Urges and requests Department of Transportation and Development to lower the speed limit on Louisiana Highway 3235 in Lafourche Parish
If approved, HCR157 aims to enhance the safety of the residents living along Louisiana Highway 3235, particularly in residential areas heavily populated with families and children. The resolution highlights the community's advocacy for a consistent speed limit as a means of preventing further tragedies involving motor vehicles. Although the Department of Transportation and Development conducted an engineering and traffic investigation and concluded that a speed reduction was not warranted, the local citizens firmly believe that this change is crucial for their protection.
House Concurrent Resolution 157 (HCR157) urges the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to lower the speed limit on Louisiana Highway 3235 in Lafourche Parish to fifty miles per hour. This resolution was initiated in response to local officials' requests for a uniform speed limit along this highway, which currently ranges from fifty to sixty-five miles per hour. The impetus for this change is rooted in public safety concerns, particularly given the history of accidents and fatalities that have occurred in this area, where over the last three years, there have been two hundred sixty-nine accidents, resulting in one hundred fourteen injuries and five fatalities.
The sentiment surrounding HCR157 is one of strong community support, as locals emphasize the need for safety improvements through lower speed limits. They express their concerns regarding the existing conditions and the apparent risks posed by higher speeds in a residential setting. Conversely, some skepticism exists about the technical analysis conducted by the Department of Transportation, raising questions about the reliability and applicability of their findings.
One notable point of contention in HCR157 is the differing perspectives between local officials advocating for a speed limit reduction and the state department's investigation results that oppose such a change. While the resolution underscores the community's desire for enhanced safety measures, it also reflects the challenges posed by state regulations and assessments that may not align with local needs. The call for a uniform speed limit highlights an ongoing tension between local advocacy for safety and state-level administrative decisions.