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Legislators question KYTC’s use of cross‑state tolling contract as committee approves HNTB agreement
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Summary
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials defended a mirror agreement with the Indiana Finance Authority and HNTB to support Louisville bridge tolling after legislators raised concerns about RiverLink’s collections. The committee approved the contract despite several legislators voting no and calling for continued oversight.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) officials defended a bi‑state agreement that will mirror an Indiana Finance Authority contract with HNTB to provide tolling advisory services for the Louisville bridges, and the legislature’s contracts review committee approved the KYTC item after lengthy questioning.
Amanda Spencer, assistant state highway engineer with KYTC, explained that the original contract was competitively procured with both states participating and that Kentucky’s role is a contractual mirror so the Commonwealth can pay its share under a bi‑state management agreement. KYTC said the $7.2 million figure is an upper limit and that the agency only uses what is needed.
Senator Meredith questioned the arrangement and the ongoing use of the RiverLink brand, citing prior criticism that toll collections left “millions upon millions of dollars” uncollected. “I’m voting no today,” Meredith said, adding she wanted the committee to “send a message” that vendors be held to higher performance standards.
KYTC replied that HNTB serves as toll services adviser and helps oversee back‑office and roadside vendors. “My professional opinion … is that they have helped us improve very much,” the KYTC representative said, noting improvements in customer service wait times and revenue performance.
Several committee members explained their votes after the roll call. Representative Rorke said he would vote aye after learning revenues had outperformed expectations, while other legislators said a no vote registered continuing dissatisfaction with vendor performance. The committee moved the contract forward; members said the vote should not be read as endorsement without continued oversight.
Why it matters: The contract governs technical oversight of tolling for multistate infrastructure that affects commuters in Louisville and southern Indiana and involves revenue collection that funds debt service and operations. Several lawmakers signaled ongoing concern about collection effectiveness and customer service even as agency leaders said metrics have improved.
What’s next: The contract was advanced by the committee; members called for the cabinet to provide additional information on bidder lists and collection metrics in follow‑up, and several legislators said they would monitor vendor performance closely.
