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This week has been a busy one - from attending the Life Savers Conference to the M-70 Waterways Workshop to working on the upcoming KBT Fly In, there has been a lot going on at KBT.
During all of this activity, there is something else that is keeping everyone preoccupied - and that is the 2016 Legislature.
Today is day 56 of a 60 day Legislative Session and there is still lots to be done including developing the final operating budgets for the general fund, the judicial branch, the legislative branch.
Additionally, the operating budget for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the two year road plan, and the resolution for the four "out years" of the road plan have not been heard in the Senate Transportation Committee.
While those important bills are still going through the process, last night the Senate did something that is incredibly important to all KBT members. HB 309, as amended by the Senate Committee Substitute, passed the Senate 29-9. This bill is the enabling legislation for Public Private Partnerships or P3's in the state of Kentucky.
Senator Max Wise (R-14) explained the bill on the Senate floor, noting that the bill provides the opportunity for local governments, the State Government, and the Transportation cabinet to take advantage of this well known, nationally recognized financing mechanism.
There was some discussion before the final vote was taken. Senator Ray Jones (D-31), thanked Representative Leslie Combs (D-94) for her tireless dedication to the issue. While there were 9 nay votes, the majority of the Senate felt that the measure was beneficial - and a good way to provide an alternative funding mechanism for projects in our Commonwealth.
To see how your Senator voted, click
here. If your Senator supported HB 309, please call them and thank them for helping move Kentucky forward.
The bill will traveled back to the House today for Concurrence. Representative Combs concurred with the changes made to the bill in the Senate.
The bill will now travel to Governor Bevin for his signature.
This final step must be taken to enable the use of public private partnerships for major transportation projects in The Commonwealth.
If you know Rep. Combs or Senator Wise, please contact them and thank them for all their hard work and dedication on this important issue.
I hope you all enjoy this holiday weekend with your friends and family.
Happy Easter!
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KBT's Mission Statement
Kentuckians for Better Transportation educates and advocates for all modes of transportation to promote a safe, sustainable transportation network that brings economic growth and improved quality of life to all Kentucky Communities.
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KBT's Annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In -
May 18 & 19, 2016
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Space is filling up! You don't want to miss this incredible opportunity to meet Kentucky's Congressional delegation, discuss transportation and network with leaders in the transportation industries.
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Tentative Schedule |
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Wednesday,
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May 18, 2016 |
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1:30 - 4:00 pm
2:30 pm
4:00 pm
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Day One on the Hill
U.S. Capitol
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
U.S. Senator John Thune, Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
Congressman Andy Barr (KY-6) |
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5:30
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Private Reception
GiGi Room - Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab |
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6:30
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Private Dinner
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab
Confirmed Guests:
Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-5),
Chairman House Appropriations Committee
Congressman Andy Barr (KY-6)
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Thursday,
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May 19, 2016 |
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8:00 am
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Day Two on the Hill
U.S. Capitol Visitors Center |
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8:00
9:00
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Catered Breakfast
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-2) |
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10:00
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Private Guided Tour of U.S. Capitol
with Congressman Hal Rogers
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For more information and to register online please click the following link:
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KBT Air Transportation Committee Meeting
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KBT Highways Committee Meeting
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Date: Weds. March 30, 2016
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Date: Friday, April 1, 2016
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Time: 10:00 am
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Time: 10:00 am
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Location: Madison Co. Cooperative Ext. Office
230 Duncannon Lane
Richmond, KY 40510
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Please note new location.
Location: Kentucky Chamber
464 Chenault Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601
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Guest: KDA Commissioner Col. Steve Parker
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Guest: Thomas L. Nelson, Jr., Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration
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KBT committee meetings are open to all members of KBT.
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OKI Hosts Freight Network: M-70/StrongPorts Workshop
Yesterday, the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Planning Commission hosted the M-70/Strong PortsWorkshop. Representatives of these states joined together to discuss the development of an Industry led M-70 Coalition or Partnership.
Kicking off the program was Kentucky native and Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen. Administrator Jaenichen updated the audience on the new funding opportunities for ports that are included in the FAST Act.
Below is more information on one of these competitive grants. Members are encouraged to review the information below and apply for funding to improve our Commonwealth's riverports. |
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that it is now soliciting applications for the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies
(FASTLANE) grant program. The FASTLANE program is a new program in the
Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to fund critical freight and highway projects across the country. The FAST Act authorizes $800 million in funding for the FASTLANE program for fiscal year 2016, with 25 percent reserved for rural projects, and 10 percent for smaller projects.
"Our nation needs a strong multimodal freight system to both compete in the global economy and meet the needs of consumers and industry," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "We now have an opportunity to fund high-impact projects that address key challenges affecting the movement of people and freight."
The
FASTLANE grant program provides funding for projects of national or regional significance. FASTLANE grants provide dedicated funding for projects that address major issues facing our nation's highways and bridges. For the first time in the U.S. Department of Transportation's 50-year history, the program establishes broad, multiyear eligibilities for freight infrastructure, including intermodal projects.
FASTLANE grants will address many of the challenges outlined in the USDOT report Beyond Traffic, including increased congestion on the nation's highways and the need for a strong multimodal transportation system to support the expected growth in freight movement both by ton and value. It is also in line with the Department's draft
National Freight Strategic Plan released in October 2015, which looks at challenges and identifies strategies to address impediments to the efficient flow of goods throughout the nation.
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TANK, Executive Director Andrew Aeillo released their 2015 Year in Review document.
This document highlights some work that was accomplished in 2015 and TANK's ongoing efforts to provide safe, reliable, customer-oriented transportation to our community.
Aeillo specifically notes that "Connecting our community to jobs has always been part of what we do, but you will see that TANK's role in workforce development is growing and the future is bright."
The report notes that over the last several years TANK has continued to play an increasing role in workforce development in Northern Kentucky. The need to provide transit service where there has not traditionally been service has and will continue to grow. TANK has started to work with individual businesses to provide service customized to meet their workforce needs. With financial support from many businesses to pay for transit service, we have developed a pilot model that allows us test the demand for transit in new areas. Last year, TANK piloted service to eBay in Richwood and FedEx in Independence. As we continue to see demand, particularly in the southern parts of our service area, we will continue to test demand for transit service in this flexible way.
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A key portion of the forecast focuses on projections for the growth in the use of unmanned aircraft, also known as drones. The FAA estimates small, hobbyist UAS purchases may grow from 1.9 million in 2016 to as many as 4.3 million by 2020. Sales of UAS for commercial purposes are expected to grow from 600,000 in 2016 to 2.7 million by 2020. Combined total hobbyist and commercial UAS sales are expected to rise from 2.5 million in 2016 to 7 million in 2020.
Predictions for small UAS used in the commercial fleet are more difficult to develop given the dynamic, quickly-evolving nature of the market. Both sales and fleet size estimates share certain broad assumptions about operating limitations for small UAS during the next five years: daytime operations, within visual line of sight, and a single pilot operating only one small UAS at a time. The main difference in the high and low end of the forecasts is differing views on how those limitations will influence the widespread use of UAS for commercial purposes.
Looking at commercial air travel, Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs) are considered the benchmark for measuring aviation growth. An RPM is one revenue passenger traveling one mile. The FAA forecast calls for system RPMs by mainline and regional air carriers to grow at an average rate of 2.6 percent a year between 2016 and 2036, with international RPMs projected to increase 3.5 percent a year, doubling over the forecast period. Domestic RPMs are forecast to increase by more than 50 percent over the same time. In 2015, system RPMs by U.S. carriers grew from 857 billion to 889 billion, a 3.8 percent increase.
The FAA's NextGen program is helping to meet this consistent aviation growth. NextGen focuses on implementing technologies and procedures that utilize satellite-based aircraft navigation and phase out efficiency limitations of the current ground-based radar navigation system.
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U.S. DOT "Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative" 
Tuesday, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the availability of $60 million in grants.
ATCMTD is one of the Funding Opportunities which was established under the recently passed Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act or "FAST Act", the multiyear surface transportation funding bill. The program was created based upon concerns outlined in the United States Department of Transportation's (DOT) "Beyond Traffic" report issued last year.
The DOT will host an Informational Session regarding this Funding Opportunity focused on the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative.
This session will be conducted as a virtual forum and will focus on specific topics to help potential applicants gather additional information and ask specific questions. Participation in this session is not mandatory in order to submit an application under this solicitation. However, we encourage potential applicants to take advantage of this opportunity to gather information regarding this specific funding opportunity.
Informational session: Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Initiative
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HENDERSON, Ky. (3/22/16) - It was a packed house in the Henderson County Fiscal Court room last night as newly-appointed County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider was sworn into office.
Schneider was selected by the Henderson Republican Party through interviews held on Wednesday and then was officially appointed to the county judge-executive position by Gov. Matt Bevin on Friday.
Schneider said he was grateful to the Republican Executive Committee for choosing him as their new judge-executive, but will strive for bipartisanship.
"I appreciate Gov. Matt Bevin's confidence in me, and the blessing from the Henderson County Republican Party's Executive Committee," Schneider said. "I have been very candid in my intention to put the needs of Henderson County before party and politics."
Schneider will serve as judge-executive from his appointment date through November and plans to be the Republican nominee for judge-executive on the November ballot. If Schneider is elected in November, he will serve the remainder of former Judge-Executive Hugh McCormick's term through 2018.
As judge-executive, Schneider said he will be a proactive and creative leader who will tackle many of the issues and concerns that exist in Henderson County.
"These are fragile times in Henderson County," Schneider said. "The (county) budget is tenuous and the competition for new industry and job opportunities are as fierce as ever. If we don't do these things well, Henderson County could fall behind possibly in ways that take years to fix and the future could be bleak.
But, if we attack the next few months and years with passion and intelligence, foresight and imagination, great things can happen."
Schneider has served in leadership roles for the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Kentucky Forward, and Kyndle (a merger of the two) since 2009. Schneider said the Kyndle policy board is set to meet today to discuss the future of the president and CEO position at Kyndle, as Schneider transitions into his new role as judge-executive.
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Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1972 and dedicated to rail safety public education, has partnered with federal safety agencies and the nation's railroads to launch the See Tracks? Think Train! campaign aimed at raising awareness about risky pedestrian and driver behavior around railroad tracks.
A person or vehicle is struck by a train roughly once every three hours.
Preliminary Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) data show:
- 270 people were killed or injured at railroad grade crossings, up 16 percent from 232 in 2013.
- 915 pedestrians were killed or injured while walking on or near railroad tracks in 2014, up 6 percent from 863 in 2013.
From those trespassing on railroad tracks for a shortcut or recreation, to drivers trying to beat the train at a grade crossing, people don't realize important facts about safe behavior around railroad tracks:
- A typical freight train can take more than a mile to stop, even when emergency brakes are applied - the distance of 18 football fields!
- It's never safe to stop closer than 15 feet from rails, and a train is at least three feet wider than tracks on both sides. 95 percent of all rail-related deaths involve drivers trying to beat a train, or people trespassing on railroad tracks.
- More than 50 percent of people injured or killed while trespassing on railroad tracks have drugs or alcohol in their system.
- Railroad tracks are private property, and walking on them is trespassing - it's illegal and dangerous; you risk being ticketed and fined, seriously injured or killed.
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Kentucky Life Savers Conference
Earlier this week, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) and the Kentucky Transportation Center hosted the Life Savers Conference, an event dedicated to discussing safety initiatives. The Conference brought together Kentucky law enforcement officers, providers of safety equipment, and others interested in safety to discuss everything and anything related to increasing safety on Kentucky's transportation network.
KBT member
Site Safe was present at the Conference to display some of their safety products.
The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety also displayed their new distracted driving simulator. Attendees were invited to test their driving skills while texting. If you haven't tried the simulator yet please contact KOHS at
(888) 374-8768 for more information.
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KBT thanks all of our 2016 Transportation Conference
Sponsors & Exhibitors
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Kentuckians for Better Transportation | (502) 491-5600 | www.kbtnet.org
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