Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association32nd Annual Winter Conference

February 6, 2014

Presentation by:Juva Barber

Executive DirectorKentuckians for Better Transportation

Working for All Modes of Transportation

Air Highways Public Rail Waterways

Transit

Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT) is a member association advocating for all modes (aviation, highways/local roads/bridges, public transit, railroads and waterways) of transportation throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We unite leaders and citizens to achieve a safe and sustainable transportation system for improved economic development and quality of life.

KBT ’s Mission

53 General Aviation Airports

1 Part 139 Airport

6 Commercial Airports

Aviation in Kentucky

Restore Funding to the Kentucky Aviation Economic Development Fund

In order to be consistent with the current U.S. Department of Transportation/FAA policy, KBT urges the Kentucky General Assembly to follow KRS 183.525 and fully appropriate the fees collected from the sale of aviation fuels to develop, rehabilitate, and maintain airport facilities with these funds.

• 10 Interstate • 10 parkways• Over 14,000 bridges • 79,320 miles of public roads and streets

Information Courtesy Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 2014

Highways, Bridges, Local Streets & Roads in Kentucky

Preserve & Protect Kentucky Road Fund & Projects Establish Symmetrical Balance in Kentucky's Motor Fuel Excise Fee

KBT urges the 2014 Kentucky General Assembly to statutorily raise the floor of the Average Wholesale Price to FY 2013 levels and to further specify that the motor fuels excise fee cannot fall by more than 10% in any fiscal year, preventing the catastrophic effects of a sudden, drastic reduction in the fee. With this change, both increases and decreases will be limited to a maximum of 10% in any fiscal year.

Road Fund Policy

It is the position of KBT that all current sources and formulas of revenue going into the Road Fund be maintained in the Road Fund. Reducing Road Fund revenue to offset other tax increases and/or diverting Road Fund revenues to other programs will weaken Kentucky's ability to build and maintain the high quality highway network today's businesses demand. Road Fund dollars go to build and maintain infrastructure that benefits all Kentuckians. Road Fund dollars create Kentucky jobs, and jobs are the best way to fight poverty.

Public Private Partnerships (P3s)

P3s have shown to be a viable option for alternative financing for large infrastructure projects worldwide. Currently, the Kentucky General Assembly is thoughtfully studying the application of P3s to infrastructure projects in Kentucky. KBT supports these efforts and looks forward to the findings. KBT urges the 2014 General Assembly to enact legislation for innovative ways to address transportation financing and delivering projects in our state.

Local Investments for Transformation (LIFT)

LIFT is a tool to allow communities to invest in projects that will keep them competitive through a local option sales tax of one additional penny on current local sales taxes. The funding is dedicated for transformational local projects, with a sunset. The choice to participate is made by the citizens at the local level where communities control their own destiny with resources for community projects. KBT urges the General Assembly to support Local Investments for Transformation (LIFT).

Public Transit in Kentucky

All Kentuckians have access public transit regardless of their location

• Public Transportation provides 30 million passengers trips a year in Kentucky.

• The three urban systems provide a total of 24 million trips a year, with 70-85 percent of those trips for work or school.

• $1 billion of investment in public transit produces 47, 500 jobs and increases business activity by $6.1 billion (federal highway administration)

Funding (State)

Public Transit in Kentucky needs a dedicated, reliable and consistent funding provide a source for adequate matches of federal funds. Kentucky’s major transit systems have left federal funds on the table for the lack of a state and local match. Predictable funding will provide systems with the ability to proactively plan for projects and compete for federal sources of funds that are currently out of reach. KBT supports a dedicated, reliable and consistent funding source for Public Transit systems that takes into consideration future needs.

K B T ’s Public Transit Legislative Policies

Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) (Federal and State)

The Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) is an innovative, federally coordinated partnership that will make it easier for U.S. veterans, active service members, military families, and others to learn about and arrange for locally available transportation services that connect them with work, education, health care, and other vital services in their communities. Drawing on existing federal resources, and in consultation with advocates for veterans and people with disabilities, projects are being funded in urban, suburban, and rural communities around the nation to strengthen and promote "one-call" information centers and other tools that conveniently "connect the dots" as never before. As a result, these deserving men and women and their families may quickly and conveniently turn to trusted sources that have been specially trained to help them access local transportation options and other support services, ranging from workforce training to food pantry locations. The VTCLI grant program is structured to fund projects that will potentially benefit anyone living within the jurisdiction of a grant recipient, with or without veteran status. KBT supports the VTCLI initiative that is currently being set forth by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Federal Government.

Railways in Kentucky

• 5 Class I Railroads• 1 Regional Railroad• 7 Local Railroads• 2,500 Freight Rail miles

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Short Line Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2013 (Federal)

This legislation would extend the Section 45G short line railroad tax credit (50%) which is due to expire on December 31, 2013. Originally enacted in 2004, Section 45G creates a strong incentive for short line railroads to invest private sector dollars on freight railroad track rehabilitation. KBT supports keeping the Section 45G tax credits and making them permanent.

Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Loan Program (RRIMFLP) (Federal)

In recent years, the RRIFLP has proven to be a useful tool for Short-Line Railroads. However, administrative burdens have seemed to be growing on railroads making application for these loans. KBT urges modifications to RRIMFLP, so loans are issued in a more-timely manner and, if possible, with less administrative burden to the applicants.

Waterways in Kentucky

• Cover 1200 Miles of Navigable Waterways, One of the Most Expansive in the Nation

• $26 Billion Manufactured Goods• $10 Billion Basic Chemicals• $6 Billion of Agricultural and Food Products

Funding and Expansion of Improvements for Public Riverport Improvement (State)

The 2012 General Assembly in a special session appropriated $500,000 in each fiscal year (2012-2014) to improve public river ports within Kentucky. Improvements were limited to dredging and maintenance of access. The Secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, in conjunction with the Kentucky Water Transportation Advisory Board, was directed to determine how the funds are distributed. During the past two years, this process has taken place successfully. With experience in hand, a move to allow improvements of docks, wharves, equipment, port buildings, storage facilities, roads and railroads and an increase in funding is expected in the 2014 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. KBT supports these efforts to facilitate the flow of commerce through our public ports.

Transportation Safety in Kentucky

HB 199 - Child Booster Seats

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the number one cause of death for Kentucky children. Kentucky’s current booster seat law states that children who are under the age of seven and between the heights of 40 inches and 50 inches shall be properly restrained in a booster seat. However, KBT urges the 2014 Kentucky General Assembly to strengthen the current statute to reflect recommended national standards, which increases the age to eight years and increases the height limit to 57 inches.

HB 33 - Cell Phone Ban in School and Construction Zones

Reliable, independent highway safety studies continue to demonstrate that hand-held devices provide a significant distraction to all drivers, regardless of age. For that reason, KBT urges the 2014 Kentucky General Assembly to enact a ban on the use of cell phones while driving in school and construction zones. More than a dozen states have enacted this type of legislation that protects the lives of our school children and highway construction workers.

Thank you slide TBD…