HLS 23RS-1485 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 108
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLARD
TRANSPORTATION: Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and
Development conduct a study and make plans relative to emergency evacuation
routes for public safety
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development study and make
3 recommendations and plans for contraflow, evaculanes, and siren system use
4 throughout the state for public safety and to require the submission of a written
5 report of its findings.
6 WHEREAS, contraflow is a highly effective action plan with economic and logistical
7benefits, as contraflow reduces the cost and time required to construct additional lanes to
8increase the capacity on the roadway necessary for accelerated evacuations; and
9 WHEREAS, contraflow lanes are easier to manage and enforce during emergency
10situations, as a driver can only enter or exit the contraflow at limited, designated points; and
11 WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development is responsible for
12public works and engineering functions on the state infrastructure system to implement
13contraflow during natural and manmade disasters; and
14 WHEREAS, best practices for expediting and reducing implementation time for
15contraflow use during emergency situations need to be followed; and
16 WHEREAS, recommendations to local mayors and parish presidents, as well as the
17governor, would be beneficial to implementing contraflow plans and siren system use; and
18 WHEREAS, there is a necessity for identification of the needs resulting from
19contraflow implementation; such as, bottlenecks, bridges, existing construction that could
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HCR NO. 108
1present difficulties, and how to add an evaculane and a high-occupancy vehicle lane to the
2current spillway project as well as other evacuation routes; and
3 WHEREAS, evaculanes are designed to move traffic quickly prior to or during a
4catastrophic event by increasing capacity; and
5 WHEREAS, feasibility and costs for improving contraflow options and the ability
6to coordinate among parties are necessary to improving a successful evacuation plan; and
7 WHEREAS, the cost of bridge repairs and the ability to expedite repairs on the
8Highway 90 St. Tammany Parish evacuation route is unknown; and
9 WHEREAS, sirens are effective at notifying the public of impending danger,
10including natural or manmade disasters; and
11 WHEREAS, an additional benefit to Louisiana residents includes alternative safety
12systems such as sirens near at-risk populations to warn of impending disasters and prompt
13citizens to listen to local radio or television stations for emergency messages; and
14 WHEREAS, the state would benefit from a study that considers the following:
15 (1) The immediate implementation of a seamless plan for contraflow.
16 (2) The implementation and oversight of siren systems.
17 (3) The impact of the lack of siren systems.
18 (4) Other safety measures to mitigate hazardous conditions.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
20urge and request the Department of Transportation and Development to work with
21representatives from local political subdivisions and the Louisiana Task Force on Contraflow
22and Sirens to study contraflow in the state of Louisiana, the implementation of alternative
23safety mechanisms to alert residents of impending danger, and other safety measures to
24mitigate hazardous conditions.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include the needs resulting from
26contraflow implementation; such as, bottlenecks, bridges, existing construction that could
27present difficulties, and how to add an evaculane to relevant evacuation routes and a high-
28occupancy vehicle lane to the current spillway project.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall consider the cost of bridge repairs
30and the ability to expedite repairs on the Highway 90 evacuation route.
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HCR NO. 108
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall culminate with the Department
2of Transportation and Development providing a written report of its findings to the House
3Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, the Senate Committee on
4Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, and the Louisiana Task Force on Contraflow
5and Sirens by February 1, 2024.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
7secretary 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)]
HCR 108 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Willard
Urges and requests the Dept. of Transportation and Development work with representatives
from local political subdivisions and the La. Task Force on Contraflow and Sirens to study
contraflow procedures, evaculanes, and siren systems used for natural and manmade
disasters. Requires the department to provide a written report detailing its findings to the
House and Senate transportation committees and the La. Task Force on Contraflow and
Sirens by Feb. 1, 2024.
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