FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Facing rising costs and dwindling
finances, Kentucky officials think they could save hundreds of
millions of dollars in road construction with a little frugality.
The plan is simple. Sort of.
Instead of building a road with extra turning lanes and
expansive shoulders, transportation officials are scaling back
where possible. Think fewer lanes on some less-traveled roads, or
rumble strips or narrower medians to separate lanes.
"It's building a Chevy that's very serviceable instead of
building a Cadillac with all the frills," Transportation Secretary
Joe Prather said.
State officials are still working to identify which projects
will be scaled down. But a decision is expected before the end of
the year, Prather said. Maintaining safety and traffic flow is key,
he said.
Every project in the pipeline is up for review. The plan, which
was first announced in early August, has the potential to save
Kentucky millions that could be used for other construction
projects throughout the state.
A souring economy has Kentucky state government facing a $900
million revenue drop during the next two fiscal years that started
in July. Lawmakers earlier this year approved a two-year $19
billion budget that included significant cuts to health services
and education spending.
Engineers in district offices across the state have been
reviewing each project, but no final decisions have been made,
Prather said. However, changes under consideration on a single
project could save the state $17 million to $18 million by
shrinking the median, narrowing the shoulders and reducing the
amount of necessary land, Prather said.
Prather wouldn't be specific and said there's no firm dollar
amount of projected savings for the overall plan they're calling
"Practical Solutions." Nevertheless, Prather said he expects it
to be "several hundred million."
"The goal is to build the roads that we need and not what we
might like to have," Prather said, "which means that safety
wouldn't be compromised and drivability wouldn't be compromised.
But we would be looking to eliminate any frills so that we could
contain cost."
The plan in Kentucky is a spinoff of something started in
Missouri four years ago. Missouri has saved about a half-billion
dollars in three years, said Kevin Keith, a chief engineer with the
Missouri Department of Transportation.
Kentucky lawmakers, Prather said, should like the plan because
it offers them a way to get more road projects done sooner.
"The indications are that the General Assembly will look very
favorably on this," Prather said. "It means that more legislators
are going to have more projects done than they would have
otherwise."
Calloway County Judge-Executive Larry Elkins said he favors the
idea.
A four-lane project on an approximately eight-mile stretch of
highway in western Kentucky was nearly scaled back earlier this
summer before transportation officials changed their minds, Elkins
said. Transportation officials, however, have planned to pare down
some proposed bridges over Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, Elkins
said.
"What they've decided to do is instead of having a fancy
bridge, they're going to have a four-lane serviceable bridge that
will serve the purpose," Elkins said. "And my personal opinion is
that during these difficult times, that was the best decision that
they could come up with."
State Rep. Hubert Collins, D-Wittensville, said lawmakers need
to take a "very close look" at the proposal and consider
motorists' safety. Also, building some two-lane roads now - rather
than four lanes - could eventually cost the state more money,
Collins said.
"I still think we should continue on what we're doing even
though it may take longer to get it done," said Collins, chairman
of the House Transportation Committee. "This all has to do with
money."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)