[StBernard] Landrieu Secures $59M+ for La. Transportation, Bridges

[Westley Annis]

Landrieu Secures $59M+ for 

La. Transportation, Bridges
 Funding added to $500m+ in highway formula grants.

 

WASHINGTON - Louisiana stands to receive more than $59 million in bridge
replacement and other transportation project funding secured by Senator Mary
L. Landrieu, D-La., in legislation passed 88-7 by the United States Senate
today. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
bill, HR 3074, also includes more than $500 million in federal highway
formula grants.

Sen. Landrieu, an Appropriations Committee member, secured $19 million in
the bill for 12 Louisiana projects, including Interstates 10, 49 and 69.

 A provision cosponsored by Sens. Landrieu and Patty Murray, D-Wash.,
provides an additional $1 billion for activities authorized under the
Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Bridge Replacement and
Rehabilitation program.  Louisiana is estimated to receive $40 million of
the additional funding, which could be used to replace aging bridges across
the state, such as the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles and the
Red River Bridge at Fort Buhlow. Sen. Murray is chairman of the
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee.

"Louisiana has 4,000 bridges that are categorized as 'structurally
deficient' or 'functionally obsolete,'" Sen. Landrieu said. "This critical
funding will help us replace our subpar bridges so there is no repeat of the
terrifying Minnesota bridge collapse." 

Among the projects Sen. Landrieu championed was $3 million for the Bossier
Parish Congestion Relief Program, which improves existing roadways and helps
develop new corridors to alleviate congestion on Benton Road, Airline Drive
and other area roadways.

"Development in Bossier Parish has been impeded by traffic, and this funding
will go a long way toward alleviating this problem, allowing the area to
grow and adding to the quality of life in northwest Louisiana," Sen.
Landrieu said. 

Sen. Landrieu also secured $2 million for the Center for Planning Excellence
in Baton Rouge, a non-profit organization that coordinates urban and rural
planning efforts in south Louisiana. The center helps hurricane-affected
communities rebuild using smart growth strategies, allowing their
populations to grow while accounting for traffic patterns and the need for
more walkable communities.

"This funding will boost our recovery by ensuring that rebuilding in south
Louisiana is done in a stronger, safer and smarter way that benefits our
community living and our economy," Sen. Landrieu said.

Sen. Landrieu also included $400,000 for the America's Wetland Discovery
Center in Lake Charles, which will increase public awareness of the national
importance of sustainable wetlands conservation, preservation and
restoration.

"Louisiana's wetlands are a natural buffer to storm surges rising out of the
Gulf," Sen. Landrieu said. "This funding will help establish an educational
wetlands center that will communicate the importance of conserving and
restoring our coastal wetlands."

Sen. Landrieu secured $3 million to improve safety, capacity and aesthetics
along the US-11 corridor between the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge and the area
just north of I-12 in Slidell.

"The energy infrastructure and port system in Louisiana supports the rest of
the nation," Sen. Landrieu said. "Our highways must be safe and efficient
not only for our communities, but to ensure commerce operates with ease."

Sen. Landrieu also secured funding for the following projects:

*         $1 million for a runway extension at Alexandria International
Airport; 

*         $1 million for Baton Rouge Riverfront development and a levee
pedestrian and bike path; 

*         $1 million for Interstate 49 North;

*         $4 million for Interstate 69; 

*         $2 million for the Interstate 10 Service Road Corridor in Lake
Charles; 

*         $1 million for the Lafayette Multimodal Facility

In cooperation with Sen. David Vitter, R-La., Sen. Landrieu also worked to
include $400,000 each for the Acadiana Outreach Center: Smart Growth
Mixed-Income Housing Development in Lafayette and the Robinson Film Center.

The bill is headed for conference with the House, but the White House said
it will veto the bill if it is sent to the President with current spending.


Sen. Landrieu also received support on the Senate floor today from Sen.
Murray for $70 million for Louisiana in upcoming emergency funding for 3,000
Permanent Supportive Housing Vouchers that serve elderly, disabled and
homeless individuals.  

 

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