ENROLLED
2018 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 48
BY REPRESENTATIVE GLOVER
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to create a public
input process to discuss the impact that completion of the Interstate 49 North priority
project will have on the North Market Street Corridor.
WHEREAS, after decades of effort, the Interstate 49 North expansion, which is one
of Louisiana's high priority projects, is advancing towards completion; and
WHEREAS, completion of the Interstate 49 North project will yield opportunities,
but also present challenges for the Shreveport area and the North Market Corridor in
particular; and
WHEREAS, the past has taught local residents many tough lessons, most
importantly, that the advancement of infrastructure is not free and that the decisions made
now will affect the local community far into the future; and
WHEREAS, the North Market Street corridor will experience an increase in traffic
as a result of the project completion and creative solutions are necessary to alleviate the
potential negative effects and enhance the positive impacts that the project will have on the
North Market Street Corridor; and
WHEREAS, despite ongoing discussions of the Interstate 49 Inner City Connector,
it may take decades to generate the funding required for the construction of the project; and
WHEREAS, there are a growing number of citizens who believe that constructing
elevated interstate highways through urban cores of our cities were mistakes of the past and
should not be repeated; and
WHEREAS, research is necessary and creative solutions must be presented that will
mitigate traffic, improve infrastructure, generate economic benefits, and increase the
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property value of those who reside in and around North Shreveport and the downtown
Shreveport areas; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development should strategize
with all relevant partners in the community on how to best leverage a solution that inures to
the benefit of residents in the area; and
WHEREAS, this strategy should engage community stakeholders with relevant
information on how to stimulate growth of the community and it should also contemplate
efforts to minimize negative impacts on the local community; and
WHEREAS, foresight and strategic planning may result in a more economically
viable and locally beneficial solution; and
WHEREAS, members of the local community that will be directly affected by the
Interstate 49 North improvements deserve true community engagement and want to
contribute to improving the area in a way that is meaningful and minimally intrusive to long
standing residents.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Transportation and
Development to create a public input process that includes dialogue with local public
officials, local Shreveport residents, commercial and industrial district representatives,
educational institutions, and relevant or interested stakeholders and results in potential
strategies that will minimize the negative and maximize the positive impact on the North
Market Corridor as a result of the Interstate 49 North project completion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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