About the Plan

MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, was signed into law on July 6, 2012. Funding surface transportation programs, MAP-21 is the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. The act transformed the policy and programmatic framework for investments to guide the system’s growth and development, MAP-21 creates a streamlined and performance-based surface transportation program and builds on many of the highway, transit, bike, and pedestrian programs and policies established in 1991.

The FAST Act, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, was signed into law on December 4, 2015 as the first federal law in over a decade to provide long-term funding certainty for surface transportation infrastructure planning and investment. The Act authorizes funding for highway, highway and motor vehicle safety, public transportation, motor carrier safety, hazardous materials safety, rail, and research, technology, and statistics programs. It also maintains the focus on safety, keeps intact the established structure of the various highway-related programs, continues efforts to streamline project delivery and provides a dedicated source of federal dollars for freight projects.

MAP-21 required each state develop a State Rail Plan to present priorities and strategies to enhance rail service that benefits the public. This plan sets forth rail transportation’s role within the State transportation system. It is coordinated with the other State transportation planning goals and programs including the State Freight Plan (SFP) and the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan (LRSTP). In 2015, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) developed a State Rail Plan.

The project’s ultimate goals are to (1) update the existing Statewide Rail Plan that meets or exceeds the requirements of the FAST Act and (2) conduct a Rail Infrastructure Assessment. The finished product must align in content and style with the SFP and LRSTP. This initiative is to update the 2015 Plan.

Plan Outline

Chapter 1: The Role of Rail in Kentucky’s Transportation System

Chapter 2: Existing Condition of Kentucky’s Rail Network

Chapter 3: Proposed Passenger Rail Improvements and Investments

Chapter 4: Proposed Freight Rail Improvements and Investments

Chapter 5: Kentucky’s Rail Service Investment Plan

Chapter 6: Public/Stakeholder Outreach

Final Plan and Infrastructure Assessment

Plan Timeline

Beginning in fall of 2023, the project was separated into five general phases. In phase one and two the planning team focused on understanding the current conditions of the passenger and freight rail network and conducted the infrastructure assessment. This level of analysis allows local stakeholders and operators to understand the existing strengths and challenges the network is facing and begin identifying future opportunities.  During this phase, focus groups and key industry interviews were conducted to discuss and review initial findings.

Phases three and four focus on development of the rail plan document and gathering input from the public. The plan will include information from the first two phases as well as identified rail needs, opportunities, and potential investments and improvements for both passenger and freight networks. A series of in-person public meetings as well as an online survey will be hosted during this phase.

After this process, the rail plan will be finalized and reviewed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for adoption and implementation in Winter 2024.