Kentucky lawmakers got their first look this week at the growing demand for road improvement dollars under the state’s new Local Assistance Road Program (LARP).
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Department of Rural and Municipal Aid Commissioner Bobbi Jo Lewis testified Wednesday at the Budget Revenue Subcommittee on Transportation on the applications received for the program this year.
More than 1,200 project requests totaling $121 million have been submitted by counties and cities, setting the stage for key funding decisions during the 2026 legislative session. $89 million of those applications were from 107 counties.
Thirty percent of the project requests were for roads with a ranking of 10, amounting to $36.2 million.
LARP was established during the 2025 legislative session through HB 546, replacing the County Priority Projects Program (CPPP).
Final funding decisions for FY2027 projects will be made by the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session.
Commissioner Lewis also discussed suggestions on how to improve the program for the future, including:
- Limiting the number of “applied-for” projects to eight. As an incentive, if an initial application is received prior to Sept. 1 and the applicant discovers a road or street with higher priority/need, another submission of two roads would be allowed.
- Reducing the number of photographs required and/or allow video and drone footage.
