2024 NAPPC Pollinator Roadside Management Award Winner

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC)

Lead by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) in partnership with Federal Highways Administration (FHWA), and United States Fish and Wildlife Service – Kentucky Field Office (USFWS-KFO), the 2019 KYTC Pollinator Conservation Strategy has been a shining example of the opportunities for pollinator conservation that exist along our federal and state ROWs. At this point in time, over 100 acres of pollinator habitat has been created so far within KYTC right-of-ways. With over 27,500 miles of roadway and 23 rest areas across Kentucky, it is KYTC's intent to utilize ROWs for pollinator habitat wherever possible within these areas. Species are selected mainly by their historical native presence in Kentucky and by site quality. In these pollinator plots, native species to Kentucky have been given preference, particularly milkweed given its importance to the eastern migratory monarch population. Public outreach has been a key priority for the KYTC, with regular signage along Kentucky’s ROWs pointing out habitat plantings to travelers, and through the use of social media, which has marked the KYTC’s shift in policy and increased the attention to the functionality of these new pollinator habitat plots. Of course, there are also the benefits to drivers through the beautification of Kentucky highways. With the creation of more pollinator habitat, KYTC is contributing to the stabilization of our pollinator populations.