April 1, 2016 
There is a quote in Dr. Seuss's famous book Oh the Places You'll Go that makes me think of the current legislative session. We're currently in "the waiting place" where people just wait. We may not be waiting for our "Uncle Jake" or a "Better Break" but we are waiting to see what happens with budget negotiations. 

We're all waiting to see what is included in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's operating budget - and waiting to see how every mode of transportation - and every program administered by the Cabinet gets funded for the next two fiscal years.

And - as of the distribution of this newsletter - we're still waiting. 

But - like the Dr. Seuss story - we still found "bright places" this week - in spite of the impasse.

Wednesday, the KBT Air Committee met in Richmond with the new Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Aviation, Colonel Steve Parker. Colonel Parker, an avid aviation supporter, provided several important updates, including an update on the Administration's dedication to ensuring our General Aviation Airports are able to match their Federal Airport Improvement Funds. The Administration has committed to continuing the 7.5% state match program for GA Airports for the 2017 Fiscal Year, reducing the match requirement of the local airport boards to 2.5%. 

This is a tremendous and greatly appreciated commitment to General Aviation. We appreciate Colonel Parker and the administration for their dedication to General Aviation in Kentucky.

Shortly after the Air Transportation Committee meeting, several members visited the Central Kentucky Regional Airport, formerly known as the Madison Airport, for a tour and discussion on the airport's planned improvements. The tour was led by KBT member George Wyatt and students of EKU's aviation program. Our morning was imp ressive - it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many people so dedicated to aviation.

Wednesday evening, Katie and I attended an equally impressive event - a retirement reception for KBT Board member Ron Gray. Ron is retiring after serving as the Executive Director of
the Kentucky Crushed Stone Association (KCSA) for 11 years. 

KBT will miss Ron's involvement on our board. W e could always count on Ron's love of a good joke, a good cigar, and a good glass of wine. We could also count on his love of the industry he represented - and all the people who worked in it. It was clear that all the KCSA members love Ron too. We look forward to catching up with Ron during his retirement and hope to see him at some of our future events. 

Although we'll miss Ron, we are excited to work with KCSA's new Executive Director Nick Rodgers. Rodgers brings a tremendous amount of experience to the position, including working for Plantmix Asphalt Association of Kentucky (PAIKY) for several years. 

While we may be waiting for our state operating budget, it won't prevent us from focusing on the positive programs contained in the first long term surface transportation bill - The FAST Act -  to pass in more than a decade. 

And just like the book, we'll encourage the members of the Kentucky General Assembly to remember that the budgeting process, like life is "a great balancing act." 

We'll also hope that Dr. Seuss is right - and that they're 98 and ¾ percent guaranteed to succeed in negotiating budget agreements that move mountains.

KBT Highways CommitteeHighways

Today, our Highways Committee met in Frankfort. Our special guest, FHWA Kentucky Division Administrator Thomas Nelson is updating our members on the FAST Act and all the new provisions for freight included in the Act. 


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.
KBT's Annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In -  May 18 & 19, 2016
Washington DC Hyatt Regency
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.


Tentative Schedule
Wednesday,
May 18, 2016
1:30 - 4:00 pm

2:30 pm

4:00 pm
Day One on the Hill
U.S. Capitol 
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
U.S. Senator John ThuneChair of the Senate Republican Conference
Congressman Andy Barr (KY-6)
5:30 
Private Reception
GiGi Room - Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
6:30
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)
Thursday,
May 19, 2016
8:00 am
Day Two on the Hill
U.S. Capitol Visitors Center
8:00
 9:00
Catered Breakfast
Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-2)
10:00 
Private Guided Tour of U.S. Capitol
with Congressman Hal Rogers 

For more information and to register online please click the following link:
KBT Committee Meetings
KBT Rail Committee Meeting
Date: Monday, April 18, 2016 
Time: 10:00 am
Via Conference Call
Click here for more information & to RSVP

KBT committee meetings are open to all members of KBT.
Will have $28 Million Impact on Local Community

Local officials welcomed the company at a news conference Wednesday at the airport.

Li Li (pronounced "Lilly"), the company's president, said plans call for training 150 to 200 pilots a year in Owensboro.

The first  class should begin late this year or early in 2017, she said.

Li said, "We know Kentucky well."

Some of the company's officers are  University of Kentucky graduates, she said.
"This is the best airport in Kentucky for us," Li said. "The (control) tower was a key factor is our decision."

Andrew Ward, airport board president, said having Apus' students flying in and out of the airport on a daily basis with lessons will  help secure the tower's future.

Madison Silvert, president of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corp., called Wednesday's announcement "another great day for our community."

Li said Apus will hire 35 local people.  Silvert said that the company will add another 13 later.

Apus will have a $28 million impact on the local community over the next decade, he said.
"Apus will attract other  businesses to Owensboro," Ward predicted.

"This all about jobs. It's all about creating jobs."

LORIS, SC (WMBF) - For the first time in years, rail lines bringing supplies to local companies will head through Horry County beginning on Thursday.

That is when R.J. Corman's first official train will bring fertilizer from Florida to Nichols.  
The new rail line stretches 90 miles, from Whiteville, N.Y. to Myrtle Beach, S.C. A company spokesman said seven companies are working to buy rail lines already.

On Wednesday, R.J. Corman and local politicians held a ribbon cutting in Loris to celebrate bringing back what used to be so ingrained in the area.

"This is a really big deal," said Sen. Greg Hembree as he addressed the crowd.
For many of those local politicians, the message was of the same note; this change is for economic development and, hopefully, more jobs.

"This is all about jobs. It's all about creating jobs," said Mark Lazarus, chairman of Horry County Council. "If we've got local companies today that can utilize this railroad, they can grow and expand because they can save money on transportation services. That means more jobs for their company, which means more jobs for you, for our children, our grandchildren and great grandchildren to come."

Tesla Unveiled its Model 3 Electric Car Highways
Its Lowest-Cost Vehicle to Date

Tesla has unveiled its much-anticipated Model 3 electric car - its lowest-cost vehicle to date.
The price and range of the five-seater should make the vehicle appeal to new types of customers and could boost interest in other electric vehicles.

Chief executive Elon Musk said his goal was to produce about 500,000 vehicles a year once production is at full speed.

The California-based company needs the vehicle to prove popular if it is to stay in business.


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $266 million in competitive grant funding for bus programs nationwide. The funding consists of $211 million in grants for buses and bus facilities projects, as well as $55 million specifically for FTA's Low and No Emission (Low-No) bus program, which promotes technologically-advanced and environmentally-friendly buses. These investments will help advance the President's vision for a cleaner, 21st century transportation system that reduces carbon emissions while expanding transportation options for families.  
"Transit buses are a lifeline to opportunity for countless Americans, but too often these buses are outdated and unreliable," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "As demand for transit grows and our nation's population continues to expand, these much-needed funds will help bring communities the latest technologies to strengthen and improve their bus infrastructure."
Follow the links below for more information about project eligibility, the application process, and more:

Free LifeSAVER APP to Fight Distracted DrivingSaftey

FREE app that actually stops texting while driving. Click on photo below to download pdf for information or go to www.lifesaver-app.com

 
The Owensboro Riverport Authority has been named a finalist in the Platts Global Metals Awards, an annual program recognizing exemplary industry leadership and innovation. The 2016 finalists , chosen from more than 100 nominees from 17 nominating countries, have just been announced by program host Platts, the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets.  Additional information is available at https://gma.platts.com.
 
The Owensboro Riverport Authority's nomination as the "Physical Metals Service Provider of the Year" was judged on the following criteria: Company profile, Company Rationale, Customer Care and Satisfaction, Financial Results, Inventory Turns, Product Quality and Safety.  Additionally, ORA is a LME (London Metal Exchange) good delivery site for Primary Aluminum & NASAAC, CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) good delivery site for Primary Aluminum, Lead, and Zinc, General Purpose Foreign Trade Zone, U.S. Customs Port of Entry and a Homeland Security Port.
 
"ORA is honored to be selected as a finalist for this distinguished award.  This nomination is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the ORA employees in establishing ORA as a key service provider in the metals market on the inland waterways.  The collaboration of our Board of Directors, management and employees are to credit for this global recognition.   We are excited about the exposure this nomination will provide for the Owensboro Riverport and look forward to the opportunities this recognition will bring globally.", President/CEO Brian Wright
 
The Platts Global Metals Awards highlight superior performance in categories spanning the entire steel, metals and mining complex. The awards program, now in its fourth year, is modeled after the Platts Global Energy Awards, established in 1999 and often described as "the Oscars" of the energy industry.

Whayne Supply Host Grand Opening General

Whayne Supply Company hosted a public Grand Opening celebration for its newest branch in Mayfield, Kentucky on Tuesday, March 15. The celebration marked the next step in the exciting, ongoing growth of Whayne Supply Company in Mayfield as the company expands its operations in the Western Kentucky region. The branch officially opened for business in November.

"Our newest branch in Mayfield has been met with open arms by the community. Having a presence in Mayfield has allowed us to serve our new and existing customers more efficiently, while providing the value they've come to expect and depend on when working with Whayne Supply Company," said Monty Boyd, President / CEO of Whayne Supply Company. "We are very excited to host the official Grand Opening of this new facility and invite the entire Mayfield community to join us," he said.


The first high-performance Charger diesel-electric passenger locomotive has rolled off the line at the Siemens manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif., and will soon begin testing and qualifying.
Charger locomotives are designed to operate at speeds up to 125 mph. 

They're powered by a Cummins QSK95, a 16-cylinder, 95-liter-displacement engine rated at 4,400 hp. and manufactured in the U.S. at the company's Seymour, Ind., plant. The QSK95, says Siemens, "is engineered with modern technologies and design features that ensure the highest performance, lowest fuel consumption, cleanest emissions, and lowest total cost of ownership of any locomotive engine." It meets EPA Tier IV emission standards.

KBT thanks all of our 2016 Transportation Conference  Sponsors & Exhibitors
 
 Kentuckians for Better Transportation | (502) 491-5600 | www.kbtnet.org
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