HLS 20RS-352 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 85
BY REPRESENTATIVES TRAVIS JOHNSON AND THOMPSON
HIGHWAYS: Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and Development to
study the feasibility of converting US Hwy 65 to a four-lane highway
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to study the
3 feasibility of converting United States Highway 65 into a four-lane highway and
4 make recommendations in regards to the conversion.
5 WHEREAS, the United States is one of the world's leading exporters for numerous
6agriculture products and Louisiana ports are major points of departure for agriculture in the
7United States; and
8 WHEREAS, United States Highway 65 begins in Clayton, Louisiana, crosses
9Arkansas, Missouri, and Iowa, and ends in Albert Lea, Minnesota, which spans nine-
10hundred-sixty-six miles and serves as a primary route that passes throughout the country on
11the national highway; and
12 WHEREAS, United States Highway 65 enters Arkansas as a two-lane highway near
13the Mississippi river and widens into four lanes where it parallels a set of railroad tracks near
14Chicot County; and
15 WHEREAS, the two-lane United States Highway 65 parallels the west bank of the
16Mississippi river through the northeastern portion of Louisiana, making United States
17Highway 65 a major thoroughfare for agriculture near the Mississippi river; and
18 WHEREAS, United States Highway 65 and United States Highway 84 are a
19Louisiana shelter point for emergency hurricane evacuations; and
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HCR NO. 85
1 WHEREAS, converting United States Highway 65 to a four-lane highway would
2increase the safety measures for vehicles in emergency stops that necessitate stopping on the
3shoulder of the current two-lane highway; and
4 WHEREAS, converting United States Highway 65 into a four-lane highway would
5increase the import and export of agriculture in Louisiana, create a safer route for emergency
6evacuations, and enhance the safety of motorists who have to make emergency stops on the
7shoulder of the highway.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
9urge and request the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to study the
10feasibility of converting United States Highway 65 to a four-lane highway.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and
12Development shall submit a report detailing the results of its study to the Legislature of
13Louisiana no later than February 1, 2021.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
15to the secretary of the Louisiana 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)]
HCR 85 Original 2020 Regular Session Travis Johnson
Urges and requests the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to study the
feasibility of converting U.S. Hwy 65 from a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway.
Requires DOTD submit a report detailing the results of the study to the Legislature by Feb.
1, 2021.
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