2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 37
BY SENATOR BROWN
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To establish the Bridge Lighting Task Force to study and make recommendations relative
to the installation and maintenance of lighting on the Sunshine Bridge and the
Veteran's Memorial Bridge near the town of Gramercy, Louisiana; to provide for the
membership of the task force; and to require the task force to make recommendations
relative to funding mechanisms for installation, energy costs, and maintenance of
bridge lighting.
WHEREAS, the Sunshine Bridge and the Veteran's Memorial Bridge near the town
of Gramercy, Louisiana, both are in need of bridge lighting; and
WHEREAS, lighting on state bridges enhances the safety of motorists; and
WHEREAS, driving is largely a visual task and the ability to see the roadway ahead
and to observe conflicting traffic and the behavior of other bridge users is integral to the
driving task; and
WHEREAS, lighting significantly improves the visibility of the roadway, increases
sight distance, and makes obstacles more noticeable to the driver, and therefore more
avoidable; and
WHEREAS, bridge lighting is a safety countermeasure that can reduce the number
of nighttime crashes where lighting is installed; and
WHEREAS, in addition to traffic safety, adequate lighting provides clear benefits
in terms of personal security.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish the Bridge Lighting Task Force to study and make recommendations relative to the
installation and maintenance of lighting on the Sunshine Bridge and the Veteran's Memorial
Bridge near the town of Gramercy, Louisiana, to study all potential funding mechanisms, to
determine the benefits and costs of each funding mechanism, to determine guidelines or
criteria for utilization of potential funding mechanisms by the state and its political
subdivisions, to determine an approval procedure applicable to the use of the funding
Page 1 of 3 SCR NO. 37 ENROLLED
mechanisms, and to report all such matters to the house and senate committees on
transportation, highways and public works, including recommendations for legislation, if
any, relative to available funding mechanisms to install, energize, and maintain lighting on
the Sunshine Bridge and the Veteran's Memorial Bridge near the town of Gramercy,
Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bridge Lighting Task Force shall be
composed of the following members:
(1) The senator for Senate District 2 or his designee.
(2) The representative for House District 58 or his designee.
(3) The representative for House District 81 or his designee.
(4) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his
designee.
(5) The president of the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission or his designee.
(6) The president of the South Louisiana Port Commission or his designee.
(7) The president of the parish of Ascension or his designee.
(8) The president of the parish of St. James or his designee.
(9) The president of the parish of St. John the Baptist or his designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of the organizations they represent.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senator for Senate District 2 or his designee
shall act as chairman of the task force and the representative for House District 58 or his
designee shall act as vice chairman.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the total membership shall
constitute a quorum of the task force and any official action by the task force shall require
an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum present and voting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the members chosen or designated
as provided shall be submitted to the chairman of the task force not later than August 1,
2016, and that the chairman shall thereafter call the first meeting of the task force not later
than September 15, 2016.
Page 2 of 3 SCR NO. 37 ENROLLED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet as necessary and shall
submit its report of findings and recommendations to the house and senate committees on
transportation, highways and public works, not later than January 15, 2017.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate not later than
March 31, 2017.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, the president of the
Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission, the president of the Port of South Louisiana
Commission, the president of the parish of Ascension, the president of the parish of St.
James, and the president of the parish of St. John the Baptist.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 3 of 3