KY Transportation Cabinet opening two more Real ID offices as October deadline looms
With just months to go before Kentucky driver’s licenses fall out of compliance with federal standards, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced it is opening new regional offices in Somerset and Paducah to help people get Real ID-compliant licenses.
The state also is allowing residents from anywhere in Kentucky to apply for a Real ID-compliant license in Frankfort.
“Real-ID is moving forward at a high speed,” said Sarah Jackson, the newly appointed Real ID project manager. “We’re confident that all Kentuckians who want a Real ID-compliant license will be able to apply for one at a regional office within a reasonable driving distance from their home or place of work.”
The clock is ticking. On October 1, Kentuckians without a Real ID-compliant license or passport will not be able to board domestic flights, visit a military base or enter some federal buildings.
While the Transportation Cabinet has been approved to rent space for a Real ID office on Leestown Center Way in Lexington, the office is not yet ready and Jackson could not say when it will open. Fayette County residents currently must go to Frankfort to get their Real ID-compliant licenses.
“It’s going to be sooner rather than later,” Jackson said.
Kentucky’s roll out of Real ID-compliant licenses has been riddled with setbacks. The legislature’s first attempt to create a process for Kentuckians to get compliant licenses was vetoed by former Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016. After Bevin later agreed to legislation to bring Kentucky into compliance with federal security standards, the Transportation Cabinet struggled to establish a process for Kentuckians to obtain the new licenses.
“Yeah, we’re dealing with a mess,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “But we’re doing the absolute best with the state pouring in resources to make sure the people of Kentucky don’t pay for that mess that was left for us on December 10.”
The current plan, which Beshear called “the best option” in the short term, is to open 12 regional offices throughout Kentucky to provide the licenses. So far, only two regional offices are open — in Frankfort and Bowling Green. The Somerset and Paducah offices will each have only one station, open Monday through Friday, but are expected to expand their capacity.
Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said the cabinet plans to get all of its regional offices up and running by early summer. He said it will take about 130 employees to staff the offices.
Gray said the transportation cabinet has a budget of $4 million for the Real ID program for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, and that Beshear’s budget request for the program will be revealed in the governor’s proposed budget next Tuesday.
The cost for a four-year Real ID license is $24 and an eight-year Real ID license is $48. In order to meet federal guidelines, people will need one valid proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or valid passport; one valid proof of an identification number, such as a non-laminated Social Security card; and two valid proofs of residency, such as a Kentucky driver’s license with your current home address or a utility bill dated less than 61 days ago.
“When you’ve got a problem, you’ve got to put a bear hug around it and wrestle it to the ground,” Gray said. “And that is exactly what we are doing today.”
