Kentucky Overview

Aviation

B-

There are 46 land based airports in the 12 county study area. Only one provides both air carrier service and general aviation services. Federal funds account for the largest portion of funding, state and local funding lag behind needs.

Bridges

In the study area there are a total of 2020 bridges. Of those bridges the Indiana counties have 154 that are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The Kentucky counties have 571briodges that are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Most Indiana counties fund bridge repair and replacement through a cumulative bridge fund. Kentucky funding comes from the county bridge replacement program and is less than adequate with only 10 bridges replaced each year – statewide.

Dams

None of the dams in this regional Report Card evaluation were considered unsafe or in imminent danger of failing. However, a significant increase in the number of High Hazard Potential dams has occurred due to downstream development. Nearly $100 million in needs have been estimated to remediate High Hazard Potential and deficient dams. Reduced funding from multi‐year budget cuts has resulted in a significant need for more staff and resources to conduct training and perform inspections on a timely basis. To meet the recommendations included in this report, annual funding increases totaling $500,000 per year are required.

Drinking Water

C+

Kentuckiana is served by 51 water utilities in the 12 county study area. With the Ohio Rivers McAlpine pool the area raw water supply is abundant. Only 2.2 percent of the residents in the study area are without access to a community potable water supply. Investment needs for our area are just under $230 million. Getting water to those without and improving service to those who do not have adequate service will protect the health of our community over the long term.

Energy

B-

The Kentuckiana region is served by eleven electric utilities and 5 gas utilities. Rates are just under the national average in most categories. Investment in additional base load capacity and education on conservation and energy efficient building and renovation practices. With easy access to coal the regions utilities can produce adequate supplies of inexpensive energy. As the energy landscape changes the areas power utilities should seek out ways to take advantage of clean technologies.

Flood Control

C+

Much of the development of the area may be credited to the Ohio River and the Falls of the Ohio. Area communities have used the river as a tool to build our economy and battled it to protect the property and people the development required. Protecting the area from flooding and backwater damage began in 1948 and the most recent project being completed in 2008. Subsequent to Hurricane Katrina in 2005the Corp of Engineers revised their process for levee and floodwall inspections. All levees and walls in the Kentuckiana area are classified as “minimally acceptable” with the exception of the newest project that has yet to be inspected. Despite major funding challenges local sponsors are paying attention to the needed maintenance and rehabilitating the older pump stations and walls and levees.

Inland Waterways

The McAlpine Lock and Dam provides the path around the only navigational barrier that exists along the Ohio Rivers length. The Ohio river is the only navigable waterway within our 12 county study area. In 2005 57 million tons of commodities ship through McAlpine with a value of $11.7 billion. The recent completion of a major renovation of the McAlpine locks provides hundreds of millions in transportation benefit. Maintenance of the older lock, the dam and continued dredging of the channel will routinely be required to maintain river traffic flow through our area.

Roads

Growth of congestions and delays in Kentuckiana has outpaced similar growth in metro areas of similar size. Dedicated funding and prioritization of projects will help ease congestion and promote economic development. Another metric of our areas roads is pavement condition. Poor pavement conditions in our area results in motorists paving an additional $391 in vehicle operating costs per year. Both Indiana and Kentucky are underfunded for projects identified within our study area. Individual counties are in similar, if not worse condition. The area will face huge challenges meeting required levels of service if funding levels are not improved.

Solid Waste

C+

In 2007 the area produced 1.9 tons of solid wastes per person. The amount of waste is increasing although recycling is on the rise. Recycling accounts for nearly one third of the total waste stream for the area. These programs are funded by fees assessed on tons of waste disposed at landfills. Historic landfills, illegal dumps and litter continue to tax the communities in our study area. Increased education and reduction of waste through recycling should be stepped up in order to maximize the life of existing landfills in the area.

Transit

D+

Public transit has been available in the urban portions of our study area since the mid 1800’s. With the advent of the automobile the utilization has fallen and has made only a minor comeback with the recent increase in gas prices. Light rail had been studied in the past but dropped from long range planning due to the areas inability to demonstrate financial support. TARC, the area’s largest public transit provided is in need of $83 million to replace its aging fleet of buses. The Kentucky counties in our study area should look for a method to provide dedicated funding to mass transit much as Indian currently does. Public education and awareness should be raised to encourage cost effective use of public transit as an alternative to the automobile.

Wastewater

C-

There are 69 wastewater facilities that serve the Kentuckiana region. More stringent rules are being implemented annually taxing the utilities ability to fund required maintenance and operation costs. Kentuckiana has identified over $8 billion in improvements related to collection, treatment, I & I and CSO elimination. In the Indiana counties 91 percent of the funding needs are earmarked for CSO elimination. In Kentucky, 11 plants are nearing their hydraulic capacity and are restricted from making further connections to their system. Expansion of service into less urban areas of Kentuckian will require more federal and state funding to service the current and future population. Many of the wastewater utilities in the area do not have funding sources for maintenance of existing infrastructure and improvements necessary to meet current and future water quality regulations.

Each category was evaluated on the basis of capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation

Kentucky

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