Louisiana Transportation Authority approves reduced LA 1 toll rate for vehicles towing recreational vessels

The Louisiana Transportation Authority voted Wednesday to adopt a revised LA 1 toll schedule that implements language from Senate Bill 4 92 reducing the toll class for vehicles towing recreational vessels. The board approved the change by voice vote after staff said the adjustment follows the statute and that federal loan-approval steps remain before the schedule can take effect.

Morgan Kelly, a DOTD innovative procurement attorney, told the authority that the statute “says for purposes of proper classification in the LA 1 toll schedule, any vehicle towing a recreational vessel that exceeds the class 1 specifications shall pay the applicable class 2 toll rate.” Kelly presented a proposed schedule that inserts the statute language as a footnote and discussed required approvals.

The measure reduces tolls for certain vehicles towing recreational vessels that would otherwise be classified as class 3. Under the classifications discussed at the meeting, class 1 covers shorter vehicles (examples discussed included vehicles with vessel lengths under 20 feet); class 2 applies to vehicles with lengths greater than 20 feet and less than 35 feet; and class 3 applies to vehicles 35 feet or longer. Kelly told the authority that vehicles over 35 feet that are towing recreational vessels and would otherwise be class 3 will be charged the class 2 rate under the statute, rather than the class 3 rate.

Senator Royce Abraham sought clarity on how the length thresholds would translate into tolls and asked whether vehicles and trailers under 20 feet would still pay the lower class 1 toll. Kelly confirmed the classifications and the illustrative toll levels discussed at the meeting: class 1 ($4.50, referenced during the discussion), class 2 ($10.50), and class 3 (about $21). Kelly also warned that the change cannot take effect until the Build America Bureau (the federal TIFIA loan agency) reviews and the authority and DOTD update the loan and pledge agreements tied to LA 1’s TIFIA financing.

The board adopted the schedule change without objection. Staff noted they have notified the Build America Bureau of the board meeting and will expedite the bureau’s review once LTA files the approved schedule; DOTD must secure an updated loan agreement and pledge agreement before implementing the new tolls.

Background: LA 1 toll revenues are pledged as security for TIFIA loans, so any toll-schedule change requires lender and federal-agency concurrence. The change stems from legislation enacted as Senate Bill 4 92 (as represented in the meeting materials). The board’s vote authorizes adoption of the updated toll schedule; it does not set an immediate effective date independent of the required federal and loan-agreement approvals.

What remains: DOTD staff will pursue the Build America Bureau review and the necessary loan/pledge updates. The transcript and meeting materials do not specify a target effective date; staff said the schedule will take effect only after lender and federal approvals are obtained.