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Barren County Crossing after Gate project
Each state receives funding from the Federal Highway Administration to improve safety at railroad crossings. Each year, KYTC analyzes highway-railroad grade crossings that do not yet have gates and selects the crossings in need of active safety measures. Traffic volume is a factor. KYTC looks at the number of trains and cars that travel over that crossing each day and their speeds.
Barren County Crossing before gate project
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Kentucky receives about $1.8 million annually for this program. A set of gates costs about $300,000 to $400,000. The crossings selected often receive automatic gates, lights, and bells.
Come work at KYTC and help keep Kentuckians safe!
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Use caution at train crossings
Trains are big. Trains can weigh from 200 to 6,000 TONS! That’s as much as 12 million pounds. That much weight is hard to stop! A train traveling 55 mph takes more than a mile to stop. Trains also can be difficult to hear. Keep an eye out for trains when traveling near train tracks in vehicles, on bicycles, or on foot.
Here are some safety tips for pedestrians near highway-railroad grade crossings, directly from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA):
- Stay alert—it is easy to get distracted, especially by phones, music, and conversation
- Stop, look both ways, and listen
- Follow all signs and instructions
- Cross the tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings
- Cross quickly, never stop on tracks
- Be especially cautious if crossing a railroad on a bike, with a stroller, or in a wheelchair. Always cross at a 90° angle as wheels can become stuck on the tracks
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 Kentucky Riverports
By Izzy House
Did you know that Kentucky has 1,662 miles of inland waterways? About 1,020 miles are commercially navigable – usable for commercially transporting goods and people. Kentucky's waterways are ranked 4th in the U.S. for number of navigable inland waterway miles!
Our state is bordered on three sides by rivers – the Ohio River, Mississippi River and Big Sandy River. We also have the Tennessee River, Cumberland River, Green River, and Licking River that can be used to move freight. Kentucky's location gives us great advantage: We're at the center of a vast waterway network and at the confluence of several critical inland waterway routes.
Kentucky's waterways are supported by 10 public riverports and more than 160 private river terminals. They range in size from smaller agricultural hubs moving fertilizer and grain from local farmers to large players in the world aluminum markets. The riverports move heavy steel coils on and off the river for manufacturing and provide warehouse and distribution.
 All of Kentucky benefits from the efficiency of waterborne transportation. About 115 barge tows and towboats are seen working on our rivers. For comparison, one 15-row barge tow moves the equivalent of six freight locomotives pulling 216 rail cars or 1,050 tractor-trailers.
 The amount of freight moved on Kentucky's waterways in 2018 was 89 million tons – 19% of Kentucky’s total freight tonnage – valued at $18 BILLION! The same tonnage moved on our roadways would require 3.5 million trucks, leading to more wear and tear on pavement, more in maintenance cost and more traffic congestion.
Riverports are a vital part of Kentucky's transportation and make our state a logistical dream.
by Kimberly Furlong
Paying for college was more difficult than I ever imagined it would be. Before I graduated high school, my only options were living at home while attending a school that didn’t offer my major or paying an outrageous amount of money out-of-pocket to go to my top choice in Kentucky. As someone who really enjoys math and science, I knew I wanted to get an engineering degree—I just didn’t have a way to afford it. I also had an ambition to have a career in the public sector because of my experience volunteering for my county during high school. Fortunately, I came across a scholarship through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for civil engineering majors that would allow me to afford my top school, give me paid summer internships, and provide a career with the state. It was a perfect fit for me!
The scholarship process started with a simple application, including letters of recommendation and a short essay. Since I learned about the scholarship so late, I ended up submitting it on the due date, thinking it may have been too late to even apply. Frankly, I forgot about my application until I got a call from the KYTC scholarship coordinator to schedule an interview. The interview was great! Both of my interviewers were incredibly friendly and happy to have me there. I felt like I was more convinced to come work for KYTC than I convinced them to give me the scholarship.
After the interview, I crossed my fingers and constantly refreshed my email waiting to hear back. Finally, I got the call that I got the scholarship to attend the University of Kentucky and work for the District where I live. It was a relief to hear this news after being so stressed about paying for college. I officially signed my scholarship contract at the program’s 75th Anniversary Event and started my new job.
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Group picture at the 75th Anniversary Celebration in June 2023
During my first summer internship, I started working with the Traffic and Permits Departments of District 6. It has been a positive, supportive environment with a lot of hands-on experience. I accompany engineers in everyday tasks. I’ve gotten to go out in the field while they program stoplights. I’ve helped replace old controllers in the stoplight cabinets with newer, updated computers, as well as run traffic and speed studies. I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved with KEEN.
After graduation, I have a guaranteed job with KYTC. I work for them every year I receive scholarship. This will be four years for me. I have no idea what I’ll be doing at KYTC after I graduate, but I’m enjoying my time in Traffic and Permits.
Through the summer internships, I have the opportunity to work in many different departments and figure out what I like to do. Wherever I end up, I am very thankful for my scholarship with KYTC!
Click the button to learn more about the scholarship program.
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