Kentucky lawmakers received an update Tuesday on how the Transportation Cabinet is implementing a new state law designed to protect farmland from excessive highway lighting while maintaining safety.
During the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation meeting this week, Deputy State Highway Engineer John Moore outlined the cabinet’s efforts to comply with House Bill 571, which took effect this year and places new restrictions on outdoor lighting near agricultural property.
Moore began by emphasizing why highway lighting remains an important safety tool.
He told lawmakers that the nighttime crash rate on Kentucky highways is three times higher than during daylight hours.
According to Moore, studies show that highway lighting can reduce pedestrian crashes at intersections by 42%, nighttime intersection crashes by 38%, and nighttime injury crashes by 28%.
Moore explained that the Transportation Cabinet uses two primary types of highway lighting.
The first is the familiar cobra headlight, commonly installed at intersections and along roadways. Kentucky has more than 12,000 of these fixtures statewide. Because they are located close to the highway, they are more likely to be struck by vehicles, making maintenance more expensive. Each fixture costs about $12,000, and approximately 40 are needed to light a typical highway interchange.
The second type is high-mast lighting, which uses multiple fixtures mounted on a single tall pole. Kentucky has about 6,000 high-mast lights statewide. Although each installation costs about $100,000, only eight are generally needed to light an interchange, and they are placed farther from the roadway, reducing maintenance costs.
House Bill 571 requires that outdoor lighting installed by the Transportation Cabinet not cast light onto public or private agricultural land. New fixtures must be fully shielded, and existing lights must be modified within 30 days if a complaint is filed. The law does not apply to temporary lighting used during construction projects lasting less than six months.
Moore said the cabinet has updated its policies to comply with the new law but noted that the law presents challenges.
He said only one complaint has been received so far.
In that case, the Transportation Cabinet added additional shielding, reduced the number of operating fixtures, and dimmed the lights to lessen their impact on nearby farmland.
Rep. Ryan Bivens (R-Hodgenville), a farmer, said the legislation was prompted in part by concerns over brighter LED lighting replacing older highway fixtures.
He told the committee that he had personally experienced crop losses caused by light exposure.
click to download audioMoore said the cabinet has converted its older halogen fixtures to energy-efficient LED lights to reduce electricity costs, and engineers constantly balance public safety with environmental concerns.
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