Transportation Cabinet
Commonwealth at your Fingertips - Kiosks Provide Valuable Link for Travel & Tourism

FRANKFORT, KY (May 19, 2006) - Travel, traffic and tourism information about the commonwealth is now at your fingertips inside Kentucky welcome centers and rest areas.  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is installing innovative new kiosk machines at 16 welcome centers and rest areas.  Later this year, a kiosk will be located in each of the 28 welcome centers and rest areas.  Kiosks are also located in the public areas of KYTC’s central office building in Frankfort. 

 “This approach to connecting with visitors embodies Kentucky’s Unbridled Spirit,” said Governor Ernie Fletcher. “The kiosk, which resembles an ATM machine, allows travelers to get live radar and other weather information, as well as detailed traffic information. The interactive features also showcase local and statewide tourist attractions.” 

Recent traffic counts by the KYTC reveal that an estimated ten million people visited Kentucky’s eight welcome centers last year alone.  The welcome center guest registers recorded more than 750,000 individual visitor signatures during 2005.  Additionally, based on KYTC traffic counts, more than 17 million people visited a Kentucky rest area last year. 

“The real time travel and traffic information enhances highway safety by giving travelers additional information to plan their trip,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert. “We also hope that tourists will use information they discover on the kiosk to visit some of the remarkable attractions found here in Kentucky.”

KYTC welcome centers and rest areas already have a wide array of travel and tourism information on hand. The kiosks target the highest traffic areas and can be placed anywhere a digital signal from Kentucky Education Television (KET) can be received.  KET’s datacast system is used to update kiosk information.  It’s all part of the overall effort to use the latest technology to connect with visitors.

“Many times, the first contact a person has with a state is at a welcome center,” said Commerce Secretary George Ward.  “The kiosk helps us make a positive impression with the traveling public.  With the kiosk we can provide vital information that tourists need to plan their trip to a Kentucky destination.”

Representatives from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Commerce Cabinet are holding kiosk events at a number of welcome centers next week.  The public is invited to attend the events and see a kiosk demonstration. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.

Kiosk event schedule:

Monday, May 22, 2006

·        10:00AM – Shelby County Welcome Center, I-64 Eastbound

·        1:00PM – Carter County Welcome Center, I-64 Westbound

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

·        10:00AM – Boone County Welcome Center, I-75 Southbound

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

·        11:00AM – Bullitt County Welcome Center, I-65 Southbound

Thursday, May 25

·        10:00AM CT – Simpson County Welcome Center, I-65 Northbound

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