La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2029 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2029
General grant of powers and duties
Status: in_force

In addition to having all of the powers granted it by virtue of its being a nonprofit corporation created pursuant to the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law, each authority may exercise all additional powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of its purposes, including but not limited to the following rights and powers:

(1) To adopt and amend bylaws, regulations, and procedures for the governance of its affairs and the conduct of its business and to designate an official journal which shall be a newspaper of general circulation within the geographical boundary of the authority.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will an official seal.

(3) To construct, reconstruct, maintain, improve, install, extend, develop, equip, repair, operate, own, and lease projects within the geographic boundaries of the authority in the manner to be determined by the authority, including in segments, phases, or stages, and all rights-of-way and to pay all project costs in connection therewith.

(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead, and be impleaded; however, any and all actions at law or in equity* against the authority shall be brought in the parish where the cause of action arises, and if land is involved, including condemnation proceedings, suit shall be brought in the parish where the land is situated.

(5)(a) To fix, revise, and adjust, from time to time, tolls, fees, and charges in connection with each project sufficient to pay all maintenance, operation, debt service and reserve or replacement costs, and other necessary or usual charges, and to regulate speed limits on the tollways consistent with state speed limits. In all cases, however, the amount of the toll charged to commercial vehicles shall be multiples of the two-axle rate such that an increase equal to approximately one-half the two-axle rate is realized for each axle over two.

(b) No toll shall be charged or collected from vehicles which will only travel over a portion of a tollway which was in existence as a non-toll route prior to construction of the tollway project and which was not substantially reconstructed by the tollway project.

(6) To contract with any person, partnership, association, or corporation desiring the use of any part of a project, including the right-of-way adjoining the paved portion, for placing thereon telephone, fiber optic, telegraph, electric light, or power lines, gas stations, garages, and restaurants, or for any other purpose, and to fix the terms, conditions, rents, and rates of charges for such use. Any utilities which are placed within the right-of-way shall be locatable by the one-call system and the utilities shall place locator strips on any buried objects. The contract or lease shall require the removal at the expense of the lessee of any utilities or other obstructions placed within the right-of-way at the request of such private utility owner when expansion of the toll facility requires such removal. Installation and removal of utility facilities shall be consistent with rules and regulations promulgated by the federal government and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

(7) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this Chapter in accordance with existing state law.

(8) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase, gift, transfer, foreclosure, lease, or otherwise, including rights or easements, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain in the manner hereinafter provided, such public or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein, rights-of-way, property rights, easements, and interests, as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Chapter. Eminent domain shall be used for the sole purpose of constructing tollways and for the other public purposes set forth in this Chapter, and not for the exercise of, or accommodation for, private development interests, including but not limited to service stations, food marts, restaurants, truck stops, or other private enterprises.

(9) To hold, sell, assign, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein; to release or relinquish any right, title, claim, lien, interest, easement, or demand however acquired, including any equity or right of redemption in property foreclosed by it; to take assignments of leases and rentals; to proceed with foreclosure actions; or to take any other actions necessary or incidental to the performance of its corporate purposes.

(10) To designate the location, and establish, limit, and control points of ingress and egress for each project as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the authority to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of such project, and to prohibit entrance to such project from any point or points not so designated. Creation of new points of ingress and egress or substantial reconstruction or redesign of the same shall be made only after public hearing. Where the state highway system is affected, the concurrence of the department shall be obtained for any such matters set forth in this Paragraph.

(11) In all cases where parish, municipal, or other public roads are affected or severed, the authority is hereby empowered and required to move and replace the same with equal or better facilities, and all expenses and resulting damages, if any, shall be paid by the authority.

(12) To enter, or authorize its agents to enter, upon any lands, waters, and premises within the geographic boundaries of the authority for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, and examinations as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this Chapter, and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass or unlawful. The authority shall make reimbursement for any actual damages resulting to such lands, waters, and premises as a result of such activities.

(13) To procure liability, casualty, and other insurance in such amount or amounts appropriate to the size of the project, as determined by the board, insuring the authority against all losses, risk, and liability arising out of the construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of any project.

(14) To apply for, receive, and accept subventions, grants, loans, advances, and contributions from any source of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for its corporate purposes.

(15) To open accounts at financial institutions as necessary for the conduct of its business and to invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement in such investments as may be provided in any financing document relating to the use of such funds, or, if not so provided, as the board may determine, subject to compliance with state laws relative to investments by political subdivisions.

(16) To borrow money and issue bonds for any corporate purpose, including the development, construction, or financing of any project which the authority is authorized to acquire or construct, including all costs in connection with and incidental to such acquisition or construction and the financing thereof.

(17) To enter into contracts and agreements and execute all instruments necessary or convenient thereto for accomplishing the purposes of this Chapter. Such contracts and agreements may include, without limiting the foregoing, construction agreements, purchase or acquisition agreements, loan or lease agreements, partnership agreements, including limited partnership agreements, joint venture, participation agreements, or loan agreements with leasing corporations or other financial institutions or intermediaries.

(18) To enter into agreements with a public or private entity, to permit the entity, independently or jointly with the authority, to construct, maintain, repair, and/or operate projects, and to authorize the investment of public and private money to finance such projects, subject to compliance with state law relative to use of public funds.

(19) To employ consultant engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary for the accomplishment of its corporate purposes, and to fix their compensation.

(20) To exercise the power of eminent domain in accordance with general law or, at the option of the authority, Part XVII of Chapter 1 of this Title, and the provisions relating to acquisition of property prior to judgment found therein, provided that any property so acquired by an authority which is not used for an authorized public purpose of the authority within three years of such acquisition shall be reconveyed by the authority to the prior owners thereof at current market value. Upon refusal or failure to accept reconveyance of such property by the prior owner, the authority may use or dispose of such property as provided for in this Chapter.

(21) To do all acts and things necessary or convenient for the powers granted to it by law.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.

*As appears in enrolled bill.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:855 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 855
Expropriation of bridges and property
Status: in_force

Whenever a reasonable price cannot be agreed upon or whenever the owner is legally incapacitated, is absent, is unknown, or is unable to convey valid title, the parish may acquire by expropriation or condemnation any such bridge, any interest therein, and any land, rights, servitudes, franchises, and other property deemed necessary or convenient for the improvement or the efficient operation of any property acquired or constructed under this Sub-part, or for the purpose of constructing any bridge or portion thereof under this Sub-part, or for securing a right-of-way leading to any such bridge or its approaches. Proceedings shall be instituted and conducted by the governing authority of the parish. The compensation to be paid shall be ascertained and paid in the manner provided by law.

Title to any property expropriated or condemned by a parish shall be taken in its name.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:451.12 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.12
Challenging or excusing jurors after acceptance
Status: in_force

Although the entire jury may have been accepted and sworn, up to the beginning of the taking of evidence, a juror may be challenged for cause by either side or be excused either for cause or by consent of both sides, and the panel completed in the ordinary course.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:278 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 278
Tourism signs; request by lieutenant governor
Status: in_force

A. When the Department of Transportation and Development has been requested to erect any signs, markers, or any other type of informational signage related to the functions of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and such signs have not been erected within a reasonable time period, the lieutenant governor shall contact the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, in writing, requesting the erection of the signs within thirty days of receipt of such request.

B. Upon receipt of such request, the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development shall erect such signs within thirty days.

Acts 1999, No. 483, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.6
Compensation for removal of advertising and priorities for removal of advertising
Status: in_force

A.(1) The department shall acquire by donation, purchase, lease, exchange, or expropriation and, when required by state or federal law, shall pay just compensation upon the removal of the following outdoor advertising signs, displays, and devices:

(a) Those lawfully in existence on July 27, 1966.

(b) Those lawfully on any highway made a part of the interstate or primary systems on or after the effective date of this Part and before January 1, 1968, and

(c) Those lawfully erected on or after January 1, 1968.

(2) Such just compensation is authorized to be paid only for the taking from the owner of such sign, display, or device of all right, title, lease and interest in such sign, display, or device; and the taking from the owner of the land on which the sign, display, and device is located of the right to erect and maintain such signs, displays, and devices thereon.

(3) However, notwithstanding the above provisions, such payment shall be made by the department upon the removal of any sign, display, or device erected along the interstate or primary systems prior to January 31, 1972 if seventy-five percent of the cost thereof is made available from federal sources.

(4) For the purposes of this Section, just compensation shall mean payment in cash. The cost of relocation may be considered a factor for purposes of determining just compensation. The use of amortization for whatever period shall not constitute just compensation.

(5) Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, should the state or any of its political subdivisions remove or alter or cause to be removed or altered, any lawfully erected off-premise advertising signs just compensation as defined herein shall be paid.

B. The department shall schedule and program the acquisition and removal of outdoor advertising signs, displays, and devices, required or to be acquired under this Section, in accordance with the following order of priority:

(1) Hardship acquisitions, the voluntary sales where owners desire an expeditious removal of their legal nonconforming signs, and other situations which suggest expeditious action to avoid hardships and conflicts; provided, however, that any owner desiring to make such sale so advise the department within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of Paragraph B of this Section.

(2) All other except for tourist oriented directional advertising as hereafter defined.

(3) Tourist oriented directional advertising is defined to be those signs providing directional information about facilities in the state of Louisiana providing services or goods of particular interest to the motorist while traveling such as, but not limited to food, lodging, gasoline, oil, automotive services, camp grounds, trailer parks, truck stops, resorts, tourist attractions, churches and religious services.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in accordance with state law and department regulations on outdoor advertising, the following procedures shall apply to conforming out-of-standard signs, subject to expropriation by the department as follows:

(1) Owners of conforming out-of-standard signs who voluntarily execute a partial waiver and reset agreement with the department may reset and illuminate a conforming out-of-standard sign. Such reset agreement shall be contingent upon obtaining any required local approval to reset such conforming out-of-standard sign, as well as the approval of the landowner of the same or adjoining property.

(2) The partial waiver and the reset agreement shall specify the width and height of the sign face, the overall height of the sign, the sign type, the type of illumination, the type of construction, the distance to the nearest sign, and the location of the rebuilt sign. In the event the owner of the conforming out-of-standard sign fails to execute a reset agreement within one hundred twenty days of receiving written notice from the department that the conforming out-of-standard sign will be displaced by construction, the department shall initiate normal expropriation procedures, and the owner of the conforming out-of-standard sign shall receive compensation for removal of the conforming out-of-standard sign.

(3) All conforming out-of-standard signs shall be subject to annual permit fees provided in department regulations on outdoor advertising.

Acts 1966, No. 474, §1; Acts 1972, No. 546, §1; Acts 1978, No. 187, §1, eff. Aug. 11, 1978; Acts 1989, No. 382, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 6, §1, eff. June 4, 1990; Acts 2010, No. 616, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1356 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1356
Executive committee; other committees
Status: in_force

A. There shall be an executive committee and such other committees as the commission deems necessary or desirable to fully accomplish the purposes for which it is created.

B. The executive committee shall be composed of the chairman of the commission, ex-officio, and not less than five nor more than nine members of the commission. The chairman of the commission shall serve as chairman of the executive committee. The executive committee, upon a majority vote of the members present and voting, may act for the commission and in its name in the interim between meetings of the commission, however, it shall have no authority to change any action taken by the commission.

C. Minutes of meetings of the executive committee shall be kept by the executive director of the commission, who shall serve as secretary of the committee, and copies thereof shall be distributed to the members of the commission.

Acts 1968, No. 275, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1251 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1251
Short title
Status: in_force

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana Expressway Law."

Acts 1954, No. 232, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1609 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1609
Eminent domain
Status: in_force

The authority shall have no power of eminent domain, but the parishes may, for purposes of the authority, exercise the broadest power of eminent domain available to them or any agency or joint agency thereof, under any statute, and convey to the authority any property so acquired upon payment or credit for the total cost of any acquisition hereunder. However, no local governing body shall exercise any power of eminent domain hereunder with respect to property located beyond its territorial limits.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:256.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 256.2
Reduce speed limit signs; removal
Status: in_force

Any contractor who is under contract for the construction, maintenance, or improvements to highways, bridges, or other public works under the control of the Department of Transportation and Development shall remove signs which indicate a reduced speed limit in construction areas not later than thirty days after final acceptance of the project by the department. In the event that the project work is performed by the Department of Transportation and Development personnel, then the reduced speed limit signs shall be removed not later than thirty days after the work activity on the project ceases.

Acts 1993, No. 383, §1; Acts 1999, No. 232, §1; Acts 2010, No. 45, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:250 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 250
Application of this Part
Status: in_force

A. This Part shall exclusively govern the contracts of the Department of Transportation and Development or let by the department on behalf of other political subdivisions of the state in addition to the laws of the state relating generally to obligations and the department not in conflict with this Part.

B.(1) If a law requires a contract, bond, or any other document to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies law.

(2) If a law requires a signature on a contract, bond, or any other document, an electronic signature satisfies law.

(3) If a law requires the department to record a contract, bond, or any other document in the office of the recorder of mortgages, the recorder shall record a contract, bond, or any other document formed by electronic means and executed by means of electronic signature.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2009, No. 42, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:441 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 441
Authority to expropriate and acquisition of property prior to judgment
Status: in_force

A. Where the Department of Transportation and Development cannot amicably acquire property needed for highway purposes, the department may acquire the same by expropriation.

B. In any suit for the expropriation of property, including both corporeal property and servitudes, the department may acquire the property prior to judgment in the trial court in the manner provided in this Part.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 107, §1, eff. June 24, 1954. Amended by Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 2006, No. 11, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:203 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 203
Annual highway budget
Status: in_force

A. The secretary shall cause to be prepared an annual budget for each fiscal year ending June thirtieth. The annual budget shall show an accurate estimate of all available revenues, which revenues shall be completely allotted to specific purposes and individual projects, except that an allotment not to exceed four percent of the revenues from state sources for each fiscal year for unspecified emergency purposes may be made, which shall be subject, however, to approval by the secretary and the legislative budget committee. The budget shall be sent to the governor for incorporation into the executive budget and then to the legislature for enactment.

B. Allotments unexpended during the fiscal year shall be carried over to the next fiscal year and remain allotted to the same project until completion of the project and liquidation of the costs thereof. The department shall report to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget annually describing the reasons for such unexpended allotments and identifying any delays experienced in the associated projects.

C. Disbursements on specific projects shall be budgeted against allotments made for the specific project. The annual budget shall include a capital outlay program for a total of five years which the secretary recommends be undertaken within the period, arranged in a manner which will indicate the relative priority of such projects as money becomes available. Copies of the budget shall be made available to the public.

D. The adoption of the capital budget act for the first year of the five-year program shall constitute an appropriation or allocation of the sums specified therein for the first year only for the purposes specified. The secretary shall be responsible for the enforcement of the capital outlay budget of the department, shall establish procedures, rules and regulations for enforcement, and shall have emergency authority to vary from the budget.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 342, §1; Acts 1970, No. 305, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §16; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1303.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1303.3
Jefferson Parish road lighting districts; additional tax
Status: in_force

In addition to the tax provided for in R.S. 48:1303, the governing authority of the parish of Jefferson is hereby authorized to levy in any road lighting district in the parish an additional tax not to exceed ten mills on the dollar of assessed valuation for a period not to exceed ten years, if the question of levying such tax is approved by the favorable vote of a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election called for that purpose. The purpose of the additional tax shall be to provide and maintain artificial lighting on the streets, roads, highways, alleys, and public places in the district.

Acts 1992, No. 38, §1, eff. May 29, 1992; Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1308.3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:589 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 589
Budget; provision for maintenance and repair
Status: in_force

Whenever any gravel or other hard-surfaced roads have been constructed in any parish or district, the governing authority of the parish in which the roads are located shall provide annually in its budget for the amounts which will be required for the maintenance and repair of the roads. Any taxpayer may, by appropriate action, enforce the fulfillment of this requirement. This Section does not apply in cases where a special tax has been voted in any parish or portion of a parish to provide for the maintenance of the roads or highways in that locality where the tax is levied.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:424 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 424
Use of unlicensed trucks on road building projects prohibited
Status: in_force

No road contractor shall hire, for use on road building projects in this state, trucks which have not been properly licensed in this state.

Whoever violates this Section shall be fined one hundred dollars for each truck so hired.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1667 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1667
Effective date
Status: in_force

The effective date of this Chapter shall be August 1, 1979.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 439, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1979.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:289 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 289
Compliance with Civil Rights Act of 1964
Status: in_force

A. Department personnel when selecting consultants and contractors who are doing business with the department shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended to provide that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin, be excluded from participation in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

B. As prescribed in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 26, the department shall ensure that maximum opportunity is afforded to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to compete for and participate in consultant contracts.

Acts 1991, No. 784, §1; Acts 2009, No. 255, §1, eff. July 1, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:250.4.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 250.4.2
Use of toll revenue and credits; Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership
Status: in_force

A. The department shall use any revenue or credits generated in connection with the Belle Chasse public-private partnership, including windfall proceeds payments, distribution of refinancing gain, and toll credits only as follows:

(1) To reduce toll rates on the project.

(2) To pay amounts owed to the developer for exercising the department's early handback option.

(3) To pay any annual consumer price index (CPI) buy-down payment amount.

(4) For department projects or improvements within any area identified per the public-private partnership contract for any alternative facility.

B. Any use of funds or credits generated in connection with the Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership shall conform to the provisions of the comprehensive agreement governing the partnership and all applicable laws.

C. Prior to using any revenue or credits generated in connection with the Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership, the secretary shall provide notice of the intended use to the legislative delegations from Plaquemines Parish and receive approval for such use from the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

Acts 2024, No. 73, §1, eff. May 15, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:771 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 771
Creation of district; territorial jurisdiction
Status: in_force

A. The Capitol Area Road and Bridge District is hereby created as a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana for the purpose of raising revenue to finance road and bridge projects to alleviate traffic congestion in the district. The district shall be comprised of all territories within the geographical boundaries of the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge.

B. The creation of the district and the carrying out of its public purpose is in all respects public and governmental purposes for the improvement of the health, safety, welfare, comfort, and security of the people of the district, for whom the district will be performing a public obligation in the exercise of the powers conferred upon it by this Part.

Acts 2018, No. 488, §1, eff. May 25, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2179 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2179
Establish feasibility; prior written approval
Status: in_force

A. A compact created and established pursuant to this Chapter may construct and operate transit way facilities along a transit corridor within the state under the terms and conditions set forth in this Chapter, with the prior express written consent of the affected governing bodies within the geographic boundaries of such compact after public hearing. The facilities shall be part of the approved transportation plan and program of the department and the local metropolitan planning organization, where applicable.

B. Prior to the initiation of environmental impact statements and preliminary engineering, feasibility studies shall first be conducted to substantiate project need and justification.

Acts 2010, No. 838, §2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 858, §1, eff. June 30, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1166 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1166
Transfer of employees and powers of employees and agents
Status: in_force

All employees heretofore engaged in the performance of duties for any authority in the exercise of functions transferred by this part to the board of highways shall be transferred with such functions to the board of highways to the full extent necessary and practicable to carry out the purposes of this part and shall, so far as practicable, continue to perform the duties heretofore performed, subject to the state civil service law.

Added by Acts 1972, No. 726, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:22.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 22.1
Complete Streets; findings; requirements; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds that development of a comprehensive, integrated, connected transportation network for Louisiana which balances the access, mobility, health, and safety needs of motorists, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities, including the users of wheelchairs and mobility aids, is integral to the public health, welfare, and quality of life of Louisiana's citizens and visitors. Further, the legislature finds that the development of such a fully integrated transportation system, by planning, designing, funding, constructing, managing, and maintaining a complete and multimodal network, will achieve and sustain mobility and safely accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users.

B. The legislature directs the department to adopt and maintain a Complete Streets Policy to facilitate the purposes set forth in Subsection A of this Section. In the development of such policy, the department shall make reasonable efforts to engage interested stakeholders through an advisory group to be known as the Complete Streets Advisory Council. The department shall establish goals to be incorporated into practical projects within the highway priority program and shall track the progress by department district. The department shall submit a written progress report annually in conjunction with the department's submission of the Highway Priority Program to the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways, and public works and to the Complete Streets Advisory Council.

C. The Complete Streets Advisory Council shall consist of a representative appointed by each of the following organizations and may include such other persons or representatives of organizations selected by the council:

(1) The Department of Transportation and Development.

(2) AARP Louisiana.

(3) The Center for Planning Excellence.

(4) The Federal Highway Administration.

(5) Any research center based at a university in Louisiana that is interested in the Complete Streets Policy.

(6) A member appointed by a majority of the metropolitan planning organizations.

(7) Other interested Complete Streets advocacy groups.

D. The department shall adopt performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the Complete Streets Policy. These performance measures shall include both process- and outcome-oriented indicators as determined by the department in conjunction with the Complete Streets Advisory Council.

Acts 2014, No. 470, §1, eff. June 4, 2014.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:582 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 582
Powers
Status: in_force

Districts constitute public corporations, and as such have all the powers of public corporations. They have perpetual existence. They may incur debt and contract obligations; sue and be sued; have a corporate seal; do and perform all acts in their corporate capacity and in their corporate names necessary and proper for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, and improving public roads, highways, and bridges within their territorial limits, and for the ditching and drainage thereof; and generally may perform all acts necessary to carry out the object and purposes of their creation. They have the power of expropriating property for the purpose of acquiring rights of way for the building and constructing of public roads and highways and the cutting of necessary ditches and canals for the drainage thereof. They may acquire any machinery and equipment which is essential to the proper accomplishment of the purposes of their creation.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:258 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 258
Contracts not in accordance with Chapter null
Status: in_force

Any contract between the department and another made in violation of any provision of this Chapter relating to competitive bidding or to advertisement for bids is absolutely null and void.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:80 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 80
Louisiana Vertiport Development Fund
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury, as a special fund, the Louisiana Vertiport Development Fund, hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "fund". The fund shall consist of any monies appropriated by the legislature and any grants, gifts, or donations received by the state for purposes of this Section. Monies appropriated or transferred to the fund shall be deposited by the state treasurer after compliance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the state general fund monies. Interest earned on monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies and earnings remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

B. The monies in the fund shall be administered by the Department of Transportation and Development and shall be used exclusively to fund the statewide development of vertiports. The Department of Transportation and Development shall develop regulations and guidelines for the distribution and allocation of any monies appropriated to the department pursuant to this Section.

Acts 2024, No. 316, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1614 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1614
Tax and regulatory exemptions
Status: in_force

A. The authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any property acquired or used by it under the provisions of this Chapter. The income therefrom shall be exempt from taxation of any type by the state of Louisiana and by any parish, municipality or political subdivision of the state. In the event of any lease of authority property, or any other arrangement which amounts to a leasehold interest to a private party, this exemption shall not apply to the value of such leasehold interest, nor shall it apply to the income of the lessee. Otherwise, however, and for purposes of taxation, when property of the authority is leased to private parties to be employed solely for purposes of the authority, the acts and activities of the lessee shall be considered as the acts and activities of the authority and the exemption hereunder shall apply to such acts and activities.

B. Except as provided herein, the authority shall not be subject in any respect to the authority, control, or supervision of any regulatory body of the state including but not limited to the public service commission or any political subdivision thereof, but its books and records shall be subject to audit annually by the legislative auditor.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:76 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 76
Regulation and control of annual budget
Status: in_force

A. Repealed by Acts 1997, No. 1403, §4, eff. July 1, 1997.

B. The budgetary and fiscal operations of the Department of Transportation and Development shall be under the control and supervision of and subject to review by the legislative budget committee and the commissioner of administration to the same extent and in the same manner and under the same conditions as now or hereafter may be provided by law for the control, supervision, and review of the fiscal and budgetary operations of the other budget units of the state.

C. The accounting procedures or system of accounting to be used by the Department of Transportation and Development, except as otherwise may be required by the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, insofar as practical shall conform to and comply with the uniform accounting system prescribed and installed by the commissioner of administration, under the authority of the governor, as authorized to be prescribed and installed by the provisions of R.S. 39:91.

D. It is the intent and purpose of the provisions of this Section to require that the annual budget of the Department of Transportation and Development and the financial and budgetary functions and operations thereof shall be governed by and be subject to the same conditions and provisions of law that are now or hereafter may be applicable to the budgets and the budgetary and fiscal functions and operations of the other budget units of the state. It therefore is hereby specifically provided and declared that the Department of Transportation and Development is classified as a budget unit, as the term is defined and referred to in Paragraph 7 of Section 2 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and, as such, shall be subject to all of the provisions of Title 39 and any and all other laws, relating or applicable to such budget units.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 48, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1403, §4, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:868 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 868
Sale of bonds; proceeds; deficiencies and surpluses
Status: in_force

The governing authority of the parish may sell the bonds in the manner and for the price which it determines to be for the best interests of the parish, but no such sale shall be made at less than par. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds shall be used solely for the payment of the cost of the bridge or bridges and shall be disbursed under such restrictions, if any, as the governing authority provides.

If the proceeds of the bonds, by error or calculation or otherwise, are less than the cost of the bridge or bridges, additional bonds may in like manner be issued to provide the amount of the deficit. Unless otherwise provided in the mortgage or the trust indenture hereinafter mentioned, these latter bonds shall be considered to be of the same issue and shall be entitled to payment from the same fund without preference or priority of the bonds issued first. If the proceeds of bonds issued for any bridge or bridges exceed the cost thereof, the surplus shall be paid into the sinking fund provided for the payment of principal and interest of the bonds.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:882 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 882
Additional stipulations as to taxes permitted
Status: in_force

If, since July 26, 1944, and at the time of acquisition by a parish under this Sub-part, any bridge has been and is assessed with any ad valorem taxes by any parish or other political subdivision of this state or by any adjoining state in which one of the termini of the bridge is located, the parish acquiring it may provide in its resolution, mortgage, or trust indenture a contract with the purchasers of the bridge revenue bonds whereby a sum equal to what the taxes to the parish, municipality, or state, as the case may be, could be in any year following the acquisition of the bridge shall be annually paid into the treasury of the parish, municipality, or state. This amount shall be computed by using the assessment value of the bridge in the parish, subdivision, or state as of July 26, 1944, and the rate of taxation currently being levied in the particular year. The fund accumulated by these payments shall be used for the same purposes and in the same proportions as the taxes would have been.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2137 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2137
Jurisdiction; powers of board
Status: in_force

The board may exercise powers necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of the purposes of the authority, including but not limited to the following rights and powers:

(1) To adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the authority, for the governance of its affairs, and for the conduct of the business of the board and the authority.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will an official seal.

(3) To plan, or construct, reconstruct, maintain, improve, operate, own, or lease projects within its jurisdiction in the manner determined by the board and to pay any project costs in connection therewith.

(4) To sue and be sued in its own name.

(5) To impose, revise, and adjust from time to time tolls, fees, and charges in connection with projects of the authority sufficient to pay all project costs, maintenance, operation, debt service and reserve or replacement costs, and other necessary or usual charges.

(6) To regulate speed limits on the tollways consistent with state speed limits.

(7) To contract with any person, partnership, association, or corporation desiring the use of any part of a project, including the right-of-way adjoining the paved portion, for placing thereon telephone, fiber optic, telegraph, electric light, or power lines, gas stations, garages, and restaurants, or for any other purpose, and to fix the terms, conditions, rents, and rates of charges limited to no more than the board's direct and actual cost of administering the permitting process.

(8) To acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this Chapter in accordance with law.

(9) To acquire public or private lands in the name of the authority by purchase, donation, exchange, foreclosure, lease, or otherwise, including rights or easements, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain in the manner hereinafter provided, as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Chapter.

(10) To hold, sell, assign, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal property or any interest therein; to release or relinquish any right, title, claim, lien, interest, easement, or demand however acquired, including any equity or right of redemption in property foreclosed by it; to take assignments of leases and rentals; to proceed with foreclosure actions; or to take any other actions necessary or incidental to the performance of its corporate purposes.

(11) To establish control of access, designate the location, and establish, limit, and control points of ingress and egress for each project as may be necessary or desirable in the judgment of the board to ensure its proper operation and maintenance, and to prohibit entrance to such project from any point or points not so designated, subject to the prior written concurrence of the department when the state highway system is affected.

(12) To relocate parish, municipal, or other public roads affected or severed by authority projects with equal or better facilities at the expense of the authority.

(13) To enter, or authorize its agents to enter, upon any lands, waters, and premises within the geographic boundaries of the authority for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings, and examinations as it may deem necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this Chapter provided that the authority shall reimburse any actual damages resulting to such lands, waters, and premises as a result of such activities; such entry shall not be deemed a trespass or unlawful.

(14) To procure insurance in such amount or amounts appropriate to the size of the project, as determined by the board, insuring the authority against all losses, risk, and liability arising out of the construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of any project.

(15) To apply for, receive, and accept grants, loans, advances, and contributions from any source of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for purposes of the authority.

(16) To open accounts at financial institutions necessary for the conduct of authority business and to invest any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement in such investments as may be provided in any financing document relating to the use of such funds, or, if not so provided, as the board may determine, subject to compliance with state laws relative to investments by political subdivisions.

(17) To borrow money and issue bonds for any authority purpose.

(18) To enter contracts and agreements and execute all instruments necessary or convenient thereto for accomplishing the purposes of the authority.

(19) To enter into agreements with a public or private entity to construct, maintain, repair, or operate authority projects.

(20) To authorize the investment of public and private money to finance authority projects, subject to compliance with state law relative to use of public funds.

(21) To employ consultants, engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents necessary for the accomplishment of authority purposes, and to fix their compensation. The authority shall not be deemed to be an instrumentality of the state for purposes of Article X, Section 1(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(22) To exercise the power of eminent domain in accordance with Part XVIII of Chapter 1 of this Title.

(23) To do all acts and perform things necessary or convenient to execute the powers granted to the authority by law.

(24) To impose taxes, subject to the approval of a majority of the voters in jurisdiction of the authority, in connection with projects of the authority sufficient to pay all project costs, maintenance, operation, debt service, reserve or replacement costs, and other necessary or usual charges.

Acts 2007, No. 329, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:210 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 210
Sales in violation of Chapter void
Status: in_force

Any sale made to the department in violation of any provision of this Chapter relating to competitive bidding or to advertisement for bids is absolutely null and void.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:381.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 381.1
Rights-of-way; joint use agreements; fees
Status: in_force

A. The chief engineer, or his duly authorized representative, may enter into joint use agreements affecting those highway rights-of-way which consist of elevated sections and other highway rights-of-way which may be deemed suitable and available by the chief engineer. The provisions of this Section shall in no way be interpreted to apply to any entity governed by the Public Service Commission.

B. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with law to effectuate the provisions of this Section, to implement a fee schedule, and to provide for the disposition of fees.

C. The maximum fee shall not exceed the fair market value of the property nor shall it exceed the reasonable cost of defraying the expenses of the right-of-way permit office with regard to the purposes of this Section.

D. The assistant secretary for project delivery may waive fees for governmental entities, political subdivisions, colleges, and universities, provided that said entities derive no income directly from the use of highway rights-of-way, and provided that said entities meet any and all state and federal requirements for a fee waiver.

E. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be deposited by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development into the state treasury for credit to the Right-of-Way Permit Processing Dedicated Fund Account, hereafter referred to in this Part as the "Right-of Way Account". After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the monies so deposited shall be credited to the Right-of-Way Account for the use of the Department of Transportation and Development to defray the expenses of the right-of-way permit office. Excess fees, over and above the expenses of the right-of-way permit office, shall be distributed to federally approved highway projects. All monies existing in the Right-of-Way Account at the end of each fiscal year shall be retained in the account and shall not be deposited in the general fund. Monies deposited into the account shall be categorized as fees and self-generated revenue for the sole purpose of reporting related to the executive budget, supporting documents, and general appropriation bills and shall be available for annual appropriation by the legislature.

F. All rules promulgated pursuant to this Section shall be subject to approval by the Federal Highway Administration.

G. Expenses for relocation or adjustments to utility facilities required for use on state right-of-way shall be the responsibility of the grantee.

Acts 1995, No. 504, §1; Acts 2021, No. 114, §14, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:384 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 384
Source of money for bridges
Status: in_force

A. When the state builds a highway across a canal, the bridge shall be paid for out of the Transportation Trust Fund, except in cases where the owner or owners of the canal are obligated to the erection and maintenance of a bridge over it.

B. When the canal is built across the highway, the bridge shall be paid for and maintained by the person or political subdivision for whose account the canal is built.

Acts 1999, No. 897, §2, eff. July 2, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1094 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1094
Bonds
Status: in_force

NOTE: TEXT OF FIRST PARAGRAPH OF §1094 AS AMENDED BY ACTS 1968, NO. 269, §1:

The bonds of any authority shall be authorized by a resolution of the board thereof and shall be of such series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times not exceeding fifty years from their respective dates, bear interest at any such rate or rates not exceeding six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or fully registered without coupons, carry such registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption not exceeding one hundred and five percent of the principal amount thereof, and be entitled to such priorities in the revenues or receipts of the authority as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds shall be signed by such officers as the board shall determine, and coupon bonds shall have attached thereto interest coupons bearing the facsimile signatures of such officer or officers of the authority as the board shall designate. Any such bonds may be issued and delivered notwithstanding that one or more of the officers signing such bonds or the officer or officers whose facsimile signature or signatures may be upon the coupons shall have ceased to be such officer or officers at the time such bonds shall actually have been delivered. Said bonds shall be sold to the highest bidder, at public sale, at not less than a price creating an interest cost for the money received for such bonds, figured to maturity of the bonds, of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, after advertisement at least once a week, for not less than thirty days, by said authority in New Orleans, Chicago, New York and such other places as said authority may determine, reserving to said authority the right to reject any and all bids. In the event the authority rejects all bids, it shall have the right to readvertise for new bids or to negotiate publicly with the bidding groups, and to sell the bonds on terms more advantageous than the best bid submitted.

NOTE: TEXT OF FIRST PARAGRAPH OF §1094 AS AMENDED BY ACTS 1968, NO. 290, §1:

The bonds of the authority shall be authorized by a resolution of the authority and shall be of such series, bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times not exceeding fifty years from their respective dates, bear interest at any such rate or rates not exceeding six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or fully registered without coupons, carry such registration and exchangeability privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, be subject to such terms of redemption not exceeding one hundred and five per cent of the principal amount thereof, and be entitled to such priorities in the revenues or receipts of the authority as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds shall be signed by such officers as the authority shall determine, and coupon bonds shall have attached thereto 1 officer or officers whose facsimile signature or signatures may be upon the coupons shall have ceased to be such officer or officers at the time such bonds shall actually have been delivered. Said bonds shall be sold to the highest bidder, at a public sale, at not more than a price creating an interest cost for the money received for such bonds, figured to maturity of the bonds, of six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, after advertisement at least once a week, for not less than thirty days, by said authority in New Orleans, Chicago, New York and such other places as said authority may determine, reserving to said authority the right to reject any and all bids. In the event the authority rejects all bids, it shall have the right to readvertise for new bids or to negotiate publicly with the bidding groups, and to sell the bonds on terms more advantageous than the best bid submitted.

In the event that no bids are submitted, the authority shall have the right to sell the bonds on the best terms it can negotiate, or to readvertise for new bids as provided herein. Pending the preparation of definitive bonds, temporary bonds may be issued to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, which may contain such terms and conditions as the authority may determine.

Any resolution authorizing bonds may contain provisions which shall be part of the contract with the holders thereof, as to (1) pledging the full faith and credit of the authority (but not of the State of Louisiana or of any political subdivision thereof) for the payment of such obligations or restricting the same to all or any of the revenues of the authority from all or any of its properties, (2) the construction, improvement, operation, extension, enlargement, repair and maintenance of its properties and the duties of the authority with reference thereto, (3) the terms and provisions of the bonds, (4) limitations upon the purpose to which the proceeds of the bonds then or thereafter to be issued shall be devoted, (5) the rate of tolls, fares and other charges for use of the facilities of or for the services rendered by the authority, (6) the setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation and disposition thereof, (7) limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, (8) the terms and provisions of any deed of trust or indenture securing the bonds, or under which the same may be issued, and (9) any other or additional agreements with the holders of the bonds.

The authority may enter into any deeds of trust, indentures or other agreements with any bank or trust company or other person or persons in the United States having power to enter into the same, including any state or federal agency, as security for such bonds, and may assign and pledge all or any of the revenues or receipts of the authority thereunder; provided however, that the authority shall have no power to mortgage or to create any lien upon the properties operated or controlled by it. Such deed of trust, indenture or other agreement, may contain such provisions as may be customary in such instruments, or as the authority may authorize, including (but without limitation) provisions as to (1) construction, improvement, operation, maintenance and repair of any bridge or ferry and the duties of the authority with reference thereto, (2) the application of funds and the safeguarding of funds on hand or on deposit, (3) the rights and remedies of said trustee and of the holders of the bonds (which may include restrictions upon the individual right of action of such bondholders) and, (4) the terms and provisions of the bonds or the resolution authorizing the issuance thereof. No such deed of trust, indenture or other agreement need be filed or recorded except in the records of the authority.

The authority may provide by resolution for the issuance of refunding bonds of the authority for the purpose of refunding any bonds then outstanding which shall have been issued under the provisions of this Part, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of redemption of such bonds and, in its discretion, for the additional purpose of constructing improvements, extensions or enlargements to any facility then operated by the authority or for the payment of all or any part of the cost of any new or other facilities, including bridges and ferries. The issuance of such bonds for any one or more such purposes, the maturities and other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof and the rights, duties and obligations of the authority in respect thereof shall be governed by the provisions of this Part so far as the same may be applicable.

Acts 1958, No. 526, §4. Amended by Acts 1968, No. 269, §1; Acts 1968, No. 290, §1.

1 As it appears in the enrolled bill. Apparently the following words of the prior law were inadvertently omitted from the 1968 amendment: "interest coupons bearing the facsimile signatures of such officer or officers as the authority shall designate. Any such bonds may be issued and delivered, notwithstanding that one or more of the officers signing such bonds or the"
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1704 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1704
Powers of the commission
Status: in_force

A. The commission is hereby declared to constitute and is declared to be a body politic and political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, as defined in Article VI, Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana. The commission is hereby granted all of the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities granted to political subdivisions, including but not limited to the following:

(1) To sue and be sued.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

(3) To initiate or coordinate research, studies, and gathering of information on the project, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Engineering studies.

(b) Traffic flow and pattern studies.

(c) Environmental impact studies.

(d) Location of the proposed route.

(e) Feasibility of extending the project to the Arkansas border.

(f) Economic development impacts and benefits.

(g) Tourism development.

(h) Utility relocation.

(i) Right of way acquisition.

(j) Project construction cost/benefit ratio studies.

(4) To designate as the official depository of the commission, the Research Division, College of Administration and Business, Louisiana Tech University, for all research, analyses, and information relating to and about the project. As such it is empowered to receive and preserve all information gathered by other parties pertaining to the project. It shall also be the depository for maps, aerial photography, and other study and survey materials.

(5) To receive money from any public or private body which may desire to appropriate or donate such funds to be used to defray the expenses of the commission.

(6) To levy and cause to be collected any taxes, except ad valorem taxes, fees, or charges authorized under the constitution or laws of this state, which shall be limited to those taxes, fees, or charges that are commonly referred to as user fees or charges and which bear a relationship to the highway project or highway usage, including motor vehicle transfer fees and annual road use charges or license fees, and to pledge the proceeds of such levy to the reimbursement of debt service payments for bonds issued on the behalf of the commission by the state of Louisiana. No tax, fee, or charge may be levied or imposed unless first approved by a majority of the commissioners from Webster, Red River, Sabine, and Bienville Parishes and by a majority of the qualified electors who vote in an election called for such purposes within the commission.

(7) To enter into a cooperative endeavor with the state, as authorized by Article VII, Section 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, under which the state will agree to issue bonds for the completion of the project, and in return, the commission shall agree to reimburse the state for a portion of the total cost of said highway project, which portion shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total cost to the state, from the revenues of the commission, for debt service payments of those bonds.

B. In furtherance of these purposes, the commission is specifically authorized to apply for, receive, and accept from any state or federal agency, local subdivision of this state, or private entity, any grant or contribution of either money, property, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied for purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made or for any other lawful purpose that the commission has expressly authorized herein.

Acts 1991, No. 792, §1, eff. July 19, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:219 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 219
Estoppel of contest after commencement of work; damages
Status: in_force

After the department has laid out a highway or other facility undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Development over a certain tract of land and the work thereon has commenced without objection on the part of the landowner, the landowner may not prevent or retard the construction thereof by any legal process, but is limited to an action for damages.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:572 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 572
District, defined
Status: in_force

Whenever used in this Part, except in R.S. 48:574 through 48:576, "district" means "road district, sub-road district, or consolidated road district." In R.S. 48:574 through 48:576, "district" means only "road district or sub-road district."
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2036 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2036
Cessation of tolls; conveyance of project
Status: in_force

A.(1) When the bonds issued for any state-designated project and the interest thereon have been paid in full, or sufficient funds have been deposited in trust for that purpose, and the state-designated project is in a condition which meets department standards for structural condition and geometric design and is in a condition of maintenance satisfactory to the department, said project and any property acquired as part of project costs shall be transferred by the authority and shall thereby be conveyed in full ownership to the state of Louisiana; and the department shall assume jurisdiction and control of the project, which will then become part of the state highway system and be subject to maintenance, control, and operation of the department as an integral part of the state highway system, and the state, in its discretion, may provide that any toll or fee collected may be continued for the purpose of maintenance.

(2) Upon the later of payment in full of all bonds and the interest thereon, the deposit of funds in trust for such purpose, or the final resolution of any disputes or litigation pending against any authority on such transfer and conveyance date, the existence of the authority shall terminate. From the date of such transfer and conveyance of the project the authority shall continue to exist to dispose of any unresolved litigation not related to the day-to-day management of the project. If no such litigation is pending on the date the project transfers and conveys, the authority shall terminate on the transfer and conveyance date.

B.(1) When bonds issued for any parish-related project and the interest thereon have been paid in full, or sufficient funds have been deposited in trust for that purpose, and the parish project is in a condition of maintenance satisfactory to the parish, said project and any property acquired as part of project costs shall be transferred by the authority to and shall thereby be conveyed in full ownership to the respective parish; and the parish shall assume jurisdiction and control of the project, which will then become part of the parish road system and be subject to maintenance, control, and operation of the parish as an integral part of the parish road system, and the parish, in its discretion, may provide that any toll or fee collected may be continued for the purpose of maintenance.

(2) Upon the later of payment in full of all bonds and the interest thereon, the deposit of funds in trust for such purpose, or the final resolution of any disputes or litigation pending against an authority on such transfer and conveyance date, the existence of the authority shall terminate. From the date of such transfer and conveyance of the project the authority shall continue to exist to dispose of any unresolved litigation not related to the day-to-day management of the project. If no such litigation is pending on the date the project transfers and conveys, the authority shall terminate on the transfer and conveyance date.

C.(1) When bonds issued for any municipal-designated project and the interest thereon has been paid in full, or sufficient funds have been deposited in trust for that purpose and the municipal project is in a condition of maintenance satisfactory to the municipality, said project and any property acquired as part of the project costs shall be transferred by the authority to and shall thereby be conveyed in full ownership to the respective municipality; and the municipality shall assume jurisdiction and control of the project, which will then become part of the municipal road system and be subject to maintenance, control, and operation of the municipality as an integral part of the municipal road system, and the municipality, in its discretion, may provide that any toll or fee collected may be continued for the purpose of maintenance.

(2) Upon the later of payment in full of all bonds and the interest thereon, the deposit of funds in trust for such purpose, of the final resolution of any disputes or litigation pending against an authority on such transfer and conveyance date, the existence of the authority shall terminate. From the date of such transfer and conveyance of the project the authority shall continue to exist to dispose of any unresolved litigation not related to the day-to-day management of the project. If no such litigation is pending on the date the project transfers and conveys, the authority shall terminate on the transfer and conveyance date.

D. A notice of transfer and reversion of ownership of any such project shall be published twice in the official journal of the state, parish, or municipality, as the case may be, to receive such ownership conveyance with the first publication to be made not more than one hundred eighty nor less than one hundred fifty days from the full bond principal and interest payment or date of deposit in trust therefor and the second not more than ninety nor less than sixty days therefrom.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:997 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 997
Impeding safe passage of ferries; penalty
Status: in_force

Any person who endangers, impedes, or harasses the safe passage of the chartered ferries across the streams of this state, shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars or imprisoned for not less than five days nor more than thirty days, or both.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 127, §19.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:586 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 586
Parish may assume all indebtedness of districts
Status: in_force

Subject to the provisions of Title 33, any parish may assume all the indebtedness, both bonded and floating, of any or all of the districts wholly within its territorial limits.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:945 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 945
Tolls
Status: in_force

As soon as any bridge authorized in this Part is put into operation, the department shall arrange for and supervise the collection of tolls for the use of the bridge. The rate of toll shall be determined by the department. The rates so fixed shall be such as to anticipate the retirement of the bonds issued for the construction of the bridge in not more than twenty years. The toll rates shall be posted in a conspicuous place at each end of the bridge or its approaches and at the places of collecting the tolls.

Commuters' tickets for those making frequent use of a particular bridge may be sold at reduced rates upon such terms and subject to such restrictions as are determined by the department of highways.

The department of highways shall report and pay into the state treasury all of the funds so derived by it from the bridges.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.21
Limitation of outdoor advertising devices
Status: in_force

In the event that the owner of an unlawful advertising sign fails or refuses to remove the sign after the thirty day notice from the department, as specified in Section 461.7, the department is authorized to give notice to the property owner and to enter upon the property whereon the sign is located and to dismantle and remove the unlawful sign from the premises, at the risk of the sign owner, to store the sign and to collect from the sign owner the cost of dismantling, removing, transporting, and storing the sign.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 617, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1978, No. 187, §2, eff. Aug. 11, 1978.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:346 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 346
Closing or restricting use of highways
Status: in_force

The assistant secretary of the office of operations or the chief engineer may close any section of highway to all or any class or part of traffic or restrict the use thereof to the extent he thinks expedient for any length of time that, in his judgment, is appropriate for any of the following reasons:

(1) To permit construction or maintenance operations to proceed without interruption.

(2) To protect the property of the state or the persons and property of the traveling public.

(3) In his opinion, there is an emergency requiring the closing or restriction.

(4) In his opinion, the closing or restriction is in the best interest of the state or the state highway system.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1979, No. 413, §8, eff. July 11, 1979; Acts 1984, No. 625, §1; Acts 2003, No. 701, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2084.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2084.9
Public-private partnership projects; acquisition of property; acquisition of project
Status: in_force

A. At the request of the private entity, the authority may exercise any power it has under R.S. 48:2079 for the purpose of acquiring lands or estates or interests in such to the extent that the authority finds that such action serves the public purpose of this Chapter.

B. Except as provided in Subsection A of this Section, until a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final declaratory judgment that a material default has occurred and is continuing to occur, the authority may not exercise its power under R.S. 48:2079 or 2084.8 against a qualifying transportation facility.

C. After the entry of a final order, the authority may exercise such power in lieu of or at any time after taking over the transportation facility to acquire the qualifying transportation facility. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit the authority's exercise of its power to expropriate a qualifying transportation facility after the entry of a final declaratory judgment order pursuant to Subsection B of this Section. The private entity, to the extent of its capital investment, may participate in the expropriation proceedings and shall have the same standing as a property owner.

Acts 2006, No. 304, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:251.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 251.8
Public contracts; certain provisions invalid
Status: in_force

The legislature hereby declares null and void and unenforceable as against public policy any provision in a department contract which requires either of the following:

(1) That a suit or arbitration proceeding must be brought in a forum or jurisdiction outside of this state, instead of being pursued in accordance with the laws of this state governing such actions.

(2) That the agreement must be interpreted according to the laws of another jurisdiction.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2010, No. 868, §3, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 343, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1844 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1844
T.J. Hawkins, Craig E. Lear, Cooper Road USA Expressway
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, that portion of Interstate 49 from its intersection with Interstate 220 to its intersection with Louisiana Highway 1 in the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, shall be known and designated as the "T.J. Hawkins, Craig E. Lear, Cooper Road USA Expressway".

Acts 2017, No. 157, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2202 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2202
Records
Status: in_force

A company shall maintain the following records:

(1) Individual trip records for at least three years from the date each trip was provided.

(2) Individual records of drivers for at least three years after the date which a driver's relationship with the company has ended.

Acts 2019, No. 286, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:634 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 634
Manner of issuance; valid obligations
Status: in_force

The governing body of the parish shall provide by ordinance the manner and form of issuance of the certificates of indebtedness.

When issued in accordance with the provisions of this Part, the certificates are legal and valid obligations of the parish or district for and on whose behalf they were issued.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:282 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 282
Sale of timber by the department; authority; use
Status: in_force

The department may sell timber which has been cut or felled on state highway rights-of-way. Any proceeds from such sale shall be dedicated to the Transportation Trust Fund to be used for maintenance and repair of roads not eligible for federal matching funds provided by the federal highway program.

Acts 2004, No. 308, §1, eff. June 18, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1309 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1309
Service charge authorized for Ouachita Parish; assessment and collection
Status: in_force

A.(1) The governing authority of any road lighting district situated wholly within the geographical boundaries of Ouachita Parish is hereby authorized to establish, by majority vote of the members of the authority, a service charge or rates of service charge to be assessed to persons occupying residential and nonresidential structures, and persons owning unoccupied structures located wholly or partly within the boundaries of a road lighting district, and persons owning lots located wholly or partly within the boundaries of a road lighting district as customers of the district, subject to Subsection B of this Section.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the governing authority of any road lighting district situated wholly within the geographical boundaries of Ouachita Parish may establish, by majority vote of the members of the authority, a service charge or rates of service charge to be assessed to persons owning parcels of immovable property located wholly or partly within the boundaries of a road lighting district, subject to Subsection B of this Section.

(3) Such service charge or rates of service charge shall be equal for all customers and shall be framed so as to cover and shall be used for the cost of any and all of the following components of road lighting district services:

(a) Payment of utility charges incurred in the provision of road lighting.

(b) The maintenance and operation of road lighting district facilities and equipment.

(c) Cost of collection of service charges pursuant to Subsections C and D of this Section.

B. Service charges or rates of service charges so established shall be assessed by resolution of the governing authority of the road lighting district. However, the resolution assessing the service charges shall be adopted by the governing authority only after the question of the assessment, the method of assessment, and the amount of the service charge or rates of service charges established have been submitted to and approved by a majority of electors of the district voting at an election held for that purpose. Such election shall be conducted in accordance with the election laws of the state and shall be held at the same time that an election authorized by the provisions of R.S. 18:402 is held.

C. The governing authority of any road lighting district assessing a service charge or rates of service charge for road lighting services to customers of the district as provided in this Section shall also have the authority to use any necessary and proper means to collect and enforce the collection of such service charges, including contracting with another political subdivision within Ouachita Parish or a utility regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission to effect such collection.

D. Service charges assessed against the owners of parcels of immovable property within a road lighting district pursuant to this Section shall be carried on the tax rolls for Ouachita Parish and shall be added to the annual ad valorem tax bill for such parcels. Such service charges shall be collected and become due and delinquent at the same times as parish ad valorem taxes are collected and become due and delinquent. The sheriff of Ouachita Parish may use any reasonable means to collect and enforce the collection of such service charges, including any means authorized by law for collection of taxes. The governing authority of the road lighting district shall reimburse the sheriff an amount equal to five percent of the amount of such service charges actually collected from property owners. The collection charge shall be in addition to such service charges and shall also be added to the ad valorem tax bill for such parcels.

Acts 1987, No. 132, §1; Acts 1990, No. 384, §1; Acts 2008, No. 285, §1, eff. July 1, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:761 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 761
Misuse of funds or noncompliance with statutory requirements; withholding of distribution; notification of district attorney
Status: in_force

A. If, on the basis of the report of the legislative auditor, or from its own investigation, the Legislative Audit Advisory Council, or its successor, determines that there has been a misuse by a parish governing authority of funds from the Parish Transportation Fund or that the parish governing authority is in noncompliance with the statutory requirements comprising this Part, it shall then determine whether a partial or total withholding of the parish's appropriation for any remaining months in the current fiscal year shall be necessary.

B.(1) If the council determines that it is necessary to withhold all or any part of the parish's appropriation, the council shall notify each member of the legislature who represents any portion of the parish of its determination. Unless within thirty days after the members of the legislature are so notified the council determines that the misuse of funds or noncompliance with the statutory requirements of this Part has ceased, the council shall, by written resolution, instruct the state treasurer to suspend monthly distributions to the parish of funds from the Parish Transportation Fund, effective immediately.

(2) The suspension of funds shall remain in effect until the Legislative Audit Advisory Council verifies, in writing, to the state treasurer that the offending parish is in compliance with Act No. 336 of the 1974 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, as amended. Such written verification shall be given when the legislative auditor certifies to the Legislative Audit Advisory Council that, to the best of his knowledge, the parish is in compliance with said Acts, or, in the absence of said certification, when the Legislative Audit Advisory Council determines that the parish is in compliance with said Acts.

(3) Upon receipt of the Legislative Audit Advisory Council's written resolution, the state treasurer shall reinstate the monthly distribution of funds and distribute all funds previously withheld to the affected parish governing authority.

(4) The Legislative Audit Advisory Council, or its successor, shall report any action it has taken with regard to the suspension of funds to the next regular session of the legislature, along with any recommendations it may have for forfeiture of suspended funds for those parishes which are still in noncompliance with said Acts.

(5) Forfeiture of funds can be authorized only by the legislature.

C.(1) In any case where there has been a determination made by the Legislative Audit Advisory Council that there has been a misuse by a parish governing authority of funds from the Parish Transportation Fund or that the parish governing authority is in noncompliance with the statutory requirements comprising this Part, the council shall furnish a copy of the written resolution directing the state treasurer to withhold funds to the district attorney of the parish where the misuse or noncompliance occurred.

(2) The district attorney shall, within thirty days, advise the chairman of the council as to action he has taken or proposes to take in connection with the misuse of funds or noncompliance with statutory requirements cited in the resolution. Where future action is to be taken by the district attorney, the council shall set a date for receipt of further advice in the matter.

(3) Where such advice as hereinbefore described is not forthcoming from the district attorney, or where it is evident that suitable action has not been taken, the council shall report the matter to the legislature at its next regular session for whatever action the legislature deems advisable under the circumstances.

Acts 1990, No. 221, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 21
Functions
Status: in_force

A. The functions of the department shall be to study, administer, construct, improve, maintain, repair, and regulate the use of public transportation systems and to perform such other functions with regard to public highways, roads, and other transportation related facilities as may be conferred on the department by applicable law.

B. The department may construct and maintain within the right-of-way of any state highway or section thereof bicycle facilities appropriate to the context of the roadway. If such facilities are not included in new construction projects, the department shall document the reasons for the exclusion.

C. The department may construct, maintain, and improve roads, whether hard-surfaced or otherwise, for state offices and other surrounding facilities of these agencies. Such work shall be at the direction of, and in cooperation with, the Department of Transportation and Development and shall be funded from monies specifically designated for that purpose. However, when work is requested by any state agency to be performed by the Department of Transportation and Development the following conditions shall apply:

(1) The state agency shall provide monies for the construction, maintenance, improvement, and repairing of roads surrounding state offices and other facilities when such work is performed.

(2) Any work performed by the Department of Transportation and Development shall not interfere with any construction work performed for Highway Priority Program projects.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 577, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1986, No. 115, §1; Acts 1999, No. 362, §1, eff. June 16, 1999; Acts 2010, No. 618, §3; Acts 2010, No. 851, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:216 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 216
Participation in highway associations
Status: in_force

The department may join and participate in associations formed by like departments of other states, territories, or foreign governments and with the United States Public Roads Administration or its successor, for the development and propagation of information concerning the construction, maintenance, and operation of public highways and the promotion of ideas concerning the safety and convenience of traffic thereon.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:451.23 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.23
New trial on showing of misconduct by jury
Status: in_force

A new trial shall be granted if it is proved that the jury was bribed or has behaved so improperly that impartial justice has not been done.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1303.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1303.1
Assumption Parish road lighting districts; tax levy
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:1303, the governing authority of any road lighting district within the parish of Assumption may levy taxes not to exceed in any year twenty mills on the dollar on all of the taxable property within the boundaries of the district. All other provisions and limitations of R.S. 48:1303 shall apply to any tax so levied.

Acts 1986, No. 921, §1; Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1308.1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:600 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 600
District Four Road Commission of St. Landry Parish
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, specifically R.S. 48:578, 579, 581, 583, and 588, District Four Road Commission of St. Landry Parish, hereinafter referred to as the "commission", is hereby created. The boundaries of the commission shall be coterminous with the boundaries of Police Jury District Number Four of St. Landry Parish. The commission shall be governed by a board of commissioners and shall be known as the Board of Commissioners of District Four Road Commission of St. Landry Parish, hereinafter referred to as the "board".

B.(1) The commissioners of the board shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish of St. Landry. The governing authority shall appoint one member from each of the eight precincts within Police Jury District Four who shall be a resident of such precinct. The governing authority of the parish shall attempt to achieve a racial balance when appointing the commissioners to the board.

(2) Of the eight commissioners initially appointed, four shall serve for a term of one year and four shall serve for a term of two years. The length of the term of each individual appointed shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the commission.

(3) The members of the board shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

(4) The terms of commissioners of the board appointed upon the expiration of the initial terms shall be two years, and upon expiration of a term of office, the successor shall be appointed as provided in Paragraph B(1) of this Section. No commissioner shall serve for more than two terms.

(5) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.

C.(1) As soon as practical after their appointment, the board shall meet and elect from their number a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem appropriate.

(2) The minute books and archives of the board shall be maintained by the board's secretary. The monies, funds, and accounts of the commission shall be in the official custody and control of the board's treasurer.

(3) The duties of the officers shall be fixed by bylaws adopted by the board. The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for conducting its business and affairs and, to the extent that funds are available, shall hire such assistants and employees as are needed to assist the board in the performance of its duties. It shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such time and places within the boundaries of the commission as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

D.(1) The commission shall be considered a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana and is granted and shall have all the powers necessary to construct, acquire, operate, and maintain roads, bridges, and road drainage facilities in the parish 1 , and without limitation, shall have all the rights, powers, and authority enumerated for road districts in Part II of Chapter 2 of Title 48. In addition, and without limitation, the commission shall have the following powers:

(a) To levy and collect within said boundaries of the commission a tax not exceeding one percent upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, and the storage for use or consumption, and the storage for use or consumption of corporeal movable property and upon the sale of services, as presently defined in R.S. 47:301 through 317, inclusive. Except where inapplicable, the procedure established by R.S. 47:301 through 317, inclusive, shall be followed in the imposition, collection, and enforcement of said tax and any procedural details necessary to be established of said tax and any procedural details necessary to be established to supplement the provisions of said Sections and to make said provisions applicable to the tax imposed hereunder shall be fixed by resolution of the commission. The commission shall have the right to contract with the sheriff or the Department of Revenue of the state of Louisiana, or any other agency or political subdivision for the collection of the tax. The board shall set forth the purposes for which the proceeds of the tax are to be used in the proposition submitted at the election hereinafter required, and such proceeds may be funded into negotiable bonds.

(b) The resolution imposing such tax shall be adopted by the commission only after the question of the imposition of such tax and the funding thereof into bonds under the provisions of this Section shall have been submitted to the qualified electors within the boundaries of the commission at an election to be called, conducted, canvassed, and promulgated by the governing authority of the commission in accordance with the general laws of the state of Louisiana governing the authorization of general obligations bonds and the majority of the qualified electors voting in such election shall have voted in favor of such additional tax and the funding thereof into bonds.

(c) The resolution imposing any tax hereunder, or amendments hereto, shall specify that the avails or proceeds of the tax after payment of collection costs shall be used solely by the commission for the construction, acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the roads, bridges, or road drainage facilities of the commission. The question or proposition approved at said election shall constitute a full and complete dedication of the avails or proceeds of said tax and its provisions shall control the allocation and expenditure thereof.

(2) To levy on all taxable property within the boundaries of the commission an ad valorem tax not to exceed fifteen mills, provided said commission has received prior approval for the levy of said millage by a favorable vote of the qualified electors within the boundaries of the commission at an election called by the board for the purposes of constructing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining the roads, bridges, and road drainage facilities of the commission.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:590, to merge or consolidate with existing road districts or commission.

(4) To construct any necessary improvements to facilitate drainage from immediate road surfaces.

(5) To prepare, adopt, promulgate, amend, and repeal bylaws, orders, rules, regulations, policies, forms, procedures to govern the affairs and conduct of its business and to carry out its functions in order to effectuate the provisions of this Section.

(6) To perform any other necessary and ancillary acts to effectuate its functions, to perform its duties, or to give effect to its powers in accordance with this Section.

Acts 1989, No. 785, §1; Acts 1997, No. 658, §2.

1 AS IT APPEARS IN THE ENROLLED ACT.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1453 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1453
Definitions
Status: in_force

For purposes of this Chapter, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them by this Section, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Board" means the board of commissioners and governing body of the Capital Area Transit System.

(2) "Parish's financial contribution" means the total funds and the fair market value of any in-kind contributions received by the system directly from a parish governing authority and political subdivisions within that parish.

(3) "Participating parish" means a parish which has approved participation and for which participation has been approved by the board.

(4) "System" means the Capital Area Transit System.

Acts 2005, No. 463, §1, eff. Jan.1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:718 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 718
Exchange
Status: in_force

If the governing authority decides to dispose of the property by exchange, it may be exchanged for other property of approximately equal value, provided that the governing authority may pay or receive any difference in value in cash.

Acts 1968, No. 432, §6. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 648, §1; Acts 1972, No. 417, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:101 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 101
Creation of commission, appointment and terms of members; meetings; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Louisiana is hereby created and established. It shall be composed of ten members appointed by the governor, two of whom shall be from the Department of Transportation and Development upon the recommendation of the secretary, who shall be appointed for a term of one year, and the remainder to be from various parishes directly affected by the Mississippi River Parkway. Two members shall be appointed for terms of two years, two shall be appointed for terms of three years, two shall be appointed for terms of four years, and two shall be appointed for terms of five years. All successor members shall be appointed for terms of five years. Immediately upon making any appointment the governor shall so notify the national Mississippi River Parkway Planning Commission, hereinafter called the National Commission, giving the names and addresses of the member or members so appointed. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

B. At the first meeting of the commission and annually thereafter, the members shall select a chairman and a secretary from the membership. Meetings of the commission shall be called by the chairman on his own notice or on request of any five members. Except in the case of an emergency, notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be given to each member at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. Every meeting of the commission shall be held at some suitable place in one of the parishes in which the Great River Road is situated, except that any meeting may be held at any other suitable place upon majority vote of the members. Any four members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting any business of the commission.

C. The members shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission and shall receive no reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the commission, provided that they may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending the annual meeting or any special meeting of the National Commission when payment for such expenses has been approved by the chairman.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 760, §1; Acts 2003, No. 774, §12.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:35 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 35
Minimum safety guidelines of highway design, maintenance, and construction; exemptions
Status: in_force

A. The Department of Transportation and Development shall adopt minimum safety guidelines with respect to highway and bridge design, construction, and maintenance. These guidelines shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the system then current as approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials allowing the flexibilities incorporated therein. Hereafter, the state highway system shall conform to such safety guidelines.

B. The chief engineer may designate highways within the state highway system for reconstruction or repair at guidelines which are less than those as approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; however, no reconstruction or repair shall be done on any highway under this Part which results in a pavement width of less than eighteen feet, and all reconstruction or repair done under this Part shall be accomplished within the existing right-of-way.

C. The Department of Transportation and Development shall adopt specific minimum safety guidelines with respect to highway and bridge design, construction, and maintenance for all public roads, highways, and streets under the jurisdiction of any political subdivision of this state and not in the state-maintained highway system. These guidelines shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the system then current as approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials allowing the flexibilities incorporated therein. Prior to implementation by the department, the guidelines shall be submitted to the Senate and House committees on transportation, highways, and public works for review in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 49:950 et seq.

D. If any such improvements constructed by a political subdivision of this state fail to conform to such guidelines, payment of any funds allocated to the political subdivision for the construction purposes shall be withheld by the Department of Transportation and Development until such time as the guidelines established by the department are complied with. These guidelines shall not apply to maintenance, improvement, or blacktopping of existing dead-end alleys, local lanes, and other local roads that do not connect traveled throughways.

E.(1)(a) The state, the Department of Transportation and Development, and any political subdivision of the state have a duty to maintain, repair, construct, or reconstruct any public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, in a manner that is not unreasonably dangerous for a reasonably prudent driver.

(b) When any public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, is maintained, repaired, constructed, or reconstructed in accordance with the regulations or guidelines in effect on the date of approval by the chief engineer, or equivalent official in the case of a political subdivision of the state, of the original or amended design for the construction or major reconstruction, whichever is later, of such public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, there shall be a presumption that any such public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, is maintained, repaired, constructed, or reconstructed in a reasonably safe condition.

(c) When any public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, does not conform to one or more regulations or guidelines established or adopted subsequent to the date of such approval of the original or amended design plan for the construction or major reconstruction, whichever is later, of any such public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, such nonconformity shall not render any such public road, highway, bridge, or street, or any portion thereof, unreasonably dangerous or defective.

(2) When determining whether or not an unreasonably dangerous condition exists under this Paragraph, if a regulation or guideline is not directly applicable to the maintenance, repair, construction, or reconstruction, then evidence of failure to adhere to such regulation or guideline shall not be admissible in a court proceeding for any purpose.

F. The provisions of this Section shall not affect the requirement that the state, through the Department of Transportation and Development, prioritize the repair, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction of public roads, highways, bridges, or streets based on the need for repair, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction beginning with the public roads, highways, bridges, or streets which are most in need of repair, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction, and ending with public roads, highways, bridges, or streets which are least in need of repair, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction, and ensuring that the public roads, highways, bridges, or streets which are most in need of repair and maintenance will be repaired first, all pursuant to and consistent with the criteria contained in the priority program set forth in R.S. 48:228 through 233.

G. The priority program set forth in R.S. 48:228 through 233 is an administrative process for determining the order of repair, maintenance, construction, or reconstruction of public roads, highways, bridges, or streets and nothing contained therein creates an independent cause of action for personal injury or property damage.

H. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to regulations affecting the installation or design of signs imposed by the United States Department of Transportation.

Added by Acts 1968, No. 276, §1. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 126, §1, emerg. eff. June 23, 1970 at 2:00 p.m.; Acts 1976, 2nd Ex.Sess., No. 1, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1984, No. 625, §1; Acts 1986, No. 119, §1, eff. June 26, 1986; Acts 1997, No. 1330, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1223, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 127, §1; Acts 2009, No. 219, §1, eff. June 30, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:220 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 220
Width of right-of-way
Status: in_force

A. The width of rights-of-way for highway construction shall be fixed by the chief engineer of the Department of Transportation and Development. Generally, the width may be fixed in a manner sufficient, in the judgment of the chief engineer, to provide presently and in the future for the public interest, safety, and convenience. Specifically, the width may be fixed in a manner sufficient to adequately accommodate the future improvement of the highway by the construction of additional lanes of pavement, service roads, intersections, traffic distribution devices, and grade separations. It may be fixed to provide sight distances and insure stability and lateral support for the embankments, structures, and appurtenances to the highway and to provide for proper drainage.

B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, fences may be erected up to, but not within, the boundary of the designated right-of-way of any road or highway in Ward 1 or Ward 5 in Beauregard Parish.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1997, No. 115, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2025 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2025
Compensation of directors
Status: in_force

Directors of the board shall not be entitled to any salary for services, but each member shall be reimbursed for actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of all duties in connection with the business of an authority in compliance with Policy and Procedure Memorandum 49, as promulgated by the division of administration, as amended and revised and may, if authorized by the board, be entitled to a per diem when conducting official business, not to exceed seventy-five dollars per day.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1303.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1303.2
Terrebonne Parish road lighting districts; tax levy
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 48:1303, the governing authority of any road lighting district within the parish of Terrebonne may levy taxes not to exceed in any year ten mills on the dollar on all of the taxable property within the boundaries of the district. All other provisions and limitations of R.S. 48:1303 shall apply to any tax so levied.

Acts 1988, No. 524, §1; Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1308.2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2199 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2199
Transportation network company driver requirements
Status: in_force

A. Before an individual is authorized to accept trip requests through a transportation network company's digital network, the following conditions shall be met:

(1) The individual shall submit an application to the company, which includes information regarding his address, age, driver's license, motor vehicle registration, insurance, and any other information required by the company.

(2) The company or a third party shall conduct a local and national criminal background check for each applicant that includes the following:

(a) A multi-state and multi-jurisdiction criminal records locator or other similar commercial nationwide database with validation of any records through a primary source search.

(b) A search of the national sex offender public website maintained by the United States Department of Justice.

(3) The company or a third party shall obtain and review a driving history research report for each applicant.

B. The company or a third party shall conduct the background check and driving history research report set forth in Paragraphs (A)(2) and (3) of this Section at least once every two years.

C. The company shall not authorize an individual to act as a driver if the individual's driving history report reveals the individual received more than three moving violations within the three-year period prior to applying to the company.

D. The company shall not authorize an individual to act as a driver if the individual's initial background check or any subsequent background check reveals the individual:

(1) Has had more than one of the following violations within the three-year period prior to applying to the company:

(a) Flight from an officer or aggravated flight from an officer as provided for in R.S. 14:108.1.

(b) Reckless operation of a vehicle as provided for in R.S. 14:99.

(c) Operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses as provided for in R.S. 14:98.8.

(2) Has been convicted, within the past seven years, of:

(a) Any enumerated felony as provided for in Title 14 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 14:1 through 601.

(b) Operating a vehicle while intoxicated as provided for in R.S. 14:98 through 98.4.

(c) Hit and run driving as provided for in R.S. 14:100.

(d) Any crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B).

(3) Is listed as an offender in the national sex offender public website maintained by the United States Department of Justice.

(4) Does not possess a valid driver's license to operate a personal vehicle.

(5) Does not possess the required registration to operate a motor vehicle used to provide prearranged rides.

Acts 2019, No. 286, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2152 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2152
Central Louisiana Regional Infrastructure Beltway Commission; purposes
Status: in_force

The Central Louisiana Regional Infrastructure Beltway Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission", is hereby created in the parishes of Rapides and Grant. The commission shall be created for the purpose of establishing and constructing a transportation and utility corridor for the growth of residential, commercial, and industrial developments serving the urban and rural areas of Rapides and south Grant parishes.

Acts 2009, No. 518, §1, eff. July 10, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:875 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 875
Trust indenture authorized as security; corporate trustee
Status: in_force

In the discretion of the governing authority of any parish issuing its bonds under the provisions of this Sub-part, each or any issue of bonds may be secured by a trust indenture by and between the parish and a corporate trustee, conveying or mortgaging the bridge and pledging the income and revenues thereof in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest on the bonds as they severally mature.

The corporate trustee shall be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or outside of the state.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:295.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 295.1
Definitions
Status: in_force

When used in this Part, the following words and phrases have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) "Contractor" means consultants selected pursuant to R.S. 48:285 et seq. Contractor shall also include bidders or contractors on projects let pursuant to R.S. 48:251 et seq. and participation as joint venturer or subcontractor on department projects.

(2) "Debarment" means the disqualification of a contractor to receive invitations for bids or requests for proposals or the award of any contract by the department and shall be applicable to selection of consultants by the department and participation as a joint venture, subcontractor, or consultant or subconsultant on department projects.

(3) "Debarment committee" means the committee consisting of the following persons acting upon a unanimous vote: the chief engineer or his designee, assistant secretary of project delivery or his designee; the deputy secretary of the department or his designee; and the general counsel of the department or his designee.

Acts 1993, No. 879, §1, eff. June 23, 1993; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:587 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 587
Proposition to incur additional indebtedness
Status: in_force

When, subject to the provisions of Title 33, an election is called for the purpose of submitting to the property taxpayers of a parish the question of the assumption by the parish of the indebtedness of any or all of the districts wholly within the parish, the parish governing authority may, at the same election and contingent upon that election carrying, submit to the property taxpayers of the parish qualified to vote in that election a proposition to incur additional indebtedness and issue negotiable bonds therefor for the purpose of constructing, improving, and maintaining the public roads, highways, and bridges of the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:457 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 457
Distribution of final award
Status: in_force

The court also has the power to make such orders as are just and equitable with respect to distribution of the amount finally awarded.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 107, §1, eff. June 24, 1954. Amended by Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:212 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 212
Agreements with federal government
Status: in_force

A. The department may enter into any agreements with the federal government or with any federal agency for the purpose of building or improving public highways, flight strips and public transportation facilities to the extent that the federal government or its agency is authorized by federal statutes to enter into such agreements, and with the same limitations.

B. The department may enter into agreements with federal agencies for the construction, operation, and maintenance of toll roads and toll bridges. It may negotiate loans from these agencies and provide the security therefor required by the federal agency. However, these projects shall be completely self-liquidating both as to cost of construction and as to cost of maintenance and operation during the term of any loan. The principal amount of such a loan or loans shall be amortized within a period of twenty-five years from the date of its making. The aggregate amount of such loan or loans shall at no time exceed five million dollars. When the cost of construction has been amortized, the department may continue to collect a nominal toll to defray the expenses of operation and maintenance or, in addition, to provide a surplus to offset depreciation.

C. During any period that the United States is in a state of war, the secretary, when so authorized in writing by the governor, may make available to the federal government or its armed forces any property, equipment, or personnel required in the national interest for purposes which the property, equipment, or personnel will appropriately serve. Appropriate commitment records shall be made with and receipt records obtained from commissioned officers of the armed services or other federal officials with authority to so act.

D. The department may enter into any agreements with the federal government or with any federal agency for the purpose of establishing and administering a railroad safety and inspection program to the extent that the federal government or its agency is authorized by federal statutes to enter into such agreements, and with the same limitations.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1978, No. 133, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:445 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 445
Vesting of title
Status: in_force

Upon the deposit of the amount of the estimate in the registry of the court, for the use and benefit of the persons entitled thereto, the clerk shall issue a receipt showing the amount deposited, the date it was deposited, the style and number of the cause, and the description of the property and property rights, as contained in the petition. Upon such deposit, title to the property and the property rights specified in the petition shall vest in the department and the right to just compensation therefor shall vest in the persons entitled thereto.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 107, §1, eff. June 24, 1954; Amended by Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975; Acts 1988, No. 882, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1451 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1451
Short title
Status: in_force

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Capital Area Transit System Act.

Acts 2005, No. 463, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:255.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 255.1
Information to be submitted to the department by contractors; confidentiality of information
Status: in_force

The department may require each proposed contractor to furnish sufficient information that shall indicate the financial and other capacities of the contractor to perform the proposed work. This information shall be subject to audit and shall be recorded by the department on forms clearly marked "confidential", and these forms and the information contained on them shall be treated as confidential and shall be exempted from the provisions of R.S. 44:1 through 37.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 193, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2031 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2031
Acquisition of lands and property
Status: in_force

A. For the purposes of this Chapter, an authority may acquire private or public property and property rights, including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings, as the authority may deem necessary for any of the purposes of this Chapter, including but not limited to any lands reasonably necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water retention areas, rest areas, placement access for landowners whose access is impaired due to the construction of a project, and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility facilities for existing, proposed, or anticipated transportation facilities in the transportation corridor designated by the authority.

B. In the acquisition of land and property, an authority may acquire an entire lot, block, or tract of land, if, by so doing, the acquisition costs to the authority will be equal to or less than the cost of acquiring only that portion of the property thereof necessary for the project. This Subsection is a specific recognition that this means of limiting the rising costs of such property acquisition is a public purpose and that, without this limitation, the viability of many public projects will be threatened. To that end, the provisions of R.S. 48:2029(20) regarding reconveyance of such excess portion shall not apply except in the case of the exercise of an authority of its right of eminent domain.

C. An authority may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of a project, provided that the sale, lease, or other disposition of a state-designated project shall require department approval. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any surplus property may be sold in accordance with procedures adopted by the authority that maximize the price received for such property.

D. The right of eminent domain conferred by this Chapter must be exercised by each authority in the manner provided by state law.

E. When an authority acquires property for a project, it is not subject to any liability imposed by pre-existing conditions. This Subsection does not, however, affect the rights or liabilities of any past or future owners of the acquired property, nor does it affect the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. An authority and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality may enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding, and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts necessary for property acquired by the authority.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:25 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 25
Operation or control of ferries, etc.
Status: in_force

The department may take over, control, operate, and regulate such ferries, barges, or other means of transportation as it thinks necessary to the public. It may prescribe and collect such ferry charges or transfer charges as it thinks necessary to maintain these services. To that end, it may let franchises or enter into contracts for these services in the name of the state, alone or jointly with the parishes or municipalities of the state, or with other states, or with the political subdivisions of other states.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:425 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 425
Purchasing, rules and regulations; intentional violation; penalty
Status: in_force

A. No person shall intentionally violate the Louisiana Procurement Code or any rule or regulation promulgated by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development with respect to purchasing.

B. Any person who intentionally violates such law, rule, or regulation shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 252, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2076 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2076
Establish feasibility; prior written concurrence
Status: in_force

A. The authority may construct projects under the terms and conditions set forth in this Chapter, subject to the prior express written concurrence of the secretary. Said projects must be part of the approved transportation plan and program of the department, where applicable.

B. The authority shall conduct an economic feasibility study prior to initiation of any project to substantiate project need and feasibility.

Acts 2001, No. 1209, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:860 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 860
Construction of connecting highways
Status: in_force

Upon the letting of a contract for the construction of a bridge under the provisions of this Sub-part, the director of highways shall commence or proceed with the construction of any highways necessary to connect the bridge with the state highway system. He shall complete this construction on or before the date the bridge is opened for traffic.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:256.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 256.9
Liability on bond; summary trial of objections to solvency and sufficiency of bond
Status: in_force

A. If no objections are made by any claimant to the solvency or sufficiency of the bond required of the contractor by this Part, the department shall, ten days after the service of judicial notice of the concursus proceeding on each claimant having recorded claims, obtain a certificate to that effect from the clerk of court. The certificate shall relieve the department of any personal liability and the recorder of mortgages shall cancel all of the recorded claims.

B. If any objections are made by the claimants they shall be tried summarily. Whenever it is found that the surety is not solvent or sufficient to cover the amount of the bond or that the department has failed to exact the bond or record the bond within the time allowed, the department shall be in default and shall be liable to the same extent as the surety would have been. The surety on the bond shall be limited to the defense which the principal has on the bond.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1272 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1272
Traffic control
Status: in_force

A. The authority is hereby authorized to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations with respect to the use of a project, which rules and regulations shall relate to vehicular speeds, loads and sizes, safety devices, rules of the road and such other matters, including but not limited to the failure or refusal to pay the toll provided for the use of a project, as may be necessary and proper to regulate traffic in the interest of safety, the maximum convenience of the persons using the project, preservation of a project from unwarranted damage and to carry out the purpose of this Chapter. Such rules and regulations shall apply according to their terms to all sections of a project under the jurisdiction of the Authority, their feeder roads and structures and other appurtenances. In so far as such rules and regulations may be inconsistent with the provisions of the vehicle and traffic laws of Louisiana, such rules and regulations shall be controlling. Violations of such rules and regulations shall be punishable by a fine of not exceeding two hundred dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety days. Such rules and regulations shall not take effect until published in a newspaper of general circulation published in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, and such other publications as the Authority may determine, and duly filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

B. The Louisiana State Police, its director and patrol officers are hereby vested with the power and charged with the duty to enforce the rules and regulations of the authority. The power and duty so vested and charged shall be performed and exercised as said director and officers perform and exercise their present duties, functions and powers. Expenses incurred by said state police in carrying out its powers and duties under this Chapter may be treated as a part of the cost of the operation of a project or projects and the Department of Public Safety shall be reimbursed by the authority for such expenses.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §22.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1611 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1611
Conflict of interest
Status: in_force

A. Every member of the board and every employee of the board or the authority who knowingly has any interest direct or indirect in any contract to which the authority is or is about to become a party, or in any other business of the authority, or in any firm or corporation doing business with the authority, shall make full disclosure of such interest to the board and, if a board member, to his appointing authority. Failure to disclose such an interest shall constitute cause for which a board member may be removed by the appointing power, or an employee discharged or otherwise disciplined at the discretion of the board.

B. Provisions of Parts I and II of Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 1 , regulating the conduct of public employees shall be applicable to the conduct of its board members, officers, employees and agents of the authority.

C. Any contract or transaction of the authority involving a conflict of interest not disclosed under Subsection A hereof, or a violation of any other provision of law applicable to the authority, its board members, officers, or employees regulating conflicts of interest, shall be voidable by the board provided such action does not adversely affect the interest of innocent third parties. It is expressly provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to any indenture, agreement, contract or transaction which constitutes security, direct or indirect, for the payment of bonds or other obligations of the authority and the judgment and order confirming and validating any such bonds or other obligations as provided for in Section 1507 2 hereof, shall constitute a final and conclusive adjudication as to any such security.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1.

1 Sections 1101 and 1111 et seq.

2 Should probably be 1607.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:232 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 232
Apportionment of appropriated fund by the department; construction restricted to priority listing; secretary's emergency fund
Status: in_force

No construction project shall be undertaken by the Department of Transportation and Development except those included in the priority listing for that fiscal year regardless of the source of the funds for the project, with the exception of projects undertaken and financed out of the secretary's emergency fund and projects involving the use of matching funds to meet federal requirements in order to receive federal aid funds. Appropriations for highway construction shall be apportioned by the department to the several highway classifications based on the proportion that the needs in each classification bears to the total needs and shall be allocated by the department to the projects within each classification. Semiannually the secretary shall provide the Joint Legislative Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works a recapitulation of all emergency projects for the preceding six-month period, outlining the nature and cost of the emergency.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 334, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §16.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:217.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 217.1
Recordation of maps of highway projects
Status: in_force

The department shall cause to be recorded copies of all right-of-way maps relative to highway projects for which immovable property was acquired or a right-of-way or servitude affecting or involving immovable property was obtained, said recordation to be made in the parish in which the immovable property is situated.

The department may reduce to size of such copies for convenience and they shall be accepted and filed in a suitable place by the clerks of court without cost to the department.

Added by Acts 1970, No. 501, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:832 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 832
Acceptance of financial aid
Status: in_force

Any parish or municipality proceeding under this Sub-part may accept any appropriation, loan, gift, assistance, grant, contribution, or allocation from the United States of America or the State of Louisiana, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any public utility, private corporation or individual benefiting therefrom, and may enter into any agreement not prohibited by the state constitution which is necessary to obtain any such loan, gift, grant, assistance, contribution or allocation.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1406 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1406
Cooperation
Status: in_force

All public agencies shall cooperate fully with the Commission, to the end that it may effectively and comprehensively carry out its functions and duties.

Acts 1968, No. 232, §6.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1164 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1164
Indebtedness, including bonds; dedicated funds
Status: in_force

The board of highways shall be the successor in every way to the authorities from which the functions are transferred, and shall be the successor to all the obligations and debts of the authorities herein abolished. All funds dedicated to the payment of bonds issued for bridges, ferries, roads, facilities and improvements formerly under the control of the authorities herein abolished and whose powers, duties and functions are hereby transferred shall continue to be collected and dedicated to the payment of such bonds, and in like manner all other dedications and allocations of revenues and sources of revenues shall continue, unless otherwise hereafter provided by the constitution or laws, in the same manner, to the same extent and for the same purposes as were provided by law prior to the enactment of this part.

Added by Acts 1972, No. 726, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2211 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2211
Financial security for surviving spouses and children of employees; death due to hazardous situation; liability waiver
Status: in_force

A. It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this department to provide for the financial security of surviving spouses and children of department employees when a department employee suffers death as a result of any injury arising out of a hazardous situation and in the course and scope of performing official duties as an employee of the Department of Transportation and Development.

B.(1) In any case in which a department employee suffers death as a result of an injury arising out of a hazardous situation in the course and scope of performing his official duties as a department employee, and the death is not the result of an intentional act, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars shall be paid to the surviving spouse of the department employee, provided neither spouse has instituted a divorce proceeding. In the event the deceased employee leaves no surviving spouse, or if either spouse has instituted a divorce proceeding, the department shall pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the child or children of the deceased employee. In the event the deceased employee leaves no children, the department shall pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the named beneficiary listed on the department employee's beneficiary form. In the event there is no named beneficiary, the department shall pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars to the estate of the deceased employee.

(2) As a result of the named beneficiary provision in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, each department employee shall complete a beneficiary form.

C. Payment shall be made out of the Transportation Trust Fund. However, no payment shall be made pursuant to this Chapter unless the recipient of the survivor benefits signs all required documents waiving all rights to file suit against the department and releasing the department from any and all liability for the employee's death.

D. The department shall promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 2021, No. 475, §1, eff. June 29, 2021.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:392 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 392
Obstruction of railroad grade crossings; moving or nonmoving trains
Status: in_force

A.(1) It shall be unlawful for any moving or non-moving train, railroad car or equipment, or engine to obstruct vehicular traffic at a public highway railroad grade crossing for a period in excess of twenty consecutive minutes.

(2) No employee performing his duties under the operating rules or orders of the railroad company or carrier or its supervisory personnel shall be prosecuted for any violation of this Section.

(3) Any rail carrier violating the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be fined as provided for in R.S. 48:391(A)(3).

B.(1) Any railroad or public agency may, by formal application to the department, request a variance from the requirements of this Section or have different regulations provided in connection with operation over a specific crossing where local conditions so require. The application shall list any public agencies within the geographic area or any railroads which may be affected by the variance and shall detail any previous steps which may have been taken in an attempt to reach an agreement on or alternative to the proposed variance.

(2) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of the application process provided in this Subsection.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 120, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:576 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 576
Notice of formation
Status: in_force

Notice of the formation of the district shall be published in a newspaper published in the parish. If there is none, the notice shall be posted in two public places in the parish and published in a newspaper published in an adjoining parish. One publication is sufficient. If the parish governing authority, at the time it determines to create the district, also decides to submit to the qualified property taxpaying voters the question of incurring debt and issuing bonds of the district under the general laws of Louisiana, notice of the formation of the district and a description of the boundaries thereof may be included in the notice of election, in lieu of the above method. The notice of election shall be published in the manner prescribed by the general laws in relation to incurring debt and issuing bonds.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:451.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.8
Examination of juror
Status: in_force

The court shall permit the parties or their attorneys to conduct the examination of a prospective juror and may itself conduct an examination, which shall be limited to ascertaining the qualifications of the juror.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:471 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 471
Application of Chapter
Status: in_force

This Chapter does not apply in any manner to roads, streets, or alleys which are part of the state highway system.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1601 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1601
Short title
Status: in_force

This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "River Parishes Transit Authority Act of 1976."

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:774 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 774
Meetings of board; officers; quorum; removal of commissioners; salaries and expenses
Status: in_force

A. At the first meeting of the board and annually thereafter, the members shall select a chairman and a secretary from the membership and such other officers as the board deems necessary. The board shall meet at least quarterly and the meetings shall be called by the chairman on his own notice or on request of any five members. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum to do business.

B. In case of the death, resignation, absence, inability, or failure to act of the chairman, the secretary shall call the board together and the board shall appoint one of their members to serve as acting chairman, and he shall perform all the duties of chairman.

C. The members of the board shall serve without compensation, except the compensation to which they may be individually entitled as a member or employee of their respective agency. A board member may be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his duties as a board member. A mileage allowance shall be fixed by the board.

D. The board of commissioners shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings.

Acts 2018, No. 488, §1, eff. May 25, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:226 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 226
Prescription not applicable
Status: in_force

Prescription does not run against immovable property or rights thereto legally acquired by the department for use as right of way for public highways or facilities.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:389 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 389
Railroad traffic; certain speed restrictions
Status: in_force

A. In accordance with the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA), 45 USC §421 et seq., specifically Section 434 thereof, the Department of Transportation and Development is authorized to establish speed restrictions for railroad traffic on a segment of railroad track within the corporate limits of a municipality when such speed restriction is necessary to eliminate or reduce an essentially local safety hazard.

B. To enable the department to exercise the authority conferred upon it by Subsection A, the governing body of the municipality seeking to restrict the speed of railroad traffic shall submit to the department a request, in writing, setting forth the unique characteristics of the essentially local safety hazard that is sought to be eliminated or reduced by the imposition of a local speed restriction.

C. Upon receipt of a request from a municipal governing authority, the department shall notify the railroad company affected of the request and furnish it with a copy of the request. The department shall conduct an evidentiary fact-finding hearing prior to proposing any rule under the authority of this Section. Within thirty days after the public hearing, the department shall publish its report and identify the unique characteristics of the local safety hazard sought to be eliminated or reduced by a speed restriction on railroad traffic, together with its findings that such speed restriction:

(1) Is being imposed at a location which contains a unique and distinctive essentially local situation which is not statewide in character.

(2) Will eliminate or reduce an essentially local safety hazard.

(3) Is not incompatible with any federal law, rule, regulation, order, or standard.

(4) Will not create an undue burden on interstate commerce.

(5) Will not create a safety hazard which is different from the essentially local safety hazard which the speed restriction is designed to reduce or eliminate.

D. If after the public hearing the department determines there is a need for such requested speed restriction, it shall proceed to adopt a rule imposing same. Any speed restriction imposed upon railroad traffic by rule of the department shall set forth the duration of the restriction, which duration shall not exceed the time required to eliminate or reduce the unique local safety hazard.

E. If after the public hearing the department determines there is no need for such requested speed restriction, it shall so advise the affected parties of its determination.

F. Any party being aggrieved by the findings, the determination, or the adoption of any rule by the department shall have the right to contest such findings, determination, or rule in any court of competent jurisdiction.

G. The department shall comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act in implementing the provisions of this Section.

Acts 1991, No. 573, §1.

{{NOTE: SEE ACT 573 OF 1991, §§2, 3, AND 4, FOR LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND APPLICABILITY TO EXISTING ORDINANCES AND PENDING LITIGATION.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1281 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1281
Special provisions relating to west bank segment
Status: in_force

The legislature recognizes that some of the best farm land in the United States lies adjacent to the proposed right of way of the west and east bank segments of the proposed express toll highway between Shreveport and Alexandria and Bossier City and Alexandria. In the event that the authority should determine to construct the west or east bank segment the legislature directs the expressway authority to route said expressway segment in such manner as to avoid the rich farm land where possible within the limitations of reasonable cost and sound engineering practices; and where bisecting of such farm land is unavoidable, the expressway authority is directed, where possible within the limitations of reasonable cost and sound engineering practices, to provide access across the toll highway rights of way by means of tunnels or other appropriate means.

Acts 1970, No. 247, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1501 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1501
Regional transit entities; board members; training
Status: in_force

A. All members of a regional transit entity board shall receive and complete at least six hours of annual training, beginning the first year any such member takes office. The training shall be approved by the staff of the regional planning commission where the regional transit entity is located and shall include the duties, responsibilities, ethics, and substance of the positions held or to be held by such members.

B. The regional planning commission staff shall determine the eligibility of training sessions to be counted for purposes of this Section. Board members may attend training sessions covering topics that include but are not limited to transit planning; financing, operations, and design best practices; parliamentary procedure; public hearing procedure; cultural sensitivity; ethics; workforce and labor issues; public engagement; transit entity governance; and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

C. Board members shall document their attendance of training sessions in a written statement filed with the chief executive officer of the regional transit entity. Each statement shall identify the date of each program attended, its subject matter, location, sponsors, and the time spent in each program. The chief executive officer shall submit the documentation to the regional planning commission annually.

D. Failure of a member to receive and complete the requisite number of training hours within the first year after the member takes office and annually thereafter or to file the statement required by Subsection C of this Section shall constitute a cause for removal of the member by the appointing authority.

E. Failure of one or more members to receive and complete training required by this Section shall not affect, impact, or invalidate any action taken by a regional transit entity board.

F. The provisions of this Section shall apply only to persons appointed to a regional transit entity board on and after January 1, 2015.

G. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) "Board" means the board or commission which serves as the governing body of a regional transit entity.

(2) "Regional transit entity" includes each area public transit system and regional public transit authority that administers a public transit system within a metropolitan area and that is created by law as a political subdivision of the state.

Acts 2014, No. 460, §1; Acts 2014, No. 676, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.27 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.27
Outdoor advertising devices in forestry management areas
Status: in_force

A. The department may issue permits for outdoor advertising devices along highway rights-of-way in areas designated in a department forestry management plan. Applications for permits for devices in such areas may be denied if the department plans to reforest the area with trees or other vegetation which would eventually cause the location to be unfavorable for such use.

B. The term "forestry management plan" as used in this Section means that plan for use of areas within the highway rights-of-way of the interstate system for the harvesting and replanting of timber as determined by the Departments of Agriculture and Forestry and Transportation and Development.

Acts 2004, No. 163, §1, eff. June 10, 2004.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:991 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 991
Streams dividing parishes, concurrent jurisdiction over ferries
Status: in_force

Where streams separate parishes, the parishes between which ferryboats ply thereon have concurrent jurisdiction over the ferry. Complaints for neglect or infractions of the charter are cognizable by the court of either parish in such cases.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:250.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 250.4
Public-private partnership projects
Status: in_force

A.(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary or the requirements of this Part, if the secretary determines it is in the best interest of the taxpayers, the Department of Transportation and Development, with approval of the House and Senate transportation, highways and public works committees, may solicit proposals for public-private partnership projects for a transportation facility. The department shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 48:2084 through 2084.15 that are applicable to public-private partnership projects of the Louisiana Transportation Authority and the provisions of R.S. 48:256.3 and 256.5.

(2) Prior to executing a contract for a public-private partnership, the department shall receive approval from the House and Senate transportation, highways and public works committees to enter into the contract.

(a) The Department of Transportation and Development shall provide the detailed financial analysis of cost conducted by the department and the Federal Highway Administration relative to the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge project to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

(b) The Department of Transportation and Development and the Department of the Treasury shall use the analysis provided for by Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph to prepare a comparative financial analysis of the cost of the design build method of the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge project.

(c) The result of the comparative analysis shall be provided to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works immediately upon completion. The committees shall use the comparative analysis as a reference during deliberation in approving the public-private partnership contract for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge project.

B.(1) Twenty-five percent of public-private partnership projects undertaken by the department shall be located outside the boundaries of a metropolitan planning area, as defined in 23 U.S.C. 134.

(2) Solicitations for public-private partnership projects outside the boundaries of any metropolitan planning area, as defined in 23 U.S.C. 134, shall be subject to the approval of the House and Senate committee on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and rural development in addition to the approval of the House and Senate committees on transportation, highways and public works.

C. The department shall not receive an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership project.

Acts 2016, No. 519, §2, eff. June 13, 2016; Acts 2019, No. 358, §1, eff. June 11, 2019; Acts 2022, No. 758, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1802 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1802
Declaration of policy
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds that the planned construction of a bridge across the Mississippi River in the vicinity of the town of St. Francisville and the city of New Roads has highlighted the need for improved access highways that would connect such bridge with Interstate 49 to the northwest and with Interstate 55 and Interstate 59 to the east in order to improve prospects for economic development and tourism in the parishes that would be served by such highways.

B. The legislature also finds that most of the people living in the district are disadvantaged from an economic development standpoint because they are not served by the kind of highways that economic development prospects require. As a result of this lack of an adequate transportation system, unemployment is high throughout most of the district, and a large percentage of young people who grow up in the district move outside the district in order to find suitable employment.

C. The legislature further finds that, in addition, travel by automobile or truck between the eastern portion of the district and the western portion of the district is difficult and unnecessarily time-consuming because the most direct route is by means of two-lane highways that permit a relatively slow average rate of speed.

D. Such conditions are detrimental to the public interest and require governmental action to correct them. Accordingly, it is the public policy of this state in the interest of public health, safety, convenience, and welfare, to promote the construction of a modern four-lane highway connecting the eastern portion of the district with the western portion of the district, to improve employment opportunities in the district by making the district more attractive to economic development prospects and by increasing tourism in the district.

E. The construction of such a highway would further serve the public interest by relieving some of the traffic congestion in the Baton Rouge area and by assisting with any evacuation that might become necessary in connection with the nuclear plant in the parish of West Feliciana.

Acts 1992, No. 288, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2028 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2028
Establish feasibility; prior written approval
Status: in_force

A. An authority created and established pursuant to this Chapter may only construct new additional highway toll and/or transitway toll facilities under the terms and conditions set forth in this Chapter, with the prior express written consent of the affected governing bodies within the geographic boundaries of the authority after public hearing. Said facilities must be part of the approved transportation plan and program of the department and the local metropolitan planning organization, where applicable.

B. Prior to the creation of the authority and the initiation of environmental impact statements, feasibility studies must first be conducted under sponsorship or approval of the department or the metropolitan planning organization, if applicable, to substantiate project need and justification.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:481 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 481
Powers of parish governing authorities as to roads, bridges, and ditches; penalties
Status: in_force

Parish governing authorities may pass all ordinances which they think necessary relative to roads, bridges, and ditches, and may impose such penalties to enforce them as they think proper.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1660.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1660.1
Public-private partnership projects
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary or the requirements of this Chapter, if the board of commissioners determines it is in the best interest of the taxpayers, the Regional Transit Authority, with approval of the House and Senate transportation, highways, and public works committees, may solicit proposals for and enter into contracts for public-private partnership projects for a transportation facility as defined in R.S. 48:2073, provided the authority shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 48:2084 through 2084.15 that are applicable to public-private partnership projects of the Louisiana Transportation Authority. However, R.S. 48:256.3 and 256.5 shall be applicable in the same manner as any other department projects.

B. The authority shall not receive an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership project.

Acts 2017, No. 216, §1, eff. June 14, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:596 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 596
Consolidated road districts succeed to liabilities, duties, and rights
Status: in_force

The consolidated road district shall, upon lodging its liquidation bonds with the State Treasurer, succeed to and become charged with all the liabilities and duties and vested with all the rights, jurisdiction, and authority of the several districts included therein.

Nothing contained in this Section shall operate to extinguish the corporate existence of any district until all its debts and obligations have been paid.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1000 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1000
Ferries; free passage to parish governing authorities
Status: in_force

A. The free right of passage over any public ferry which moves between two landings located in the same parish and which is leased out or controlled by the state, parish, or municipality for which license is paid or toll exacted shall provide for free passage of all employees of parish governing authorities in official parish governing authority vehicles in their passage to and from work on an official project of the parish governing authority, provided that rules are adopted in accordance with the provisions of Subsection B of this Section.

B. The Department of Transportation and Development shall, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, adopt rules and regulations for the efficient implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Section.

Acts 1993, No. 345, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:862 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 862
Issuance of bridge revenue bonds; security; how payable
Status: in_force

The governing authority of any parish may provide by resolution at one time and from time to time for the issuance of bridge revenue bonds of the parish for the purpose of paying the cost of any one or more of such bridges. This resolution shall recite an estimate of the cost. The principal and interest of the bonds shall be secured by a conventional mortgage upon the bridge and by pledge of the revenues thereof sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest on the bonds as they severally mature. The bonds and the coupons attached thereto shall not be a charge upon any other income or revenue of any parish, the state of Louisiana, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, nor shall said bonds and coupons constitute an indebtedness or pledge of, or affect the general credit of, any parish, the state of Louisiana, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation of indebtedness. The principal and interest of the bonds may be made payable in any lawful medium.

In the discretion of the governing authority of the parish, bonds of a single issue may be issued for the purpose of paying the cost of any one or more bridges.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 664, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:274.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 274.1
Placing of specific information logo signs on interstate highways; contracts with third parties
Status: in_force

A.(1) The department may regulate the content, composition, placement, erection, and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully controlled access highway rights-of-way, or the department may contract with a qualified third party or parties for the placement, erection, and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully controlled access highway rights-of-way. The department may expend any available federal funds for erecting and maintaining specific information logo signs and supports.

(2)(a) If the department contracts with a qualified third party or parties for the placement, erection, and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully controlled access highway rights-of-way, selection of the qualified third party or parties shall be made pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 39:1554(B). The department and the qualified third party or parties shall negotiate the terms and conditions of their contract; however, the qualified third party or parties shall be required to deposit all revenues received pursuant to the contract into a separate account and provide the department with a full accounting of such revenues every three months. The qualified third party or parties shall pay to the department a minimum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year or ten percent of the gross revenue of the logo signing program, whichever is greater, for use of rights-of-way. The term of the initial contract shall not exceed five years; however, the department may extend the initial term of the contract for not more than four additional five-year periods.

(b) If the department contracts with a qualified third party or parties according to the provisions of this Paragraph, an advisory committee shall be formed to monitor and make recommendations to the qualified third party or parties regarding the placement, erection, and maintenance of specific information logo signs and supports within interstate and other fully controlled access highway rights-of-way. The advisory committee shall be composed of the chief executive officers, or their designees, of the following: Louisiana Restaurant Association, Louisiana Hotel and Lodging Association, Louisiana Travel Promotion Association, the Louisiana Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and the Louisiana Oil Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

(3) The department shall establish appropriate and reasonable fees; however, the fees shall not exceed the following:

(a) Four hundred seventy-five dollars, per direction, per mainline. However, beginning in Fiscal Year 2005, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed two hundred seventy-five dollars; beginning in Fiscal Year 2006, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed three hundred seventy-five dollars; beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed four hundred twenty-five dollars; and beginning in Fiscal Year 2008, the fee per mainline sign shall not exceed four hundred seventy-five dollars.

(b) One hundred dollars per direction per ramp.

(c) Fifty dollars per trailblazer.

(4) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are necessary for the implementation of this Section, including but not limited to rules and regulations relative to contracting with a qualified third party or parties.

(5) The ownership of the logo signs and supports erected and maintained by a qualified third party or parties shall be the property of the state of Louisiana.

B.(1) For purposes of this Section "specific information logo signs" shall mean a rectangular sign panel imprinted with the words "FUEL", "FOOD", "LODGING", "CAMPING", or "ATTRACTION", and the businesses which offer those services on each as provided for in administrative rules promulgated pursuant to this Section.

(2) The department shall incorporate the use of "RV friendly" markers on specific information logo signs for establishments which cater to the needs of persons driving recreational vehicles. Establishments which qualify for participation in the specific information logo program and which also qualify as "RV friendly" may request the "RV friendly" marker on their specific information logo sign. An "RV friendly" marker is a bright yellow circle with a crescent smile under the letters RV. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Paragraph including rules and regulations setting forth the minimum requirements that establishments must meet in order to qualify as "RV friendly". These requirements shall include large parking spaces, entrances, and exits which can easily accommodate recreational vehicles, and facilities with appropriate overhang clearances, if applicable.

C. Each business identified on a specific information logo sign shall give written assurance to the department of its conformity with all applicable laws concerning the provision of public accommodations without regard to race, religion, color, sex, or national origin, and shall not be in breach of that assurance.

D. All fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be considered as self-generated revenues and deposited by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development into the state treasury for credit to the Department of Transportation and Development. After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the monies so deposited shall be appropriated as self-generated revenues to the Department of Transportation and Development.

E.-H. Repealed by Acts 1995, No. 490, §2.

I. The procedures for obtaining approval for programming, project authorizations, and other actions for federal-aid projects which include these signs shall follow the same procedures as other federal-aid projects in this state, as prescribed in Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations Subpart C of Section 655 et seq.

Acts 1984, No. 681, §1; Acts 1992, No. 142, §1, eff. June 5, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 203, §1, eff. June 10, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 984, §15; Acts 1995, No. 96, §1; Acts 1995, No. 490, §§1, 2; Acts 1999, No. 606, §1, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 125, §1; Acts 2004, No. 837, §1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 137, §1, eff. June 22, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1157 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1157
Parties; enforcement of contract; validity
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Part and of any contract entered into under the authority hereof, shall constitute a contract between the state, the department, the authority which is a party to such contract, and the holders of any bonds, notes or other obligations of such authority. The holder or holders of any such bonds, notes or other obligations, may enforce the performance of such contract by appropriate action or civil proceeding. The validity of such contract or of any provision thereof shall not be questioned by any person in any action or civil proceeding after the expiration of sixty days from the date of its execution.

Acts 1952, No. 8, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:293 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 293
Competitive selection
Status: in_force

A.(1) Except for Louisiana Transportation Research Center projects, upon termination of the deadline for receipt of responses, the evaluation committee team shall confer and evaluate said responses. A point-based rating system based upon the evaluation criteria and weighting factors provided for in this Section shall be used by the team in its evaluation. Interviews may be used as necessary for evaluation. However, if interviews are a requirement, the advertisement shall so state.

(2) The team shall then prepare and present to the secretary a short list of the three highest rated consultant firms provided there are at least three qualified firms. The secretary or authorized designee shall make the final evaluation and selection from the list. If the secretary or authorized designee selects other than the first ranked consultant firm from the short list, the secretary or authorized designee shall document his reasons for selection of other than the first ranked consultant firm on the short list. All responding firms will be notified of the selection. The team will not consider recommendations by others in their evaluation of the firm's qualifications. The team may be assisted by other department personnel. On those projects for which partial or full funding is supplied by others, the secretary or authorized designee may consider recommendations by the entity supplying the funds. This recommendation must be for a firm on the short list. The recommendation is not binding on the secretary or authorized designee.

B.(1) The general criteria and weighting factors to be used by the evaluation team in evaluating responses to requests for consultant services are as follows:

(a) Experience, both firm and individual, key staff personnel, as related to the project under consideration, weighting factors of three and four respectively.

(b) Past performance on department projects, weighting factor of six.

(c) Current work load, weighting factor of five.

(d) Firm size as related to project magnitude, weighting factor of three.

(e) Location where work will be performed, weighting factor of four except that a weighting factor of six is used for Urban System projects.

(f) Any special evaluation criteria specified in the advertisement required to meet particular project needs.

(2) These weighting factors are those usually used for preconstruction services selections. For other types of services or for special project requirements, the weighting factors may be varied based on the specific project requirements. Weighting factors to be used for each project will be stated in the project's advertisement.

C.(1) The Louisiana Transportation Research Center shall utilize the selection criteria and weighting factors in its "Manual of Research Procedures" and any special evaluation criteria and weighting factors specified in the advertisement required to meet particular project needs to evaluate responses to requests for proposals for research consultants.

(2) The director of the Louisiana Transportation Research Center shall recommend to the secretary or authorized designee the final selection of the consultant as determined by review procedures of the research project review committee and center director in accordance with its "Manual of Research Procedures".

D. The written records produced during the evaluation and selection process are subject to the Public Records Act, R.S. 44:1 et seq.

Acts 1991, No. 784, §1; Acts 1993, No. 375, §1; Acts 2003, No. 100, §1; Acts 2009, No. 255, §1, eff. July 1, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:194 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 194
East Baton Rouge Parish
Status: in_force

A. Nothing contained in this Part nor any other provision of this Title shall prevent the governing authority of East Baton Rouge Parish from undertaking highway construction projects financed entirely by parish funds on highways that are within the state highway system.

B. Such projects, however, are subject to the following:

(1) Only projects that are funded pursuant to a ballot measure approved by the voters of East Baton Rouge Parish on October 15, 2005, may be undertaken pursuant to this Section.

(2) All work shall be done in accordance with and the completed project shall meet all applicable standards of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(3) The plans for any such project are subject to review and approval by the chief engineer of the department, who shall, within thirty days after submission, review and approve or propose changes to plans submitted by the parish.

(4) The parish governing authority may proceed with the design and construction portions of the project when it deems appropriate subject to approval provided for in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection; however, the construction phase shall be coordinated with the department so as to minimize disruption of the flow of traffic on and near the site of the project, taking into consideration any other projects the department may be executing at the same time and rules and regulations of the department.

(5) Upon completion of the project, the section of highway shall be maintained by the department under the same terms and conditions as apply to any other portion of the state highway system.

Acts 2006, No. 413, §1, eff. June 15, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:861 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 861
Restoration of or compensation for damages or destroyed property
Status: in_force

All public or private property damaged or destroyed in carrying out the powers granted under this Sub-part shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as practicable or adequately paid for out of the funds provided by this Sub-part.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:712 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 712
Methods of disposition of property
Status: in_force

The said property may be disposed of by one of the following four methods: (1) revocation of the dedication of the property if it consists of a street, road or alley dedicated to public use; (2) sale of any type of property at public auction; (3) sale of any type of property at private sale; or (4) exchange of any type of property for other property of approximately equal value.

Acts 1968, No. 432, §3. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 648, §1; Acts 1972, No. 417, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1100 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1100
Bonds as legal investment
Status: in_force

Savings banks, insurance companies, homestead associations, tutors, curators, trustees and other fiduciaries may invest the funds in their hands in the bonds issued by the authority, and the bonds shall constitute legal investment for such funds. The authority shall not be liable to beneficiaries, minors, wards or interdicted persons for moneys paid to their trustees, tutors or curators on account of such bonds. Said bonds may be used for deposit with any officer, board, municipality or other political subdivision of the state in any case where, by present or future laws, deposit or security is required.

Acts 1958, No. 526, §10.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:256.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 256.8
Petitions by authorities against claimants, contractors, and surety; preferential payment of claimants
Status: in_force

A. If at the expiration of the forty-five days any filed and recorded claims are unpaid, the department shall file a petition in the proper court of the parish where the work was done, citing all claimants and the contractor, subcontractor, and surety on the bond and asserting whatever claims it has against any of them, and shall require the claimants to assert their claims. If the department fails to file the proceeding any claimant may do so.

B. All the claims shall be tried in a concursus proceeding and the claims of the claimants shall be paid in preference to the claims of the department.

C. All suits for judgment against the contractor or the surety or both on the bond shall be filed as prescribed in this Section.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:704 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 704
Contracts of exchange
Status: in_force

All contracts of exchange made under the provisions of R.S. 48:702 shall be in notarial form. They shall be followed by an ordinance or dedication of the new road, street, or alley, with reference to plans made by the parish engineer or a similar official duly authorized by the governing authority of the parish. These plans shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of court and recorder of the parish where the exchange is made.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1804 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1804
Creation of district and commission; powers
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created the Zachary Taylor Parkway District, subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, which shall be a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana comprising all of the territory within the geographical boundaries of the parishes of Avoyelles, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, and West Feliciana.

B. There is hereby created the Zachary Taylor Parkway Commission, and the management and control of the district is hereby vested in the commission. The commission shall be domiciled in West Feliciana Parish.

C. The commission is hereby granted all the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities granted to political subdivisions, including but not limited to the following:

(1) To sue and be sued.

(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

(3) To initiate and coordinate research studies, and the gathering of information on the project, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Engineering studies.

(b) Traffic flow and pattern studies.

(c) Environmental impact studies.

(d) Location of the proposed route.

(e) Economic development impacts and benefits.

(f) Feasibility of obtaining designation of the highway as a National Defense Highway and as a part of the National Highway System.

(g) Utility relocation.

(h) Right of way acquisition.

(i) Project construction cost/benefit ratio studies.

(j) Feasibility of including the highway in the Louisiana Scenic Byway Program.

(4) To be designated an official repository for information relating to and about the project. As such, the district is empowered to receive and preserve all information gathered by other parties pertaining to the project.

(5) To receive contributions, donations, grants, and appropriations of money or other things of value from any public or private source.

(6) To enter into a cooperative endeavor by written agreement with the state or with any other public or private entity.

(7) To employ such persons as employees and to enter into such contracts for services as it deems advisable, but the commission shall not enter into any contract for the design or construction of the project or any portion thereof.

(8) To work jointly or in cooperation with the state of Mississippi in the planning and development of the parkway and to carry out the purposes of this Chapter.

D. The commission shall not design any portion of the project, engage in or supervise the construction of any portion of the project, nor maintain any portion of the project.

Acts 1992, No. 288, §1; Acts 1993, No. 230, §1; Acts 2016, No. 290, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2191 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2191
Definitions
Status: in_force

The following terms, as used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where a different meaning is expressly stated or clearly indicated by context:

(1) "Bodily injury" means claims for general and special damages for personal injury arising under Civil Code Article 2315.

(2) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

(3) "Digital network" means any online-enabled application, software, website, or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the prearrangement of rides with transportation network company drivers.

(4) "Gross trip fare" means the base fare plus any time or distance charges, excluding any additional charges such as airport or venue fees.

(5) "Intrastate prearranged ride" means any prearranged ride, as provided for in this Section, originating within the jurisdiction of the local governmental subdivision.

(6) "Local governmental subdivision" means any parish or municipality as defined in Article VI, Section 44 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(7) "Personal vehicle" means a vehicle that is used by a transportation network company driver and is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the transportation network company driver. A personal vehicle is not a vehicle subject to Parts A and B of the Motor Carrier law as provided for in R.S. 45:161 et seq. or engaged solely in interstate commerce.

(8) "Prearranged ride" means the provision of transportation by a driver to a rider that commences when a driver accepts a ride requested by a person through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company, continues during the driver transporting a requesting rider, and ends when the last requesting rider departs from the personal vehicle. A prearranged ride does not include shared expense van pool services, as defined pursuant to R.S. 45:162, shared expense car pool services, as defined pursuant to R.S. 45:162, or transportation provided using a vehicle subject to Part A or B of the Motor Carrier law as provided for in R.S. 45:161 et seq. or engaged solely in interstate commerce.

(9) "Pre-trip acceptance period" means any period of time during which a driver is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network and is available to receive transportation requests, but is not engaged in an intrastate prearranged ride as defined in this Section.

(10) "Transportation network company" or "company" means a person, whether natural or juridical, that uses a digital network to connect transportation network company riders to transportation network company drivers who provide prearranged rides, or a person, whether natural or juridical, that provides a technology platform to a transportation network company rider that enables the transportation network company rider to schedule an intrastate prearranged ride.

(11) "Transportation network company driver" or "driver" means a person who receives connections to potential passengers and related services from a transportation network company in exchange for payment of a fee to the transportation network company, and who uses a personal vehicle to offer or provide a prearranged ride to persons upon connection through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company in return for compensation or payment of a fee.

(12) "Transportation network company rider" or "rider" means a person who uses a transportation network company's digital network to connect with a transportation network driver who provides intrastate prearranged rides to the rider in the driver's personal vehicle between points chosen by the rider.

(13) "Transportation network company vehicle" or "vehicle" has the same meaning as "personal vehicle" as provided for in this Section.

Acts 2019, No. 286, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1659 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1659
Utility structures, authority to remove, relocation procedures
Status: in_force

A. The authority shall have the power to require any public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation owning or operating any installations, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities in, upon, under, over, across, or along any ways on which the authority has the right to own, construct, operate, or maintain its mass transportation system and to remove or relocate such installation, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities from their locations. If the owner or operator thereof fails or refuses to remove or relocate them, the authority may proceed to do so. The authority may provide the necessary new locations, and for that purpose, the power of eminent domain as provided in Section 1661 of this Chapter may be exercised; however, the new locations shall not be in, on, or above a public way. The authority also may acquire the necessary new locations by purchase or otherwise. The authority shall reimburse the public utility, railroad, or other public service corporation for the cost of relocations, and the reimbursement shall be in the entire amount paid or incurred by the utility which is properly attributable thereto after deducting the cost of any increase in the service capacity of the new installations, structures, equipment, apparatus, appliances, or facilities, and any salvage value derived from the old installation, structures, equipment, apparatus, or appliances.

B. The authority shall have the power to prepare plans for and carry on a relocation program for the relocation of persons, including individuals, families, business concerns, nonprofit organizations, and others who are displaced by operations of the authority in carrying out a mass transportation project. The authority shall have the power to acquire by purchase, lease, gift or contract such personal and real property, improved and unimproved, and to make improvements thereon, as it deems reasonably necessary to carry out such relocation program, and to make relocation payments to or with respect to such persons, including the making of such payments financed, in whole or in part, by the federal government, and in accomplishing the foregoing, to provide in the same area, or in other areas generally not less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities and at rents or prices within the financial means of the displaced persons, a sufficient number of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings available to those displaced persons and reasonably accessible to their respective places of employment. The authority shall have the power to apply for and receive grants, loans, and other financial assistance from the federal government, the state of Louisiana, or any local government within the metropolitan area for such relocation payments, including payments for the reasonable and necessary moving expenses and any actual direct losses of property, except good will or profit, resulting from displacement of such persons by the project.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 439, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1979.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:292 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 292
Noncompetitive negotiation selections
Status: in_force

A. In special and rare circumstances, noncompetitive selection may be utilized. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:

(1) Specialty contracts where the necessary expertise is available only from one or a few sources.

(2) The extension of services by the original consultant required on a project for which the contract has been satisfactorily completed and closed out at an earlier date.

(3) Contracts requiring immediate action.

B. The section head, after ascertaining the need for a noncompetitive selection, shall request approval from the secretary or his authorized designee through the assistant secretary for project delivery in consultation with the chief engineer, assistant secretary for operations, or commissioner of the office of multimodal commerce, whichever is applicable to the project, to engage a specific firm to perform the required services. The request shall be in written form containing the following information:

(1) The justification for a noncompetitive selection.

(2) The recommended firm and the reason for the recommendation.

(3) The type of contract recommended.

(4) The approximate cost.

C. For federal aid projects, the noncompetitive selection shall be submitted to the appropriate federal agency for approval at an early stage.

D. For research projects, the determination for noncompetitive selection shall be based upon a recommendation by the Louisiana Transportation Research Center to the secretary and documented as required in R.S. 48:292(B).

Acts 1991, No. 784, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §1; Acts 2009, No. 255, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:859 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 859
Construction of bridges
Status: in_force

Any parish may construct, subject to the approval hereinafter required, any bridge, or construct improvements to any bridge theretofore constructed or acquired, whenever such construction is deemed expedient. The parish may purchase within this state and within any adjoining state, solely from funds provided under authority of this Sub-part, any lands, structures, rights of way, franchises, servitudes, and other interests in lands, including lands under water and riparian rights of any person or political subdivision, deemed necessary for the construction of any such bridge, upon such terms and at such prices as are considered reasonable by it and can be agreed upon between it and the owners thereof. It shall take title thereto in its name.

The state of Louisiana consents to the use of all lands lying under water which are within the state and are necessary to the construction and operation of any such bridge and the approaches and appurtenances thereto.

All bridges constructed, acquired or improved under the provisions of this Sub-part shall be so constructed, acquired or improved only after having received approval of the Department of Highways of the state of Louisiana, or its successor. This approval shall be with respect to location and the relationship of the bridge to an integrated system of state highways, as determined by the Department of Highways of the state of Louisiana, or its successor.

To afford users of any such project a reasonable choice of motor fuels of different brands, each gasoline service station or site therefor shall be separately offered for lease upon sealed bids for private operation and, after at least 4 weeks notice of the offer has been published in a newspaper having general circulation in the state, each such lease shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder therefor, who may provide for the operation of the service station by a third person, but no person shall be awarded or have the use of, nor shall motor fuel identified by the trademarks, trade names, or brands of any one supplier, distributor, or retailer of such fuel be sold at, (1) consecutive service stations along one side of such project, or (2) more than one service station if they constitute more than 20 percent of the service stations on such project.

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 664, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:727 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 727
Authorization to dispose of streets and rights-of-way; methods and procedures; sale
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, upon a determination by the governing authority of the town of Abita Springs that any street or right-of-way owned by the city or title to which is in the public is no longer needed for public use, the same may be disposed of as provided for in this Part. However, the city shall not dispose of any streets or rights-of-way pursuant to this Part unless such property has been held by the governing authority for at least ten years.

B.(1) The property shall be disposed of by one of the following methods:

(a) Revocation of the dedication of the property if it consists of a street or right-of-way dedicated to public use.

(b) Sale of the property at public auction.

(c) Sale of the property at private sale.

(d) Exchange of the property for other property of approximately equal value.

(2) The governing authority of Abita Springs shall adopt an ordinance after advertising the ordinance in the official journal of the town at least three weeks in advance, but no more than ninety days in advance, declaring that the property is no longer needed for public purposes and authorizing its disposition by one of the four methods prescribed in this Subsection.

C. Where streets or rights-of-way are involved, if the dedication of the same is revoked, upon the effective date of the revocation all of the soil covered by and embraced in such streets or rights-of-way up to the center line thereof shall revert to the present owner or owners of the land contiguous thereto.

D.(1) If the governing authority decides to dispose of the property by sale at public auction, a minimum price shall be established by the governing authority and it may fix the conditions of the sale, which conditions may include the right to reject any or all bids and permission to pay for the property on either a cash or credit basis.

(2) If the governing authority decides to dispose of the property at private sale, it shall have the property appraised by an expert appraiser or appraisers appointed by the authority and the property shall not be sold for less than the value so established.

(3) If the governing authority decides to dispose of the property by exchange, it may be exchanged for other property of approximately equal value, provided that the governing authority may pay or receive any difference in value in cash.

E. This Part shall be construed as affording an alternative procedure to that set forth in R.S. 33:4712, 4717, 4718, and 4719, and shall supersede the provisions of R.S. 48:701 through 704.

F. The disposition of such property by the governing authority pursuant to this Part shall not have the effect of denying access to such property to any person.

Acts 2001, No. 743, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2165 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2165
Passenger rail service
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds and declares:

(1) Passenger rail service connecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans is supported by current federal policy and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which provides billions of dollars for passenger rail improvements and service nationwide.

(2) Passenger rail service connecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans with key stops in Jefferson Parish, LaPlace, Gonzales, and the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is a key project in the 2021, More Trains. More Cities. Better Service: Amtrak's Vision for Improving Transportation Across America .

(3) A recent survey which drew in over four thousand six hundred completed responses, primarily from parishes which would be directly served by the proposed rail service, found strong support region-wide for passenger rail as well as considerable interest in multimodal travel locally.

(4) Passenger rail service along the Interstate 20 corridor between Marshall, Texas and Meridian, Mississippi through north Louisiana is supported by current federal policy and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which provides billions of dollars for passenger rail improvements and service nationwide.

(5) Passenger rail services along the Interstate 20 corridor between Marshall, Texas and Meridian, Mississippi through north Louisiana with key stops in Monroe, Ruston, Delhi, and Shreveport-Bossier City.

(6) The Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments commissioned the North Louisiana Passenger Rail Feasibility Study to assess the potential of initiating a startup passenger rail service, primarily including the locations directly served by the proposed rail service, found strong support from the input of local, regional, and state stakeholders and the public to implement passenger rail service.

(7) The Department of Transportation and Development Rail Plan provides that the department, based on input received from stakeholders and the public during the preparation of the plan, shall work toward the following initiatives:

(a) Work with neighboring states on rail initiatives which benefit the region.

(b) Participate in the Southern Rail Commission on both passenger and freight initiatives.

(c) Support the improvement of existing Amtrak services and Amtrak stations.

(d) Support the development of new intercity rail initiatives that enhance mobility options for Louisianians.

(8) Now is the ideal time to explore the opportunity to electrify passenger rail, clarify who the owners and operators of the track and rail line will be, and determine whether or not the track should be passenger-only or shared with freight, and what the safest, most efficient manner would be to best utilize the railway.

B.(1) The Department of Transportation and Development shall prepare the scope, schedule, and budget to secure all necessary approvals and permits to begin passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and may apply for grants and other funds typical for passenger rail, as appropriate, and to facilitate development of the necessary platforms or stations to support passenger service.

(2) Pursuant to this Subsection, the Department of Transportation and Development shall provide the scope, schedule, and budget to the joint committees on transportation, highways and public works before the start of the 2023 Regular Session.

C. In implementing the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, the department may:

(1) Identify a team of internal staff and professional consultants only as necessary to complete the preparations for service to commence.

(2) Minimize the length of time required for the completion of the study and the initiation of service.

(3) Seek approval with the National Environmental Policy Act.

(4) Complete only those analyses, studies, and engineering required to establish initial service.

(5) Initiate processes needed to obtain federal approvals for the more long-term and more costly improvements including rail upgrades, grade crossing improvements, and replacement of the Bonnet Carre' Spillway Bridge.

D. Compliance with Subsections B and C of this Section shall not be construed to preclude the department from concurrently pursuing funding for railway and station improvements identified in any other state or local railway improvement plan.

Acts 2022, No. 764, §2, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:458 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 458
Grant as additional authority
Status: in_force

The right to take possession and title in advance of final judgment, as provided herein, is in addition to any right or authority conferred by the laws of this state under which expropriation proceedings may be conducted, and shall not be construed as abrogating, eliminating, or modifying any such right or authority.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 107, §1, eff. June 24, 1954. Amended by Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:271 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 271
Historical markers; tourist attractions
Status: in_force

A. The department may erect, at suitable points selected by the Louisiana Tourism Development Commission, bronze markers denoting and describing locations and occasions of historical interest. These markers shall conform to a standard size and design prepared by the department in cooperation with the commission and shall be maintained by the department. The language of the legend thereon shall be submitted to and approved by the Department of History of Louisiana State University. When sponsored by and furnished by authentic historical organizations, the markers may carry the sponsor's organization name along the bottom edge thereof, but otherwise shall conform in all respects to the standard design and method of erection as provided in this Section. The placing of the name of any living person upon these markers is expressly prohibited.

B. The department, in cooperation with the office of tourism of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, may erect, at suitable points, signs denoting locations of state tourist attractions and tourist information centers. These markers shall conform to a standard size and design prepared by the department in cooperation with the commission and shall be maintained by the department.

C. The department may erect directional signs to state park areas in cooperation with the office of state parks and in accordance with the statewide highway sign program for state park areas, as developed and periodically reviewed and updated by the office of state parks. The signs shall be standard department directional signs and shall be erected on state highways, official system roads that connect state parks to existing state highways, and interstate highways. The signs shall be maintained by the department.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 490, §1; Acts 1997, No. 701, §1; Acts 1999, No. 996, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 1104, §1, eff. June 28, 2001.