Kentucky Local Technical Assistance Program

April 7, 2026

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) – FY 2026 Funding Now Open

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released the FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, with approximately $1 billion available to support efforts that reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

SS4A provides funding for two key grant types:

Planning and Demonstration Grants – support the development or enhancement of Action Plans and related demonstration activities
Implementation Grants – fund projects and strategies aligned with an existing Action Plan

This funding opportunity is open to regional, local, and Tribal agencies working to improve roadway safety.

Applications are due May 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM (EDT).

USDOT will also host a series of informational webinars to help applicants navigate the process.

EXPLORE SS4A FUNDING AND APPLICATION DETAILS

Encouraging safe habits early is key—and Kentucky is taking action.

The Kentucky Safe Teen Driving Challenge invites drivers ages 15–19 to build safer driving behaviors using real-time feedback through a mobile app. Participants will be evaluated on key safe driving habits and compete for $10,000 in total prizes, including a $3,000 top award.

Teen drivers are among the most vulnerable on the road, and this initiative helps reinforce safe decision-making from the start.

Registration is open through April 16.

BASIC SURVEY COURSE

Country Inn & Suites | Elizabethtown, KY

April 30, 2026 - 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

This training program was created in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky Transportation Center to provide basic guidance and instruction to personnel involved in highway construction and maintenance surveying.

This course is intended for technicians and inspectors, especially those without previous experience. The training includes basic surveying concepts, measurements and mathematics, and several field exercises.

Credit: 6 Professional Development Hours (Certification provided)

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Pesticide Training Program

Final Opportunity Before Fall – Register Now

Any person who handles, applies, or supervises the use of pesticides as part of their job must be certified and licensed by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. For non-commercial pesticide applicators, this includes completing 12 hours of continuing education every three years to remain eligible for license renewal.

Our Pesticide Training Program offers six hours of continuing education per workshop and includes training, testing, and continuing education for Categories 3, 5, and 6.

Trainings are offered in person at locations across the state, along with online training opportunities, providing flexibility to meet a variety of schedules and needs.

These are the final sessions before fall scheduling begins.

Make sure you’re certified and compliant before the season changes.

SECURE YOUR SEAT BEFORE THE DEADLINE

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and here in Kentucky, the message is clear: put the phone down and stay focused.

According to Kentucky State Police data, there were 5,503 crashes in 2025 linked to distracted driving, including 18 fatalities. These are preventable incidents that continue to impact communities across the Commonwealth.

To help combat this, Team Kentucky is supporting the national “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign, running April 6–13, with increased enforcement and public education efforts.

Distracted driving goes beyond texting—it includes anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind off the road. Even a few seconds of inattention can have life-changing consequences.

As Gov. Andy Beshear said, “No text or phone call is worth a life.”

Read the full message from Team Kentucky here.

Become a Champion for Road Safety in Your Community

The Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) is a nationally-recognized certificate program designed to build a knowledgeable, safety-minded workforce, responsible for operating, maintaining, and designing local roads. Road Safety Champions prioritize safety and are motivated to implement safety improvements that reduce fatalities and serious injuries on rural and local roads. Aspiring Road Safety Champions take core courses as well as trainings specific to their line of work. When all requirements are met, participants will be awarded a Road Safety Champion Program Certificate.

These webinars are offered free of charge and most Road Safety Champion Program webinars are held via Zoom from 9:00-11:00am. Road Safety Champion Program Zoom webinars are approved by the Departments for Local Government (DLG) for the County Elected Officials Training Incentive Program. Webinars are worth two credit hours.

April 22 - Sign and Post Installation (Optional)

May 20 - Safety Analysis Process (Required)

June 17 - Overview of Data and Tools (Optional)

July 15 - Local Road Safety Plans (Required)

August 26 - Intersection of Transportation, Public Health, Law Enforcement (Optional)

September 23 - Road Safety Assessment (Required)

October 28 - Horizontal Curve Signing (Optional)

Browse the program requirements on the Road Safety Champion webpage and register for upcoming webinars today.

For traffic signs to be effective in providing important information to drivers, agencies should implement a sign maintenance program that addresses the new MUTCD minimum requirements. Agencies’ schedules for replacing signs are based on resources and relative priorities rather than specific compliance dates.

Sign and Post Installation

(Optional)

April 22, 2026

Applications for Emerging Leaders Academy 2026-2027 Now Open!

The American Public Works Association is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its signature Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA)—a milestone program that has helped hundreds of public works professionals strengthen leadership skills and expand their professional networks.

This year-long, peer-based program provides intensive leadership and management training within the public works field, along with valuable connections at the national, chapter, and branch levels.

The program is designed for professionals with 10 years or less experience, or those recently promoted into their first supervisory role within the past three years, who are looking to grow in the profession.

Applications are open through July 6, 2026.

APPLY HERE

KTC Research:

Investigation of ITS-CVO Technologies

Staff shortages and reduced budgets have made transportation agencies increasingly reliant on intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for commercial motor (CMV) vehicle enforcement activities. Technologies such as license plate readers, US Department of Transportation (USDOT) number readers, weigh-in-motion scales, static scales, and preclearance systems like PrePass and Drivewyze help automate enforcement and free up personnel to focus on inspecting those vehicles most likely to pose compliance and/or safety risks. To document adoption rates of different technologies, researchers surveyed transportation agencies, vendors, and law enforcement agencies. Surveys responses provided useful insights into how jurisdictions are approaching the use of advanced technologies to improve enforcement.

Get the full Research Report contents.

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