Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Encyclopedia
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is a state government organization in charge of maintaining public transportation, road
ways, bridge
s, canal
s, select levee
s, floodplain management, port
facilities, commercial vehicles, and aviation
which includes 69 airports, in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The agency has approximately five thousand personnel on staff and an operating budget
of $2.3 billion. DOTD operations are run through nine district offices across the state.
The current DOTD Secretary is Sherri LeBas, appointed in June 2010 by Governor Bobby Jindal
. Other functions of the DOTD are Dams (Dam Safety Program), flood control (Floodplain Management, water resource management (wells), and maintaining state run ferries and moveable bridge status. The Louisiana Transportation Authority (LTA) is also under the DOTD, as well as the DOTD port construction and development.
, who pushed for the establishment of more gravel roads throughout the state. Act 47 of 1940 under Governor Sam Houston Jones reorganized the entire state government; under its provisions, the Department of Highways was designated as the successor to the old Highway Commission, and a director, appointed by the governor, was established as the executive head of the Department. Among the highway directors was Ray W. Burgess (1921–2006) of Baton Rouge, an appointee of Governor Jimmie Davis
. Highway workers were originally political appointees but later gained job security under state civil service
. Act 47 also created the Department of Public Works
and transferred to that department the state’s administrative functions involving flood control
, water management
, and aeronautics
.
The new Louisiana Constitution
of 1976 (adopted in 1974) and Act 83 of 1977 abolished the Departments of Highways and Public Works and restructured them into the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), thereby encompassing related activities such as highways, public works, aviation, public transportation, and a number of transportation authorities, committees, boards and commissions. This form of organization continued until 1988 when Act 488 placed all agency functions under one of three offices: the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Engineering and the Office of Management and Finance.
Act 71 of 1998 again reorganized DOTD into its present functional arrangement of the Office of the Secretary and five other offices.
Government, and in St. Tammany the "East St. Tammany Mental Health Association, Inc."
Grant Parish is the only parish in Louisiana not participating in some form of public transportation.
The Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development or TIMED Program is an ongoing $5 billion dollar program which includes funding to widen over 500 miles (804.7 km) of Louisiana state highways from two lanes to four.
"TIMED" is also over construction or modifying several bridges including the John James Audubon Bridge
, Huey P. Long Bridge
and Florida Avenue Bridge
.
The DOTD has been active in addressing the increased awareness for effective evacuation plans in the event of hurricanes threatening southeast Louisiana, and the Greater New Orleans area in particular. Following lessons learned during Hurricane Georges
in 1998 DOTD has constructed contraflow lanes, crossover lanes, and made agreements with Mississippi officials to implement the contraflow plan in the event of future hurricane threats. This is a plan where all the traffic is directed the same direction and marked with appropriate signs and signals. These plans were tested and modified following Hurricane Ivan
in 2004 as residents of the New Orleans area spent upwards of 18 hours in traffic. These changes included strategic distribution of traffic control devices, improved coordination of police personnel and wide distribution of information and maps to the public depicting the state's phased evacuation plan and the various contraflow routes. These changes were tested and proved successful in August 2005 when New Orleans and the surrounding parishes were placed under a mandatory evacuation in advance of Hurricane Katrina
.
The department uses a 54 page manual that sets guidelines and rules for landscaping, wildflowers, mowing, and spraying herbicides and pesticides. The state has an aggressive stance on the preservation and planting of wildflowers. The guidelines state that mowing should be a minimum of three times a year on interstate highways and two times a year on state highways. The Environmental Protection Agency designated the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to enforce compliance of applicators of herbicides or pesticides with training provided by the Louisiana Extension program. The District Roadside Development Coordinator must be licensed by the state and be proficient in all aspects of pesticides and herbicides.
for planning and design, building, inspection, and even replacement of bridges in Louisiana.
(FHWA) through the LADOTD, list Deficient Bridges by state and highway system. The reporting was current as of December, 2008.
.
A completed TIMED project of the DOTD is the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
.
scales. Dept of Public Safety enforcement officers (DPS) have portable scales and can weigh a vehicle anywhere it is safe.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
ways, bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s, canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s, select levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
s, floodplain management, port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
facilities, commercial vehicles, and aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
which includes 69 airports, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The agency has approximately five thousand personnel on staff and an operating budget
Operating budget
An operating budget is the annual budget of an activity stated in terms of Budget Classification Code, functional/subfunctional categories and cost accounts. It contains estimates of the total value of resources required for the performance of the operation including reimbursable work or services...
of $2.3 billion. DOTD operations are run through nine district offices across the state.
The current DOTD Secretary is Sherri LeBas, appointed in June 2010 by Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
. Other functions of the DOTD are Dams (Dam Safety Program), flood control (Floodplain Management, water resource management (wells), and maintaining state run ferries and moveable bridge status. The Louisiana Transportation Authority (LTA) is also under the DOTD, as well as the DOTD port construction and development.
History
The Louisiana Highway Commission was established in 1921 under the administration of Governor John M. ParkerJohn M. Parker
John Milliken Parker was an American Democratic politician from Louisiana, who served as the state's 37th Governor from 1920–1924. He was a friend and admirer of President Theodore Roosevelt....
, who pushed for the establishment of more gravel roads throughout the state. Act 47 of 1940 under Governor Sam Houston Jones reorganized the entire state government; under its provisions, the Department of Highways was designated as the successor to the old Highway Commission, and a director, appointed by the governor, was established as the executive head of the Department. Among the highway directors was Ray W. Burgess (1921–2006) of Baton Rouge, an appointee of Governor Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
. Highway workers were originally political appointees but later gained job security under state civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
. Act 47 also created the Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works is a common name for government departments responsible for public works. It may refer specifically to:* Public Works and Government Services Canada* Department of Public Works and Highways...
and transferred to that department the state’s administrative functions involving flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
, water management
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
, and aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
.
The new Louisiana Constitution
Louisiana Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Louisiana is the cornerstone of Louisiana state law ensuring the rights of individuals, describing the distribution and power of state officials and local government, establishes the state and city civil service systems, creates and defines the operation of a state...
of 1976 (adopted in 1974) and Act 83 of 1977 abolished the Departments of Highways and Public Works and restructured them into the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), thereby encompassing related activities such as highways, public works, aviation, public transportation, and a number of transportation authorities, committees, boards and commissions. This form of organization continued until 1988 when Act 488 placed all agency functions under one of three offices: the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Engineering and the Office of Management and Finance.
Act 71 of 1998 again reorganized DOTD into its present functional arrangement of the Office of the Secretary and five other offices.
DOTD District offices
The DOTD has 9 district offices across the state. Each office is run by a "District Engineer Administrator".| District | Area (Parishes) | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| 02 | Jefferson Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the suburbs of New Orleans. The seat of parish government is Gretna.... , Orleans |
Bridge City Bridge City, Louisiana Bridge City is an unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It was established in the 1930s during the construction of the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River. The town is located on the West Bank of the river. It is part of the New... |
| 03 | Acadia Acadia Parish, Louisiana Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Crowley. According to the 2010 census, the population of Acadia Parish is 61,773. The parish was founded from parts of St... , St. Martin St. Martin Parish, Louisiana St. Martin Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is St. Martinville. As of the 2000 census, the population was 48,583.St... |
Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census... |
| 04 | Caddo Caddo Parish, Louisiana Caddo Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Shreveport; as of 2000, the population was 252,161... , Bossier Bossier Parish, Louisiana Bossier Parish is named for Pierre Bossier, a 19th-century Louisiana state senator and U.S. representative from Natchitoches Parish.Bossier Parish was spared fighting on its soil during the American Civil War... , Webster Webster Parish, Louisiana Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207.... , Bienville Bienville Parish, Louisiana Bienville Parish is a parish located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Arcadia and as of the 2000 census, the population is 15,752.... |
Shreveport Shreveport, Louisiana Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States.... |
| 05 | Union Union Parish, Louisiana Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville.... |
Monroe Monroe, Louisiana Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636... |
| 07 | Cameron Cameron Parish, Louisiana Cameron Parish is the parish with the most land area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Cameron and as of 2010, the population was 6,839... |
Lake Charles Lake Charles, Louisiana Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in... |
| 08 | Rapides Rapides Parish, Louisiana -Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:... |
Alexandria Alexandria, Louisiana Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes.... |
| 58 | Tensas Tensas Parish, Louisiana Tensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is St. Joseph. In 2010, the population of Tensas Parish was 5,252; it is the least-populous of all sixty-four parishes.... , Richland Richland Parish, Louisiana Richland Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Rayville. As of 2010, the population was 20,725.-History:... , Franklin Franklin Parish, Louisiana -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,263 people, 7,754 households, and 5,706 families residing in the parish. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 8,623 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile... |
Chase |
| 61 | Iberville Iberville Parish, Louisiana Iberville Parish is a parish located south of Baton Rouge in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Plaquemine. The 2010 population of the parish was 33,387.... |
Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South... |
| 62 | St. Tammany St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana St. Tammany Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana, in the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish seat is Covington.... , Livingston Livingston Parish, Louisiana Livingston Parish Is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its parish seat is Livingston. As of 2010, its population was 128,026.... |
Hammond Hammond, Louisiana Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University... |
Public transportation
The DOTD is in charge of Public Transportation and provides funding to parishes through grants and Louisiana Transit to provide transportation to the elderly, disabled, single working parents, and poor. Sometimes service is provided by transportation companies, or Council on Aging, Office of Community Services, St. Helena Parish Hospital, St. James ParishSaint James Parish, Louisiana
St. James Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Convent. As of 2000, its population was 21,216.-History:...
Government, and in St. Tammany the "East St. Tammany Mental Health Association, Inc."
Grant Parish is the only parish in Louisiana not participating in some form of public transportation.
Roadways
DOTD has the responsibility of maintaining state highways and interstate highways under state jusrisdiction. This includes the maintenance and updating of existing highways as well as planning, design, and building of new highways.The Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development or TIMED Program is an ongoing $5 billion dollar program which includes funding to widen over 500 miles (804.7 km) of Louisiana state highways from two lanes to four.
"TIMED" is also over construction or modifying several bridges including the John James Audubon Bridge
John James Audubon Bridge (Mississippi River)
The John James Audubon Bridge is a new Mississippi River crossing between Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes in south central Louisiana. The bridge is the longest cable-stayed span in the Western Hemisphere and replaces the ferry between the communities of New Roads and St. Francisville...
, Huey P. Long Bridge
Huey P. Long Bridge (Jefferson Parish)
The Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is a cantilevered steel through truss bridge that carries a two-track railroad line over the Mississippi River at mile 106.1 with two lanes of US 90 on each side of the central tracks....
and Florida Avenue Bridge
Florida Avenue Bridge
The Florida Avenue Bridge is a vertical lift bridge spanning the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, Louisiana. The bridge has one railroad track, two vehicle lanes and two sidewalks...
.
Traffic cameras
DOTD operates traffic cameras in eight cities in Louisiana. The links are to clickable delayed live cameras.- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- Lake Charles
- Hammond/Northshore
- Houma
- New Orleans
- Shreveport/Bossier
- Monroe/West Monroe
Hurricane evacuation
Hurricane Georges
Hurricane Georges was a very destructive, powerful and long-lived Cape Verde-type Category 4 hurricane. Georges was the seventh tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 1998 DOTD has constructed contraflow lanes, crossover lanes, and made agreements with Mississippi officials to implement the contraflow plan in the event of future hurricane threats. This is a plan where all the traffic is directed the same direction and marked with appropriate signs and signals. These plans were tested and modified following Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004 as residents of the New Orleans area spent upwards of 18 hours in traffic. These changes included strategic distribution of traffic control devices, improved coordination of police personnel and wide distribution of information and maps to the public depicting the state's phased evacuation plan and the various contraflow routes. These changes were tested and proved successful in August 2005 when New Orleans and the surrounding parishes were placed under a mandatory evacuation in advance of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Current projects
- Louisiana Highway 1Louisiana Highway 1Louisiana Highway 1 is a state highway in Louisiana. At 436.20 miles , it is the longest numbered highway of any class in Louisiana. It runs diagonally across the state, connecting the oil and gas fields near the island of Grand Isle with the northwest corner of the state, north of Shreveport.The...
- LA 1 has several projects including the construction of a 16 miles (25.7 km) elevated section to improve truck traffic flow and evacuation of Grand IsleGrand Isle, LouisianaGrand Isle is a town in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, located on a barrier island of the same name in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the gulf. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,541; during summers, the population sometimes increases to...
and lower Lafourche Parish. - Perkins Road Widening Project - The Perkins Road Widening project Perkins Road Widening Project] is 3 miles (4.8 km) in length, from Essen to Siegen Lane. Currently, this section of Perkins Road serves nearly 25,000 vehicles per day. The finished roadway will be 5 lanes with curbs and gutters. There will be 2 through lanes in each direction and a center turn-lane with an additional turn lane added at the intersection of Perkins and Bluebonnet Boulevard. There will be a 6 feet (1.8 m) wide sidewalk and subsurface drainage on each side of the roadway. It will be similar to the existing Perkins Road west of Essen Lane traveling toward College Dr. All existing signal equipment will be upgraded with the latest in signal technology. This new technology will include mast arm signal supports, light emitting diode (LED) signals for low energy consumption and longer life, and video traffic detection cameras.
- LA 16 Widening Project - The La. 16 widening project is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) long, from Denham Springs to Watson. This stretch of highway currently serves almost 25,000 vehicles per day. The new roadway will have four lanes. There will be two through lanes in each direction separated by a raised median. The new lanes will be 12 feet (3.7 m) wide with a 10 feet (3 m) outside shoulder and 6 feet (1.8 m) inside shoulder. This is the first capacity project being constructed using surplus funds obtained from the 2007 Legislative Session.
- I-10 Expansion in Jefferson Parish - The expansion of I-10 from Causeway Boulevard to the 17th Street Canal will relieve traffic congestion at the Causeway Boulevard interchange. Traffic congestion has been steadily increasing in this area for years as a result of the rapid population growth and urban development occurring on Lake Pontchartrain’s north shore. This section of I-10 is one of the most traveled roads in Louisiana. Work on the 1.9 miles (3.1 km) stretch of interstate includes adding a fourth lane on each side of the roadway, constructing a second lane on the entrance and exit ramps at the Causeway and Bonnabel Boulevard interchanges, and the relocation and upgrade of water and sewer mains along the I-10 service roads. The new roadway is being constructed with asphalt that is formulated to lengthen the life of the pavement and lower long-term maintenance and repair costs.
- I-10 Widening in Baton Rouge - A project to add a third travel lane on each side of I-10 from the I-10/I-12 split to Siegen Lane. This project is scheduled to be let in Aug. 2008. Work on the project is expected to begin in late fall 2008.
Roadside vegetation
The DOTD has a department for roadside vegetation granted by Act No. 682 of the Regular Session of the State Legislature of 1989. There is a DOTD Chief Architect and a DOTD Chief Engineer and each district has a "District Roadside Development Coordinator". Mowing of interstate and Louisiana highways are under the jurisdiction of Roadside Development but all road construction and improvements are subject to inspection and approval.The department uses a 54 page manual that sets guidelines and rules for landscaping, wildflowers, mowing, and spraying herbicides and pesticides. The state has an aggressive stance on the preservation and planting of wildflowers. The guidelines state that mowing should be a minimum of three times a year on interstate highways and two times a year on state highways. The Environmental Protection Agency designated the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to enforce compliance of applicators of herbicides or pesticides with training provided by the Louisiana Extension program. The District Roadside Development Coordinator must be licensed by the state and be proficient in all aspects of pesticides and herbicides.
Bridges
DOTD is the agency in charge of the Bridge management systemBridge Management System
"Bridge management" redirects here.A bridge management system or BMS is a means for managing bridges throughout design, construction, operation and maintenance of the bridges. As funds available become tighter, road authorities around the world are facing challenges related to bridge management...
for planning and design, building, inspection, and even replacement of bridges in Louisiana.
Bridge analysis
There are eight southern states listed in the "General Performance Information: Southern states comparison" chart. The National Bridge Inventory Report, issued by the Federal Highway AdministrationFederal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
(FHWA) through the LADOTD, list Deficient Bridges by state and highway system. The reporting was current as of December, 2008.
| State | Percent (%) |
|---|---|
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
24.7 |
| Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River... |
22.7 |
| Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
16.4 |
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
19.7 |
| Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... |
29.3 |
| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
24.7 |
| South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... |
22.0 |
| South Dakota South Dakota South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over... |
24.9 |
| Southern state average Average In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set is a measure of the "middle" value of the data set. Average is one form of central tendency. Not all central tendencies should be considered definitions of average.... |
23.1 |
| National average | 25.1 |
Current projects
- I-10 Twin Span Bridge - The Interstate 10 Twin Span Bridge across Lake PontchartrainLake PontchartrainLake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
sustained serious damage from Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Construction of a new $800 million replacement bridge is underway. The new bridge will consist of two Parallel structures, each wide enough for three travel lanes, with 12 feet (3.7 m) shoulders on each side. The westbound bridge is scheduled for completion in late 2009. The eastbound bridge is slated to open two years later. - US Route 190 Amite River Bridge - The Amite River bridge project U.S. 190 - Amite River Bridge Project] is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) in length along U.S. 190 (Florida Boulevard) beginning at LA 426 (Old Hammond Highway) and ending approximately a quarter of a mile west of LA 1032 (South River Road). Currently, this section of U.S. 190 serves nearly 26,000 vehicles per day. The project will be built to the north of the existing bridges. The bridge will consist of two continuous spans, 2900 feet (883.9 m) long and 40 feet (12.2 m) wide. Each span will have two 12 feet (3.7 m) lanes, a 10 feet (3 m) outside shoulder, and a 4 feet (1.2 m) inside shoulder. The contractor will maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction throughout the duration of the project.
Ports and port facilities
The DOTD is the authority over ports and port facilities in Louisiana.- Louisiana Offshore Oil PortLouisiana Offshore Oil PortThe Louisiana Offshore Oil Port is a deepwater port in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana near the town of Port Fourchon. LOOP provides tanker offloading and temporary storage services for crude oil transported on some of the largest tankers in the world. Most tankers offloading at LOOP...
(LOOP) - the largest deepwater port in the United States,allowing oil supertankers to offload their cargo. Located 18 miles (29 km) offshore of Port Fourchon, LouisianaPort Fourchon, LouisianaPort Fourchon is Louisiana’s southernmost port, located on the southern tip of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is a sea port, with significant petroleum industry traffic from offshore Gulf oil platforms and drilling rigs as well as the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port pipeline...
, 10% of imported crude oil is offloaded at LOOP . - Some projects funded by TIMED are already complete, including projects that made improvements at the Port of New OrleansPort of New OrleansThe Port of New Orleans is a port located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the 1st in the United States based on volume of cargo handled, second-largest in the state after the Port of South Louisiana, and 13th largest in the U.S. based on value of cargo...
Public Works and Water
Mission Statement; "To administer and implement the water resources programs and projects related to ground and surface water, dam safety, cooperative agreements with various federal agencies, interstate compacts, flood plain management, flood control, navigation, drainage, hurricane protection and other water related programs. The department is responsible for regulating and inspecting water wells, drilling, licensing, and enforcement of water wells."Canals, Levees and dams
DOTD operates and maintains the dam, water control structures, gates, spillway and related appurtenances on 20 state constructed reservoirs and is required to inspect all dams to ensure conformity with established standards and regulations. The department works closely with the United States Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.
Floodplain Management
DOTD is the State Agency for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The state works in conjunction with FEMA on a 25%/75% ratio.Aviation
The DOTD is responsible for monitoring 62 airports in the state.A completed TIMED project of the DOTD is the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a Class B public use international airport in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of New Orleans and is located 10 nautical miles west of its central business district. The airport's address is 900 Airline Drive...
.
- On May 18, 2010 the DOTD announced a first in the world as well as a first in the United States. The DOTD has launched a test program on a new Solar-powered LED airport lighting system at the False River Regional AirportFalse River Regional AirportFalse River Regional Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles northwest of the central business district of New Roads, a city in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The airport is owned by New Roads and Pointe Coupee Parish...
in New RoadsNew Roads, LouisianaNew Roads is a city in and the parish seat of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The center of population of Louisiana is located in New Roads . The population was 4,996 at the 2000 census. The city's ZIP code is 70760...
,
Commercial Vehicles
All commercial vehicles in the State of Louisiana are governed by the Dept of Public Safety.Weights and Standards
The DOTD division of "Weights and Standards" is the office responsible for vehicle over-size permits on Louisiana highways. DOTD considers there are twelve stationary scale house locations in the state but for most "Point of entry" (POE) locations and divided highways there is a scale house on each side of the road. When the scalehouse is open all trucks not equipped with "Prepass" must enter the scalehouse if directed. Exceptions are scales that have Weigh in motionWeigh in motion
Weigh-in-motion or Weighing in Motion devices are designed to capture and record axle weights and gross vehicle weights as vehicles drive over a measurement site...
scales. Dept of Public Safety enforcement officers (DPS) have portable scales and can weigh a vehicle anywhere it is safe.
Facilities
- Louisiana Transportation Research Center - a joint operation with Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
to provide research and education for transportation issues.
DOTD projects
The following is a partial list of objectives of the DOTD and is a five year plan that began July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2013.- Objective 2.1.1: Ports and Harbors; Invest in port and harbor infrastructure to maintain a top position in maritime commerce.
- Objective 2.1.2: Flood Control; Invest in flood control projects to reduce flood damage
- Objective 2.1.3: Flood Insurance Reduction; The DOTD has a goal working with FEMA to ensure flood insurance policyholders receive annual rate reductions by June 3, 2013
- Objective 2.1.4: Water Resources; Infrastructure conditions and serviceability assessments on flood protection systems, dam safety, and water wells.
- Objective 2.1.5: Marine transportation; Develop a statewide "Marine Transportation System" (MTS) program to mitigate highway congestion.
- Objective 2.1.6: Rail Transportation; Implement a statewide Rail Transportation System (RTS) program to mitigate highway congestion.
- Objective 2.2: Aviation responsibilities; Airport aviation safety, regulations, and capital improvements.
- Objective 2.3.1: Public Transportation; Improve and expand rural public transportation to 50 parishes.
- Objective 3.1.1: Engineering and Operations; Effectively maintain and improve the state highway system.
- Objective 3.1.2: TIMED Program; Ensure that all program goals are completed by December, 2013.
- Objective 3.1.3: Bridges; Improve the condition and safety of Louisiana deficient bridges to not more than 23% by June 30, 2013. NOTE: The web site list the year as 3013 but this is an obvious misprint for a five year goal.
- Objective 3.1.4: Rest Areas; Improve Louisiana's image with the "Rest Area Improvement Plan".
- Objective 3.2: Bridge Trust; Maintain bridges and ferries across the Mississippi in the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard.
- Objective 3.3; Planning and Programming; Provide strategic direction for a seamless, multimodal transportation system. A main goal is to reduce the number of fatalities on Louisiana highways by 6% per year.
- Objective 3.4.1: Traffic Safety; Reduce the length of time from study, design, to installation of new or modified traffic signals.
- Objective 3.4.2: Emergency Management; Implement a comprehensive emergency management program.
- Objective 3.4.3; Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS); This program has several goals to include traffic management in metropolitan areas; establish regional, district, and statewide traffic management centers; motorist assistance; traveler information; update and enhance the Louisiana "Commercial Vehicle Information System and Network" (CVISN)
- Objective 3.4.4 : Statewide highway marking program; To develop and implement an interstate roadway marking program for at least 90% of all interstate roadways.
- Objective 3.5.1: Marine operations(ferries); To operate, maintain, and police, ferries crossing the Mississippi.