Baton Rouge’s snarled traffic situation may get some relief, should federal lawmakers pass a new federal highway funding bill that now has provisions to funnel some of the money to Louisiana.
Provisions to address the much-maligned Washington Street exit in Baton Rouge, the widening of Interstates 10 and 12, and improvements on La. 1 and La. 30 were added by Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, who addressed the need for traffic improvements many times during public appearances in Baton Rouge back in early September—the same week the state Department of Transportation and Development held public meetings on the potential widening of I-10 and I-12.
The provisions were added after Graves met with leaders from both chambers working on the highway funding bill, according to a news release from Graves’ office.
Under the current framework of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation, or FAST, Act, Louisiana would receive up to $100 million annually and have a shot at between $800 million to $1 billion in federal grant funding annually.
“Drivers across South Louisiana are tired of seeing and hearing about how bad traffic is,” Graves says in a prepared statement. “We need to see action.”
Among the amendments that could affect Louisiana: transportation funding of $4.5 billion over five years for competitive grants under the National Significant Freight and Highway Projects program to fund national or regional projects costing more than $100 million; prioritizing projects that increase capacity in portions of highways to improve mobility under National Significant Freight and Highway Projects program; and for officials to consider projects that improve energy security.
“As I’ve said before, our roadways are decades behind where they need to be,” Graves says. “Traffic delays are strangling our economy, taking time away from our families and are a daily reminder that taxpayers aren’t getting a return on investment. Louisiana’s share of additional funding and the new competitive grant program present tremendous opportunity to noticeable improvement.”
Those amendments, according to a news release from Graves’ office, are directly related to improvements needed on Interstate 49, La. 1 and the Washington Street exit on I-10.
“Few projects rival the importance of clearing up the chokepoint along I-10,” Graves says. “The Washington Street exit is one of the only places in the country where an interstate drops to one lane, and it occurs at a high volume point along a national corridor heavily used by cross-country freight, regional and local traffic. Louisiana will ultimately compete for funding under the program, but I am confident that I-10 is well positioned.”
The current highway funding programs expire Friday. The full House is expected to consider the FAST Act tomorrow.
