HLS 182ES-32 ORIGINAL
2018 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 45
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
BRIDGES/FERRIES: Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and
Development to create a task force to study the use of repurposed railroad tank cars
as bridge culverts as a cost-saving measure
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to create a task
3 force to study the use of repurposed railroad tank cars as bridge culverts as a cost-
4 saving measure.
5 WHEREAS, repurposed railroad tank cars are strong and low-cost solutions for low-
6volume culverts; and
7 WHEREAS, a railroad tank car culvert can range in diameter from seven feet to ten
8feet and can be custom fabricated to any length desired; and
9 WHEREAS, railroad tank cars are made of high quality steel with the thickness of
10the walls ranging from half an inch to one inch; and
11 WHEREAS, railroad tank car culverts are extremely strong and solid due to the
12thickness of the high quality steel used in creating railroad tank cars, which reduces damage
13from inserting and increases the life span of the culvert; and
14 WHEREAS, repurposing an old railroad tank car to a culvert involves minimal work,
15as the process requires the removal of the ends along with any plumbing or valves attached
16to the tank and cutting off the dome on top and covering or welding shut the leftover hole;
17and
18 WHEREAS, culverts created from repurposed railroad tank cars can carry significant
19water flows, with a flow opening ranging from fifty to seventy-five feet; and
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HR NO. 45
1 WHEREAS, such a structure can carry over fifty tons, span from twenty to eighty
2feet, and carry a continuous flow of water; and
3 WHEREAS, railroad tank cars that have been repurposed as culverts are priced
4similarly to corrugated culverts, are stronger than corrugated culverts of comparable size,
5last considerably longer than corrugated culverts, and due to the smoothness of the sides,
6railroad tank car culverts allow as much as twenty-five percent more water flow than a
7comparably sized corrugated culvert; and
8 WHEREAS, the steel makeup of the railroad tank car culverts removes the need of
9reinforcement when they are handled or for support while being installed, in stark contrast
10to corrugated culverts, and in fact, they can be put in place with a dozer and cleaned with a
11backhoe, which would ordinarily damage a corrugated culvert; and
12 WHEREAS, in states such as Kansas, there are several counties that installed railroad
13tank car culverts more than thirty years ago and these areas have not experienced any
14problems with their modified use; and
15 WHEREAS, in Louisiana, DeSoto Parish realizes the advantages of using repurposed
16railroad tank cars as culverts, as they have installed them in the parish; and
17 WHEREAS, repurposing a railroad tank car is a positive way for railroad companies
18to protect the environment through recycling and is also an efficient method of
19manufacturing and installing culverts quickly, usually within two to three weeks; and
20 WHEREAS, road maintenance departments, farmers, and timber companies are the
21primary users of railroad tank car culverts throughout the country; and
22 WHEREAS, railroad tank car culverts provide unique benefits to states in both
23environmental protection and work efficiency, as they last longer than corrugated culverts,
24require less to manufacture and install, and are easier to maintain, which reduces the cost to
25the state.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
27Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Transportation and
28Development to create a task force to study the use of repurposed railroad tank cars as bridge
29culverts as a cost-saving measure.
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HR NO. 45
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall study and address in the
2report required by this Resolution, at a minimum, all of the following:
3 (1) The cost-savings that may be available from the usage of repurposed railroad
4tank cars as culverts.
5 (2) Any information that details the impact that the usage of railroad tank cars as
6culverts for the building of bridges may potentially have on the receipt of funds from the
7Federal-aid Highway program distributed by the Federal Highway Administration within the
8United States Department of Transportation.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
10following:
11 (1) The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his
12designee.
13 (2) Two state representatives, one from north Louisiana and one from south
14Louisiana, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
15 (3) The executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission or his
16designee.
17 (4) The president of the Desoto Parish Police Jury or his designee.
18 (5) The president of the Louisiana Municipal Association or his designee.
19 (6) The director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
20Preparedness or his designee.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a report of its
22findings and recommendations including any proposed legislation to the House Committee
23on Transportation, Highways and Public Works no later than March 1, 2019.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is assigned to the Department of
25Transportation and Development, with staff support to be provided from existing personnel
26within the department.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of
28Transportation and Development shall serve as chairman of the task force.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, at the first meeting of the task force, the
30members shall elect a vice chairman and other officers as the members deem appropriate.
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HR NO. 45
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force shall serve without
2compensation or reimbursement of expenses, other than what may be afforded by their
3appointing authority.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may conduct meetings at such
5places and at such times necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively
6its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Resolution.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the Department of
8Transportation and Development or his designee shall convene the task force for its first
9meeting no later than September 1, 2018.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative authority for the task force shall
11terminate on December 31, 2019.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be submitted to the
13secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.
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)]
HR 45 Original 2018 Second Extraordinary Session Cox
Urges and requests the Dept. of Transportation and Development to create a task force to
study the use of repurposed railroad tank cars for bridge culverts as a cost-savings measure.
Requires the task force submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the House
Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works by March 1, 2019.
Page 4 of 4