A transportation research group is advocating for more spending for Kentucky's roads. TRIP says Kentuckians spend nearly $1,700 per driver on crashes, congestion-related delays and vehicle operating costs affected by road conditions. That adds up to $4 billion statewide.The group's study finds 16 percent of major urban roads are in poor condition and eight percent of the commonwealth's bridges are structurally deficient.
Locally, it finds six percent of Northern Kentucky's bridges are structurally deficient and 45 percent of major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
"From this TRIP report we can see that we still have work to do to maintain the existing transportation system and to expand additional infrastructure to accommodate the growth that is underway now and for the future," says Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore in a statement.
Moore says the study will help as Boone County undertakes a transportation plan over the next 12-15 months that includes using smart technology.
"We're going to be look at how with instead of more lane miles, more asphalt or concrete, how possibly with fiber optic cable and with smart traffic signals we may be able to move more traffic through a corridor that is congested."
Public Transportation
Northern Kentucky's transit system says the commonwealth needs to spend more money on public transportation. Speaking at the TRIP report release, TANK General Manager Andrew Aiello says the state currently only budgets $2 million.
"That's only 42 cents per capita per year going toward public transit from the commonwealth's budget," says Aiello. "That's the lowest level per capita compared to all of our surrounding seven states."
Aiello says $6-10 million is needed to match federal funds and meet the state's public transportation challenges.
