The Owensboro-Daviess County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) advanced its annual work plan Tuesday and opened a public comment period on a draft 25-year transportation plan that outlines major projects through 2050.
The MPO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) unanimously voted to recommend approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), which outlines the MPO’s activities for the upcoming year. The Policy Committee followed by giving its approval, clearing the way for the plan to be submitted to state and federal officials by the April 30 deadline.
“This document tells us what the MPO is going to do in the coming year and when we’re going to do it,” said Speaker 1, who presented the item. “It’s kind of routine at this point.”
The UPWP outlines planning activities required for federal funding eligibility and supports transportation studies, public engagement, and long-term project development.
Following the work plan discussion, Speaker 1 introduced the draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a federally required 25-year roadmap that guides major transportation investments in the region. The MTP must be updated every five years, and the current version expires in September.
The draft MTP covers projects through 2050 and projects available federal funding based on Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) estimates. Officials used assumptions of 3.2% annual growth in funding and 4% annual growth in project costs to prioritize and group projects into multi-year funding periods.
Projects were categorized based on priorities set during previous planning efforts, such as the Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT) process. Some projects include widening sections of Fairview Drive, reconstructing intersections on U.S. 60, and various improvements along Frederica Street, East Ninth Street, and New Hartford Road.
Speaker 1 emphasized that project schedules are flexible and can shift based on emerging needs.
“These timelines are not set in stone,” Speaker 1 said. “If something comes up and priorities change, we can move projects around as long as they are included in the MTP.”
Public comment on the draft MTP will be accepted through June 2. The draft will be available to the public at the Green River Area Development District office, the Daviess County Public Library, the Owensboro Transit System bus office, Owensboro City Hall, Whitesville City Hall, and the Daviess County Judge-Executive’s office. It is also already available on the homepage of gradd.com.
MPO members were encouraged to review the document and provide feedback before final approval at the June meeting.
Several committee members discussed the need for clearer mapping. Speaker 2 requested more detailed maps to better identify street names associated with proposed projects. MPO staff said they would work on producing a large-format PDF map with labeled roadways for online access, though they noted interactive features like clickable project links would not be available in the static document.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a resident raised concerns about the condition of Hill Bridge Road, noting safety issues due to potholes and deterioration. MPO officials explained that the MTP focuses on new construction and long-term capital improvements, while maintenance issues like potholes fall under routine city or county maintenance responsibilities.
The meeting concluded with brief updates. Speaker 3 noted that no significant changes had occurred with ongoing Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 projects since the last MPO meeting. Officials also said a press release was expected soon regarding upcoming work on the “Blue Bridge” downtown.
The MPO does not plan to meet in May to allow time for public review of the MTP. The final plan is scheduled for approval in June to meet the federal September 2025 deadline.
