Board approves entity changes for two airport-related projects

The Interim Emergency Board approved entity transfers for two capital outlay projects after staff explained both sponsor entities agreed the change would improve project delivery. No members objected to the transfers.

A staff member described the procedure: when a project authorized in House Bill 2 (HB 2) is moved from one sponsoring agency or entity to another, the change must be approved by the board. The first transfer approved moves the project related to relocation of LA 67 and LA 408, caused by improvements at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport, from the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to the Baton Rouge Metro Airport. The second transfer moves an airport access road project from Iberia Parish to DOTD as the administering entity.

Commissioner Barrows asked whether the Baton Rouge Metro Airport would still have to follow the same contracting, scope and bidding rules once it becomes the project entity. Staff member replied that “generally, yes, the Metro airport has to follow the same public bid laws that every other public entity in the state,” and noted DOTD’s procurement rules differ from many other public entities.

Staff member also noted that non-state projects in the capital outlay program are required to provide a 25% local match; shifting a project from DOTD to a non-state entity therefore imposes that match obligation on the receiving entity. The staff member said both entities agreed to the transfers and recommended approval. The board approved the entity changes with no objections.