye, who worked for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Planning from 1995 to 2005. Nye served as the cabinet’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator from 1999 to 2005, during which time she helped finalize and implement Kentucky’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Travel Policy. Her efforts helped reinforce the law requiring consideration of bicycle and pedestrian facilities with all transportation projects. She died in 2005, at 62.

Nye guided a task force that produced a bicycle and pedestrian policy that became a model for other state transportation departments.

“Paula Nye dedicated herself to the safety and well being of the citizens of Kentucky who, by choice or by circumstance, use nonmotorized forms of transportation,” said Ralph Mitchell, KBBC chairman. “The most far-reaching tribute the KBBC and the Transportation Cabinet could make to remember Paula is to name a program in her honor that will save lives in Kentucky.”

“Everyone who knew and worked with her will tell you that Paula Nye was a skilled consensus builder,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Her work paved the way for the kind of committed Share the Road campaign that we endorse today.”

The Share the Road license plate was introduced in Kentucky in February 2006.

Funds from the Paula Nye Memorial Education Grant program are available to Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and Kentucky state and local government agencies that will improve nonmotorized transportation in their areas. The KBBC will also consider applications from out-of-state 501(c)(3) organizations with programs and projects provided in Kentucky for the use and benefit of Kentucky residents or governmental agencies.

The KBBC was formed by the Kentucky legislature in 1992, with a mandate to represent the interests of bicyclists in advising the Transportation Cabinet on related policy issues.

For additional information about the Paula Nye grant, contact:

David Tipton, P.E.

Kentucky Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

5th Floor

200 Mero St.

Frankfort, KY 40622

502-564-7183

David.Tipton@ky.gov

Applications for the Paula Nye grant will be accepted twice yearly, due by 4 p.m. on Feb. 15 and Sept. 15, 2009. Applications are available online at:  http://www.bikewalk.ky.gov/.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is accepting applications for funding through federal grant programs aimed at providing local communities with resources that improve quality of life through transportation-related initiatives.

“This is an opportunity for local governments and local organizations to make a difference, improve their communities, and create a unique atmosphere,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “It’s also a tremendous opportunity for us to do more than just lay blacktop. We’re working to improve the environment, preserve our history, improve safety and encourage healthy lifestyles.”

The federal programs include Transportation Enhancement, Safe Routes to School, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, and Scenic Byways.

The Transportation Enhancement program provides funding for a variety of non-traditional projects, including the restoration of historic transportation facilities, bike and pedestrian services, landscaping and scenic beautification and highway runoff pollution mitigation. For eligibility, projects must have a surface transportation relationship and meet the requirements of at least one of 12 eligible categories. An “intent to apply” letter is required for these funds and must be received by Jan. 31.

Safe Routes to School projects are designed to enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school, improve bicycle and pedestrian travel and make bicycling and walking a safe and appealing transportation alternative. Applications will be received from Jan. 1 through March 15.

Transportation-related projects or programs that improve air quality are provided funds through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program. Projects include ride share initiatives, air quality outreach and education, bicycle and pedestrian facilities or alternative fuel projects. Applications are filtered through local metropolitan planning organizations. The current application cycle is Dec. 1 through Jan. 31.

The Scenic Byway and Highway program focuses on designating and preserving roads as scenic, recognizing them for archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and/or scenic qualities. This designation is the first step toward becoming a national scenic byway. Applications are received throughout the year, although the application cycle for national scenic designation is Jan. 15 through March 15.

Approximately $30 million is provided for all of the programs combined each year, excluding scenic byways, which are only funded if designated as national byways. Funds provided may be used to cover 80 percent of the cost of projects. Safe Routes to School projects are eligible for 100 percent funding. Applicants must be a state or local government agency or a non-profit organization if in partnership with a governmental agency.

A training presentation, state guidelines, forms and application deadlines can be accessed at www.tea21.ky.gov.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety are focused on a central theme for the Thanksgiving holiday period: highway safety first.

“The days just prior to Thanksgiving are typically the heaviest travel days of the year,” said Gov. Beshear. “Home for the holidays is everyone’s goal, and we want everyone to get there safely. If every driver will buckle up, observe the rules of the road, including speed limits, and be extra cautious, we will all be more likely to enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.”

Traffic counts reveal that interstate traffic in the commonwealth is considerably heavier on the Wednesday before and Friday after Thanksgiving, when traffic volumes are sometimes 20 to 50 percent higher than on average days. Recent telephone surveys by the American Automobile Association (AAA) also indicate 80 percent of Thanksgiving travelers in 2008, about 33.2 million nationwide, will take to the highways for the trip home.

“With that many drivers added to the mix everyone simply must exercise more caution,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of Office of Highway Safety. “While we promote safe driving habits every day of the year, we place a special emphasis on ‘Driving Smart’ during the holidays. For those who think ‘Safety First,’ happy holidays are more likely to follow.”

Geveden also pointed out the dangers of impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 992 people were killed last December in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider who had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.

The Office of Highway Safety offers several tips for safe holiday traveling this Thanksgiving:

Buckle up

• “That’s tip number one,” Geveden stressed. “There is no question about the value of safety belts for saving lives and preventing serious injuries. That’s what our message is all about: “saving lives’.”
• Remember the children! Children 40 inches or less must be properly restrained in a federally approved safety seat. Children younger than 7 and between 40 and 50 inches must be properly secured in a booster seat.

Observe posted speed limits and traffic laws

• Research shows that 30 percent of all highway fatalities are speed related.
• Move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles.
• Follow the guidelines established under Kentucky’s quick clearance law.
If you are involved in a crash:
1. If no one is visibly injured, move vehicles off the interstate or parkway, if possible.
2. Call police.
3. Exchange information.

Plan ahead

• Remember, the KYTC’s 511 service, which has recently been updated, provides detailed information related to construction, incidents or accidents, traffic alerts, and roadway conditions. Before you leave home log on to the 511 system at www.511.ky.gov
• Allow for plenty of time to reach your destination without speeding or skipping rest stops.
• If you’ve never taken a particular route before, be prepared for unfamiliar roads, which will require more driver concentration.
• Leave your itinerary with a trusted neighbor or friend, so that someone knows where you are likely to be at any given time.
• Check weather reports and road conditions before you begin the trip.
• Make sure your vehicle is road worthy for a long trip. Have a safety check and service done beforehand.
• Include emergency supplies in your packing list (blanket, flashlight, etc.)
• Don’t overload your vehicle, with suitcases and packages obstructing your view. Consider mailing some packages to your destination well before the trip.
• Avoid eating a big meal prior to the trip, which can contribute to drowsy driving.

Avoid drowsy driving

• Constant yawning, heavy eyelids, and drifting out of your lane are a few of the warning signs that you may be on the verge of falling asleep at the wheel. When you are sleepy, your brain starts to shut down. Your ability to drive safely and to think quickly is significantly reduced. Your reaction time is slower, awareness is decreased, and judgment is impaired. The actions of fatigued drivers are frequently confused with drivers who have been drinking. The consequences can be just as fatal. Each year 100,000 automobile crashes, which lead to 40,000 serious injuries and 1,550 fatalities, can be attributed to drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
• Kentucky provides more than two dozen rest areas and welcome centers on the state’s interstate highways.

Actions to help avoid drowsy driving:

• Get adequate and quality sleep before the trip.
• Avoid heavy meals before driving.
• Do not attempt to drive after taking medications which may impair your driving.
• Try to avoid driving when you normally would be sleeping.
• Take regular breaks — at least one break every two hours.
• If possible, share the driving.
• When necessary, stop at a rest area or another safe place and take a nap.
• Keep the temperature cool in your vehicle.
• Keep in mind that caffeine-type drinks only provide a short-term boost. If you are seriously deprived of sleep it’s best to find a place to sleep for a few hours.

Year to date, 63 fewer people have been killed in highway crashes than at this time last year. For additional highway safety information, visit the following Web sites:
http://highwaysafety.ky.gov/
http://511.ky.gov/
http://www.kytc.state.ky.us/traffic/trafficmanagementcenters.htm

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s SAFE Patrol (Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies) has been recognized nationally as one of the best new innovative practices in America. The award was presented Monday by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) at the annual conference in New York.

The Best of ITS Awards program honors achievements by organizations which have, through advanced innovation, made a significant impact in the transportation industry.

SAFE Patrol consists of 22 trucks and 36 trained operators who provide free assistance to stranded or injured travelers along Kentucky interstates and parkways. Services such as tire changing, first aid, battery jumps and accident assistance are provided seven days per week, including holidays.

“SAFE Patrol has proven to be one of the most significant public services we could have ever offered,” Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather said. “This service says who we are and what we’re here for – to serve the people of the commonwealth by providing the safest transportation network possible. We’re honored that SAFE Patrol has been recognized nationally.”

SAFE Patrol operators are trained in vehicle repairs, incident management, CPR and first-aid, customer service and security issues. Contact is maintained with the operators through the KYTC’s Operations Center in Frankfort.

Travelers can call 511 or 1-877-FOR-KYTC for SAFE assistance should they become stranded along a parkway or interstate.

ITS America, a nonprofit, was established in 1991 to encourage the use of advanced technologies in the transportation industry. For information: www.itsa.org

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials today announced that a $1.6 million Transportation Enhancement (TE) investment has been approved for the University of Louisville.

“My administration believes in the strength of local communities, and we will work to ensure they have support for projects that enhance the quality of life people enjoy,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is an investment in our educational environment that also helps preserve a piece of our heritage.”

Transportation Enhancement grants are federally funded. The university will use the funds to build a pedestrian crosswalk intersecting Second and Third streets, crossing through Freedom Park near its Civil War monument. The project, which includes landscaping, street furniture and lighting, will enhance and encourage pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The university plans to incorporate an educational component, highlighting Kentucky’s role in the evolution of civil rights.

“We can't wait to get started on this project,” said University of Louisville President James Ramsey. “Freedom Park will become a much better representation of our diverse campus community and gives us a chance to showcase the power of the civil rights movement.”

Also included are expanded bike pathways, pedestrian cardiopaths and traffic calming measures at Stansbury Park/Olmsted. More than 128,000 vehicles pass the university’s campus daily on Interstate 65, and Freedom Park is a major landmark.

“This project will have a positive impact in Louisville,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We work hard to ensure that our share of federal program funds is used in the most effective way possible to enhance quality of life for Kentuckians.”

Visit www.tea21.ky.gov for more information about the federal CMAQ program in Kentucky.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear today announced additional action by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to reduce the rate of “crossover collisions” on heavily traveled Interstate 65.

The action involves the use of about 20 miles of temporary concrete barriers to supplement new median cable barriers previously announced by the Governor.

Concrete barriers have already been placed on about 11 miles of I-65 in Edmonson, Barren, and Hart counties. The rest will be added next year in Hardin and Hart counties when they are no longer needed for I-65 construction work south of Bowling Green. The concrete barriers ordinarily would be placed in storage.

“We are committed to making our highways safer. This is a practical solution that will increase our chances of preventing deadly crossover collisions while stretching our limited transportation dollars,” Gov. Beshear said.

In July, the Governor, with Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, announced plans to add 44.2 miles of median cable barriers on sections of I-65 in Bullitt, Hardin, Hart and Barren counties and to a section of the Gene Snyder Expressway – KY 841 – in Jefferson County.

The cabinet on Oct. 31 opened bids for installation of the cable barriers in Barren, Hart, Bullitt and Jefferson counties. The projects for Hardin County are scheduled for letting on Nov. 21.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has awarded more than $2.3 million to police agencies across the commonwealth to help bolster safety enforcement in local communities.

“Local law enforcement agencies are critical in the effort to keep Kentucky highways safe,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “These grants will help provide needed resources to improve safety in local communities across Kentucky.

About 90 agencies statewide will receive funding to support enforcement efforts aimed at intoxicated driving, seat belt usage and speeding. The Kentucky State Police will receive funding for its Nighthawk program to combat alcohol intoxication and for speed enforcement.

“I know from my experience in law enforcement that having the right tools is essential to helping keep our communities safe,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “This funding will help police on the streets to combat the violations that so often lead to death and destruction on our roadways.”

The funding is provided through the enacted federal transportation bill, which includes support for local safety enforcement programs nationwide.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) 511 travel information system just got a face lift. Now, in addition to timely and accurate roadway information, travelers can view real-time traffic cams, obtain weather information or even subscribe to an RSS feed to receive travel alerts via e-mail or text messaging. It’s all part of KYTC’s continuing effort to keep travelers safe, aware, and cutting edge.

Travelers can log on to the 511 system at www.511.ky.gov. An interactive map is provided with information related to construction, incidents or accidents, traffic alerts, and roadway conditions. Weather information is also available through the weather radar or, for a closer look, local Weather Bug cams. Visitors can choose different versions, including a map view, satellite, terrain or hybrid view.

Visitors can link to traffic information services in urban and surrounding states, view tourism information, find rest areas and weigh stations, learn important driving tips, link to the Kentucky State Police or Vehicle Enforcement Websites, or even report a pothole.

KYTC’s 511 telephone service has also been updated. The new system uses text-to-speech technology, which allows the user to either speak to maneuver through the system or use the phone keypad.

Additional available options include traffic information by region, and the ability to summon roadside assistance from the KYTC SAFE patrol. SAFE (Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies) is a free service for stranded motorists. Another menu option allows the user to provide comments and suggestions for the 511 system.

“Our 511 system has proven to serve our travelers well over the years,” Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather said. “All of our services, whether it’s construction, maintenance, SAFE patrol, licensing, or 511, are all conducted with one goal in mind - to help keep our motorists safe.”

Kentucky’s 511 system was implemented in late 2002, and has through the years been updated as technology and interest in the system evolved.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials today announced that $1.8 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) investments have been approved in Jefferson County.

“My administration believes in the strength of local communities, and we will work to ensure they have support for projects that enhance the quality of life people enjoy,” said Beshear. “Our efforts are paying off through initiatives that improve air quality and provide viable alternative transportation solutions for the commonwealth.”

The Transit Authority of River City will receive $1.3 million in CMAQ funding to replace five buses. The new low-floor buses will be equipped with pollutant-reducing engines. The low-floor design, along with fold-out ramps, provides easier access for people with disabilities.

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District will receive $515,000 in CMAQ funding for its Kentuckiana Air Education (KAIRE) project – an outreach tool designed to inform the public about air quality issues.

“These projects will have a positive impact in Louisville,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We work hard to ensure that our share of federal program funds is used in the most effective way possible to enhance quality of life for Kentuckians.”

Visit www.tea21.ky.gov for more information about the federal CMAQ program in Kentucky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reaching out to younger drivers in a campaign aimed at reducing deadly crashes, the No. 1 killer of teens.

The cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety, is joining the “Ride Like A Friend” campaign, which will take place during National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 19-25, to promote safer behaviors for young drivers.

Studies indicate teens who drive with other teens as passengers run a higher risk of having a fatal crash. Studies find the risk is doubled with one passenger and increases with each additional passenger. Other research has shown that simple mistakes often attributed to driver inexperience are a major cause of teen crashes.

“We want to encourage young drivers and passengers to use good judgment in the vehicle,” says Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “With more than 120 drivers and passengers age 20 and younger killed last year in Kentucky, we must often remind young people that practicing safe driving and riding habits could save their lives.”

“Ride Like A Friend” will include activities that illustrate ways that teen passengers can reduce the potential for crashes, such as limiting distractions and avoiding alcohol. Seatbelt usage is critical to survival if an accident occurs.

Kentucky is among 38 states and the District of Columbia that limit the number of passengers for new drivers. Under Kentucky’s graduated driver’s license law, a driver with a learner’s permit or intermediate license can carry just one passenger – a non-relative older than 20.

“The first year of independent driving is the most dangerous that a driver will face in his or her lifetime,” says Geveden. “By gradually introducing driving privileges, we give novice drivers time to gain experience under safer conditions.”

Activities include:

Monday, Oct. 20
3-D Drunk and Drugged Driving simulator at Frankfort High School
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 20
Highway safety display at Hopkins Central High School, Madisonville
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 20-21
Rollover simulator at Jessie Clark Elementary, Lexington
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21
Rollover simulator and Fatal Vision glasses at Franklin County High School, Frankfort
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21
3-D Drunk and Drugged Driving simulator at Buckhorn High School, Buckhorn
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 22
3-D Drunk and Drugged Driving simulator at Wolfe County High School, Campton
Noon – 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23
Highway safety display at North Hopkins High School, Madisonville
11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24
Rollover simulator at Conway Middle School, Louisville
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24
Rollover simulator at Union County High School, Morganfield
10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

All times are local.

For more information visit www.highwaysafety.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — What’s the leading cause of death among those age 6 to 33? Traffic crashes. Someone – a parent, child, grandparent, friend – is needlessly killed on our nation’s highways every 12 minutes.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety is joining forces with organizations around the nation to attempt to reduce that statistic, and Gov. Steve Beshear has declared Oct. 10 “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.” The goal is a day without traffic fatalities.

“The goal is to unite the country in achieving one full day of zero traffic deaths by encouraging safer behavior and actions and by promoting safer roadways,” Transportation Secretary Joe Prather said. “Whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist, by working together in a concerted effort, we can make a difference to stop the carnage on our roads."

There are encouraging trends. Traffic fatalities nationally totaled 41,059 in 2007, the lowest number since 1994. Fatalities in Kentucky fell to 864, the fewest since 2001.

“Thanks to better driving practices, safer vehicles and highways, aggressive law enforcement and the efforts of safety agencies, hundreds of families were spared the devastating news that a loved one was not coming home last year,” said Chuck Geveden, director of the Office of Highway Safety. “But the quest is not over until that fatality number is zero.”

He noted, for example, that motorcycle safety continues to be a problem, accounting for 13 percent of all fatalities. In 2007, fatalities among motorcycle riders or passengers increased 6.6 percent.

The good news is that by taking proactive steps, the public can greatly reduce the odds of becoming a statistic. "First and foremost, drive as if your life depends on it," Geveden said. "Driving defensively, obeying the posted speed limits, slowing down in bad weather and in special construction and school zones and not drinking and driving are just a few examples of how drivers can reduce their chances of being in a crash."

Other important safety practices include buckling up every time on every trip, using appropriate child safety seats, wearing a helmet when cycling or skating and crossing the street in crosswalks, Geveden noted.

As is the custom throughout the year, KYTC’s Office of Highway Safety will be conducting events during the week to promote safer driving practices. Those include:

Monday, Oct. 6

"Sweet 16" new driver presentation

Scott High School, Taylor Mill

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 7

Mature driver presentation

Casey County Senior Citizens Center, Liberty

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Rollover Simulator and Highway Safety Information booth

Rodburn Elementary School, Morehead

8:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.

Rollover Simulator

Safety Day at Turfway Park Race Track, Walton

6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9

Child Passenger Safety Seat check

Jim's Auto Outlet, Brooksville

3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Rollover Simulator

Pendleton County Safety Day

Pendleton County Fairgrounds, Falmouth

8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

“Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day” is coordinated by a coalition of more than 40 national safety organizations, federal, state and local government agencies and private sector companies working together to reduce the death and injury toll of motor vehicle crashes.

For more traffic safety tips and information, log on to the Put The Brakes On Fatalities Day® Web site at www.brakesonfatalites.org.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Transportation Secretary Joe Prather today announced two key appointments in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Mike Hancock was appointed state highway engineer, a position in which he had served in an acting capacity since Aug. 13 in addition to being chief of staff for the cabinet. Geri Grigsby, who has been deputy commissioner of the Department of Vehicle Regulation, was appointed to succeed Hancock as chief of staff.

“Mike Hancock and Geri Grigsby bring exceptional experience and ability to positions that are critical to the successful operation of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet,” Prather said. “Mike and Geri share the vision that Governor Steve Beshear and I hold for this cabinet – an agency that truly serves the public through careful and efficient use of our resources to improve and maintain Kentucky’s transportation system.”

Hancock has served in numerous positions in the course of a 30-year cabinet career, beginning as a rural and urban transportation planner. In addition to chief of staff, he has served as an assistant state highway engineer and as the deputy state highway engineer for program planning and management. Hancock holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky. He will answer directly to the Secretary, who also is commissioner of highways.

Grigsby, an attorney, rejoined the cabinet as a deputy commissioner earlier this year. She also served in the cabinet from 1998 to 2003 – first as general counsel and then as executive director of the Office of General Counsel and Legislative Affairs.

Grigsby launched her public service career as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Jefferson County in 1985. She also has served as an attorney and legislative analyst for the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Before rejoining the cabinet, she was chief of staff of the Kentucky Senate Democratic Leadership Office. She holds degrees in English and law from the University of Kentucky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear today announced the approval of $2,200,960 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds for four projects in Fayette County.

“In several different ways these investments will improve the overall quality of life in Lexington,” said Gov. Beshear. “With the use of CMAQ and TE funds we can creatively and progressively pursue goals like improving air quality and encouraging more active lifestyles.”

The funded projects announced by the governor today include:

$811,360 for the Tates Creek Road Sidewalk Improvement Project
There is currently a 1.6-mile section of Tates Creek Road that lacks sidewalks on both sides of the street. This project will allow citizens to walk to retail shops, a grocery and several schools, churches, professional offices, businesses, and restaurants in the area. This CMAQ project will also improve access to public transit by constructing sidewalk connections to bus stops and a bus shelter along the corridor.
Additional project goals include:
1. Improving the overall transportation infrastructure along the corridor and encouraging the safe use of alternative modes of transportation, including bicycles.
2. Encouraging recreation and fitness walkers.
3. Reducing vehicular trips and the accompanying emissions.
4. Encouraging more people to walk or bike to the University of Kentucky, which is within a mile of the project.

$320,000 for the Fiber Optic Cable Project
Benefits of this CMAQ project include:
1. Significant reductions in traffic delays as a result of the installation of fiber optic cables for the conversion of the communication and data lines in the Lexington traffic signal system. The reduction in delays will reduce emissions from idling vehicles.
2. Elimination of service interruptions caused by lightning strikes and electrical power surges.
3. Major reduction in the need to block lanes for repairs.

$105,600 for the LexVan Project

This CMAQ project will allow the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to purchase six new 12-passenger vans for the LexVan fleet. The Mobility Office has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of requests for new vanpool routes coming into and going out of Lexington. Requests are also coming from further distances, including destinations such as Irvine and Berea. A larger fleet will remove more single occupant vehicles from the road, which will have a very positive effect in terms of reducing emissions.

$964,000 for the Iron Works Pike Scenic Byway Visitor Center and Carriage Museum
This investment of TE funds will allow the Kentucky Horse Park to stabilize its historic “Big Barn” and create a visitor center and carriage museum within the structure. The museum will educate visitors about the history of surface transportation along the designated scenic byways of the Bluegrass, using the Horse Park’s collection of horse-drawn vehicles as an exhibit centerpiece. The project will significantly enhance the park’s appeal as a tourist attraction. The additional economic benefits to Lexington are enormous. The Horse Park hosted more than 920,000 visitors last year.

CMAQ is a federal program that funds innovative transportation projects or programs that will reduce congestion and improve air quality. Kentucky receives CMAQ funds each year for improvements in areas that need to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

The TE Program provides for a variety of non-traditional projects, including new streetscapes, pedestrian and bike paths, restoration of historic transportation facilities, landscaping and beautification.

The Transportation Cabinet solicits applications and makes awards annually for TE and CMAQ projects. The cabinet’s Office of Local Programs administers all CMAQ and TE funds/projects.

For more information on the CMAQ and TE programs, please visit our website http://tea21.ky.gov/ and follow the link to CMAQ or TE.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear today joined state and community leaders in Owensboro to unveil highway signs identifying the Audubon Parkway as a future Interstate 69 spur route.

“This is an important day for Owensboro, Daviess County and this entire region. We are sending a message that you will play a prominent role in American transportation,” said Gov. Beshear.

“Identifying the Audubon Parkway as a future interstate spur tells business leaders here and abroad that we have the infrastructure and the vision for economic expansion. A forward-looking approach to attracting new business and economic development will ultimately bring new jobs and opportunities to the commonwealth,” the governor said.

Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1195, allowing the commonwealth to mark the Audubon Parkway, a four-lane, divided connector between Henderson and Owensboro, as a future I-69 spur. President Bush signed the legislation into law on June 6. That led to the unveiling ceremony today at the Green River Area Development District office in Owensboro.

“Today, the Owensboro region is officially on the interstate map, and that opens the door to more economic development, tourism and jobs,” said Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce President Jody Wassmer. “This designation has been the Chamber’s No. 1 transportation priority because the Audubon Parkway will one day intersect with Interstate 69 and we need to take advantage of that opportunity.”

“Kentucky has one of the best and most efficient highway networks in the nation,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “Kentucky’s parkway system provides excellent connectivity between the state’s economic centers and the major interstate highways. Today’s news will help put Kentucky on the radar screens of businesses that are looking to expand or relocate.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear today joined state and community leaders in Lexington to announce the approval of $2,089,950 in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds for four projects in Fayette County.

“These investments reaffirm my administration’s commitment to maintaining and improving the overall quality of life for everyone in Lexington,” said Gov. Beshear.

“While we are challenged during these lean years to accomplish more with less, we are pursuing creative and progressive paths toward goals like improving air quality and encouraging healthier lifestyles.”

The funded projects announced by the governor today include:

$1,212,800 for the Phase I Downtown Trolley Circulator

With this funding LexTran will purchase four 29-foot replica trolleys, which will be used for continuous service to the downtown Lexington area. Residents and visitors will be able to park their vehicles and ride the trolleys to numerous stops in the heart of the city.

The circulator service will also serve the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University. Project goals include:

Enhancement of Lexington’s existing public transportation system
Reduction in traffic congestion and improvement of air quality as a result of increased transit use
Boosting downtown tourism and the city’s image as a world class city

$365,000 for the Illuminated Street Name Signs project

In preparation for the 2010 World Equestrian Games, the Transportation Cabinet will conduct a pilot project, involving the use of Light Emitting Capacitor (LEC) technology, to replace existing street name signs along heavily traveled and accident prone corridors. The signs will incorporate illumination and retro-reflective sheeting to make signs visible at night, even during a power failure.

$448,150 for the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge

The 184-foot lighted span will connect the existing Brighton East Rail Trail to the funded Brighton West Rail Trail. It will also link several neighborhoods and tourists to three adjacent public parks, and all the stores, offices and hotels of Hamburg Pavilion and Brighton Place Shoppes, as well as an elementary school. The Brighton Rail Trail is part of the Big Sandy Primary Trail, which in 2000 was named a “Millenium Trail”, making the project one of national significance in terms of its value to Kentucky as a tourism attraction.

$64,000 for Lexington’s Share the Road Campaign

The money will be used for “Share the Road” signage and for the development and production of print materials, public service announcements and advertising to spread the “Share the Road” message to the public. That message, which will target bicyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists, will attempt to prevent dangerous and unlawful behavior that could result in serious roadway injuries or fatalities.

The effort also has tourism-related implications. The goal is to present Lexington as a bike-friendly community to visitors.

CMAQ is a federal program that funds innovative transportation projects or programs that will reduce congestion and improve air quality. Kentucky receives CMAQ funds each year for improvements in areas that need to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

CMAQ funds are available to state and local government agencies as well as private entities through public/private partnerships. Nonprofit organizations may also apply in partnership with a state or local government agency.

The Transportation Cabinet solicits applications and makes awards annually for these CMAQ funds. The cabinet’s Office of Local Programs administers all CMAQ funds/projects.

For more information on the CMAQ program and application, please visit our website http://tea21.ky.gov/ and follow the link to CMAQ.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Two Kentucky bridges over the Ohio River — the William H. Natcher Bridge in Daviess County and the Milton-Madison Bridge in Trimble County — were closed as a precaution during the severe wind storm on Sunday but have been reopened after being inspected.

The Milton-Madison, on US 421, was closed because of swaying and reports of concrete chunks falling from it. The two-lane, steel bridge was built in 1929 and is 3,184 feet.

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) inspection team determined that the bridge, with its movement, was operating as designed and that the falling concrete most likely was filler material rather than structural support. The bridge was reopened shortly before 1 a.m. EDT today. It is expected to be more closely inspected later this week.

The Natcher bridge, built in 2002 on US 231, was closed after a barge holding a crane broke loose from its moorings and drifted beneath it. Inspectors found that the crane occasionally struck the side of the bridge as the barge bounced on waves. Resistance of the river current helped to reduce the impact.

The bridge was reopened Sunday after the barge was retrieved with a tugboat owned by Mulver Stone Co., the Coast Guard reported.

The Natcher bridge also will undergo further inspection within a few weeks with the use of a "snooper" truck that enables KYTC inspectors to examine the underside.

The temporary closures and inspections of the bridges were part of a statewide KYTC response to the storm spun off by Hurricane Ike. The KYTC Transportation Operations Center was activated at Gov. Steve Beshear's instruction and worked in concert with the state Emergency Operations Center to coordinate information.

KYTC maintenance crews were called out in all 12 highway districts to clear debris from roadways. "Our crews responded quickly to an emergency that was unusually widespread," said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. "They worked through the night to make roads passable, and the cleanup continues today. We ask that motorists be alert for our workers and drive with extra care."

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Aviation, in conjunction with the Kentucky National Guard, will host the ninth annual Aviation Days beginning today and continuing Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Capital City Airport in Frankfort. The event will include civilian and military static and aerobatic demonstrations, and other activities.

“This is a great annual event for our community,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “It brings several people out to see our airport and our city and helps showcase the field of aviation to visitors.”

Activities begin Friday night with a balloon glow and a concert featuring music group The Blues Cruisers.

Saturday’s activities will include a performance by the 202nd Army Band Brass Quintet, followed by many aviation-related sights and activities, including Apache helicopter fly-bys and a demonstration of a Kentucky Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter.

“This is a wonderful showcase of aviation history and technology,” said Winn Turney, commissioner of the Department of Aviation, and a licensed pilot. “It’s inspiring to see people of all ages taking an interest in aviation. Aviation is an awesome field that has so much to do with our nation and world today – and it continues to evolve. This event ties some of the old and some of the new, and we are lucky to have such an exhibit in the capital city.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. - With fall elections nearing, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) reminds candidates and their supporters that campaign signs are not allowed along state rights of way.

“Our preference is that campaign signs be placed on privately owned property,” Transportation Secretary Joe Prather said. “We want to support and encourage the democratic process, but not at the expense of our motorists’ safety. We absolutely appreciate the cooperation received in years past from all of the various campaigns.”

Signs of any type – for campaigns, yard sales, other advertising – can create a traffic hazard when illegally placed on state right of way. Depending on size and construction, illegal signs can be a distraction and vision blocker to drivers. They also can hinder right-of-way operations such as mowing and pose a direct safety hazard to motorists who run off the roadway.

All signs will be removed from state right of way and housed at each of KYTC’s county maintenance facilities for 30 days. Owners can retrieve their signs at these locations between regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Although National Child Passenger Safety Week is scheduled for Sept. 21-27, Governor Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are extending awareness by recognizing the entire month of September as Child Passenger Safety Month...

Three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed in vehicles, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s why state officials are driving home the importance of child passenger safety with a month-long campaign to emphasize proper child safety seat usage.

“It’s the responsibility of every parent and caregiver to make sure their children are safely restrained – every trip, every time,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are urging everyone to get their child safety seats inspected. When it comes to the safety of a child, there is no room for mistakes.”

The Office of Highway Safety will celebrate Kentucky’s third Child Passenger Safety Month. Certified safety seat technicians will partner with local technicians in 10 cities across Kentucky during September to conduct free child safety seat inspections.

Transportation Secretary Joe Prather said the decision to offer safety seat inspections across Kentucky demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving travel safety for Kentucky children. “Our technicians frequently find safety seats that have not been properly installed, even by well-meaning adults,” Prather said. “We are offering inspections around the state to make it as easy and convenient as possible for parents to ensure that their children are protected.”

Parents are encouraged to visit the inspection locations to have child safety seats checked for proper installation and recalls (event locations are listed below). Other child passenger safety tips will be provided, including information on the new booster seat law.

Gov. Beshear signed legislation in April requiring children younger than seven and between 40 and 50 inches tall to be secured in a booster seat.

The bill requires law enforcement officers to issue “courtesy warnings” for violations until 2009, after which there will be a $30 fine. In addition, violators will have the option to purchase a booster seat instead of paying the fine.

For the first time during Child Passenger Safety Month, a technician renewal course and technician certification course will be held in partnership with the Marshall County Health Department. The renewal course held on Sept. 8 will recertify former technicians, while the certification course Sept. 9–12 will train highway safety professionals to become certified technicians.

More than 90 percent of child safety seats in the United States are installed incorrectly, according to the safety administration. When correctly installed, safety seats are 71 percent effective in reducing infant fatalities, 67 percent effective in reducing the need for hospitalization and 54 percent effective in reducing fatalities of children 1 to 4. A properly installed, belt-positioning booster seat lowers the risk of injury to children by nearly 60 percent, compared with seat belts alone.

Event locations for safety seat inspections:

(All participants should allow approximately 20 minutes per seat.)

Sept. 4
Richmond, Eastside Baptist Church, 2010 Catalpa Loop, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. EDT

Sept. 5
Bowling Green, Broadway United Methodist Church, 1323 Melrose St., 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CDT

Sept. 12 (with the above mentioned class)
Benton, First Christian Church, US 641 South, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. CDT

Sept. 16
Bardstown, Little Angels Primary House, 820 Pennsylvania Ave., 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. EDT

Sept. 18
London, Laurel County Fire Department, 911 TLC Lane, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. EDT

Sept. 20 “National Seat Check Saturday”
Florence, Florence Fire & EMS, Station 3, 1152 Weaver Rd., 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT

Sept. 23
Madisonville, Madisonville Fire Department, Station 4, 5000 Hanson Rd., 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. CDT

Sept. 25
Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle County Courthouse, 205 East Main St., 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. EDT

Sept. 29
Prestonsburg, Music Carter, 713 South Lake Drive, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. EDT

Sept. 30
Hazard, Tim Short Chrysler, 270 Fitz Gilbert Rd., 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. EDT

For more child passenger safety information, contact the Office of Highway Safety at 1-888-374-8768 or visit the Web site at http://highwaysafety.ky.gov.

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Buckle That Child Hotline - Call 1-888-235-8KID with the Kentucky license plate number of a vehicle with an unrestrained child. An educational packet will be sent to the registered owner.

The call is confidential.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Center for Digital Government has honored Kentucky with a Digital Government Achievement Award for implementation of the No Pass/No Drive online application. The annual award program is open to state and local government agencies and recognizes outstanding agency and department Web sites and applications. No Pass/No Drive received its Digital Achievement Award in the category of government-to-government.

No Pass/No Drive was implemented in 2007 following passage of Kentucky House Bill 32. It allows the commonwealth to revoke a student’s license for academic deficiency or for dropping out of school as a result of excessive or unexcused absences. The application addressed the specifications of the bill and was successfully developed through partnerships between the Transportation Cabinet, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, the Department of Education, 174 school districts, private schools and Kentucky.gov. It was completed in approximately one month.

“Kentucky is honored to have No Pass/No Drive selected for recognition by the Center for Digital Government,” Transportation Secretary Joe Prather said. “No Pass/No Drive is a wonderful example of how digital government facilitates collaboration between government entities to accomplish a common goal and we are pleased that the center recognized this as well,” he said.

Under the system, students who do not attend class as required or maintain sufficient academic standing are reported online by their school. The driving status on a student’s permit or license reflects this in the system immediately. When a student qualifies to be reinstated, the student is not involved in the process. The school reports the change and the transaction is reported immediately. The Transportation Cabinet generates an automated letter as official notification to the student and parents. Since Aug. 1, 2007, over 1,500 types of transactions – including look-ups, reinstatements, suspensions and corrections – have been conducted through No Pass/No Drive.

“For years parents have reminded their sons and daughters that driving is a privilege to be treated responsibly,” said Jon E. Draud, Kentucky education commissioner. “No Pass/No Drive pairs the responsibility of maintaining successful grades and attendance in the classroom with the privilege of driving. Thanks to the No Pass/No Drive system, government can collaborate effectively to ensure that Kentucky’s new law is enforced.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. - April Browns husband was just 26 when he was killed by a drunken driver. She was three months pregnant. We had our whole lives ahead of us. But in an instant, that all changed because of someone elses thoughtless decision to drive, she said...

Drunken driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. Across the country, more than 13,000 people are killed each year in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will be joining thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation from Aug. 15 through Labor Day to take part in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving. Law enforcement, highway safety specialists and community leaders met today at the Capitol in Frankfort to launch the campaign.

“A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit,” said Billie Johnson, assistant director of the Office of Highway Safety Programs. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can safely drive at 0.07. Everyone’s different, and the rule should be – don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything at all to drink.”

Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather, the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety, said KYTC has a responsibility to make Kentucky’s highways as safe as possible. “This aggressive campaign is an example of our commitment to improving safety on our highways. Through our efficient use of resources and cooperation from various agencies, we will be successful,” Prather said.

Last year in Kentucky, there were more than 6,000 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 214 deaths and over 3,400 injuries.

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer said enforcement officers will be manning hundreds of checkpoints across Kentucky during the campaign. “Our message is simple—Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. The goal is to get impaired drivers off of the roads,” Brewer said.

Prather said the Transportation Cabinet strives to educate the public on the dangers of drinking and driving and will continue working with law enforcement agencies around the state to help end these needless deaths. “Despite our laws, we continue to see far too many people suffer as a result of impaired driving,” he said.

Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is illegal in every state. All states also have Zero Tolerance laws, meaning it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.

Drunken driving plays a particularly significant role in motorcycle fatalities as well. Alcohol affects those skills essential to operating a motorcycle—balance and coordination. In 2006, 41 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single vehicle crashes had a BAC levels of .08 or higher.

Impaired driving is no accident – nor is it a victimless crime, Johnson added. Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses. The greatest risk, however, is taking someone’s life, she said.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Steve Beshear today announced a breakthrough on a transportation project that has long been a high priority of business and community leaders in northern Kentucky - the widening of Covington's 12th Street corridor...

“It has probably seemed like the project would never happen,” the Governor said at a news conference in Covington. “I’m here today to tell you that it will happen – and it will happen soon.”

Twelfth Street, which offers a direct connection to Interstate 75, has gained in importance as a doorway to Covington. But the street is too narrow for the current volume of traffic.

The $24 million widening project calls for double traffic lanes and a parking lane on each side, plus a landscaped median. The project has been delayed while the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and CSX Transportation negotiated the design of a new bridge over CSX railroad tracks. “I’m happy to announce that CSX and the cabinet have reached an agreement on that bridge design,” Gov. Beshear said.

The Governor also said the Transportation Cabinet will place utilities underground rather than overhead. That will add roughly $600,000 to the cost of utility relocation, bringing total utility costs to $2,005,000, but “we understand the importance of the aesthetics of this corridor,” he said.

The cabinet also will install streetlights purchased by the city of Covington, he said. The cabinet expects to be able to let a contract for construction by March.

“Northern Kentucky is an economic engine,” Gov. Beshear said. “It’s essential that we in Frankfort do everything possible to help the vital urban areas of our commonwealth.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The 2008 Kentucky State Fair opens tomorrow in Louisville and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) wants you to $Be a Part of It!$ The cabinet will have an informative and fun-filled booth on Main Street in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center, where visitors will find information and activities that will appeal to all age groups.

“This is a golden opportunity for us to connect with the public,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather. “We hope you will take at least a few minutes to visit with us and find out what we do and how we do it. If you drive or fly in Kentucky you might be amazed at how many ways the Transportation Cabinet serves you.”

The Department of Aviation, one of the KYTC agencies, will again “spread its wings” with one of the fair’s most popular attractions – a fully computerized flight simulator.

“This part of the cabinet’s exhibit has been enormously popular every year, especially with the young people,” said Winn Turney, commissioner of the Department of Aviation. “It will be standing room only much of the time. We’re also looking forward to the opportunity to show everyone how vital our airports really are to Kentucky’s economic health.”

The KYTC booth also includes the KEEN activity table, full of intriguing challenges for kids. KEEN – the Kentucky Engineering Exposure Network – is a program that allows cabinet engineers to visit schools across Kentucky to discuss and demonstrate the applications of math and science in daily life. KEEN, first program of its type in the nation, began in 1991 as a result of efforts by a task force for recruitment and retention of transportation professionals.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety will offer a lifesaving load of safety tips for fairgoers, including demonstrations by the Drive Smart division on correct installation and proper usage of child safety seats.

“Whether you’re interested in learning about the Safe Routes to School Program, Kentucky’s wide variety of specialty license plates, or our many efforts to protect the environment, we hope you will stop by our booth on Main Street for some good conversation and a lot of valuable information,” said Prather.

The 104th Kentucky State Fair runs from Aug. 14-24. Nearly 600,000 people attended the event in 2007. For complete information about various state fair concerts and event, visit: www.kystatefair.org

For more information about the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, visit: http://transportation.ky.gov

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Each year the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet hosts a contest to allow students from across the commonwealth to submit their creative works for use in the annual Adopt-A-Highway calendar. Exposure to the contest and to the Adopt-A-Highway program provides young people with a sense of ownership in Kentucky's highways and stresses the importance of keeping Kentucky's highways clean and free of litter. The contest is aimed at educating and encouraging children not to litter and to spread the message to others.

“Through this program the cabinet hopes to increase environmental awareness and stewardship among children and to bring about a change in attitudes and behaviors concerning a growing problem with litter,” said Transportation Secretary Joe Prather.

“With your child’s help a change in attitudes could result in a pleasing change of scenery. We encourage all students to participate in this worthy contest,” Prather said.

Parents, teachers and family members are asked to encourage children to participate in the contest. To obtain an entry form with the necessary certificate of authenticity please contact the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Office of Public Affairs, or access the entry form at http://adopt-a-highway.ky.gov/, then click on poster contest.

Entries must be postmarked by Sept. 30, 2008.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - It's back to school time for hundreds of thousands of students, parents, educators and school staff. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Office of Highway Safety remind drivers to be alert, use extreme caution and "drive smart!".

Each year in the United States, about 450,000 public school buses travel 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. In 2007, there were 1,244 collisions either directly or indirectly involving a school bus in Kentucky, resulting in 410 injuries and three fatalities.

Transportation Secretary Joe Prather, the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety, said the cabinet has a responsibility to make Kentucky highways as safe as possible. “Traffic is increasing in and around school zones and school buses are on the road again. Safety on our highways and in school zones is the responsibility of every driver. We all need to be especially aware of the extra road and pedestrian traffic that comes with the start of school.”

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when school buses begin to roll:

•Allow enough time to get to school or to work. Leave earlier to avoid speeding.

•Obey all of the signs in the school zone. Flashing yellow lights are used to indicate school speed zones, in which fines can be doubled.

•Pay extra attention at crosswalks to make sure that no students are crossing.

•Watch for school bus stops. Red flashing lights and the extended “STOP” arm signal other motorists to come to a complete stop. On a highway with a divided median, motorists approaching a school bus stopped on the same side of the road on which they are traveling must stop. Motorists traveling in the opposite direction of the bus, on a divided highway, should not stop. Motorists are reminded to be extra cautious at bus stops. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.

•Make sure children are in safety seats or restrained properly on the way to school.

•Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks.

“We want everyone to get to school and back safely,” said Chuck Geveden, executive director of the Office of Highway Safety. “Our office is working cooperatively with safety advocates to enhance our highway safety education and awareness campaigns to reduce preventable tragedies on Kentucky’s roadways.”

“The importance of highway safety cannot be overstated. Please buckle up, slow down and drive smart,” Prather said.

For more information visit www.nhtsa.gov or www.highwaysafety.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Drunken driving is one of America's deadliest crimes. Across the country, statistics show that in just one year, more than 13,000 people are killed in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.

“A BAC of 0.08 is the legal limit,” said Billie Johnson, assistant director of the Office of Highway Safety Programs. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean you can safely drive at 0.07. Everyone’s different, and the rule should be – don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve had anything at all to drink.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) will be joining thousands of law enforcement and highway safety agencies across the nation from Aug. 15 through Labor Day to take part in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown on impaired driving. A news conference to announce the campaign is scheduled Aug. 14 at the Capitol, in Frankfort.

Secretary of Transportation Joe Prather, the Governor’s Representative for Highway Safety, said KYTC has a responsibility to make our highways as safe as possible. “This aggressive campaign is an example of our commitment to improving safety on our highways. Through our efficient use of resources from various agencies, we will be successful,” Prather said.

Last year in Kentucky, there were more than 6,000 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 214 deaths and over 3,400 injuries.

“We strive to educate the public on the dangers of drinking and driving, and we’re working closely with law enforcement around the state to help end these needless deaths. Despite our laws, we continue to see far too many people suffer as a result of impaired driving,” Prather added.

Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is illegal in every state. All states also have Zero Tolerance laws, meaning it is illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.

Impaired driving is no accident – nor is it a victimless crime, Johnson added. Violators often face jail time, loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses. The greatest risk, however, is taking someone’s life, she said.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.