HLS 22RS-51 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 21
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
HIGHWAYS: Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and Development to
study the safety of LA Hwy. 20 and feasibility of adding a shoulder
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request that the Department of Transportation and Development study the road
3 conditions on Louisiana Highway 20 at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 3127
4 in St. James Parish through the Thibodaux city limits and make recommendations
5 on safety improvements, including the feasibility of adding a shoulder.
6 WHEREAS, Louisiana Highway 20 at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 3127
7currently has minimal or no shoulder; and
8 WHEREAS, the narrow two-lane highway has proven to be dangerous as a result of
9numerous serious bodily injuries and fatalities that have occurred, and it is frequently
10traveled by bus drivers; and
11 WHEREAS, a school traffic guard was fatally struck in this area while performing
12work duties as a crossing guard; and
13 WHEREAS, Chackbay Elementary School is located on Louisiana Highway 20; and
14 WHEREAS, numerous head-on collisions have claimed the lives of many individuals
15traversing this stretch of highway; and
16 WHEREAS, construction replacement of narrow lanes on Louisiana Highway 20
17bridge in lower St. James and upper Lafourche Parish is underway with a wider, safer one;
18and
19 WHEREAS, the Bayou Chevreuil Task Force that helped promote widening the
20Louisiana Highway 20 bridge collected parish and state data that indicated the bridge and
21highway were well above the state averages for crashes and fatalities; and
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HCR NO. 21
1 WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development is responsible for
2the upkeep of highways in Louisiana in order to ensure the safety of the citizens of this great
3state, and enhancing the safety of Louisiana Highway 20 at the intersection of Louisiana
4Highway 3127 in St. James Parish through Thibodaux city limits is imperative.
5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
6urge and request that the Department of Transportation and Development to study the road
7conditions on Louisiana Highway 20 at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 3127 in St.
8James Parish through the Thibodaux city limits and detail its findings and recommendations
9for safety improvements, including the feasibility of adding a shoulder.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Transportation and
11Development's recommendations shall consider enhancements to the safety of a Louisiana
12Highway 20 at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 3127 in St. James Parish through the
13Thibodaux city limits and, at a minimum, shall include the following considerations:
14 (1)The feasibility of adding a shoulder.
15 (2) The cost of the shoulder.
16 (3)The number of accidents that have occurred on the stretch of highway that
17 is the focus of this study, including the number of deaths and the degree of
18 damage sustained in those accidents.
19 (4) The posted speed limits.
20 (5) The portions of the road with and without shoulders.
21 (6)The width of all bridges and the degree and number of curves per mile with
22 special consideration on hills, railroad tracks, and types of crossing guards.
23 (7)The impact of each consideration on the safety of the highway.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and
25Development shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Transportation,
26Highways and Public Works and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and
27Public Works detailing its findings and recommendations prior to March 1, 2023.
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HCR NO. 21
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 21 Original 2022 Regular Session Fontenot
Urges and request the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to study the road
conditions of LA Hwy. 20 and the feasibility of adding a shoulder to improve safety.
Requires the DOTD to submit a written report of its findings to the House and Senate
Transportation committees prior to March 1, 2023.
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