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Last week I had a late afternoon meeting with several KBT members. After a focused two hours, I walked out and immediately began checking and responding to emails and texts from my phone. One of my counterparts remarked, "No texting and walking!"
We laughed a bit, noting that texting and walking can actually be pretty hazardous.
While our little exchange brought some laughs, the truth is texting and driving is no laughing matter.
Texting while driving is deadly.
You've he
ard that over and over. You are probably thinking to yourself - here we go again - another article about distracted driving.
You get it right? You know not to text, email, or even look at your phone while you are driving.
Even though you know distracted driving is dangerous, what do you do?
Do you turn your phone off when you're on the road? Do you put it in your bag in the backseat or in your glove compartment so you can't reach it while you're driving?
OR
Do you look at your phone at stop lights? Do you take a quick glance at your email when you're on a straight stretch of road? Do you text with one hand and keep the other on the wheel? Do you take a second and hit the like button on Facebook when you're driving?
So many of us depend on our phones to keep us connected ALL THE TIME. We think we must always be accessible and we also think we always need to have access.
I get it - we're on the road, out of the office, and always working. Our mobile devices are what keep us connected.
But that is no excuse. We have to stop. We have to put our phones down and drive. We have to do this for our own safety and the safety of everyone else who is on the road. We have to model this behavior for our kids, our parents, our spouses, and any other passenger we have in our vehicle.
The KBT Safety Committee members spent two days this past week educating high school students on the dangers of distracted driving.
Lora Boller of DLZ, John Eckler of Gresham Smith, Randall Embry of KIPDIA, and Amy Thomas of Parsons Brinkerhoff worked with the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Branch Manager Brad Franklin and Program Coordinators Jeffrey Daniel and Deshaun Bailey during the Kentucky Construction Career Days event in Shelbyville. These KBT members educated more than 1,000 high school students on the dangers of distracted driving using KOHS' new distracted driving simulator.
Safety is important to KBT. Our mission states we support a SAFE, sustainable transportation network.
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KBT Events & Committee Meetings |
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Limited rooms available at the group rate of $91.00!
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Red
&
Blue Review is coming to the 38th Annual Kentucky Transportation Conference!
Friday morning, Janaury 22, 2016, Garry Gubpton, Cats' Pause
General Manager Darrell Bird, and Howie Lindsey of the Louisville Sports Report will answer your questions about the Cats, Cards and College Sports.
The
Red
&
Blue
Review delivers to TV audiences all across the Commonwealth*
truthful, insightful, and thoughtful analysis of University of Kentucky and
University of Louisville athletic programs.
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2016 Platinum Sponsors to date
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| Olmsted Locks and Dam Tour |
KBT's tour date has been set for October 20, 2015, the exact times are yet to be determined however, we plan on beginning around 11:00 am (CS) with lunch on the project sight and conclude around 2:30 pm. We hope you will join us! Please click on the link above or email
[email protected]
for more information.
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KBT committee meetings are open to all members of KBT. Events are open to all.
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| Positive Train Control & Why Railroads Need an Extension |
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A high-tech system currently in develop
ment that knits together satellites, databases and sophisticated signaling networks will make freight rail transportation, already one of the safest U.S. industries, even safer. But Congress must act quickly to extend the deadline for installing this system - called Positive Train Control (PTC) - or face widespread economic disruption.
When Congress mandated that railroads install PTC by the end of 2015, it set an arbitrary deadline that did not account for the immense technological challenges to deploy this new system. PTC, which had not been invented at the time of the mandate, will need to function across all rail companies and most passenger rail systems on more than 23,000 locomotives and 62,000 miles of track.
Today, despite having spent $6 billion and made enormous implementation strides, including the installation of 76 percent of the 34,000 wayside interface units necessary for PTC to work, railroads will not meet the deadline.
What does this mean? Railroads will soon be forced to suspend their service or face huge fines for operating in violation of the law if Congress does not act quickly to extend the deadline. Because rail service cannot be shut down or restarted overnight, railroads and their customers are being forced to make decisions about rail service now. A rail shutdown would have huge impacts on the U.S. economy and affect everyone-farmers, manufacturers, consumers, water treatment facilities, rail passengers, energy companies, government agencies and beyond!
This Wednesday, leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced H.R. 3651, the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would extend the PTC deadline to the end of 2018 and provide limited authority to the U.S. Department of Transportation to further extend the deadline under certain conditions.
This bill is similar, though not identical, to provisions passed by the Senate earlier this year. We hope that the House will quickly pass H.R. 3651 and that the entire Congress will agree to a final PTC deadline extension that will be signed by the President.
Time is running out for Congress to avoid disruptions in rail service.
If you have not already done so, please visit the
GoRail Action Center to ask your Members of Congress to pass a PTC extension or contact GoRail's Michael Gaynor at
[email protected] to learn more. The continued functioning of our economy may depend on it.
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| KBT Welcomes New Member Kenvirons, Inc. |
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Established in 1975, Kenvirons, Inc. is a multi-disciplined environmental and civil engineering firm headquartered in Frankfort, Kentucky. Since its inception, Kenvirons, Inc. has developed an outstanding reputation throughout Kentucky and surrounding states for the firm's ability to provide quality engineering services in a range of areas to include water and wastewater related studies and system design, dam design, hydrological studies, environmental assessments, air and water quality studies, urban and industrial planning, solid waste management, sampling and laboratory services.
During the last forty years Kenvirons, Inc. has been fortunate in having the opportunity to complete thousands of individual projects ranging in size from laboratory material analysis and landfill design to multi-million dollar water line extensions and sewage treatment facilities. Kenvirons, Inc. maintains a staff of highly trained and qualified engineers, scientists, technicians and support staff. The core of the firm consists of civil, chemical and environmental engineers. Of the engineering staff, nine are registered Professional Engineers in the state of Kentucky with some holding licenses in Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Arkansas.
Contact information:
Kenvirons Incorporated
452 Versailles Road
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
502-695-4357
FAX 502-695-4363
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2015) -
Kentucky State Highway Engineer Steve Waddle has been awarded the 2015 Alfred E. Johnson Achievement Award by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The award was announced Sunday, Sept. 27, in Chicago at AASHTO's annual meeting.
The prestigious award, given annually by the Association, recognizes the many contributions to management in the field of highway engineering made by Alfred E. Johnson, former Executive Director of AASHTO. It is awarded to the individual selected by the award committee as the person rendering the most outstanding service to their department in the field of engineering or management, covering technical and administrative aspects.
The award is the capstone of Waddle's 27-year career as a civil engineer, all with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. He retires on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear as State Highway Engineer in 2010, Waddle has served as chief engineer for the Department of Highways overseeing the department's three offices - Project Development, Project Delivery and Preservation, and Highway Safety - which together comprise 14 divisions.
"Steve has a 'can-do' attitude and exemplary leadership skills," said KYTC Secretary Mike Hancock. "This award is much-deserved recognition for all the wonderful projects and tasks Steve has led the Cabinet through over the years."
"I am very humbled to receive this award and proud to accept it on behalf of KYTC," Waddle said. "It's an honor to be recognized for something I truly enjoy doing."
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 U.S. 127 corridor through Franklin and Anderson counties. He was the Division of Construction's field liaison for the U.S. 119, U.S. 23 and U.S. 460 corridor projects in eastern Kentucky and for construction of the William H. H  arsha Bridge over the Ohio River at Maysville.
In 2011, Waddle was instrumental in developing options for dealing with the emergency closure of the Interstate 64 Sherman Minton Bridge between Kentucky and Indiana, leading the project team to a solution that allowed the bridge to be repaired and reopened months ahead of schedule.
In 2012, he was involved in the innovative replacement of a 322-foot span of the U.S. 68 bridge over Kentucky Lake in western Kentucky after the span was struck and destroyed by a cargo ship. A mere 121 days later, just before Memorial Day in a region dependent on summer tourism, a replacement span was in place and the bridge reopened.
Waddle has led the Cabinet in efforts to improve program delivery and to sustain a level of annual highway and bridge construction awards - about $1 billion each year - in Kentucky.
He also has guided KYTC's technical staff through difficult times as new processes for project development and project delivery were implemented.
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| Senate Passes FAA Funding Extension |
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The Senate passed a six-month extension of federal aviation funding on Tuesday, a day before it was set to expire.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) passed the extension for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by unanimous consent.
Like the rest of the federal government, if Congress hadn't passed the extension the agency would have run out of money at the end of the day Wednesday. With the House already passing the extension on Monday, the bill is now headed to President Obama's desk.
Lawmakers had originally intended to roll the six-month extension into a short-term continuing resolution (CR), currently being debated by lawmakers, which will fund the government through Dec. 11. The six-month extension was included in an earlier version of the CR, before being removed as lawmakers squabbled over federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Under the extension, funding for FAA now runs out on March 31, 2016. Lawmakers are expected to use the extra time to reach an agreement on a long-term funding measure.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
added that lawmakers should back the short-term extension because it will give them time to "do something that's bold, do something that's transformational, and do something that'll be very, very positive for aviation."
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| New Innovative Center to Increase Options for Investment in Transportation Infrastructure |
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WASHINGTON D.C. - The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is pleased with today's unveiling of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC). The center is a resource for states, municipalities and project sponsors looking to utilize federal transportation expertise, apply for federal transportation credit programs and explore ways to access private capital in pubic private partnerships.
AASHTO is working with U.S. DOT through a cooperative agreement to establish the BATIC Institute: An AASHTO Center for Excellence (the Institute). The Institute will help state departments of transportation and other agencies better utilize innovative solutions to finance transportation projects and safeguard taxpayers' investments. The Institute also will develop important capacity building resources that will support the services offered through the BATIC at U.S. DOT.
"We are pleased to be working with our partners at U.S. DOT to help solve the finance issues transportation agencies face today," said AASHTO Executive Director Bud Wright. "Great ideas need to be shared and decision makers across the country will benefit from the Institute as they learn about the many innovative options available."
The Institute will provide specialized education to decision makers and transportation project leaders at state DOTs and local partner agencies. Through education and outreach programs that include in-person and online training, industry professionals will have access to the tools they need to apply cutting-edge solutions within their organizations, across the country.
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| Gridlock on Waterways |
Just about every American knows the sheer animal frustration of sitting in traffic. Numerous studies have also pointed to the serious economic toll that traffic jams exact. Less understood, however, are the major problems that congestion on the nation's inland waterways present.
The inland waterway system - some 12,000 miles of waterways, connected by 240 locks, and used for commercial transportation by barge - are a bit like the veins and arteries of the United States. Unseen and unthought-of by most Americans, they provide vital transportation routes for chemicals, coal, petroleum, and other products. Some 60 percent of the nation's grain exports, for example, are shipped by barge.
But the waterways are also suffering from a serious cholesterol build-up. This summer, I visited the
Kentucky Lock and Dam, on the Tennessee River. The lock terminal is 600 feet long; a perfectly appropriate size for the barges that plied the waterways back in 1945, when the lock was constructed.
But now many barges are literally twice the size. And so, in a remarkable feat that I got to witness, the cargo are literally split in half, and sent through the lock on two separate tows. This process can take as long as seven hours. It's a remarkable feat of engineering, and the still-functioning septuagenarian lock lowers the barges by some eighty feet magnificently.
But it takes too long.
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| Railway Operations and Engineering Class Offered |
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T2 Program at UK is offering a Railway Operations and Engineering Class.
Although this class is appropriate for employees of Railway Companies, Railway Consultants, and Railway Contractors, it is specifically arranged for employees of Governmental Agencies; particularly employees involved with collaborative activities involving Railway Companies and their Consultants/Contractors during the construction of new facilities and maintenance/upgrades of existing facilities.
This is an expanded version of a class John Secor and I presented at the Purdue Road School this past March. This class also represents an activity integral with a recently completed KTC funded Railway/Highway Research Project. Four Research Reports emanated from that project; these were published last December as Report Series ---- KTC-14-18/SPR452-13-1F, (14-2F), (15-3F), (16-4F).
Click here for .pdf
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Voices for Public Transit - Town Hall Meeting
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We're on the countdown to October 29 and pulling out all the stops to make sure Congress passes long-term, comprehensive transportation legislation this year.
Voices for Public Transit will be holding its first-ever telephone town hall!
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Tuesday, October 14 |
| Time |
2:00 PM EDT/1:00 PM CDT |
Click here for more information and to register. |
| NHTSA is Gearing Up for National Teen Driver Safety Week |
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National Teen Driver Safety Week is
October 18-24, 2015
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the US. In fact, in 2013, there were 2,614 teen (15-19 year old) passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes and an estimated 130,000 were injured. Yet, a recent survey shows that only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of driving. Parents need to take the time to talk with their kids about the many dangers of driving. Those dangers include alcohol, seat belts, texting, speeding, and extra passengers.
Even if you think they don't hear you, they do. Remember, the "5 to Drive" - Set the Rules Before They Hit the Road.
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2016 Kentucky Transportation Conference
Sponsors to Date:
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Roadway Construction Products
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Ricon Corporation
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Unique Paving Products
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Terracon
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O.R. Colan Associates
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Intech
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Kentucky Equipment Distributors
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Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
American Engineers, Inc.
Crafco
Consulting Services Incorporated
E & H Bridge & Grating, Inc.
Equipment Marketing Company
EZ-Access
FUELMASTERS/Syntech Systems, Inc.
GRW, Inc.
Hanson Professional Services
Hinkle Environmental Services
Innovative Access Solutions
CHA
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Integrated Engineering, PLLC
Irving Materials, Inc.
KAA (Kentucky Aviation Association)
KAR (Kentucky Association of Riverports)
KDA (Kentucky Department of Aviation)
KYNDLE
Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Lynn Imaging/Monster Color
O.R. Colan Associates
PAIKY (Plantmix Asphalt Association)
Palmer Engineering
Portland Cement Association
Roadway Construction Products
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Scotty's Contracting & Stone
SealMaster of Kentucky
Sherman Dixie Concrete
Site-Safe, LLC
Stantec
TARC
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
The Allen Company/ Damage Prevention
Thelan Associates, a division of Geotechnology, Inc.
Trinity Highway
Unique Paving Materials
URETEK-Mid Central
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KBT 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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