DOTD plan aims to aid highway traffic woes

IN THE NEXT three decades, the Interstate 10 Twinspan could evolve into a $100 million triple-span.

Eric Kalivoda, deputy assist and secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, says will have a more room to commuters will maneuver if the state comes through with $250

The 30-year statewide transportation Plan calls for widening the twinspan linking New Orleans with Slidell from four to six lanes. If state money is found, the department plans to widen Interstate 12 from four to six lanes from Louisiana 21 to I-10. and Interstate 59 from four to six lanes on the North Shore as well.

Kalivoda says, if state money is accompanied by an $150 million annual increase in federal highway funding, the department proposes widening U.S. 190 from the Causeway to U.S. 11.

"What we've done is forecast out to the year 2030 for all modes of transportation including highways to see what the demand will be and where the needs are," he says of a group made up of experts, regional and rural planning officials.

The twinspan project would cost about $100 million; widening the I-12 from Baton Rouge to Hammond would cost $210 million; and widening U.S. 190 would cost another $100 million. All estimates are given in 2002 dollars, Kalivoda says, without taken inflation into account.

"We're asking for a special session of legislature this year, but in all likelihood, that's not going to happen," Kalivoda. says. "We're hoping in the first year of the next administration we can have some action on this and get some state funding."

The next federal surface transportation bill will be reauthorized by the end of September, Kalivoda says.

"We are hopeful we can get an increase," Kalivoda says. "There's a nationwide problem with transportation funding and a consensus that something needs to be done."

Instead of going for the full amount at a time of tight budgets, the department may request a temporary bill first, Kalivoda says.

"The country's in a recession and we're facing a potential war with Iraq, so the focus is not on transportation at this time," he says. "This plan isn't so rigid that we have to have something right this second or it falls apart. In two years, if we get funding then, we can proceed forward."

St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis, who has not seen the full plan, says these projects should be a high priority for the state because St. Tammany Parish is growing faster than any other area in Louisiana.

"I'm supportive of any projects that can help me get these existing roadways improved," Davis says. "I've been pushing them to deal with growth areas to give us higher priority.. I'm at wit's end. I have roadways that have been on the board for 20 years and still aren't built."

Only $8 million is allocated now for projects for all five North Shore parishes reaching all the way to Baton Rouge, Davis says. "I don't have a capacity project under $8 million," he says. "If they just divvy it up evenly among the five parishes, that's only $1.5 million a piece."

Davis points to census data showing St. Tammany Parish has the highest salaries, highest tax and the highest growth rate of any other parish.

"We're producing $60 (million) to $100 million in road tax, I'm guessing," he says. "The state definitely needs to reevaluate their priority system."

The Department of Transportation has a plan in case no more funding comes through, Kalivoda says.

"We haven't had an increase in funding for at least 15 years," he says. "My understanding is that basically what happens is our department turns into a highway maintenance department. That's all we would be doing. We would just have to maintain and operate what we have right now."