[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6632074,"mediaKeyId","2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0","parentId",2675926,"title","DOTD presents seven recommended flood-control projects totaling over $83 million in estimated benefits","audioSeconds",581,"startMs",2782000,"endMs",3363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0&start=2782&end=3363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0/thumbnail_2782000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632074/Louisiana/DOTD-presents-seven-recommended-flood-control-projects-totaling-over-83-million-in-estimated-benefits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632074-1341bca3af65766327734a1034a5d430/orig.mp4?Expires=1775394166&Signature=PQbAN3pAxq8K6YTL5ke6cJoNhCZwG1U~lolmvbYhf5YXZNO8iEuw5OfIhUg4ZbJPIi35Zs-GNvnMXIEfC2~e5VshdI3SaYUKNF91QpRKyVWqlMKr~ZzViGprq7sebdEu~5d8jo6T3H9TOnUkwSvhts1RAOC1xVyuYwT8NQc3od7Ug32Tp~GuDuAUtbraknkrE78AcqJTTZAMHo8qeB94Os6DcoAo8f78vUgL8JnFxBlePc~VjZJoK3zna~~1JTc9XkYLnVR22FBYCt0xs~eX7G5as2rut-7eEYnc-FBIwzuN8VMUwkW00bV6J1brpQJnasm~-0iFkTIGYasWJb6UeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Louisiana","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","Lucas Johnson, program manager for the Statewide Flood Control program, presented the recommended construction program to the Joint Transportation Committee on March 17 and said the department’s list includes seven projects, five of which were newly recommended in the most recent application cycle.

Johnson told the committee the recommended projects include work from rural and urban programs, and that the seven projects will provide more than $83 million in flood-damage reduction benefits upon completion. He said, to date, 133 projects have been completed under the program and that total expenditures exceed $313 million with an estimated $3 billion in flood-damage reduction benefits from completed work.

Local officials and mayors spoke in support. Leroy Sullivan, mayor of Donaldsonville, described two projects his city submitted: the Bunhood and Country Village drainage improvement project (approximately $4.15 million) and a $2.6 million Loop 945 drainage improvement tied to Louisiana Highway 945. Sullivan said those projects address recurring flooding that can prevent residents from leaving homes and that school buses have difficulty serving certain streets in heavy rainfall.

Randy Clouet (phonetic), representing the Pontchartrain Levee District, thanked DOTD and cited regional projects, including the Perkins Road bridge upgrade and the LA 22 gap project that affect multiple parishes. Committee members and local speakers emphasized regional cooperation on flood issues.

DOTD presented the program information and answered technical questions; the committee received the presentation as information only. Johnson said the detailed program sheet in the committee packet contains project locations and estimated benefits.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation (Joint) Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lucas Johnson, program manager for the Statewide Flood Control program at DOTD, told the Joint Transportation Committee on March 17 the department’s recommended construction program includes seven projects that together provide more than $83 million in estimated flood-damage reduction benefits.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632083,"DOTD outlines short‑line rail priority list; $3 million fund shared among 21 railroads",353,1161000,1514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0&start=1161&end=1514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0/thumbnail_1161000.jpg","/articles/6632083/Louisiana/DOTD-outlines-shortline-rail-priority-list-3-million-fund-shared-among-21-railroads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632083-428209492aa9b71ee98dd8bf65c1c384/orig.mp4?Expires=1775394166&Signature=nL5Fgyx3iUk8kVP1~XpyBLIKIfeZtBulvNs3RFUSJGFhe5DgL0VnkDGoRthPxJtdUwplMCsJIiC0qQkjYcPQtm3BBiScRBh8u~2WDHdfsozOJIa~~mcPjwbw98JNyvqgJ5Ppf9jlAzE2o4yw2Q5BVPT~zjtzdyZTw7s3mQ7g0lco3FoCoPgiIVKIB0eDGZm2lpQZvLaTLUvnwDmDdByTEN35JRIAFDGGl85aRRphhER9yJc8rN3axHciNVwkqub1IOq1FUNkm~R8DfgUdahD9OLMYPkcbG3ztPWinkJ5AEh5hGxiO-wmSyzkVRW44MtkCOvHsrhdFHdmSWkkx52wFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dean Goodell, rail manager for the Office of Multimodal Commerce at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, told the Joint Transportation Committee that the Class 2 and 3 rail infrastructure improvement program received 15 applications for 2025 and that the program’s current funding is $3 million from the state general fund shared among 21 short-line railroads.

Goodell said the total state requests on the prioritized list amount to roughly $12.7 million, with an estimated total project cost across applications near $50 million. He explained the department ranks applications and will fund from the top down if funds are available.

Representative Phelps asked whether the ranking simply reflects the department’s priority among the submitted projects; Goodell confirmed the list is prioritized after evaluation. Goodell also said that applications are due annually by Nov. 1 and that DOTD maintains applications for up to three years while checking annually to confirm projects remain viable.

Committee members asked about the local match for projects; Goodell responded that the match is typically railroad money. Commissioner Cormier noted the program is new (created in 2023) and that scoring rules are still being finalized through administrative rulemaking.

DOTD staff described the program as still evolving; projects are evaluated on a basic scoring framework now but DOTD may refine scoring and eligibility in future rulemaking and could consider opening eligibility to additional entities in later cycles. There was no formal vote at the hearing; the presentation was informational.

","Dean Goodell, rail manager for the Office of Multimodal Commerce at DOTD, told the Joint Transportation Committee that the Class 2 and 3 rail infrastructure improvement program received 15 applications and is funded at $3 million to be shared among 21 short-line railroads.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632088,"DOTD presents four new port projects totaling about $36 million in state investment",337,175000,512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0&start=175&end=512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0/thumbnail_175000.jpg","/articles/6632088/Louisiana/DOTD-presents-four-new-port-projects-totaling-about-36-million-in-state-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632088-574b1f955596f0c43e2770e18d41e7c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775394166&Signature=Y9rjbWu-5yzLKMheLEROsDCDQMhDDq1AeGHCGSu8Qm0lldnFpbI2aBugazu7qXLCCRoGnzCL3mafVhpb~Eho3aEtKcmdMDAAQy2EbB-cVhMl4grpwAv5GIaxS5j3h8ELQWDn-jUAZGApJJKquFtsu~pqHOUfKeMnm~5Og5Gf1yENN3m81dnnxqV7uy8SdsGx0~LmBjTaj5XCqCyzzHBYOU7Xx1FMLZqzmvRK1QrgokX9GDwHqBP2~VR6k2fyqjcdhkaU0KQARBTymZrjww12aZpfsNA0vVPtBfGU3ww2SwQT9ZznG7u3zixPhaykd4U~AS87bAstY-c7nv1Q9sbnSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julia Fisher Cormier, commissioner of the Office of Multimodal Commerce at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, told the Joint Transportation Committee on March 17 that four new port-priority applications are before the committee for an informational hearing and that members will vote next Monday.

“Port Vinton, Port Of New Orleans, Port Of Manchaca, and Port Of Greater Baton Rouge” are the four applications she named during the presentation, and she summarized the combined figures: the quarter’s applications equal about $36 million in state investment, nearly $300 million in estimated benefits to the state and create or retain about 131 jobs.

The projects described by Cormier include: a new barge loading and unloading berth at Port Vinton, which DOTD said mainly supports an adjacent carbon-capture facility and is credited in the packet with 54 jobs and about $82 million in benefits to the state; an Alamo terminal revitalization at the Port of New Orleans intended to handle organic agricultural products (28 jobs, $100 million in benefits); a three-phase infrastructure and site rehabilitation at the Port of Manchaca (retains 10 jobs and creates 27 new jobs); and replacement of fendering on Dock 1 at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge (retains 12 jobs, $52 million in benefits).

Cormier emphasized the program is reimbursable, meaning ports may use their own funds to proceed and later request reimbursement. She also said the package includes letters from the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) office accompanying the four applications and a packet of emails the department received on one application.

Stephen Barnes, executive director of the Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, explained the department’s benefit-cost metrics to the committee, describing two metrics used: an internal rate of return and a benefit-cost ratio. Barnes said the benefit-cost ratio is “the broader, more holistic picture of what a project means to the state of Louisiana.” He described the ratio as total state benefits divided by the state share for the project.

Committee members asked for clarifications about job counts and how jobs attributed to a project are counted — whether positions are newly created or represent retention or tenant hires. Cormier responded that the project tallies are a mix of retained jobs and newly created positions and that the packet aggregates those numbers for the quarter. She pointed members to the spreadsheet in the meeting packet that bolds the four new requests.

The presentation listed a program backlog of about $275 million and a 2024 year-end state share of $65 million. Committee staff reiterated that today’s session was informational only; any formal vote on the four port projects will occur at the committee’s next meeting.

Minor public-comment cards and port representatives were present in support and listed in the record but did not speak during the hearing.

The packet and presentation remain the primary record of the proposed project costs and benefits; the committee deferred formal action to the next meeting.

","Julia Fisher Cormier, commissioner of the Office of Multimodal Commerce at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, told the Joint Transportation Committee on March 17 that four new port-priority applications are before the committee for an informational hearing and that members will vote next Monday.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632078,"DOTD presents airport priority list: $20.5 million in proposed state share for 97 projects",1600,1522000,3122000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0&start=1522&end=3122","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2675926-d979ccb6c71a8ac61ad643d7752662f0/thumbnail_1522000.jpg","/articles/6632078/Louisiana/DOTD-presents-airport-priority-list-205-million-in-proposed-state-share-for-97-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632078-88affd7d86cfcf3a9fd6123c6aa3e912/orig.mp4?Expires=1775394166&Signature=daLELF3jKUG1b-Xcpps3LvjnGaaAN1rozWkE1ye~gsvdpYSdEKkYJIFoMZBWzpXTxve4TELXdRB4c1r7vB-PliyIeXnMqYmM3MNKXoK7c7~VKetpvRNveXPTPIj70xvrlifR32ADlqVQp5n-IViCMpBA83mm4IbaCNUR8EbQMEwnhm6hEoGo9fi8T51RQJrKJ3EfJi8jymW5NWmGGkBeu-bnG9aNS18rnYb549yFJbh8kwTT0GrLi5Iv7sNiRrWC9swRuRlbvUn8n74mSPJ0~k56GkaqKOClXjvhsBPhgCOXseocjPiR~zIr-dXGPq2~AJ4yKke12kytSMNhHRuvaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brad Brandt, aviation director in DOTD’s Office of Multimodal Commerce, told the Joint Transportation Committee that the Airport Construction and Development Priority Program recommended list for fiscal 2025–26 contains 97 projects with a total investment close to $293 million and a state share of about $20.5 million.

“[The program] is governed by Louisiana aeronautical statutes Title 2, paragraphs 801 to 814,” Brandt said, citing the statutory framework that DOTD used to prioritize applications. He said the packet includes 25 air-carrier recommended projects across seven commercial airports and 72 general-aviation projects. Brandt said the program application deadline is Nov. 1 each year and the packet also includes a backlog of 648 unfunded projects totaling just over $1 billion.

Commissioner Julia Fisher Cormier and committee members discussed how the program is financed. Cormier noted the aviation program is funded by the aviation fuel tax, and she warned that Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) projections have not followed a new law’s calculation the department advocated. She said the REC’s lower projections could reduce available state funds and hamper matching federal grants in the program.

Senator Cloud asked whether lower REC numbers would hamper critical projects; Cormier replied the department hopes to revisit numbers at the May REC meeting and that better REC estimates would allow DOTD to leverage larger federal matches. Brandt noted that some projects require a 10% state match because of how FAA grants were written, while others require a 5% state match or different matching arrangements.

Kevin Melton of Chennault International Airport and John McMullen, facilities director at Chennault, told the committee that the state airport program is critical for general aviation airports that do not receive the same federal funding as commercial airports. McMullen said Chennault supports “over a thousand employees,” contributes “$240 million in economic output to the region” and provides “$11.4 million in state tax revenues,” and he argued state funding helps general-aviation airports remain safe and economically viable.

Committee members asked about backlog age and project scoring; DOTD staff said they scrubbed very old projects about three years ago, most projects have been on the list at least two years, and DOTD will annotate application dates on future spreadsheets. There was no vote at the hearing; DOTD requested committee consideration of the recommended program in the packet.

","DOTD’s Office of Multimodal Commerce told the Joint Transportation Committee on March 17 it is recommending 97 airport projects for 2025–26 with a combined investment near $293 million and a state share of about $20.5 million. DOTD said the program is funded by aviation fuel tax and noted concerns that revenue estimating numbers could reduce the","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOTD presents seven recommended flood-control projects totaling over $83 million in estimated benefits

DOTD outlines short‑line rail priority list; $3 million fund shared among 21 railroads

DOTD presents four new port projects totaling about $36 million in state investment

DOTD presents airport priority list: $20.5 million in proposed state share for 97 projects