As a top priority for the Session, 1A advocated for increasing Louisiana’s investment in transportation infrastructure, in line with our transportation funding guiding principles. Working in partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), 1A helped build a statewide business-led coalition known as BUILD IT: Businesses United for Improving Louisiana’s Development by Investing in Transportation. The BUILD IT coalition grew to more than 35 members strong, including all eight of Louisiana’s regional economic development organizations and many local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce.
Most of BUILD IT’s advocacy centered around HB632 by Rep. Steve Carter, which proposed a 17-cent increase in the state gas tax and would have raised $510 million annually to address Louisiana’s critical transportation infrastructure needs. Provisions in the bill ensured 100 percent of the revenue would be used for infrastructure, explicitly prohibiting funds from being used for government employee wages or benefits. It also required DOTD to publish an annual list of projects to be funded through the additional revenue and progress reports for the listed projects. The bill narrowly passed in the House Ways & Means Committee, but ultimately failed to reach the 70 votes, or two-thirds support, needed to pass on the House floor.
More successful were two other bills backed by 1A and the BUILD IT coalition. These bills –HB354 by Rep. Major Thibaut and HB598 by Rep. Neil Abramson – strengthen accountability and transparency for transportation funding.
HB354 (Thibaut) is a Constitutional Amendment that would require any new gas revenues to be deposited into a new “Construction Subfund” of the TTF, and prohibit the subfund from being used for DOTD administration or operations.
HB598 (Abramson) establishes a multi-year timeline for projects included in DOTD’s Highway Priority Program (HPP), based on available and projected funding, and requires progress reports detailing whether such projects are on time, ahead of schedule, or delayed. It also requires annual financial and performance audits of transportation programs and detailed reporting by DOTD on the use of TTF revenues. 1A was involved in the drafting of this bill.
On May 15, 1A joined with the I-49 South Coalition to convene I-49 South Day at the Capitol, in conjunction with National Infrastructure Week. The day aimed to encourage leadership at all levels of government to address Louisiana’s pressing infrastructure investment needs, including the completion of I-49 South. Rep. Mike Huval, Chairman of the Acadiana Delegation, authored the resolution officially recognizing May 15, 2017 as I-49 South Day. Participants shared information with State legislators about the substantial benefits of completing I-49 South, such as improving safety and commerce, providing traffic congestion relief and evacuation capacity, and stimulating economic development opportunities. The group also met with Louisiana DOTD officials to discuss progress being made along the corridor.