ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 38
BY REPRESENTATIVE SAM JONES
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to study reducing
the size of the Department of Transportation and Development, rectifying inequities
in the distribution of state highway miles among parishes, and empowering local
governments through the "right-sizing" of the state highway system.
WHEREAS, for at least seven decades, Louisiana has operated under a model of
strong state government and relatively weaker local government; and
WHEREAS, this governmental model has produced an inefficient highway system
that continues to lag behind the rest of the nation's systems; and
WHEREAS, many would argue that a new governmental model is needed to produce
a more efficient highway system, one that is aligned with the philosophy that the government
closest to the people is the most responsive and best serves the citizenry; and
WHEREAS, under a new model, the opportunity exists to reduce the size of the
Department of Transportation and Development, rectify inequities in the distribution of state
highway miles among parishes, and empower local governments through the "right-sizing"
of the state highway system; and
WHEREAS, under a new model, the state highway system would be reduced, and
local government would be strengthened and granted far greater autonomy in meeting their
areas' highway needs; and
WHEREAS, the benefits to local governments would include but not be limited to
the following: (1) increased financial resources from the Parish Transportation Fund; (2)
greater authority in transportation decisionmaking, including project prioritization and
funding allocation; (3) authority to regulate traffic over a larger portion of the transportation
network in any given jurisdiction; and (4) the ability to implement parish and municipal
comprehensive plans with less interference and less dependency on the state; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 38
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, "right sizing" the state highway system would allow the Department of
Transportation and Development to focus its efforts on the components of the transportation
system that are most important to all of Louisiana's economy, namely, those that serve a
significant role in freight movement, tourism, and business travel.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to develop a proposal
for "right-sizing" the state highway system in accordance with principals and criteria that it
shall identify for such purpose. The requested "right-sizing" proposal shall include but not
be limited to the following:
(1) A report outlining the proposal.
(2) Maps for each parish showing exactly which routes would be transferred from
the state highway system.
(3) Exact figures for increasing the Parish Transportation Fund and decreasing the
Department of Transportation and Development's operating budget and staffing levels.
(4) Proposed revisions to the Parish Transportation Fund formulas.
(5) A schedule for transferring state roads to local governments, increasing funding
to the Parish Transportation Fund, increasing local capital assistance programs, including
off-system bridges, local road safety, and a proposed congestion relief fund, and reducing
the Department of Transportation and Development's operating budget and staffing levels.
(6) Legislation necessary to implement the proposal and to ensure that increased
funding for the Parish Transportation Fund will continue with future administrations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Department of Transportation and Development
shall submit the "right-sizing" proposal to the House and Senate committees on
transportation, highways and public works no later than January 31, 2011.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE