KRS 96A.170

An authority created and established under this chapter, together with its ownership, financing, operation, rates and charges for use of its services and facilities, rules and regulations, routes, schedules, size and character of its equipment and quality of service shall be exempt from all jurisdiction of the Transportation Cabinet of the Commonwealth, provided, however, that no new service may be instituted within or outside of the authority's transit area in competition with an existing certificated bus company without an application to and a grant of authority from the Transportation Cabinet as provided by KRS Chapter 281 or KRS 96A.095(4), provided further that nothing in this section shall deny the Transportation Cabinet the authority to render such advice and assistance, including financial aid, engineering, planning and technical assistance, as it deems advisable, to enable an authority as created under this chapter to acquire, construct, expand, maintain, and operate a mass transit system as defined in this chapter and to establish regulations to promote local transit authorities and to ensure compliance with the requirements of the United States Federal Transit Administration.