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Kentucky

Started by NE2, April 22, 2011, 07:29:44 PM

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hbelkins

KYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.


Great Lakes Roads

Quote from: hbelkins on June 23, 2026, 05:16:38 PMKYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.

Why?
-Jay Seaburg

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bandit957

Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on June 23, 2026, 05:23:10 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on June 23, 2026, 05:16:38 PMKYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.

Why?

Because it bips.
Might as well face it, pooing is cool

Revive 755


Dirt Roads

Quote from: Revive 755 on June 23, 2026, 09:01:28 PMWhat's the difference between the KYTC and KYDOT?
Sign with KYDOT on the Mountain Parkway

Another sign with KY DOT at the EB Mountain Parkway exit to KY 213

In my recollection (which is not so good anymore), one of the past governors tried to overhaul many/all of the commonwealth's Cabinets with state equivalents, including KYTC.  But I can find no record of it.  (Once upon a time, Wikipedia pages for governmental entities kept a running list of former agency names but that has sanitized recently).  There are plenty of references to KYDOT on M.T.R in the early-to-mid 2000's (many from DOT employees, some of which whom are here on AARoads), but in some of those threads someone also referred to KYTC). 

hbelkins

Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on June 23, 2026, 05:23:10 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on June 23, 2026, 05:16:38 PMKYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.

Why?

"Safety"
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

hbelkins

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 24, 2026, 08:48:06 AM
Quote from: Revive 755 on June 23, 2026, 09:01:28 PMWhat's the difference between the KYTC and KYDOT?
Sign with KYDOT on the Mountain Parkway

Another sign with KY DOT at the EB Mountain Parkway exit to KY 213

In my recollection (which is not so good anymore), one of the past governors tried to overhaul many/all of the commonwealth's Cabinets with state equivalents, including KYTC.  But I can find no record of it.  (Once upon a time, Wikipedia pages for governmental entities kept a running list of former agency names but that has sanitized recently).  There are plenty of references to KYDOT on M.T.R in the early-to-mid 2000's (many from DOT employees, some of which whom are here on AARoads), but in some of those threads someone also referred to KYTC). 

Within the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, there are a number of departments. One of them is the Department of Highways.

I think the "cabinet" designation for state agencies dates back to the term of John Y. Brown, Jr., who was governor from December 1979-December 1983.

Beneath the governor is the Secretary of the Executive Cabinet, and beneath that person are the individual cabinet secretaries.

Kentucky's government organization breaks down as follows:

Cabinet (secretary)
Department (commissioner)
Division (director)

Those are political appointees. Below them are:

Branch (manager)
Section (supervisor)
Unit (I'm not sure, but I think the head of a unit is called a leader, but in KYTC the individual garages are called units and the boss is formally called "superintendent II" but informally called "foreman.")

Those are all merit system employees.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Dirt Roads

Quote from: Revive 755 on June 23, 2026, 09:01:28 PMWhat's the difference between the KYTC and KYDOT?
Sign with KYDOT on the Mountain Parkway

Another sign with KY DOT at the EB Mountain Parkway exit to KY 213

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 24, 2026, 08:48:06 AMIn my recollection (which is not so good anymore), one of the past governors tried to overhaul many/all of the commonwealth's Cabinets with state equivalents, including KYTC.  But I can find no record of it.  (Once upon a time, Wikipedia pages for governmental entities kept a running list of former agency names but that has sanitized recently).  There are plenty of references to KYDOT on M.T.R in the early-to-mid 2000's (many from DOT employees, some of which whom are here on AARoads), but in some of those threads someone also referred to KYTC). 

Quote from: hbelkins on June 25, 2026, 04:21:15 PMI think the "cabinet" designation for state agencies dates back to the term of John Y. Brown, Jr., who was governor from December 1979-December 1983.

Are you implying that KYDOT was the official department name prior to Phyllis George taking office as sportscaster-in-chief?  Perhaps those signs are older than that (even though they don't look so old).  (And for the record, the short time that I worked in Ashland was during the John Y. Brown era).

Revive 755

Quote from: hbelkins on June 25, 2026, 04:12:38 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on June 23, 2026, 05:23:10 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on June 23, 2026, 05:16:38 PMKYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.

Why?

"Safety"

For the local coffers?

It's been many years since I've been on the Owensboro Bypass but going off Google Maps it doesn't look that badly constructed.  I don't see any super short/non-existent acceleration lanes or super-tight loop ramps.  Lowering the speed limit on the whole thing, plus going right to 55 over trying it at 60 seems arbitrary.

Rothman

Quote from: Revive 755 on June 25, 2026, 08:19:20 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on June 25, 2026, 04:12:38 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on June 23, 2026, 05:23:10 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on June 23, 2026, 05:16:38 PMKYTC is reducing the speed limit on the Owensboro bypass (US 60) from 65 to 55.

Why?

"Safety"

For the local coffers?

It's been many years since I've been on the Owensboro Bypass but going off Google Maps it doesn't look that badly constructed.  I don't see any super short/non-existent acceleration lanes or super-tight loop ramps.  Lowering the speed limit on the whole thing, plus going right to 55 over trying it at 60 seems arbitrary.

KYTC has reported an increase in crashes on the corridor since raising the speed limit from 55 to 65 in 2017:

https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2026/06/speed-limit-on-owensboro-bypass-to-drop-to-55-mph-starting-wednesday/
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

mvak36

Wasn't this bypass and the Audubon Parkway going to be an auxiliary route of I-69 at some point? Is that not happening anymore? Going off of the above posts, it sounds like there are quite a few upgrades needed to make it interstate standard.
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seicer

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 25, 2026, 05:45:13 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on June 23, 2026, 09:01:28 PMWhat's the difference between the KYTC and KYDOT?
Sign with KYDOT on the Mountain Parkway

Another sign with KY DOT at the EB Mountain Parkway exit to KY 213

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 24, 2026, 08:48:06 AMIn my recollection (which is not so good anymore), one of the past governors tried to overhaul many/all of the commonwealth's Cabinets with state equivalents, including KYTC.  But I can find no record of it.  (Once upon a time, Wikipedia pages for governmental entities kept a running list of former agency names but that has sanitized recently).  There are plenty of references to KYDOT on M.T.R in the early-to-mid 2000's (many from DOT employees, some of which whom are here on AARoads), but in some of those threads someone also referred to KYTC). 

Quote from: hbelkins on June 25, 2026, 04:21:15 PMI think the "cabinet" designation for state agencies dates back to the term of John Y. Brown, Jr., who was governor from December 1979-December 1983.

Are you implying that KYDOT was the official department name prior to Phyllis George taking office as sportscaster-in-chief?  Perhaps those signs are older than that (even though they don't look so old).  (And for the record, the short time that I worked in Ashland was during the John Y. Brown era).

Both signs appear to be newer (in the Google Streetview). Then there is this newer sign for Kentucky DOH in District 6 on US 60 that was replaced in 2022 that was for Kentucky DOT. I remember both being white signs with black text reading for Kentucky DOT.

GCrites

The way signs rot today a sign from the '90s would probably be toast.

hbelkins

Quote from: mvak36 on June 26, 2026, 08:30:14 AMWasn't this bypass and the Audubon Parkway going to be an auxiliary route of I-69 at some point? Is that not happening anymore? Going off of the above posts, it sounds like there are quite a few upgrades needed to make it interstate standard.

There used to be signs on the Audubon Parkway designating it as a future I-69 spur, but they've been gone for around 10 years now.

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 25, 2026, 05:45:13 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on June 23, 2026, 09:01:28 PMWhat's the difference between the KYTC and KYDOT?
Sign with KYDOT on the Mountain Parkway

Another sign with KY DOT at the EB Mountain Parkway exit to KY 213

Quote from: Dirt Roads on June 24, 2026, 08:48:06 AMIn my recollection (which is not so good anymore), one of the past governors tried to overhaul many/all of the commonwealth's Cabinets with state equivalents, including KYTC.  But I can find no record of it.  (Once upon a time, Wikipedia pages for governmental entities kept a running list of former agency names but that has sanitized recently).  There are plenty of references to KYDOT on M.T.R in the early-to-mid 2000's (many from DOT employees, some of which whom are here on AARoads), but in some of those threads someone also referred to KYTC). 

Quote from: hbelkins on June 25, 2026, 04:21:15 PMI think the "cabinet" designation for state agencies dates back to the term of John Y. Brown, Jr., who was governor from December 1979-December 1983.

Are you implying that KYDOT was the official department name prior to Phyllis George taking office as sportscaster-in-chief?  Perhaps those signs are older than that (even though they don't look so old).  (And for the record, the short time that I worked in Ashland was during the John Y. Brown era).

I remembered that I still have the displays from KYTC's centennial in 2012 in my office.

It was established as the Department of Public Roads in 1912. In 1920 it was  reorganized as the Department of State Roads and Highways. In 1934 it became the Department of Highways.

In March 1973, under Gov. Wendell Ford, it became the Department of Transportation. "The new organizational structure combines all modes of transportation into one department -- enabling state government to effectively and efficiently plan for all public travel needs," according to the display. The agency's seal contains the phrase "Unification Through Transportation."

It was in 1982 that the state legislature reorganized the Department of Transportation into the Transportation Cabinet. Incidentally, the first logo for the agency referred to it as only "KTC," not "KYTC."

Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

jnewkirk77

The speed limit decrease is really a cop-out, all kidding aside. Owensboro drivers, flatly, suck. If people here would simply:

  • pay attention to something besides their phones
  • have a little courtesy
  • bone up on the basics of Kentucky's driving laws
  • learn what the stalk on the left side of the steering column does, and how and when to use it

... you'd eliminate 80% of the crashes on 60 and elsewhere in Owensboro.

KYTC is planning to bid out a project to install cable barriers in the median this fall. There are some other spot improvements that could be of help, but that alone will help significantly reduce the crossover crashes that have been more prevalent lately.

hbelkins

The US 51/60/62 bridge between Wickliffe and Cairo is closed indefinitely. A bearing pad on the Kentucky approach shifted out of place, causing the bridge deck to become misaligned by approximately two to three inches at an expansion joint.

https://www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict1/posts/pfbid02LEPx5fm8ktdm3oQVxrPiHkKMt2Z8Fyh5xK84dAjord7WdTkPqG64NmECcFxo8afMl?__cft__
  • =AZaoY0RZc56jRKJkSOXO3_3l9vofATHv7bVR2T5tuNKHN8UEZsbUCdcokb8M0Trr_fk5XhoXHD2Iycv1IOEFJI8_pzxmU6KMDwde8tWVcP0xBU2LJusGO43Yu_UbS693QT74LOWYmJVr4SVIs0OK4-fG9Uhw16dkPk_XmaL6vxUG87diurI9CuCUWUNAxdDrdVg&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.