This week, lawmakers returned to Frankfort for the start of the 2025 Interim, which began June 3. The interim, which occurs between legislative sessions, gives lawmakers time to prepare for the upcoming session and keep track of enacted legislation through committee meetings.
In the first week of the 2025 Interim, the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met to discuss several key transportation programs including the Local Assistance Road Program, which replaces the County Priority Projects Program, the County-City Bridge Improvement Program, and the Transportation Alternatives Program.
Local Assistance Road Program (replaces the County Priority Projects Program): The County Priority Projects Program (CPPP) was a state initiative established by the General Assembly during the 2024 Regular Session to provide counties with a more structured and transparent process for securing state funding for local road projects. The program receives $20 million in state funding annually, and can carry over unused funds to the next year.
During the 2025 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 46, which authorized the release of $23.9 million in funds appropriated in 2024 for local road projects. KYTC evaluated local road projects statewide, ranking them on a scale of one to 10, with 10 indicating the greatest need. Under HJR 46, funding was allocated exclusively to projects with a ranking of 10.
Additionally, through the passage of House Bill 546, the General Assembly created the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP), which replaces the CPPP. Under the LARP, counties and cities may only submit rehabilitation projects that bring a road or street back to its original condition, not projects that widen roads or change the original design of the road. The maximum funding a county or city can receive per project through this program is $500,000.
Applications for the LARP open on June 1 of each year and will need to be submitted by October 1 to be considered during the regular session. The cabinet will review and evaluate applications, using its scoring system, within 30 days of submission. Beginning on July 1 of each year, the cabinet will be required to submit to the General Assembly a list of all project requests evaluated in the previous month with specific information about each project, including the length, description, and score assigned.
In the end, the General Assembly makes the final determination about which projects will be funded under the LARP. Projects funded through the LARP must provide a local match of 10 to 20%, with the match percentage based on the same population rankings established for the Kentucky Product Development Initiative.
County-City Bridge Improvement Program: The County-City Bridge Improvement Program (CCBIP), another state initiative established by the General Assembly during the 2024 Regular Session, helps fund the repair and replacement of county or city-owned bridges. The program receives $25 million in state funding annually, with the flexibility to carry over any unused funds to the following year. Applications for this program are accepted throughout the year.
In order to be eligible for funding through the CCBIP, the county judge-executive or mayor from each county/city is required to attend the Local Bridges 101 course, while the road supervisor, public works director, or someone in a similar role from each local government is required to attend both the Local Bridges 101 and 102 courses.
Transportation Alternatives Program: The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a federal program that provides funding for surface transportation projects, such as sidewalks and bike lanes. For 2025, Kentucky received $21,961,871 in funding. Of that total, 59% is suballocated to specific areas based on relative population size, while the remaining 41% can be used anywhere in the state.
Application cycles for TAP funding are held based on funding availability, with an early fall application cycle anticipated this year. Once a cycle closes, applications are reviewed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) staff and competitively scored, as required by the Federal Highway Administration. Recommendations for funding are then made to the Transportation Secretary based on funding availability and scores.
As we look ahead to the 2026 Regular Session, one of our major transportation-related priorities is enacting the Biennial Highway Construction Plan. Every two years, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet staff, in coordination with the Governor’s Office, develops a recommended Biennial Highway Construction Plan, which outlines proposed road, bridge, and safety improvement projects. KYTC determines which projects are included using the Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT), a data-driven approach that compares and prioritizes projects based on objective criteria rather than political influences or preferences.
Once completed, the Governor will submit the plan to the General Assembly for approval. We will then review the plan, make any necessary amendments, and pass legislation to allocate funding for approved projects.
We recognize that investing in our transportation infrastructure is essential to helping the economy and keeping people safe, which is why continued investment remains a top priority as we work to build a more prosperous Commonwealth.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at Amy.Neighbors@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
(HD21 – News From the Office of Rep. Neighbors)