For more than 45 years, Frankfort, Ky.-based Kentuckians for Better Transportation has been an umbrella organization for around 250 public, private and nonprofit entities across the commonwealth with an interest in providing the best transportation infrastructure the state can achieve.
Members include Area Development Districts, city and county government councils, commissions and fiscal courts, public and private professional associations, airports and their administrative authorities, chambers of commerce, engineering companies, contractors, local economic development bodies, individual companies, public transit systems, riverports and railways.
Each January, KBT hosts the commonwealth’s premier multimodal transportation conference with a focus on advocacy, education and networking. Industry leaders gather each year to examine the important role a safe, efficient, multimodal transportation network plays in growing our economy and enhancing quality of life. Attendees learn from experts that span all modes of transportation, speaking to issues such as modernizing funding mechanisms, innovation and legislative policy issues in the years ahead.
Kentuckians for Better Transportation is the voice that educates and advocates for a safe and sustainable multimodal transportation network that provides mobility across the commonwealth for economic growth and improved quality of life. Specifically, KBT focuses on increasing funding at the state and federal levels, across all modes, to preserve and advance the state’s transportation infrastructure network.
KBT was founded in 1977 and is one of only three multimodal associations in the country. KBT founders had the foresight to know that Kentucky’s geographical location is a development opportunity and for it to be realized, they organized leaders across all modes and the commonwealth to address infrastructure needs.
During budget session 2024, KBT was a leader in achieving historic multimodal infrastructure investment in House Bill 1, resulting in nearly $550 million across all modes of transportation. River, rail, roads and runways will all receive long-overdue investment over the next two fiscal years for asset preservation and economic growth.
Long-term funding is a perpetual modal problem that makes planning and maintaining infrastructure a significant challenge. For example, the road user fee that is used to fund the state’s highways, roads and bridges is woefully inadequate when you consider the advancements of fuel efficiency and electric vehicles.
For more information or to get involved with KBT, visit kbtnet.org or contact Executive Director Jennifer Kirchner at jennifer@kbtnet.org or (859) 319-4902.
