Descendants of Daniel Boone feel slighted by Kentucky politicians. First Paul Patton had the Daniel Boone Parkway renamed the Hal Rogers Parkway, and then state legislature failed to either re-rename the Hal Rogers Parkway or rename another road in honor of Boone.

More information: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Descendants of Daniel Boone feel insulted by politicians (Feb. 1, 2005) 

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that—along with other interstate widening projects—the I-75 widening project in Scott and Grant Counties has been delayed by the legislature’s failure to pass a budget: Cincinnati Enquirer: New lanes for I-75 on hold (June 10, 2004) 

The 60-day regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly ended on April 13. Thirteen bills relating to transportation were passed into law during the 2004 regular session. Click “read full text” below for summaries of each bill.

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Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky leaders continue to lobby for the replacement of the Brent Spence Bridge: Kentucky Post: Bridge replacement touted as national priority (April 22, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Plea made for new I-75 bridge (April 23, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Bridge plan calls for $15M (April 29, 2004) , Cincinnati Enquirer: Voinovich wants $15M for bridge (April 30, 2004) 

No state budget was passed, so there is no state road plan: Franklin Favorite: Area legislators predict state will have a budget (April 22, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: No budget means no road plan (April 25, 2004) 

Jim Reis recognizes the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for its work in securing money to replace the Shortway Bridge: Kentucky Post: A century of boosting business (April 26, 2004) 

Meetings on I-71 widening in Jefferson County bring a variety of opinions: Courier-Journal: Meetings on I-71 plans draw strong opinions (April 28, 2004) 

The Governor has signed a bill to expand the authority of the Buffalo Trace covered bridge authority: Maysville Ledger Independent: Denham sponsored bills signed by governor (April 28, 2004)  Public meetings must now be held before the state does any work to the area’s covered bridges.

A project to widen US 231 in Indiana from the Natcher Bridge to I-64 has begun: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Project to 4-lane U.S. 231 begins (April 29, 2004)  The first five mile segment should be complete in 2 years.

P rospect residents are worried about an intersection on US 42: Oldham Era: Prospect residents seek help with U.S. 42 intersection (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet held a public meeting to discuss a new I-65 connector in northern Warren County: Bowling Green Daily News: Road options for transpark shown (April 30, 2004) 

The Transportation Cabinet was recognized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for its work in protecting the Eggbert’s Sunflower: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Protects Endangered Eggert's Sunflower (May 3, 2004) 

Repairs were made to I-65 near mile marker 30 to correct a drainage problem: Bowling Green Daily News: Dangerous I-65 spot seeing changes (May 6, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Speedy repairs on interstate are appreciated (May 8, 2004) 

The new US 23 over the Ohio River at South Shore is running “woefully behind:” Ashland Daily Independent: ODOT - Bridge project 'woefully behind' (May 13, 2004)  The new U.S. Grant Bridge is scheduled to open in 2005.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher says that there is no political will for increase in the gasoline tax that would fund upcoming transportation projects. Kentucky’s gasoline tax stands at 16.4-cents and is the lowest amount 10 neighboring and nearby states. The current tax rate is expected to generate revenue far short of what would be required to complete projects currently listed in the six year highway plan.

When asked about the situation, State Representative Rob Wilkey (D-Scottsville), chairman of the House budget subcommittee on transportation, said that there is only a one-in-seven chance of any particular project being funded.

More information: Associated Press: Highway Engineers Are Told 'Political Will' Is Lacking (Mar. 2, 2004) , Bowling Green Daily News: Road delays loom as gas tax increase unlikely to happen (Mar. 2, 2004) 

The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would keep the name Hal Rogers Parkway on the London-Harzard parkway and would name US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro the “Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail.” The house hopes that this compromise will be acceptable since US 25E roughly follows the path of Wilderness Trail. Daniel Boone helped blaze the Wilderness Trail in 1769. The path through the Cumberland Gap helped open Kentucky to settlement.

More information: WKYT: Daniel Boone May Have Another Road Named for Him (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: House votes to name highway for Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Resolution would name road after Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Part of U.S. 25E could be Daniel Boone Trail (Feb. 21, 2004) , Legislative Research Commission: Text of 2004 Regular Session House Joint Resolution 7 

Update (Feb. 24, 2004): More information: Middlesboro Daily News: Bill would name 25E for Daniel Boone (Feb. 21, 2004) , Associated Press: Wilderness trail may bear Daniel Boone's name (Feb. 23, 2004) 

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001 the transportation cabinet allowed county clerks to issue driver’s licenses without photos in the event the licensee’s religion discourage allowing his or her photograph to be taken; however, the state has since stopped this practice due to concerns it might be abused by terrorists. State Representative Fred Nesler, D-Mayfield, submitted a bill for consideration during this years regular session that if approved would reinstate the practice; however, a number of members of the house transportation committee have expressed opposition to the bill.

More information: Associated Press: No-photo license bill faces stiff opposition (Feb. 20, 2004) , Associated Press: No-photo driver's licenses opposed (Feb. 20, 2004) 

Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bailey told state legislators on Wednesday that no projects were cut from this year's version of the Six Year Highway plan; however, some projects have delayed due to the states budget problems.

The list of projects is too long to list here; however, some notable projects are listed below.

• $118 million for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Bridges Project. Some of this money will be raised by selling bonds that would be repaid when promised federal funding is allocated for the project.
• $78 million for reconstruction of the Owensboro bypass to the east of its current alignment. This is meant to improve access to the William H. Natcher Bridge.
• Widening of I-64 from Louisville to Shelbyville.
• Widening of I-65 from the Tennessee State Line to Bowling Green.
• Widening of I-75 in Scott and Grant counties.
• Southern extensions of both the Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway and the William H. Natcher Parwkay.

A notable absence from the list is funding for replacing the I-71/I-75 Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River; however, the project remains on the unscheduled needs list and officials claim that it is still a priority. Construction on the project is still over a decade away.

This year the transportation cabinet has split the list into projects that will receive federal funding and projects that will not receive federal funding. Projects that will be funded only by the state are expected to be delayed and will be prioritized by need.

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The state senate has unanimously passed a bill that would increase the legislative oversight of the transportation cabinet.

More information: Associated Press: Developments in the Kentucky General Assembly (Feb. 13, 2004) , Associated Press: Senate passes bill for oversight of Transportation Cabinet (Feb. 19, 2004) , Kentucky Legislative Research Commission: Text and Status of 2004 Regular Session Senate Bill 2 

Update: More information: Associated Press: Transportation Cabinet oversight bill passed (Feb. 20, 2004) 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has released the new Six Year Highway Plan. The plan lists all highway projects expected to receive funding between 2004 and 2010. The plan must now be reviewed and amended by the General Assembly. The plan can be viewed here: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: 2005-2010 Recommended Six-Year Highway Plan .

In response to the scandals that plagued the transportation cabinet during the Patton administration, several bills have been introduced to increase the legislative oversight over the department. One such bill has been approved by a state Senate panel.

More information: Associated Press: Panel OKs bill for more oversight of Transportation Cabinet (Feb. 11, 2004) , Associated Press: Transportation faces more monitoring (Feb. 12, 2004) 

Not all lawmakers are pleased with the plan to once again rename the parkway between London and Hazard. State Representatives Tommy Turner and Marie Rader think it would be waste of money to once again install new signs along the parkway.

More information: London Sentinel-Echo: Boone name may return (Feb. 10, 2004) , Somerset Commonwealth Journal: Committee votes to restore Boone.s name to parkway (Feb. 11, 2004) 

This year’s general assembly still has many tough tasks to undertake including the Transportation Cabinet’s Six Year Highway Plan. A recently completed report concluded that the current Six-Year Plan was overloaded to the tune of $1.8 billion.

More information: Bowling Green Daily News: Session getting tougher (Feb. 9, 2004) 

Update (Feb. 13, 2004): Despite claims the 2004 Six Year Plan would be released Wednesday, it has still yet to have been published. More information on the state budget can be found here: Messenger-Inquirer:Budget getting most of legislators' attention (Feb. 10, 2004) 

A committee of the state general assembly has approved renaming replacing Daniel Boone's name on the parkway running between London and Hazard. The highway was known as the Daniel Boone Parkway until last spring when former Gov. Patton renamed it the Hal Rogers Parkway, in honor of the local U.S. representative. Under the proposed legislation the road would be officially known as the Daniel Boone-Hal Rogers Parkway. The legislation must be approved by the full house before moving onto the state senate.

More information: Associated Press: Developments in the General Assembly (Feb. 5, 2004) , WKYT: Daniel Boone Parkway? , Associated Press: Kentucky House panel OKs proposal to restore Boone's name to parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Parkway may be Daniel Boone's again (Feb. 6, 2004) , Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer: Nash highway resolution passes unanimously (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Boone, Rogers may share parkway name (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Committee OKs putting Boone's name back parkway (Feb. 6, 2004) , Associated Press: Panel votes to restore Boone name to road (Feb. 6, 2004) 

The state senate has approved a “Choose Life” special licence plate; however, it rejected an amendment to create a “Protect Choice” license plate. Breast cancer awareness and Kentucky Colonels license plates were also approved. The bill must be approved the state house of representatives.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: 'LIFE' PLATE OK'D, BUT NOT 'CHOICE' (Feb. 4, 2004) 

During the first week of 2004 General Assembly, several bills were offered to replace the “Mr. Smiley” license plate. Bills range from new plate proposals to offering decals to place over the smiley face.

The Herald-Leader reporter points out that though many have obscured the smiley face on their own it is illegal to alter a license plate.

More information: Lexington Herald-Leader: Bills offered to alter, get rid of 'Mr. Smiley' (Jan. 10, 2004) 

State Senator Gary Tapp has proposed replacing the new smiling sun license plate with a plate of his own design. He has submitted a bill for consideration during the 2004 General Assembly. Tapp has a designed a replacement plate featuring the national and state flags along with the phrase "in God we trust."

More information: Shelbyville Sentinel News: Sun could set on 'Smiley' license plate (Dec. 18, 2003) 

State Representative Brent Yonts has filed a resolution to place two names on the parkway connecting London and Hazard. Yonts proposes the parkway be officially known as both the Hal Rogers Parkway and the Daniel Boone Parkway. He hopes that the compromise proposal will please those wishing to keep Daniel Boone.s name on the parkway and still provide recognition for U.S. congressman Hal Rogers. Rep. Rogers helped secure federal money to remove tolls from the parkway; In May, Governor Paul Patton directed that the parkway be renamed as the Hal Rogers Parkway. Yonts. resolution cannot be voted on until the General Assembly convenes in January.

Meanwhile, Governor Patton proposed renaming US 25E between Corbin and Middlesboro to honor Daniel Boone. US 25E generally follows the route of Boone.s Wilderness Road. The road has been upgraded to four lanes over the pass 20 years.

More information: Courier-Journal: E. Kentucky parkway could get 2 names (Sept. 11, 2003) , Associated Press: Patton Makes Suggestion To Solve Parkway Uproar (Sept. 19, 2003) , Courier-Journal: Governor would name U.S.25E for Boone to defuse controversy (Sept. 20, 2003) 

The Courier-Journal reports that following Sept. 11, 2001, the transportation cabinet asked Kentucky's county clerks to stop issuing driver's licenses without photos. This conflicts with the religious beliefs of some Amish-style groups: Courier-Journal: Group objects to photo on license (Aug. 15, 2003)