Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Press Release:

Frankfort, KY (May 2, 2005)—The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has successfully completed 80% of the LED signal upgrades throughout the Commonwealth. The remaining upgrades are expected to be complete by early summer and result in projected savings of more than $3.2 million a year to taxpayers as well as improved safety at intersections.

“Governor Ernie Fletcher directed the cabinet to search for ways to become more efficient and cost effective, said acting Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “We identified this on-going effort as a project to move into the fast lane toward completion. It offers a tremendous savings for taxpayers through reduced energy consumption while at the same time the LED technology improves safety. The new LED signals are much easier to see and recognize especially in adverse weather conditions.”

A standard traffic signal bulb burns 168 watts of energy. In comparison, an LED module burns between 6 and 20 watts of energy. The reduction in energy use is the equivalent to providing power to 3,000 homes, planting 9,280 trees every year or removing over 4,000 cars from the road every year.

The cost of retrofitting every traffic signal, flashing beacon and school flasher on state maintained routes with GELcore Light Emitting Diode (LED) modules will be offset through energy cost savings over the next four years.

Kentucky will be only the second state in the nation to utilize LED modules in all traffic signals, school flashers and flashing beacons. Delaware has completed its statewide LED conversion.