Kentucky Public Transit Association

Kentucky Public Transit Association

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Legislation & Advocacy ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Kentucky Public Transit Association Legislative Agenda Mission Statement: Public Transit A strong public transit network is an essential part of a strong economy. Transit connects Kentucky’s citizens to work, school, health care facilities, and other basic human needs regardless of location. Nearly 30 million trips are taken each year utilizing Kentucky’s urban and rural transit network. More than one half of these trips are related to employment. KPTA urges the Kentucky General Assembly to create a multi-modal transportation fund that provides a dedicated, sufficient, and reliable revenue source to match federal funds, operate, maintain and upgrade facilities, purchase equipment, and to provide necessary transportation services to all Kentucky’s citizens including hard working Kentucky taxpayers, Veterans, students, older adults, disabled Kentuckians, and those without access to private transportation. ﷯Sponsored by the Kentucky Public Transit Association The demand for public transportation services in Kentucky continues to grow each year. The state’s residents need quick and convenient access to jobs, medical treatment and education – whether they drive a car or not. Statewide, Kentucky has more than 40 transit providers who supply more than 25 million rides each year in all 120 counties. From Paducah to Pikeville, these agencies are providing safe, convenient and affordable transportation to those who need it the most. In rural areas, that means getting people to distant hospitals for live-sustaining treatments. It means taking people to their kidney dialysis treatments at community care centers. “Public transportation plays a vital role in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by providing access to jobs, education, medical care and recreation. We in the public transit community are dedicated to building a network of transportation services in Kentucky that will set the standard for other states.” – Beecher Hudson, Kentucky Public Transit Association. Why Support Public Transportation? The demand for transportation is expected to increase in the coming years because of changes in the population, economy and culture. The current transportation network serves a diverse population with diverse needs that will only increase. Consider: Public transportation services must be expanded to meet the needs of an aging population. Kentucky will add nearly 576,000 elderly residents over the next three decades. By 2030, about one-third of the state’s population will be over 55. Traffic congestion is increasing each year on the state’s highways and particularly in urban areas. In Louisville in the last 10 years, the average delay in for rush-hour drivers has increased from 9 to 46 hours per year. Statewide, the annual vehicle miles traveled has increased by nearly 1 million each of the last four years. Only three states have a higher percentage of people with disabilities than Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana and West Virginia. Statewide, 9% of the state’s population is disabled, and most of them are dependent on transit for trips to the doctor, jobs and school. Many of them don’t work at all because of the lack of transportation; an estimated 70% of persons with disabilities are not employed and are on welfare. Paul Hearne, a disability activist and president of the Dole Foundation, says that presents a significant opportunity cost. "Employing and accommodating people with disabilities in the workplace has tremendous potential to impact our nation's economy," says Hearne. "All people with disabilities need consumer and economic power and a unity of purpose in order to promote the goal of full inclusion in American society." According to the U. S. Census, 9% or 149,000 households statewide have no car. Transit saves money. As gas prices and insurance cost skyrocket, many families can’t afford to have a second car. With safe and convenient transit service, one-car families still have access to jobs, shopping, church and schools. For most people, the trip to work has gotten longer; both time and distance has increased. Sponsored by the Kentucky Public Transit Association Kentucky Public Transit Association (KPTA) Copyright © 2005-2022 Kentucky Public Transit Association, Inc. This website and contents shall not be used on another site, or reproduced in any manner without the prior written consent of KPTA. Any artwork, banner links, or midis have been placed here purely for entertainment, recreation and review purposes only, without any commercial interest whatsoever or profit of any kind. All titles are copyrighted by their respective artists and record companies.
Legislative Bills KPTA followed during the 2021-2022 Legislative Session Get involved

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Helpful Links

KYTC Office of Transportation Delivery

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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)

Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT)

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials