HLS 13RS-695 ENGROSSED Page 1 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2013 HOUSE BILL NO. 351 BY REPRESENTATIVES LEOPOLD AND WESLEY BI SHOP AND SENATOR MORRELL Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. TRANSPORTATION: Requires highly traveled bridges to receive certain treatment within the highway priority system AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 48:229(B), relative to the highway priority construction2 program; to provide relative to priorities for bridges within the proposed program of3 construction for highways; and to provide for related matters.4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5 Section 1. R.S. 48:229(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6 ยง229. Priority reports on current construction projects7 * * *8 B. In fixing priorities, the department shall consider primarily the condition9 of the roads, streets, and structures making up the state highway system and the10 relative urgency of the improvements considering in their order general needs, traffic11 volume, accident records, technical difficulties in the preparation of plans and the12 procurement of rights-of-way, as well as unforeseeable emergencies such as floods.13 In fixing priorities, the department shall also consider and include capacity14 improvements in geographic areas where population has grown or traffic volume has15 increased and capacity improvements are necessary. In fixing priorities for bridges,16 the department shall give higher priority to bridges with high volumes of traffic.17 HLS 13RS-695 ENGROSSED HB NO. 351 Page 2 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] Leopold HB No. 351 Abstract: Provides that the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) shall give bridges with high traffic volumes higher priority while setting priorities for the program of highway construction for the ensuing fiscal year. Present law provides that DOTD shall provide the legislature with a program of construction for highways to be commenced in the ensuing year, which is to be based on the anticipated revenues to be appropriated by the legislature and listed in an order of priority of projects for each of the 12 functional classifications of state highways. Present law provides that the order of priorities are to be based on an illustrative list of factors. Present law further provides that DOTD shall consider certain conditions in fixing priorities. Proposed law retains present law and provides that in fixing priorities for bridges, DOTD shall give higher priority to bridges with high volumes of traffic. (Amends R.S. 48:229(B))