La. Rev. Stat. § 48:233 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 233
Delays in construction; public statement; substitution of another project; allocated funds
Status: in_force

The projects planned for the year for which appropriations have been made shall be commenced in that year; however, if a project cannot be commenced within the year for which it is planned, the secretary shall file with the project records a public statement as to the factors causing the delay, and the next priority project meeting all necessary needed requirements for the same highway classification shall be substituted therefor. When the delaying factors have been overcome, the delayed project shall be placed in the highest priority for the next ensuing fiscal year. Funds allocated for each construction project shall remain so allocated until the project is completed and the project costs are liquidated.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 334, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:264.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 264.1
Salvage materials; bridges and roads; coastal protection and restoration projects
Status: in_force

A. When, in the opinion of the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, it is in the best interest of the state, he may order any materials deemed of no salvage value recovered from the reconstruction or repair of any state road or bridge, or from any other work performed by the department to be disposed of by donation to any political subdivision of the state for its use, such donation to be made in accordance with a procedure established by the secretary.

B. When, in the opinion of the secretary of the department or his designee, it is in the best interest of the state, he may order any materials deemed of no salvage value recovered from the reconstruction or repair of any state road or bridge, or from any other work performed by the department to be disposed of by transfer to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to be utilized for coastal protection and restoration projects, such transfer to be made in accordance with procedures established by the secretary or his designee in coordination with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 283, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 2012, No. 487, §1; Acts 2016, No. 430, §6.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:385 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 385
Sewage disposal in highway ditches
Status: in_force

No industrial wastes, sewage, septic tanks effluent, nor any noxious or harmful matter, solid, liquid, or gaseous, shall be discharged into the side or cross ditches or placed upon the rights-of-way of state highways, without the prior written consent of the chief engineer, or his duly authorized representative, and of the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1992, No. 350, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:213 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 213
Agreements with other states
Status: in_force

The department may enter into agreements with adjacent states for the joint construction, operation, and maintenance of interstate bridges over streams or other waters and for any other matters that properly concern the construction, operation, and maintenance of public highways.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1302 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1302
Road lighting districts; security and road lighting districts; designation
Status: in_force

A. Each such district shall be designated Road Lighting District No. ______ of the parish of ______. The parish governing authority creating such district shall be the governing authority thereof, and the parish treasurer shall be the treasurer of the district.

B.(1) A parish governing authority may designate a district that is authorized to use funds in accordance with R.S. 48:1301(B) as a security and road lighting district in a form similar to that provided by Subsection A of this Section for road lighting districts.

(2) Unless context indicates otherwise, references to road lighting districts in this Chapter include any district designated by a parish governing authority as a security and road lighting district.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 515, §1; Acts 2024, No. 610, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1307.

NOTE: Former R.S. 48:1302 redesignated as R.S. 48:1305 by Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:778 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 778
Special taxes
Status: in_force

A. Pursuant to Article VI, Section 30 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the board of commissioners may levy an ad valorem tax or taxes for a term as determined by the board of commissioners, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, equipping, furnishing, maintaining, or operating any work of public improvement, including both movable and immovable property necessary in connection with road and bridge projects, which shall include a new Mississippi River bridge located within the boundaries of the district.

B. For the purpose of providing revenue to carry out the objects contemplated in this Part, the board of commissioners may levy on all property in the district, subject to taxation, an ad valorem tax not to exceed five mills on the dollar of its assessed valuation, as provided by Article VI, Section 19 of the Constitution of Louisiana. The tax may be levied only after the question of its levy has been submitted to the qualified electors of the district or subdistrict at an election held for that purpose and conducted in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code and the majority of those voting in each parish comprising the district or subdistrict have voted in favor of the levy of the tax.

C.(1) Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, the governing authority of the district shall have the authority to incur debt and issue revenue bonds for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, extending, or improving works of capital improvement related to roads and other similar public works, which shall include a new Mississippi River bridge located within the boundaries of the district.

(2) Such bonds shall be authorized and issued in accordance with the provisions of Part XIII of Chapter 4, Chapter 13, and Chapter 13-A, all of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. Such bonds shall be issued in the name of the district and shall not be general obligations of the district, Ascension Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, Iberville Parish, Livingston Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, or the state of Louisiana.

(3) Such bonds shall be issued by the commission of the district only after authorization by a majority of the electors of the district voting in an election held in accordance with the election laws of the state of Louisiana.

Acts 2018, No. 488, §1, eff. May 25, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:857 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 857
Expropriation powers given by Congress may be exercised
Status: in_force

Every parish may exercise, in this and in any other state, such powers of expropriation or eminent domain as are conferred upon it by any act of Congress.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2135 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2135
Public records; public meetings; right of public agencies to records
Status: in_force

The board created by this Chapter shall be subject to and fully comply with the public records law, R.S. 44:1 et seq., and the open meetings law, R.S. 42:11 et seq., of the state. The proceedings and documents of the board shall be public record. All reports, maps, or other technical documents produced in whole or in part by the board may be utilized by the board or any other public agency in any manner that it deems necessary and advisable in the conduct of its duties.

Acts 2007, No. 329, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:230 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 230
Priority reports on future construction projects
Status: in_force

The department also shall provide to the legislature annually an additional list of projects proposed to be commenced within the ensuing four years which are in various stages of planning and preparation. This list shall be subject to change by the department until the department finally approves each project for construction.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 334, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2181 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2181
State-designated projects; department approvals
Status: in_force

A. A compact may, upon obtaining the approval of the Department of Transportation and Development undertake a state-designated project as a project under this Chapter.

B. Any portion of a compact project which is proposed to connect with or otherwise directly affect the operation of any portion of any state highway or any state-designated project shall be approved by the Department of Transportation and Development.

C. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, specifically including but not limited to the Louisiana Expressway Law (R.S. 48:1251 et seq.), any compact organized pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall have full power to carry out all of the powers and duties set forth in this Chapter, without the necessity of obtaining the approval or consent of the state, or any state agency, political subdivision, district, authority, or other public entity except as expressly provided for in this Chapter.

Acts 2010, No. 838, §2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 858, §1, eff. June 30, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1306 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1306
Tax-levying power vested in consolidated district
Status: in_force

At the expiration of such thirty-day period, road lighting districts included in any such consolidated district shall no longer have the right to levy taxes, and the said consolidated district shall be vested with full authority to levy taxes within and for the consolidated district pursuant to and in accordance with the original authorization for the levy of taxes granted to each of the underlying districts included within the consolidated district. It shall be the duty of the governing authority of the consolidated district to cause taxes to continue to be levied under and in accordance with the original authorization granted to each of the road lighting districts included within the consolidated district, and such taxes as may be levied by the governing authority of the consolidated district shall, to the extent hereafter provided, be entitled to the benefit of the exemption and to the reimbursal authorized by R.S. 39:253.

Acts 1964, No. 223, §3; Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1303.

NOTE: Former R.S. 48:1306 redesignated as R.S. 48:1301 by Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1101.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1101.2
Greater New Orleans Mississippi River Bridges; transit lanes
Status: in_force

A.(1) The transit lanes on the Greater New Orleans Mississippi River Bridges No. 1 and No. 2 shall be opened to vehicular traffic classified as "high occupancy vehicle two" or "HOV 2". These transit lanes shall be designated as one-way roadways, with the traffic proceeding to the downtown area in the morning and traffic proceeding to the Westbank in the afternoon in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Crescent City Connection and Department of Transportation and Development.

(2) The Department of Transportation and Development and the Crescent City Connection may charge as tolls a use permit fee which shall be priced lower than the established tolls to encourage carpooling. The Department of Transportation and Development and the Crescent City Connection may promulgate rules and regulations concerning the implementation and costs of said permits.

B. However, the provisions of this Section shall be implemented in accordance with the rules and regulations of appropriate federal agencies.

Acts 1997, No. 748, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:753 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 753
Use of the fund
Status: in_force

A. The monies in the Parish Transportation Fund shall be used:

(1) To regulate the proportion and direction and the making and repairing of the roads, bridges, causeways, dykes, dams, levees, and highways when, in the opinion of the parish governing authority, such work will further the best interest of the parish and the parish road system.

(2) To maintain private driveways in connection with a general road improvement program within the right of way of a public road or highway owned by the parish when such maintenance serves a public purpose.

(3) To purchase equipment for road work at the discretion of the parish governing authority.

(4) To assist in the cost of providing public transit.

(5) In addition, a parish governing authority, upon request of the governing authority of any incorporated municipality within the parish, may perform all or any part of the repair, maintenance, and care of roads, streets, alleys, bridges, and culverts and other drainage facilities, situated within and under the jurisdiction of such incorporated municipality.

(6) In addition, provided that the project cost does not exceed the contract limit as defined by R.S. 38:2212, and provided that the parish governing authority indemnifies the state for any loss or injury arising therefrom, a parish governing authority may perform maintenance work on state highway rights of way as follows:

(a) Install culverts in drainage ditches after acquisition of and in compliance with any permit as required by the department.

(b) Clean out ditches and work on shoulders of state highways. The local governing authority shall notify the Department of Transportation and Development not less than five days prior to the commencement of such work.

(c) Patch potholes on aprons connecting parish and state highways. The local governing authority shall notify the Department of Transportation and Development not less than five days prior to the commencement of such work.

B. Of the funds herein provided which are used for road and bridge purposes, eighty percent shall be used for maintenance, construction contracts, or maintenance or construction materials.

C. Of the funds herein provided which are used for transit purposes, such funds may be used for transit operating expenses as defined in R.S. 48:756(C), or for the acquisition of rolling stock.

D. The amount distributed to a parish under this Part shall not be decreased when that parish moves to a classification composed of a higher population. In such case the total amount distributed for that parish shall continue at the same level as distributed to the parish for the last fiscal year in the preceding classification. This level of funding shall continue until the population reaches the necessary level to compensate the parish at the same or greater level attained from the rate in the preceding classification.

E. The construction, maintenance, and operation of the parish roads and of all appurtenances thereof shall be under the administration of each parish governing authority.

F. For purposes of this Part, "public road" means any road, or portion thereof, dedicated as a public road and/or accepted for maintenance by a parish or municipal governing authority, or constructed or maintained for an uninterrupted period of three years, by a parish or municipal governing authority, provided such road, or portion thereof, serves a public purpose that is in the best interest of the parish or municipality and their respective road systems. The provisions of this Subsection shall not negate the right of any public utility which, as of July 1, 1993, occupies such road right of way with its facilities to continue to occupy such road right of way, nor shall such provisions prevent said public utilities from adding to, deleting from, or maintaining or repairing its facilities on such road right of way. Subject to the provisions of Article VII, Section 14 of the Constitution of Louisiana, each parish and municipal governing authority shall make the determination of whether a road, or portion thereof, within their respective road systems, meets the definition of a public road for the purpose of the parish transportation system. The provisions of this Subsection shall not invalidate any public road which has been constructed by or maintained by a parish or municipal governing authority prior to August 15, 1993.

G.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, and particularly any contrary provision of this Section, the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish may use a portion of the monies it has been allocated from the Parish Transportation Fund to perform additional work as follows:

(a) To fund or perform landscaping and maintenance improvements along interstate highway rights-of-way within Calcasieu Parish.

(b) To fund or construct capacity improvements to state highways within Calcasieu Parish in accordance with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development standards.

(2) The additional work shall be performed, provided that the project cost does not exceed the contract limit as defined by R.S. 38:2212, and provided that the Calcasieu Parish governing authority indemnifies the state for any loss or injury arising therefrom.

Acts 1990, No. 221, §1; Acts 1991, No. 841, §1; Acts 1992, No. 204, §1; Acts 1993, No. 870, §1; Acts 2015, No. 160, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:883 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 883
Setting of bridge tolls
Status: in_force

The governing authority of any parish issuing its bonds under the provisions of this Sub-part shall impose rates for the use of any bridge sufficient to operate and maintain the bridge, pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, and provide an adequate fund for depreciation, improvements, and extensions. Subject to this requirement, the governing authority may fix and revise the tolls from time to time and charge and collect them.

Tolls shall be so fixed and adjusted, in respect of the aggregate of tolls from the bridge or bridges for which a single issue of bonds is issued, as to provide a fund sufficient, with other revenues of the bridge or bridges, if any, to pay:

(1) Any payments to reimburse the parish for losses of taxes, as provided by R.S. 48:882;

(2) The cost of maintaining and operating the bridge or bridges unless that cost is otherwise provided for; and

(3) The bonds and interest thereon as each becomes due.

These tolls are not subject to supervision or regulation by any state commission, board, bureau, or agency.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1817 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1817
Powers and duties of the board of commissioners
Status: in_force

The district, through the board of commissioners, shall have 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 receive contributions, donations, grants, and appropriations of money or other things of value from any public or private source.

(4) To enter into cooperative endeavors by written agreement with the state or with any other public or private entity.

(5) To employ such persons as employees and to enter into such contracts for services as it deems advisable.

(6) To develop and implement a plan for the preservation, beautification, and promotion of the scenic drive and the natural, historic, and cultural sites and attractions of the route with the assistance of the Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

(7) To acquire servitudes adjacent to the Creole Nature Trail Scenic Byway for the preservation of the natural beauty of the area, but such authority shall not include the acquisition of rights-of-way for the construction of such scenic highway, the acquisition of which shall be the sole jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(8) To adopt rules and regulations providing for the utilization and administration of the servitudes herein authorized to be acquired.

Acts 1995, No. 539, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:772 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 772
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Part, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) "Bonds" means any bonds, notes, certificates, or other written contracts or instruments evidencing the obligation to repay borrowed money regardless of the designation thereof.

(2) "District" means the Capital Area Road and Bridge District created by this Part.

(3) "Road or bridge project" means a project undertaken pursuant to this Part for the construction, development, reconstruction, acquisition, extension, or improvement of works of capital improvements related to public roads, streets, highways, bridges, and associated drainage, the title to which shall be in the public.

Acts 2018, No. 488, §1, eff. May 25, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:442 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 442
Contents of petition for expropriation; place of filing
Status: in_force

The rights of expropriation granted by this Part shall be exercised in the following manner:

(1) A petition shall be filed by the plaintiff in the district court of the parish in which the property to be expropriated is situated. However, where the property to be expropriated extends into two or more parishes and the owner of the property resides in one of them, the petition shall be filed in the district court of the parish where the owner resides, but if the owner does not reside in any one of the parishes into which the property extends, the petition may be filed in any one of the parishes. In all such cases, the court wherein the petition is filed shall have jurisdiction to adjudicate as to all the property involved.

(2) The petition shall contain a statement of the purpose for which the property is to be expropriated, describing the property necessary therefor with a plan of the same, a description of the improvement thereon, if any, and the name of the owner or owners as shown in the public records.

(3) The petition shall have annexed thereto the following:

(a) A certified copy of a certificate of authorization to expropriate executed by the secretary of the department, declaring that the taking is necessary or useful for the purposes of this Part.

(b) A certificate signed by the chief engineer or, in his absence, his principal assistant, declaring that he has fixed the right-of-way in a manner sufficient in his judgment to provide presently and in the future for the public interest, safety, and convenience.

(c) A certificate signed by the chief engineer, by the road design engineer, and, if appropriate, by the bridge design engineer, declaring that the location and design of the proposed improvements are in accordance with the best modern practices adopted in the interest of the safety and convenience of the traveling public. In the absence of any of them, his chief assistant may sign for him.

(d) An itemized statement of the amount of money estimated to be the full extent of the owner's loss for the taking or the damage, or both, as the case may be, the methodology used in the estimate, and all of the information required by R.S. 48:443 relative to estimators. It shall be signed by those who made the estimate, showing the capacity in which they acted, and the date on which it was made. The real estate administrator or his designated representative shall signify his approval on the face thereof. It shall not be grounds to dismiss the taking if it is shown that the estimate is or may be less than the full extent of the owner's loss.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2003, No. 1065, §2, eff. July 1, 2003.

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 1979, No. 413, §9, eff. July 11, 1979; Acts 1984, No. 304, §1; Acts 1988, No. 882, §1; Acts 1989, No. 124, §1, eff. June 22, 1989; Acts 2001, No. 473, §1, eff. June 21, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 1065, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2003.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:942 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 942
Contracts relating to bridges
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no state agency, political subdivision of the state nor any board or commission created pursuant to a local services agreement, without prior approval by the legislature, shall enter into any contract which would have the effect of any of the following with respect to any bridge in the state which is greater than five miles in length:

(1) Providing for the sale, lease as lessor, transfer, or conveyance of title or any interest in such a bridge.

(2) Providing for the transfer of any responsibility for the management, control, or operation of the bridge to any other entity, public or private.

B. The provisions of this Section shall not prohibit a public works contract for repair, expansion, maintenance, cleaning, or any other work relating to the physical structure of the bridge and appurtenances nor any contracts for the collection of public tolls for a state agency or political subdivision or services related to such toll collection.

Acts 2008, No. 313, §1; Acts 2008, No. 691, §§1, 2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2027 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2027
Right of public agencies to material
Status: in_force

Any authority created pursuant to this Chapter shall be subject to and fully comply with the Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1 et seq.) and the Open Meetings Law (R.S. 42:11 et seq.) of the state. The proceedings and documents of an authority shall be public record. All reports, maps, or other technical documents produced in whole or in part by an authority may be utilized by the department or any other public agency in any manner that it deems necessary and advisable in the conduct of its duties.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:218 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 218
Expropriation for highways; compensation and damages
Status: in_force

Where it is necessary to acquire a right of way over, or the title to, private property in order to carry out the purposes of this Chapter and the owner thereof is unable to agree with the department as to the purchase price or charge therefor or is otherwise unwilling to transfer either the title to or the right of way over the property, the department may proceed to expropriate the property or the right of way thereover under the general expropriation laws of the state. The proceedings shall be brought in the name of the state and shall be tried as summarily as possible, either in term time or vacation.

In expropriating lands for rights of way, if any improvement of the landowner or any crops upon the land are damaged or destroyed by the location of the right of way, the owner may recover compensation, in addition to the compensation for the property or the right of way, for the actual injury to or destruction of the improvement or crop.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2203 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2203
Audit procedures; confidentiality of records
Status: in_force

A. For the purpose of verifying that a company is in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter, the department shall have the right to audit the records that the company is required to maintain. The audit shall be conducted using a reasonable sampling procedure agreed upon by the department and the company, and shall take place at a location agreed upon by the department and the company. Any record furnished to the department may, as appropriate, exclude information that would identify specific drivers or riders.

B. The governing body of a local governmental subdivision may request from the department a report on the results of the audit performed by the department pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.

C. In response to a specific complaint against any driver or company, the department is authorized to inspect records held by the company that are necessary to investigate and resolve the complaint. The company and department shall endeavor to have the inspection take place at a mutually agreed upon location in the state. Any record furnished to the department may exclude information that would identify specific drivers or riders, unless the identity of a driver or rider is relevant to the complaint.

Acts 2019, No. 286, §2, eff. July 1, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:858 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 858
Improvement of bridges acquired
Status: in_force

The governing authority of the parish, at or before the time that such bridge is acquired by the parish by purchase or by expropriation or condemnation, shall determine what repairs, replacements, additions, or betterments will be necessary to place the bridge in safe and efficient condition for the use of the public and shall have an estimate of the cost of the improvements made. The governing authority of the parish shall authorize these improvements before the sale of any bridge revenue bonds for the acquisition of the bridge, and the cost of the improvements shall be paid out of the proceeds of the bonds.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:381 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 381
Use and occupancy of highways
Status: in_force

A. When not inconsistent with the purposes of state highways, the chief engineer may issue permits for the use and occupancy of the rights-of-way of state highways as follows:

(1) For the installation, operation, and maintenance of underground pipes, conduits, or cables along or across the highways for the purpose of transporting or conveying fluids, telephone or telegraph messages, cable television signals, gases, or electric current for any purpose.

(2) For the installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead cables, pipes, conduits, or wires, together with appropriate supporting structures, for the conveying or transporting of fluids, telephone or telegraph messages, cable television signals, or electric current for any purpose.

(3) For the erection, operation, and maintenance of structures crossing the highway over or beneath the traveled surface for the purpose of providing trans-communication for vehicles, pedestrians, cattle, or railway rolling stock.

(4) For the erection, operation, and maintenance of structures for the shelter of waiting passengers at designated transit stops of a public transit system, provided that the municipality, parish, or other political subdivision which erects, operates, maintains, or owns the structure or structures under permits issued hereunder shall indemnify the state and its departments and agencies against any damage to any person or property which occurs as a result thereof.

(5) If a permittee receives a permit or authorization from the department to locate facilities within highway rights-of-way, said permittee may locate in the highway right-of-way and not be displaced by any entity other than the department, whether the department's ownership is full or a servitude.

B. All such installations shall be in accordance with the best modern practice and national underwriting standards and shall be so maintained. Permits shall be issued only to owners of the facility and shall be nonexclusive. Installations which will interfere with the proper operation and maintenance of highways are expressly prohibited.

C.(1) No installation may be made except upon the explicit condition that the owner thereof shall, at no cost to the department, remove or relocate the facility when that is necessary to permit the widening, relocation, or other improvement of the highway, when so ordered by the chief engineer of the department or his duly authorized representative; however, this condition shall not apply to the removal or relocation of municipally owned utility installations located within the limits of the municipality in cases where the necessity of such removal or relocation is created by the construction, repair, or improvement of an interstate highway. In such instances the cost of removal or relocation shall be paid for by the department, and such payment shall be deemed a valid use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the department for highway purposes. Payment for such relocation or removal of municipally owned utility installations shall be made only as to projects in the process of construction on July 1, 1992, and projects begun thereafter. The making of such payments shall be conditioned upon the availability of federal aid funds to reimburse the department for such expenditures.

(2)(a) However, in such instances where a municipality, parish, or special district created by or pursuant to law or a nonprofit water corporation or nonprofit gas district owns a utility installation, and it is necessary to remove or relocate such installation for the construction, repair, widening, relocation, or improvement of a state or an interstate highway, and a public accountant, the Department of Transportation and Development, or the entity's private certified public accountant, after an examination of the books of such municipality, parish, special district, nonprofit water corporation, or nonprofit gas district, certifies that unencumbered funds are not available out of the accumulated unreserved earnings generated by the utility for payment for the removal or relocation of the utility installation, the department may contract itself for the proposed work to the utilities.

(b)(i) "Unencumbered funds" as used in this Subsection shall not include an amount equal to ten percent of the annual income from the utility that a municipality, parish, special district, nonprofit water corporation, or nonprofit gas district is hereby authorized to set aside as reserve. However, if the department contracts itself for the utility removal or relocation, the municipality, parish, special district, nonprofit water corporation, or nonprofit gas district shall henceforth be prohibited from locating a utility installation in any state-owned right-of-way until the municipality, parish, special district, nonprofit water corporation, or nonprofit gas district reimburses the state for the cost of the removal or relocation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, the Department of Transportation and Development may enter into any contract allowing any municipality, parish, special district, nonprofit water corporation, or nonprofit gas district to locate a utility installation in a state-owned right-of-way if the contract is required by the public need.

(ii) The definition of unencumbered funds as used in this Section shall not be applicable unless and until there is approval of the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation.

(3)(a) The chief engineer, or his duly authorized representative is hereby authorized to negotiate utility relocation agreements containing liquidated damages clauses, equal to .15 percent per day of the estimated utility's relocation costs, regarding delays caused solely by the unjustifiable delinquency of a utility in the completion of relocation work. The chief engineer, or his duly authorized representative, may decline the issuance of a permit to any utility company that is unjustifiably delinquent in completing a relocation project and shall continue to so decline until such a project is completed.

(b)(i) "Unjustified delinquency" as used in this Subsection shall not include delays in the completion of relocation work caused by acts beyond the reasonable control of the utility as provided in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph.

(ii) Should any delay be caused by the inability of the utility to complete its work in a timely manner due to acts beyond its reasonable control, or due to any delays caused by another utility, another contractor, or the department in the completion of relocation work, and the delay cannot be estimated, then the affected relocation work of the utility shall be suspended until the cause for the suspension is removed without incurrence of liquidated damages as otherwise provided in this Subsection.

(iii) When the utility has resumed the delayed relocation work, such utility shall complete its work within the calendar days as specified in the utility relocation agreement. Should the utility fail to complete its work as specified in the agreement, such utility shall be subject to the liquidated damages as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.

(4) Where existing lines are to be relocated and the utility company does not have sufficient information of record to determine the location of its facilities, then the utility is required to advise the department and fully cooperate with the department's contractor by locating or exposing, if necessary, to enable the contractor to avoid or minimize damages during construction.

(5) All nonmetallic utility lines installed or relocated within the highway right of way by permit or otherwise will be provided with pipe locator wire or tape acceptable to the department.

(6) The department shall use all practical means in consultation with utility operators during the planning, design, and execution of highway projects to avoid the need for utility relocation. The timeframe for operator response prior to the accrual of penalties shall be determined through this consultation.

D. The assistant secretary for project delivery, or his duly authorized representative, in consultation with the chief engineer may require a deposit in the form of a certified check or other guaranty in a form and in an amount deemed by him to be necessary for the proper protection of the state prior to the issuing of a permit when the installations require excavations, or at other times when he believes a deposit or guaranty is necessary to protect the department's interests.

E.(1)(a) Except for rural water districts, the assistant secretary for project delivery or his duly authorized representative may also assess reasonable utility operator's annual permit fees in connection with the issuance of permits. Such fees as determined by the department shall not exceed the maximum fees as set in the following schedule:

Utility Operators' Maximum Annual Fee Schedule

Maximum Annual

Operator Type Customers Fee

Class 1 0 - 100 $ 20.00

Class 2 101 - 500 $ 50.00

Class 3 501 - 6000 $ 200.00

Class 4 more than 6000 $ 700.00

Operator of Transmission

Pipelines and Natural Gas

Gathering Systems $100.00/Parish

$1,500.00/Maximum (b) The above schedule shall not apply to longitudinal telecommunication facilities operating within interstate or controlled access rights-of-way.

(2) The assistant secretary of project delivery or his duly authorized representative may also assess reasonable operator's fees for rural water districts in connection with the issuance of permits to defray the expense of inspections by the department's employees.

(3) As used in this Subsection, the term "rural water district" means a not-for-profit entity whose purpose is to supply water to residents of rural, unincorporated areas which are not served by parish or municipal water systems.

F. "Utility operator" as used in this Section shall mean any person, individual, governmental agency, or political subdivision or its agent, joint venture, firm, partnership, association, or corporation, including telephone or telegraph systems, fiber optic electronic communication systems, cable television systems, natural gas and propane distribution systems, or water or water systems, owning or operating a public utility which furnishes service or material, or stores, transports, or transmits electric energy, steam, oil, gases, gas, mixture of gases, petroleum, petroleum products, hazardous or flammable fluids, toxic or corrosive fluids or gases.

G. All fees shall be deposited by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development in the Right-Of-Way Permit Processing Dedicated Fund Account established in the office of the treasurer pursuant to R.S. 48:381.1 and said fees shall be set aside for the use of the Department of Transportation and Development to defray the expenses of the right-of-way permit office connected with the issuance and processing required for permitted activity within state roads and highways rights-of-way.

H. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations to effect the provisions of this Section as they apply to the fees for utility rights-of-way.

I. The chief engineer, or his duly authorized representative, within the limitations stipulated in R.S. 48:381 through 386, may issue such other regulations and impose such other limitations as he believes are necessary and desirable.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 190, §1; Acts 1966, No. 412, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1978, No. 76, §1; Acts 1980, No. 354, §1; Acts 1981, No. 319, §1; Acts 1983, No. 92, §1, eff. June 17, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 271, §1. Acts 1984, No. 820, §1, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1992, No. 349, §1, eff. June 17, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 350, §1; Acts 1993, No. 150, §1; Acts 1993, No. 167, §1; Acts 1993, No. 529, §1; Acts 1993, No. 998, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1075, §1; Acts 1997, No. 282, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1035, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1328, §1; Acts 2006, No. 11, §5; Acts 2006, No. 211, §1; Acts 2006, No. 319, §1, eff. June 13, 2006; Acts 2021, No. 114, §14, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1257 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1257
Cooperation of parishes, etc., with authority
Status: in_force

All parishes, political subdivisions, cities, towns, villages, and all public agencies and officers of the state of Louisiana, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, are hereby authorized and empowered to lease, lend, grant or convey to the authority, upon its request and upon such terms and conditions as the authority and the proper officials of such parishes, political subdivisions, cities, towns, villages, and public agencies or officers may agree upon as reasonable and fair, and without the necessity for any advertisement, order of court or other action or formality other than the regular and formal action of the officials concerned and the execution of the proper instrument, any real property which may be necessary or convenient to the effectuation of the purpose of this Chapter, including real property already devoted to public use.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2084.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2084.8
Public-private partnership projects; material default; remedies
Status: in_force

A. Upon occurrence and during the continuation of a material default, the authority may exercise any or all of the following remedies:

(1) The authority may elect to take over the transportation facility or facilities and in such case it shall succeed to all of the right, title, and interest in such transportation facility or facilities, subject to any liens on revenues previously granted by the private entity to any person providing financing therefor.

(2) The authority may terminate the comprehensive agreement and exercise any other rights and remedies which may be available to it in law or in equity.

(3) The authority may make or cause to be made any appropriate claims under the required performance and payment bonds.

B. In the event the authority elects to take over a qualifying transportation facility, the authority shall develop or operate the transportation facility, impose user fees for the use of such facility, and comply with any service contracts. Any revenues subject to a lien shall be collected for the benefit of and paid to secured parties, as their interests may appear, to the extent necessary to satisfy the private entity's obligations to secured parties, including the maintenance of reserves, and such liens shall be correspondingly reduced and, when paid off, released. Before any payments to or for the benefit of secured parties, the authority may use revenues to pay current operation and maintenance costs of the transportation facility or facilities, including compensation to the authority for its services in operating and maintaining the qualifying transportation facility. Remaining revenues after all payments for operation and maintenance of the transportation facility and payments for the benefit of secured parties have been made shall be paid to the private entity, subject to the negotiated maximum rate of return. The right to receive such payment, if any, shall be considered just compensation for the transportation facility or facilities. The full faith and credit of the authority or the state shall not be pledged to secure any financing of the private entity by the election to take over the qualifying transportation facility. Assumption of operation of the qualifying transportation facility shall not obligate the authority or the state to pay any obligation of the private entity from sources other than revenues.

Acts 2006, No. 304, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:277 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 277
Signs in advance of driveways for churches
Status: in_force

The department may erect signs indicating the location of churches located along state highways. The points for location of such signs shall be determined by the traffic engineer of the highway district in which the church is located. The signs shall conform to a standard size and design prepared by the department.

Acts 1997, No. 1230, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1461 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1461
Tax and regulatory exemptions; audits; laws relating to public bodies
Status: in_force

A. The system shall be exempt from all taxes and assessments whatsoever, including sales, use, franchise, property, and income taxes levied by the state of Louisiana or by any parish, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. In the event of any lease of system property, or any other arrangement providing the use of system property, to a private party, this exemption shall not apply to the value of such leasehold or use interest or to the lease or use income of the lessee. Otherwise, for purposes of taxation when property of the system is leased to or used by private parties to be employed solely for purposes of the system, the activities of the lessee shall be considered as the activities of the system, and the exemption provided for in this Section shall apply to such property and activities.

B. Except as provided in this Chapter and by laws generally applicable to political subdivisions, the system 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 by any political subdivision of the state. The system shall not be deemed a common carrier by any court of this state in a suit for personal injury or property damage. It shall cause its financial records to be audited annually, shall be subject to inspection and audit by the legislative auditor, and shall be subject to state laws relating to open meetings, public records, and public contracts.

Acts 2005, No. 463, §1, eff. Jan.1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:11 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 11
Department of Transportation and Development; creation; composition
Status: in_force

The Department of Transportation and Development is created and is composed of the secretary, undersecretary, deputy secretary and assistant secretaries and such other offices and officers and divisions as may be established under the provisions of R.S. 36:1 through R.S. 36:960.

Amended by Acts 1975, No. 151, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:719 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 719
Alternative procedure
Status: in_force

This Part shall be construed as affording an alternative procedure to that set forth in R.S. 33:4711, 4712, 4717, 4718, and 4719, and shall supersede the provisions of R.S. 48:701 through 704 insofar as the parishes and municipalities specified in R.S. 48:711 are concerned.

Acts 1987, No. 194, §1; Acts 1988, No. 258, §1; Acts 1997, No. 100, §1; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 39, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1755 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1755
Advice and services of the Department of Transportation and Development
Status: in_force

The commission and the board of commissioners therefor shall have, with respect to all of the powers and functions prescribed by this Chapter, the advice and services of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development or his designee shall be an ex officio, voting member of the commission. Within reason, it shall be the duty of the secretary of said department to make available such department staff, expertise, and support as the commission may request.

Acts 1992, No. 214, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1274 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1274
Certificated motor carriers
Status: in_force

All motor common carriers and contract carriers that hold certificates of public conveniences and necessity authorizing them to operate over the public roads of this state that will parallel an expressway project or a section thereof on the date that such project is opened to the public for use, are hereby granted the right to operate their vehicles upon and over said expressway project or such section thereof which parallels such public roads under such certificates upon compliance with the payment of the required tolls; provided, that such carriers shall comply with the provisions of this Chapter and any rule and regulation of the authority as to the use of such project, anything in said certificates to the contrary notwithstanding.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §24.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:295.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 295.3
Appeal to the secretary
Status: in_force

A. The secretary or his designee shall have the authority to review and determine any appeal by an aggrieved person from a determination by the debarment committee which is authorized by R.S. 48:295.2.

B. This Section applies to a review by the secretary of a decision under R.S. 48:295.2.

C. The aggrieved person shall file his appeal with the secretary within fourteen days of the receipt of a decision under R.S. 48:295.2(E).

D. The secretary or his designee shall decide within fourteen days whether, or the extent to which, the debarment or suspension was in accordance with the constitution, statutes, ordinances, regulations, and the best interest of the department and was fair. Any prior determination by the debarment committee shall not be final or conclusive.

E. A copy of the decision under Subsection D of this Section shall be served by certified or registered mail or otherwise furnished immediately to the debarred or suspended person or any other intervening party.

F. A decision under Subsection D of this Section shall be final and conclusive unless either of the following occurs:

(1) The decision is fraudulent.

(2) The debarred or suspended person has timely appealed an adverse decision of the secretary or his designee to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court in accordance with R.S. 48:295.4.

Acts 1993, No. 879, §1, eff. June 23, 1993.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1616 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1616
Taxing power
Status: in_force

The authority is hereby authorized to participate in any new or additional tax related to transit and/or transportation that may be imposed in the future by the state legislature, provided, however, that the proceeds from said statewide tax will be prorated to all parishes in the state on a population formula for use by said parishes for transit and/or transportation purposes.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:251.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 251.7
Prohibited provisions
Status: in_force

A. It is hereby declared that any provision contained in a department contract, other than a provision naming another as a co-insured or additional beneficiary in a contract of insurance, which requires the department to assume liability for damages arising out of injuries or property damage to the contracting parties or to third parties caused by the negligence of anyone other than the department, its employees, or agents, is contrary to the public policy of the state of Louisiana. Any and all such provisions in any and all department contracts shall be null and void.

B. It is hereby declared that any provision contained in a department contract, other than a provision naming another as a coinsured or additional beneficiary in a contract of insurance, which requires a contracting private party to assume liability for damages arising out of injuries or property damage to the department caused by the negligence of anyone other than the contracting private party, its employees, or agents, is contrary to the public policy of the state of Louisiana. Any and all such provisions in any and all department contracts shall be null and void.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to contracts between the department and the owner of immovable property when the purpose of the contract is to grant the department a servitude, right-of-way, or other authority to go upon, construct works, perform activities, or to otherwise exercise control over or use the owner's property.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2023, No. 379, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:290 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 290
Requirements of consultants
Status: in_force

A. Preconstruction or construction services consultant engineering firms shall meet the following requirements to be considered for employment by the department:

(1) At least one principal of a firm under consideration shall be a registered professional engineer in the state of Louisiana.

At least one principal or other responsible member shall be currently registered in Louisiana as a professional engineer in the major discipline required for the project. In the case of a land surveying contract, one principal or responsible member shall be currently registered as a professional land surveyor in Louisiana.

(2) At least one principal or responsible member shall have had a minimum of five years experience in responsible charge of the engineering field or fields involved.

B. To be considered for employment for planning, or environmental studies, a consulting firm must meet the following requirements:

(1) At least one of the principals of the firm shall be professionally competent in the field or fields of expertise required for the project.

(2) At least one principal or responsible member of the firm shall have had a minimum of five years experience in responsible charge of or major expertise in the field or fields involved.

C. Requirements or considerations for consultants for preconstruction or construction services and planning, environmental or research studies are, as follows:

(1) Special qualifications to meet particular project needs may be established by the department. These qualifications shall be published in the advertisement for consultant services if established.

(2) A minimum manpower requirement shall be published in the advertisement for consultant services where appropriate.

(3) The department will not consider joint ventures for consulting services, except in rare cases and only after written justification.

D. Sub-consultants providing engineering or land surveying services are bound by the requirements for consultants. Sub-consultants providing other than engineering or land surveying services must demonstrate that qualified personnel are in responsible charge. All sub-consultants are subject to department approval, either at the time of selection or thereafter.

E. Firms may be disqualified from being selected when such firm:

(1) Has received a letter stating that the firm is significantly behind the approved time schedule for completion of any phase of an existing contract with the department.

(2) Has a record of unsatisfactory performance on department projects.

Acts 1991, No. 784, §1; Acts 2009, No. 255, §1, eff. July 1, 2009.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.3
Regulation of advertising; exemptions
Status: in_force

A. The department is hereby authorized to promulgate regulations governing the issuance of permits, including the collection of reasonable fees therefor, for the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising coming within the exceptions contained in Paragraphs (1), (4), and (5) of R.S. 48:461.2(A), consistent with the safety and welfare of the traveling public, and as may be necessary to carry out the policy of the state as declared in this Part, and consistent with the national standards promulgated by the secretary of commerce pursuant to Title 23, United States Code 1 .

B. Repealed by Acts 1989, No. 382, §2, Eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 6, §2, Eff. June 4, 1990.

C. Initial and renewal permit fees as provided in this Section shall not be assessed against any church for a sign on its property or anyone who does not charge a fee to churches for advertising on its facilities.

Acts 1987, No. 529, §1; Acts 1989, No. 382, §2, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 6, §2, eff. June 4, 1990.

1 23 U.S.C.A. § 101 et seq.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1455 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1455
Participation
Status: in_force

A. The board may exercise authority in parishes other than East Baton Rouge Parish if any such parish is a participating parish as provided in this Section.

B. A parish may become a participating parish if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The governing authority of the parish approves such participation. Such approval shall be adopted in accordance with the procedures that apply to the adoption of an ordinance by the governing authority.

(2) The board approves such participation.

C. The board may enter into any contract it deems appropriate with a participating parish to stipulate the nature of the parish's participation in the activities of the system. Such agreements may provide for but are not limited to a parish's financial commitment for the provision of transportation services, for the board's obligation to provide certain services, or for such other terms as the parties may agree upon not inconsistent with this Chapter or other law.

D.(1) The board may, at its discretion, expel any parish from participation in the event of a material breach of an agreement with it.

(2) Any parish may withdraw from participation upon the approval of such action by its governing body adopted in accordance with the same procedures such parish requires for the approval of ordinances, but any such withdrawal shall not affect any obligations owed to the system.

Acts 2005, No. 463, §1, eff. Jan.1, 2006.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1091.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1091.1
Statement of fiscal policy
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds that in instances of public need and necessity, bridge and ferry authorities should be created and authorized to borrow money, make and issue negotiable notes, bonds, refund bonds, and incur other indebtednesses or obligations, and to enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with any federal agency or state agency, pledge and assign their rights under any contracts, leases, or other transactions to secure the payment of bonds or other obligations incurred.

B. No bridge or ferry authority shall be created under the provisions of this Part without prior approval thereof by adoption or enactment of a legislative instrument by the legislature.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 627, §1, eff. July 20, 1977.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1703 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1703
Board of commissioners; appointment, term, and related matters
Status: in_force

A.(1) The management and control of the commission shall be vested in a board of commissioners. The board of commissioners shall be comprised of fifteen voting members and two nonvoting members who shall be appointed as follows:

(a) Webster Parish - the mayor of Minden, or his designee; the mayor of Springhill, or his designee; the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, or his designee; and one alternate commissioner appointed by the Webster Parish Police Jury.

(b) Red River Parish - the mayor of Coushatta, or his designee; the president of the Red River Parish Police Jury, or his designee; one member of the Red River Parish Police Jury, appointed by the president; and one alternate commissioner appointed by the Red River Parish Police Jury.

(c) Bienville Parish - the mayor of Ringgold, or his designee; the president of the Bienville Parish Police Jury, or his designee; one member of the Bienville Parish Police Jury, appointed by the president; and one alternate commissioner appointed by the Bienville Parish Police Jury.

(d) Sabine Parish - the mayor of Many, or his designee; the president of the Sabine Parish Police Jury, or his designee; one member of the Sabine Parish Police Jury, appointed by the president; and one alternate commissioner appointed by the Sabine Parish Police Jury.

(e) Columbia County in Arkansas - the county government shall appoint three commissioners each representing that government's individual jurisdiction and one alternate commissioner appointed by the county government.

(f) Two commissioners who shall be appointed by the two highway departments, one each from Louisiana and Arkansas, who shall serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members.

(2) Each member and alternate member of the board shall be a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter domiciled in the parish or county which he represents on the board.

B. In the event that a commissioner's position on the board should become vacant by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, the alternate member for that parish or county shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner and under the same authority as the original appointment. Any vacancy in the position of alternate commissioner shall be filled by the appointing authority responsible for such appointment within thirty days of receipt by such appointing authority of a written notification of the vacancy.

C. The board of commissioners as created herein, together with the alternate members, shall serve an initial term of two years. At the expiration of their respective terms, successors and their alternates shall be appointed by each respective appointing authority for a term of four years. In the event that for any reason an appointing authority should fail to appoint a successor member, or his alternate, after the expiration of his term, then the respective member or alternate member whose term would have otherwise expired shall continue as a member or alternate member of the commission until such time as his successor is appointed.

D. Any appointed member of the board may be removed at any time by the party which has appointed him.

E. The members of the board shall serve without compensation and shall have the power to fix the duties, powers, and compensation of all officers, agents, and employees of the commission. The commission may reimburse any member for expenses actually incurred in the performance of his duties hereunder.

F. The members shall elect from the membership a president, vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer whose duties shall be those usual to such offices. At the option of the board, the offices of the secretary and treasurer may be held by one person. No member shall be elected to serve for more than two successive terms in any office. The commission shall meet in regular session once each month and shall also meet in special session as often as the president of the board convenes them or on written request of eight members. Seven members of the board shall constitute a quorum, provided, however that no action of the board shall be authorized unless approved by a majority of eight votes in an open public meeting. The board shall prescribe rules to govern its meetings.

G. The commission and its board shall be domiciled in Shreveport, Louisiana. The mailing address of the commission shall be P.O. Box 37005, Shreveport, Louisiana, 71133-7005.

Acts 1991, No. 792, §1, eff. July 19, 1991.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2084.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2084.2
Public-private partnerships; adoption of guidelines
Status: in_force

A. The authority shall adopt and make public guidelines sufficient to enable a private entity to comply with this Chapter. Such guidelines shall include criteria for projects under the purview of the authority including criteria for selecting among competitive proposals, time lines for selecting proposals, and guidelines for negotiating a comprehensive agreement. The authority shall also adopt guidelines for permitting accelerated selection, review, and documentation time lines for proposals involving a transportation facility deemed a priority by the authority and which is funded in whole or substantial part by a dedicated revenue source.

B. The authority may permit accelerated selection, review, and documentation time lines for proposals for a qualifying transportation facility which is deemed by the authority to have a high probability of success and a less complex financial plan requiring no substantial state funding.

Acts 2006, No. 304, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1655 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1655
Board of commissioners; membership; terms
Status: in_force

A.(1) The board of commissioners of the authority shall be composed of three members from each participating parish appointed by the chief executive officer of that parish, subject to the approval of its governing authority, one member appointed by the New Orleans City Council, one member appointed from House District 102 by the state representative representing the district beginning on September 1, 2024, and this appointment shall rotate every four years thereafter between the member appointed from the house district and a member appointed from Senate District 7 by the state senator representing the district, and two members appointed by the chief executive officer of the parish with the greatest percentage of public transit revenue operating miles from recommendations of the legislative delegation of that parish as follows:

(a) One member shall be appointed from a list of four names submitted by the senators from that parish's legislative delegation, and

(b) One member shall be appointed from a list of six names submitted by the representatives of that parish's legislative delegation.

(c)(i) In the event that the senators or representatives of that parish's legislative delegation fail to submit a list of names to the chief executive officer of that parish within thirty days of the date on which notice to submit such list of names is sent to the senators or representatives of that parish's legislative delegation, then the chief executive officer of that parish shall appoint such member as would have been authorized for the senators or representatives of that parish's legislative delegation.

(ii) If any participating parish opts out of the Regional Transit Authority after August 1, 2024, the chief executive officer of the parish or governing authority shall have the power to appoint two new members to the board.

(2) Each member appointed by the chief executive officer of a parish shall be domiciled within the parish. Further, each member appointed to the authority shall possess the minimum transit expertise standards and commit to completing at least two hours of transit-specific training either before taking office or no later than one year after the office is assumed. The transit minimum standards shall be established by the board of commissioners by January 1, 2025, and shall then apply to all newly appointed commissioners.

B. Such appointees shall be qualified voters holding no elective public office. Appointees to any agency, board or commission of any participating parish shall be eligible for appointment to the board provided that no per diem is received from any such agency, board or commission by such appointee.

C. All members appointed to the board of commissioners shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

D. The members presently serving on the board of commissioners and appointed by the respective parish governing authorities shall continue to serve on the board of commissioners unless so notified by the respective parish governing authority. A member of the authority may be appointed to succeed himself.

E.(1) The parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany may initially decline membership on the board and participation in the authority, or any parish which has withdrawn from participation in the authority pursuant to this Chapter, and in any parish eligible to participate, the governing body may at any time request of the board the parish's entrance and participation in the authority. If participation in the authority requires the adoption or implementation of any tax on the citizens of the parish, such local governing body of the parish which is seeking to participate in the authority shall submit to the qualified voters thereof in a referendum, held in accordance with law, the question of whether or not the parish should participate in the authority. If a majority of those voting in such referendum vote in favor of participation in the authority, the local governing body shall request the board to permit the parish's participation in the authority.

(2) If no financial advantage over participating parishes has accrued to that parish by having previously declined membership the board, after being requested by the governing body, shall approve such request for membership at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The admission of any other parish eligible for membership in the authority must be approved by a two-thirds weighted vote.

(3) Thereupon such parish shall be a participant in the authority and its rights and responsibilities shall, insofar as possible, be the same as if it had participated in the authority from its beginning, provided that the parish shall assume its pro rata share of the then current expenses of the authority, as determined by the authority.

(4) A participating parish may, by resolution of its local governing body, withdraw from participation in the authority. The withdrawal shall be effective forty-five days following the authority's receipt of the resolution. Thereafter, the authority shall have no jurisdiction within that parish.

F. Members of the board may be removed for just and reasonable cause at the discretion of the respective appointing authority. In case of abandonment of his office, conviction of a felony or a plea of nolo contendere thereto, the office of a member shall be vacant upon the declaration of the board. A member shall be deemed to have abandoned his office upon failure to attend any regular or special meeting of the board for a period of four months without an excuse approved by a resolution of the board, or upon change of his domicile from the parish which he represents on the authority.

G. The board may establish a system by which each board member shall receive per diem or where the members shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties, as approved by the board. A board member shall not be allowed employee benefits as authorized under this Chapter.

H. The board shall elect from its members a chairman and vice chairman for terms to expire on December 31 of each year. The presiding officer of the board may continue to vote as any other member. Provided that in the event of a tie weighted vote where the presiding officer has voted, the action shall be considered defeated.

I.(1) The board shall hold at least ten meetings per year. The secretary of the board shall give written notice and agenda in accordance with R.S. 42:19.

(2) In order to conduct any official meeting, a quorum is required. A quorum shall consist of sufficient members present to constitute two-thirds of the weighted vote, and at least one representative of a majority of the parishes comprising the authority. A majority of the quorum present at a meeting may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the board, except as otherwise hereinafter provided or as limited by its bylaws. If there is only one parish represented on the board of commissioners, a simple majority of the regular membership is required to establish a quorum or to adopt a motion. Proxy voting shall not be permitted under any circumstances.

(3) The minutes and the documents and reports made a part of the minutes of any board executive committee or committee meeting shall be open to public inspection in accordance with reasonable rules and regulations prescribed by the board. The board shall furnish certified copies of such public records upon written request and upon payment of a reasonable charge therefor.

J. In those matters proposed by the authority that are intraparish in nature, the members of the delegation of the parish affected by such proposal may, by a majority vote of its members, veto the authority's proposal, provided, however, that within thirty days following receipt of a written notice of the veto the governing authority of such parish shall override or sustain that veto. A veto so sustained shall not be overridden. Interparish matters proposed by the authority which involve two or more of the participating parishes may be vetoed by a majority vote of the delegation of one of the affected parishes. Within thirty days following receipt of a written notice of the veto, the governing authority of such parish shall override or sustain that veto. A veto so sustained may be overridden by a two-thirds weighted vote of the membership of the authority. If no action is taken by the governing authority of a participating parish within thirty days following written notice of the veto on either intraparish or interparish matters, the veto shall have been sustained.

K. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, the following actions by the board shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the weighted vote-population ratio of the board as provided herein:

(1) The issuance and sale of revenue bonds, as contemplated in R.S. 48:1658.

(2) The purchase or lease of any privately owned system of transportation of passengers for hire in its entirety, or any substantial part thereof, as contemplated in R.S. 48:1656(19). Prior to the purchase or lease of any such privately owned system, a public hearing pertaining thereto shall be held and prior notice of such public hearing shall be advertised. In no event shall any sum be paid for such privately owned system of transportation which is in excess of the fair market value thereof, determined by a minimum of two appraisers and approved by a majority of the local governments participating in the financing of such purchase.

(3) The award of any contract for construction, alterations, supplies, equipment, repairs, maintenance, or services other than professional services, or for the purchase, sale, or lease of any property required by the terms of R.S. 38:2211 et seq. to be advertised and let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder who had bid according to the advertised specifications.

(4) The grant of any concession, as contemplated in R.S. 48:1656(19).

(5) The award of any contract for the management of any authority-owned property or facility, as contemplated in R.S. 48:1656(8).

L. The board shall appoint and employ, as needed, a general manager, a secretary, a treasurer, and a general counsel, none of whom may be members of the board or a relative of a member of the board, and shall delegate to them such authority as it deems appropriate. It may adopt such bylaws or rules and regulations as it deems appropriate for its own government, not inconsistent with this Chapter, including the creation of an executive committee to exercise such authority as its bylaws may prescribe.

M. The treasurer of the authority and such other officers and employees of the authority and such members of the board as the board determines shall execute corporate surety bonds, conditioned upon the faithful performance of their respective duties. A blanket form of surety bond may be used for this purpose. Neither the obligation of the principal or the surety shall extend to any loss sustained by the insolvency, failure, or closing of any depository which has been approved as a depository for public funds.

N.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the authority shall not be considered an instrumentality of the state for purposes of Article X, Section 1(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana. No employee of the authority covered by a collective bargaining agreement or who is a member of any other retirement plan shall be included in the state civil service system or the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System.

(2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the authority shall remit to the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System that portion of the unfunded accrued liability existing on June 30, 2019, attributable to the authority. The amount due shall be determined by the actuary employed by the retirement system and shall be amortized over ten years. The amount shall be paid in equal monthly payments, in the same manner as regular payroll payments to the retirement system.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the authority shall remit to the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System that portion of the unfunded accrued liability existing on June 30, 2021, attributable to the authority. The amount due shall be determined by the actuary employed by the retirement system and shall be amortized over ten years. The amount shall be paid in equal monthly payments, in the same manner as regular payroll payments to the retirement system.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 439, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1979. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 269, §1; Acts 1984, No. 934, §1; Acts 1989, No. 767, §1; Acts 2003, No. 517, §1; Acts 2019, No. 264, §1, eff. June 30, 2019; Acts 2020, 2 nd Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1, eff. Oct. 22, 2020; Acts 2024, No. 402, §1, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 474, §1; Acts 2025, No. 511, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1301 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1301
Power of parish governing authorities to create road lighting districts
Status: in_force

A. Parish governing authorities may create road lighting districts composed of territory wholly within a parish. A district so created shall be a political and legal subdivision of the state with full power to sue and be sued in its corporate name. It may enter into contracts with any electric public utility to provide and maintain electric lights on the streets, roads, highways, alleys, and public places of the district.

B. A parish governing authority may also authorize any such district that it creates or any consolidated district that it creates pursuant to R.S. 48:1304 to use up to twenty-five percent of its funds to purchase, install, operate, and maintain electronic safety equipment.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 514, §1; Acts 2024, No. 610, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 48:1306.

NOTE: Former R.S. 48:1301 redesignated as R.S. 48:1304 by Acts 2024, No. 610, §2A.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:941 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 941
Bridges over navigable waters authorized
Status: in_force

The department of highways may construct bridges and approaches thereto over navigable waters, for public use, on or connecting highways in this state. Thereafter, the department may operate and maintain these bridges.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1818 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1818
Officers; quorum; meeting
Status: in_force

A. The board of commissioners shall elect from its own membership a chairman and a vice chairman. A majority of the members of the board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the meetings of the board shall be held at such place and time as shall be fixed in the call of the chairman after reasonable notice to the full membership.

B. The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development shall serve as temporary chairman, and shall call the first meeting of the board of commissioners within sixty days after July 31, 1995.

Acts 1995, No. 539, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:192 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 192
Engineering standards; naming state highways
Status: in_force

A. The department shall immediately establish and maintain design standards for the functional classifications of state highways, following the best engineering practices and experiences for the construction of all roads, bridges, drainage structures, or other work which may be necessary from time to time which said standards shall comply with all federal regulations necessary to obtain federal aid for road and bridge construction in Louisiana.

B. The department may take into the state highway system any parish or municipal road needed to complete a necessary segment of a road; however, the total length of the state highway system established hereby is not exceeded and said road taken into the state highway system will not necessarily delay the needed construction and maintenance of roads on the existing system. The department may negotiate an exchange of roads in any parish or municipality for roads on the state-maintained highway system provided that the roads taken into the system in said exchange will not necessarily delay needed construction and maintenance of roads on the existing system.

C. The department may at any time the need justifies transfer a state highway from one functional classification to another.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to name any state highway except by an Act of the legislature.

Acts 1955, No. 40, §3; Acts 1990, No. 200, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1028, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:382 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 382
Intersection of highways by utilities and facilities
Status: in_force

A. When an existing highway is intersected or proposed to be intersected by a facility or utility used or to be used for the transportation of persons or commodities, as a railway or canal, or when an existing highway is intersected by an artificial waterway for drainage, irrigation, or other purposes, the owner of the facility or utility shall provide a means of crossing the highway which in the opinion of the chief engineer or his duly authorized representative is appropriate and adequate and shall provide for the subsequent maintenance and replacement of the crossing in accordance with current maintenance standards.

B. When a highway is constructed across such an existing facility or utility, the agency constructing or causing the construction of the highway shall provide for the construction of an adequate and appropriate crossing and for the subsequent maintenance and replacement of the crossing in accordance with current maintenance standards.

C. Failure to correct deficiencies in the maintenance of a crossing as described in Subsection A and Subsection B of this Section within thirty days notice by receipt of registered mail from the Department of Transportation and Development of such deficiencies, shall constitute a misdemeanor, upon conviction of which the owner of the facility shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.

Amended by Acts 1974, No. 532, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1979, No. 541, §1; Acts 1992, No. 350, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1661 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1661
Eminent domain
Status: in_force

The authority shall have no power of eminent domain, but the city of New Orleans and the participating parishes, for purposes of the authority, may exercise the broadest power of eminent domain permissible under the laws of this state; however, no local governing body shall exercise any power of eminent domain hereunder with respect to property located beyond its territorial limits, nor shall it expropriate any business enterprise or any of its assets for the purpose of operating that enterprise or halting competition with a government enterprise.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 439, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1979; Acts 2024, No. 402, §1, eff. May 28, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:167 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 167
Forfeiture of permit deposits to Transportation Trust Fund
Status: in_force

Funds deposited with the department as guarantees by persons obtaining permits for the installation of the things described in R.S. 48:344 and 381 shall be forfeited to the department and credited to the Transportation Trust Fund if the permit terms remain unsatisfied or the deposit has not been claimed after the elapse of five years from the date of issuance of the permit.

Added by Acts 1965, No. 62, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1999, No. 897, §2, eff. July 2, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1277 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1277
Annual report; recommendation
Status: in_force

On or before the first day of April of each year, the authority shall make an annual report of its activities for the preceding year to the Governor and each such report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering the operations of the authority during the year, and each year that there is a general session of the legislature, a copy of such annual report shall be furnished to the legislature on the first day of such general session.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §27.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2106 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2106
Membership requirements
Status: in_force

A. The board of directors for each expressway commission with boundaries and jurisdiction which are coterminous with Lafayette Parish, shall include one director from Iberia Parish and one director from Vermilion Parish.

B. Each director shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required for public officials. Each director shall be a voting member of the board and shall be considered in determining a quorum. Directors shall serve until their successors are appointed and sworn into office. Directors may be removed from office for cause by a district court having jurisdiction.

C. Directors shall not receive any salary for the performance of their duties as directors, but may be reimbursed for mileage expenses incurred for attendance at meetings of the commission. The mileage allowance shall be fixed by the commission in an amount not to exceed the mileage allowance authorized under state travel regulations at rates and standards as promulgated by the division of administration subject to the availability of funds.

D. The directors shall be subject to the provisions of the Code of Governmental Ethics.

Acts 2008, No. 569, §1; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:255.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 255.7
Contracts in which the department is a participant; preferences; assistance; exclusions
Status: in_force

A. When the department lets a contract for a public works project that is to be administered by or paid for, in whole or in part by state funds, the agency may require as a condition of letting the contract that not less than eighty percent of the persons employed in fulfilling that contract shall be residents of the state of Louisiana.

B. Louisiana Works, upon request of any state agency, the governing authority of a political subdivision, or a contractor awarded a contract under the provision of this Section, shall assist in identifying craftsmen, laborers, and any other personnel necessary to comply with the requirements of this Section.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, management personnel and persons whose skills are unavailable for performing the work shall be excluded from the requirements of this Section.

D. This Section shall not apply where federal funding participation does not allow application of this Section to the contract and will result in the loss of such federal funding.

Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1657 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1657
Fares, rates, rentals, and charges
Status: in_force

A. The board shall fix such fares, rates, rentals, and charges in such amounts as shall be sufficient in the aggregate when added to any other grants or funds available to the authority, to provide funds for the payment of the interest on and principal of all bonds, certificates, and other obligations payable from said revenues, and to meet all other encumbrances upon such revenues as provided by any agreement executed by the authority in connection with the issuance of bonds or certificates under this Chapter, and for the payment of all operating costs and expenses which shall be incurred by the authority, including provisions for appropriate reserves.

B. The term "charges" shall include revenues from contracts with the local governments within the metropolitan area under which the authority has agreed to render for them the public transportation service.

C. The board shall determine by itself exclusively, but after public hearings as hereinafter provided, the routes, types of construction, equipment, facilities, and the scope and standards of service to be operated by the authority, the scheduled services to be made available to the public and the amounts to be charged therefor. Before making any determinations as to scheduled services or amounts to be charged therefor, the board first shall hold at least one public hearing after giving notice of the time and place by twice advertising on different days in the newspaper having the largest circulation in the regional area not more than ten days nor less than five days prior to the hearings. As to all other matters, the board may hold such public hearings as it deems appropriate, and as to all public hearings, it may prescribe reasonable rules and regulations to govern such hearings not inconsistent with this Chapter.

D. Prior to determining the basic routes over which the authority shall operate its system and stations connected therewith, the board shall consult with the local governing body of the territory involved, and, additionally, shall hold at least one public hearing within the territory of each local government within the regional area at which the local governing body, or its representative, and the public may be heard.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 439, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1979.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1402 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1402
Authority of commission
Status: in_force

The commission shall be a political agency of the State of Louisiana, and subject to the limitations and restrictions set out in this Chapter. The commission shall have the following authority:

(1) To acquire servitudes adjacent to the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Drive for the preservation of the natural beauty of said area, but such authority shall not include acquisition of rights-of-way required for the construction of said scenic drive, the acquisition of which shall be within the sole jurisdiction of the Department of Highways.

(2) To implement a master plan for the preservation and beautification of the scenic drive area as may be prepared by the Department of Highways and its specialist.

(3) To adopt rules and regulations providing for the utilization and administration of the servitudes herein authorized to be acquired.

(4) To sue and be sued.

Acts 1968, No. 232, §2. Amended by Acts 1971, No. 157, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:255 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 255
Award of contract; time limitations and exceptions; bond of successful bidder; rejection of certain bidders
Status: in_force

A. The department shall establish specific bidding requirements, in accordance with the provisions of this Part, provisions of the Federal Highway Administration, if applicable, and other provisions as necessary and will include these requirements in the project specifications and bid package issued to prospective bidders. Bids of prospective bidders shall conform to these requirements. Bids not submitted in accordance with this Subpart or such other specified requirements are irregular and must be rejected by the department.

B.(1) For all construction, maintenance, or improvement projects for department facilities or other public facility projects, advertised and let by the department, the department or the contracting agency may reject any and all bids for just cause but otherwise shall, with the concurrence of all funding sources, award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder within forty-five calendar days after receipt of bids or twenty calendar days after receipt by the department of concurrence in award from all project funding agencies, whichever occurs last, unless the department and the successful bidder mutually agree to extend the deadline. However, in cases where concurrence in award is required, the department shall award the contract no later than sixty calendar days after receipt of bids unless the department and the successful bidder mutually agree to extend the deadline.

(2) Should the successful low bidder not agree to extend the time period for award beyond the above described period the bid guaranty will be returned to the bidder and the department may, at its discretion, award to the next low bidder or may readvertise the project.

(3) If the department delays the award of the project in bad faith beyond the period specified herein for award such that the low bidder cannot perform at the prices bid and the project is awarded to a higher bidder, the unsuccessful low bidder shall receive the costs of preparation of his bid on the project from the department.

(4) If the contract is to be financed by bonds which are required to be sold after receipt of bids on the construction contract, or if the contract is to be financed in whole or in part by federal or other funds which will not be available at the time construction bids are received, or if the contract requires a poll of the legislature prior to the release of funds for the contract, the time limitation for the award of a contract herein stipulated in this Section may be modified and, if modified, shall be reflected in the specifications for the construction project and in the official advertisement for bids required in accordance with R.S. 48:252.

(5) For the purposes of this Section "just cause" means but is not limited to the following circumstances:

(a) The department's unavailability of funds sufficient for the construction of the proposed public work or the unavailability of funding participation in the project by anticipated funding sources.

(b) The failure of any bidder to submit a bid within an established threshold of the preconstruction estimate for the project by the department's engineers.

(c) A substantial change by the department prior to the award in the scope or design of the proposed public work.

(d) A determination by the department not to build the proposed public work within twelve months of the date for the public opening and presentation of bids.

(e) The disqualification or rejection by the department of all bidders.

(f) The discovery by the department prior to the award of the project of an error, defect, or ambiguity in the bidding documents that may have affected the integrity of the competitive bidding process or may lead to a potential advantage or disadvantage to one or more of the bidders.

(6) If two or more responsive bids from responsible bidders are received for exactly the same price and no preference or other method exists to determine the lowest bidder, the assistant secretary for project delivery shall notify the tied bidders of a time and place where the lowest bidder on the project will be chosen by flipping a coin or by lots, as appropriate in the determination of the assistant secretary for project delivery. The department may readvertise the projects in its discretion.

(7) Repealed by Acts 2007, No. 386, §2, eff. July 1, 2007.

C. Bids containing patently obvious mechanical, clerical, or mathematical errors may be withdrawn by the contractor if clear and convincing sworn, written evidence of such errors is furnished to the department within seventy-two hours of the bid opening, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, or other legal holidays. If the department determines that the error is a patently obvious mechanical, clerical, or mathematical error, it shall accept the withdrawal request and return the bid security to the contractor. A contractor who withdraws a bid under the provisions of this Section shall not be allowed to resubmit a bid on the project. If the bid withdrawn is the lowest bid, the next lowest bid may be accepted. If all bids are rejected, any contractor who had withdrawn a bid prior to rejection of all bids shall not be eligible to bid on the project unless the re-advertisement and opening of bids is at least one hundred eighty days after the date the bid was withdrawn.

D.(1) When the bid is accepted for the construction, maintenance, or improvement to a department facility, or public works project, a written contract shall be entered into by the successful bidder and the department or contracting agency, and, on projects exceeding fifty thousand dollars, the party to whom the contract is awarded shall furnish good and solvent bond in an amount equal to the contract bid cost for the faithful performance of his duties.

(2) Any surety bond written for a department project shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is published annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana-domiciled insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best's Key Rating Guide.

(3) For any project advertised and let by the department, no surety or insurance company shall write a bond which is in excess of the amount indicated as approved for them by the United States Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies as published annually in the Federal Register. For any project advertised and let by the department, a Louisiana-domiciled insurance company not on the U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies shall not write bonds exceeding ten percent of policyholder's surplus as shown in the A.M. Best's Key Rating Guide.

(4) In addition, any surety bond written for a project advertised and let by the department shall be written by a surety or insurance company that is licensed to do business in the state of Louisiana.

(5) The performance bond described by this Section shall inure solely to the benefit of the department and its successors or assigns, and no other person shall have any right of action based thereon.

E. The secretary shall reject any bid submitted by any firm, corporation, individual, or legal entity on any state funded project who, at the time or submission of bid, is prohibited from bidding or working on any federally funded project by the Federal Highway Administration.

F.(1) The contractor shall return the signed contracts along with good and solvent bond to the department or the contracting agency within fifteen calendar days following the transmittal of contracts for execution. After return of the surety bond and signed contracts from the contractor, the department or the contracting agency shall execute the contract documents within twenty calendar days.

(2) The department or contracting agency shall issue a work order to the successful contractor within sixty calendar days following execution of the contract. However, upon mutual written consent by all parties, the notice to proceed may be extended beyond the sixty days. Should the contractor not wish to extend the period from contract execution to work order beyond sixty days, the contractor may demand contract cancellation.

(3) Should the contract be canceled at the request of the contractor, the department may at its discretion award the contract to the next higher bidder if the next higher bidder so agrees, or the department, at its discretion, may readvertise and relet the contract. Should the contract be canceled at the request of the contractor, the contractor shall be compensated for the cost of procuring the bond or bonds required for the contract.

(4) If the contractor demands cancellation, but the department does not cancel the contract, the contractor shall be entitled to an escalation of his bid prices for the period between the lapse of the sixty-day period and the actual work order to the extent that the contractor can prove such escalation during that period, but in no event shall such escalation exceed the rate of inflation reflected by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Wholesale Price Index for the relevant period.

Acts 1990, No. 206, §1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 652, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1284, §3; Acts 2001, No. 575, §1; Acts 2006, No. 14, §1, eff. May 4, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 324, §1, eff. June 13, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 386, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:274.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 274.2
Placing of advertising signs on state-owned ferries
Status: in_force

The department shall regulate the placement, erection, and maintenance of advertising and sponsorship signs on state-owned ferries, rights-of-way, and assets of the department. The Department of Transportation and Development shall establish appropriate and reasonable fees and promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section consistent with the national laws and standards promulgated pursuant to Title 23 of the United States Code.

Acts 1985, No. 862, §1; Acts 2006, No. 11, §5; Acts 2013, No. 41, §1, eff. May 29, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2035 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2035
Chapter supplemental; liberal construction; restrictions
Status: in_force

A. The powers and rights conferred by this Chapter shall be deemed to provide an additional and alternative method for the doing of the things authorized thereby, and shall be regarded as supplemental and additional to powers conferred by other general laws and shall not be regarded as in derogation of any powers now existing. This Chapter does and shall be construed to provide a complete and additional method for the issuance of bonds. No proceeding, hearing, notice, or approval shall be required for the issuance of any bonds or any instrument as security therefor, except as provided herein. The provisions of this Chapter shall be liberally construed for the accomplishment of its purposes.

B. The provisions of this Chapter shall not be applicable in any manner to the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission or its facilities or any projects or improvements related thereto.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1603 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1603
Creation, domicile and purpose
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created the River Parishes Transit Authority, subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, which shall be a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the state comprising all of the territory in the parishes of St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist. The domicile of the authority must be situated within one of the above named parishes, and the authority shall so designate, promulgate, and file such designation in accordance with law.

B. The purpose for which the authority is created is to plan, design, lease (as lessee), purchase, acquire, hold, own, construct, improve, have an equity in, finance, maintain, and administer a transit system within the area, to operate same or contract therefor, and to lease (as lessor) same for operation by private parties.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 638, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1371, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:512 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 512
Prohibition against closing, obstruction, or changing legal roads; restoring to former condition; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. No person shall close, obstruct, or change any legal road, public road, or street, as defined in R.S. 48:491 and being a parish or municipal road, except upon order of the governing authority of the parish for a parish road, whether or not within a municipality, or upon order of the governing authority of the municipality for a municipal road, except as hereinafter provided.

B. If any public road or street is closed, obstructed, or changed in violation of the provisions of this Section, the governing authority of the parish or the governing authority of the municipality shall summarily open the road, remove all obstructions therefrom, and restore it to its former condition, at the expense of the person who closed, obstructed, or changed the public road or street.

C. The governing authority of Orleans Parish may authorize a person to close, obstruct, or change a public road or street for a period not to exceed twelve consecutive months, provided that the governing authority determines that it is for a public purpose and in the best interests and for the benefit of the parish or municipality, provided further that such closing shall occur only after consultation with and approval by the secretary of the department, provided further that all obstructions be removed therefrom and the public roads or streets be restored for use by the general public at the sole expense of the person authorized to close, obstruct, or change a public road or street, and provided further that the removal of obstructions and the restoration of the public roads or streets be completed within the period authorized by the governing authority, which period shall not exceed twelve months.

Acts 1989, No. 815, §1; Acts 1991, No. 289, §15; Acts 2011, 1 st Ex. Sess., No. 11, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:441.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 441.1
Authority to acquire and to expropriate prior to judgment; property needed for proposed Mississippi River bridge
Status: in_force

A. The department may, by any means authorized in Chapter 1 of this Title, acquire any property needed for the construction and operation of the proposed new bridge, and the appurtenances thereto, across the Mississippi River at New Orleans. Where such property cannot be acquired amicably, the department may expropriate it prior to judgment in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

B. All costs incurred by the department in the acquisition of such property shall be paid to the department in accordance with the provisions of Act 402 of 1976, and the amendments thereto.

Added by Acts 1979, No. 351, §1, eff. July 10, 1979.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:23 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 23
Engineering and other services
Status: in_force

In order to properly discharge its functions, the department may employ engineering, drafting, accounting, legal, and other help and labor, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Acts 1991, No. 540, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §26, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:595 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 595
Tax to pay principal and interest; custody and disposition of district bonds
Status: in_force

The parish governing authority shall, in proper time and manner, levy a tax sufficient to pay the interest upon all the bonds of each series as it accrues and to pay the principal as it matures. The sums so levied shall pay the principal or interest of the corresponding district bond. All district bonds and coupons when paid in accordance with their terms shall be lodged with the State Treasurer, who shall cancel the liquidation bonds and coupons corresponding thereto. When all the bonds of any series are thus cancelled by payment of the corresponding district bonds, the State Treasurer shall mutilate them so that they cannot be reissued and shall return them to the treasurer of the parish which issued them.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:228 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 228
Functional classification of state highways; current highway standards and continuing needs study by department; cost estimates presented to legislature
Status: in_force

The department shall divide the roads comprising the state highway system into fourteen functional classifications, as provided in R.S. 48:191, and shall establish current standards for their functional classification. It shall undertake a continuing study of the needs of the various highways for the purpose of bringing existing highways up to current standards or for replacement of existing highways where required, and shall keep the information so developed up-to-date through a continuing annual needs study. The department shall provide the legislature with an estimate of present day costs of bringing the various highways up to the standard of the functional classification to which each highway is assigned

Added by Acts 1974, No. 334, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1028, §1, eff. July 11, 1997; Acts 2019, No. 375, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2097 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2097
Jurisdiction; powers of commission
Status: in_force

The commission may exercise 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 rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the commission, for the governance of its affairs, and for the conduct of its business.

(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 commission 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 its projects 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 commission'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 commission 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 commission 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 commission projects with equal or better facilities at the expense of the commission.

(13) To enter, or authorize its agents to enter, upon any lands, waters, and premises within the geographic boundaries of the commission 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 commission 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 commission, insuring the commission 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 its corporate purposes.

(16) To open accounts at financial institutions 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 commission may determine, subject to compliance with state laws relative to investments by political subdivisions.

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

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

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

(20) To authorize the investment of public and private money to finance commission 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 commission purposes, and to fix their compensation.

(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 commission by law.

Acts 2003, No. 893, §1, eff. July 1, 2003.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1098 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1098
Interest in contracts
Status: in_force

No member of the authority or officer or employee thereof shall, either directly or indirectly, be a party to or in any manner interested in any contract or agreement with the authority for any matter, cause or thing whatsoever by reason whereof any liability or indebtedness shall in any way be created against the authority. If any contract or agreement shall be made in violation of the provisions of this Section, the same shall be null and void, and no action shall be maintained thereon against such authority.

Nothing in this Part shall be construed to limit the power of the authority to construct, repair or improve any bridge or ferry or portion thereof, or any addition, betterment or extension thereto, directly by the officers, agents and employees of the authority, or by contract; nor shall this section apply to contracts for legal, engineering, auditing, accounting or other professional services.

Acts 1958, No. 526, §8.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:422 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 422
Personal interest of members of legislature or officers of executive department in contracts; penalties
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no member of the legislature or officer of the executive department of the state shall be in any way interested in any contract for the building or improving of any public work coming under the supervision of the Department of Transportation and Development or in any contract for the furnishing of any material or supplies of any kind to be used in connection therewith, nor shall any such member or officer receive any gratuity, commission, or payment of any sort as compensation for the procurement of any such contract.

Nothing contained in this Section prohibits members of the legislature or officers of the executive department of the state who are licensed contractors under the laws of this state from bidding on any contract for the building or improving of any public work coming under the supervision of the Department of Transportation and Development nor from being awarded such contracts on a competitive basis as provided by law.

Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than twelve months, or both, and shall be removed from his position by the governor if he is an officer of the executive department.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:252 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 252
Advertisement for bids; public presentment and reading of bids; fee for bid proposals
Status: in_force

A. Contracts for projects with an aggregate estimated cost less than the contract limit but in excess of one hundred thousand dollars shall be let in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) When plans, specifications and quantities required for the construction or improvement of a facility under the control of and let by the department have been prepared and approved, the department shall send out invitations for bids at least ten calendar days prior to the date of public opening to at least three bona fide, qualified bidders and post notice of such bidding by electronic media available to the general public.

(2) Invitations for bids shall contain complete plans, specifications and the quantity required, and any other information, including the time and place of delivery of the bid, which is necessary for the bidder to make an acceptable bid. Addenda are prohibited except to withdraw the invitation for bids.

(3) Any qualified contractor who does not receive an invitation for bids shall, upon request to the contracting officer named in the notice posted as required in this Subsection, be sent bidding documents.

(4) All bids shall be publicly presented, publicly opened and publicly read or presented for viewing at the time and place specified in the invitation.

(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Subsection, the department, at its discretion, may advertise for bids as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B. Contracts for projects with an aggregate estimated cost equal to or greater than the contract limit shall be let in accordance with the following provisions:

(1)(a) When the plans and specifications for the construction or improvement of a department facility have been prepared and approved, a request for bids shall be published in the official journal of the state or through an electronic bid system approved by the department and made available to the general public, or both provided that until July 1, 2010, the department shall publish a request for bids in the official journal of the state.

(b) The department shall require alternate bids on selected highway projects based on life cycle cost analysis and other pertinent engineering data where feasible, provided that alternate bids do not conflict with federal provisions relative to bid selection for a project. A quarterly report shall be made by the department to the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works detailing the bids put out by the department, whether the bid was an alternate bid, the award of the contract, and the basis therefor.

(2) The advertisement for bids shall be published at least once a week for three different weeks. The period between the date of the first advertisement and the receipt of bids shall be not less than twenty-one days. The advertisement shall specify the conditions which govern the submission of bids and shall state the exact place where plans and specifications may be inspected, the exact place where bids will be received, and the exact time when the bids will be opened and read or presented.

(3)(a) All bidders are responsible for timely delivery of bids as specified in the advertisement. No bids shall be accepted or taken, including receipt by hand delivery, on days which are recognized as holidays by the United States Postal Service.

(b) All bids shall be publicly presented, publicly opened, and publicly read or presented for viewing at the time and place specified in the advertisements.

(4) The department shall charge a nonrefundable fee of twenty-five dollars for each set of printed bid proposal documents provided to prospective bidders, subcontractors, or suppliers. The fee authorized by this Paragraph shall not apply to bid proposal documents provided electronically through the department website. One copy of printed bid proposal documents may be provided to plan rooms and non-bidding agencies and associations without charge.

(5) Plans and specifications shall be available to bidders on the day of the first advertisement and shall continue to be available during normal department work hours until twenty-four hours prior to the bid opening. Bid proposal documents will not be issued within the twenty-four-hour period prior to bid opening.

(6)(a) Bidding documents shall include no more than three additive alternates. If the bidding documents contain additive alternates, then the low bidder shall be the lowest responsive bidder on the base bid. Additive alternates shall be accepted only if acceptance does not change the status of the low bidder. However, the department may accept additive alternates in any order which does not affect determination of the low bidder.

(b) Reductive alternates reducing the scope of the work below that in the base bid shall not be allowed.

(c) Bidding documents may contain alternates which allow for different materials or methods of construction. The bidding documents shall specify whether the low bid will be determined based on the lowest bid cost, the lowest combination of bid cost plus construction time, or the lowest combination of bid cost plus construction time plus estimated life cycle cost. If construction time is utilized as a factor to determine the lowest responsive bidder, then its value and use in the determination of the lowest responsive bidder shall be specified in the bidding documents.

(7)(a) All contracts of the department shall contain provisions authorizing the issuance of plan changes within the scope of the contract. Any plan change outside the scope of the contract in excess of the contract limit as defined herein shall be let out for public bid as provided by this Part. Plan changes shall be limited to situations arising after the receipt of bids for the contract and shall not be used to reduce the scope of the contract due to budget limitations which existed prior to award of the contract.

(b) Plan changes pertaining to contracts not required by this Part to be put out for public bid shall be negotiated in the best interest of the department or let out for public bid as provided by this Part. Negotiated plan changes shall be fully documented and itemized as to costs, including material quantities, material costs, labor costs, taxes, insurance, employee benefits, other related costs, profit, and overhead. Where certain unit prices are contained in the initial contract, no deviations shall be allowed in computing negotiated plan change costs for work under those work items unless the actual quantities worked vary more than twenty-five percent from the estimated quantities in the contract as advertised. Plan changes within the scope of the contract shall not be recorded in the office of the recorder of mortgages in the parish where the work is performed.

C.(1) The department shall not issue or cause to be issued any addenda materially modifying plans and specifications within a period of seventy-two hours prior to the advertised time for the opening of bids, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and any other legal holidays; however, if the necessity arises to issue an addendum materially modifying the plans or specifications within the seventy-two-hour period prior to the advertised time for opening bids, then the opening of bids shall be extended at least seven days, but not more than thirty-five days without the requirement of re-advertising. The department, through the issuance of an addendum prior to the scheduled time for bid opening, may extend the bid period for up to thirty-five days, without re-advertising.

(2) Addenda may be issued by any of the following means:

(a) Certified mail, return receipt requested, sent to the address given by the bidder upon obtaining the bidding documents, the transmission of which shall be conclusive evidence of receipt of such notice by the bidder to whom it is addressed.

(b) Facsimile transmission sent to the number given by the bidder upon obtaining the bidding documents, the transmission of which shall be conclusive evidence of receipt of such notice by the bidder to whom it is transmitted.

(c) Express mail sent to the address given by the bidder upon obtaining the bidding documents. Delivery of the addenda by express mail shall be conclusive evidence of receipt of the addenda by the bidder to whom it is addressed.

(d) Electronic transmission sent to the e-mail address given by the bidder upon obtaining the bidding documents. Transmission of the addenda by e-mail shall be conclusive evidence of receipt of the addenda by the bidder to whom it was sent.

(e) Electronic transmission of a notice that informs a bidder that an addendum is posted on the department's website that is sent to the e-mail address given by the bidder upon obtaining the bidding documents or through online registration of bidders. Transmission of said e-mail notice to a bidder's e-mail address shall be conclusive evidence of receipt of the addendum by the bidder to whom it was sent.

D. Under no circumstances shall there be a division or separation of any public work project into smaller projects which division or separation would have the effect of avoiding the requirement that public work be advertised and let by contract to the lowest responsible bidder as provided in this Subpart.

E. If the department proposes to disqualify any bidder, on grounds that such bidder is not a responsible bidder, the department shall:

(1) Give written notice of the proposed disqualification to such bidder and include in the written notice all reasons for the proposed disqualification.

(2) Give such bidder who is proposed to be disqualified the opportunity to be heard at an informal hearing at which such bidder is afforded the opportunity to refute the reasons for the disqualification.

F. The department shall reject the lowest bid if received from a bidder domiciled in a Communist country and may prohibit the use or incorporation on department projects of materials or supplies to be used in a project if such materials or supplies are manufactured in a Communist country, including but not limited to China, North Korea, and Vietnam, and may award the contract to the next lowest bidder, provided this Subsection shall not apply to any country having established trade relations agreements or approvals from the government of the United States.

G. If any public work specifies that reclaimed material, including asphalt to be removed from a state highway, shall be retained by the contractor, then the contractor's quote or bid shall indicate the value of the reclaimed material used to calculate the contractor's quote or bid.

H. For the purposes of this Part, an award shall be deemed to have been made when the department transmits to the successful bidder notification that the contract is being awarded to such bidder and that contract documents for execution are transmitted concurrently or will be transmitted within the delays provided for in this Part.

I. All contracts of the department shall contain provisions that require a contractor to agree to comply with a subpoena issued by the Louisiana Legislature or any of its committees.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1988, No. 890, §2, eff. July 21, 1988; Acts 1995, No. 452, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1112, §1, eff. July 14, 1997; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 23, §1, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 24, §1, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §1, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 126, §2, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 724, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 563, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1072, §2; Acts 2003, No. 181, §1; Acts 2006, No. 10, §1, eff. May 4, 2006; Acts 2007, No. 386, §1, eff. July 1, 2007; Acts 2009, No. 41, §1, eff. June 15, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 195, §1; Acts 2016, No. 207, §1, eff. May 26, 2016; Acts 2021, No. 219, §2; Acts 2024, No. 26, §1, eff. May 8, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.22 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.22
Advertising and junkyards between Mississippi River and its levees
Status: in_force

Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, no outdoor advertising as described in R.S. 48:461.2(A)(4) and (5) and no junkyards as defined in this Part shall be erected or maintained within visual observation of the main traveled way of the interstate and primary highways in this state between the waters of the Mississippi River and the publicly maintained flood protection levees thereon, unless authorized in writing by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 703, §1, eff. July 25, 1977.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:292.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 292.1
Small Engineering Consultant Program
Status: in_force

A. The department may establish a program to prequalify small engineering consultants for employment on selected department projects. The program shall be known as the "Small Engineering Consultant Program", hereafter referred to in this Section as the "program". The program shall provide opportunities for small engineering consultants who possess minimal experience on department projects to gain such experience in the performance of preconstruction engineering services on selected department projects. The participation by small engineering consultants in the selected projects shall provide firms with an opportunity to earn an experience rating which will enable those firms to compete on other projects. For purposes of this Section, preconstruction engineering services include all professional services before initiation of construction, including but not limited to surveys, environmental analysis, design, and bidding analysis.

B. The estimated contract fee shall not exceed the Federal Highway Administration small purchase limit.

C.(1) Engineering consultants interested in participating in the program shall annually apply for prequalification. Only a small engineering consultant whose firm meets the following qualifications provided by this Paragraph at the time of application may participate in the program:

(a) It has been in business for less than two years.

(b) It is registered and in satisfactory standing with the Louisiana secretary of state as provided by law.

(c) It is licensed by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

(d) It employs at least one employee who will be in responsible charge of engineering work and who is properly licensed by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

(e) It employs the equivalent of no more than three professional engineers, including professional engineers employed on a part-time basis.

(f) It has not been competitively selected by the department for preconstruction engineering work within the three years previous to the date of the application for the program.

(2) The department shall annually solicit on its web site a request for qualifications for participation in the program. The solicitation shall identify all of the requirements necessary to apply and qualify for participation in the program.

(3) The department shall provide to any engineering consultant who wishes to apply for prequalification the required standard form request for qualifications, which is to be completed and submitted to the department.

(4) Except as provided in Subsection E of this Section, the department shall accept for participation in the program any consultant who timely submits a complete, standard form request for qualifications and whose completed request clearly demonstrates that the consultant meets the requirements of this Section. The prequalification period is one year, after which the consultant may reapply for participation.

(5) Upon prequalification, a small engineering consultant shall continuously meet the program qualifications. A prequalified small engineering consultant shall immediately notify the department in writing if the firm ceases to meet program qualifications during the one-year prequalification period.

D.(1) The department shall send each prequalified small engineering consultant a request for a letter of interest to perform preconstruction engineering work for individual projects included in the program.

(2) Prequalified consultants who wish to be considered for selection on an individual project shall timely submit to the department a letter of interest signed by a principal of the firm.

(3) The department shall prepare a short list that includes the five responding small engineering consultants who are geographically located closest to the construction project, and the consultants on the short list shall be considered for selection for preconstruction engineering work on the project. If fewer than five prequalified small engineering consultants submit a letter of interest, then all such consultants shall be on the short list and considered for selection.

(4) The department shall select a small engineering consultant from the short list on the basis of an announced and publicly viewable random selection. The department may enter into a contract with the selected prequalified consultant for preconstruction engineering work. Unless provided otherwise in the request for letter of interest, compensation for preconstruction engineering services shall be paid as a predetermined lump-sum fee.

(5) A consultant may not be selected for more than five projects through this program.

E.(1) The department shall not prequalify or shall remove a prequalified consultant firm under the following circumstances:

(a) It employs more than the equivalent of three professional engineers.

(b) It loses its engineering license.

(c) The professional engineer in responsible charge of the engineering work for the project loses his engineering license, except when licensed staff is immediately available to replace the loss.

(d) It receives an average performance rating of less than 1.4 on three department projects.

(e) It applies to and is selected by the department for preconstruction engineering work under competitive selection criteria as provided in this Part.

(f) A prequalified consultant firm requests removal from the program in writing. Written requests for removal shall be addressed to the department's chief engineer and the assistant secretary for project delivery or his designee.

(g) It has been selected to perform five projects through this program.

(2) A prequalified consultant removed from the program may not requalify for the program for a period of three years from the date of removal unless a written corrective action plan is submitted by the consultant to the department's project manager and the plan is approved by the assistant secretary for project delivery, or his designee, in consultation with the chief engineer.

Acts 2007, No. 40, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 255, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2011, No. 197, §1; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:421 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 421
Personal interest of department officers or employees in contracts; penalties
Status: in_force

The secretary, undersecretary, assistant secretaries or any of the employees of the Department of Transportation and Development and corporations or firms in which the secretary, undersecretary, assistant secretaries or any employee of the department are in any way financially interested, are prohibited from bidding on, entering into, or being in any way interested in a contract for the building or improvement of any facility of the Department of Transportation and Development.

Whoever violates this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than twelve months, or both, and shall be removed from his position by the governor or by the secretary.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:601 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 601
St. Landry Parish Road District
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, specifically R.S. 48:573 and R.S. 48:590, the governing authority of St. Landry Parish is hereby authorized to establish a road district, and such district shall become effective upon approval by a majority of the registered voters of St. Landry Parish voting on the proposition at an election held for that purpose in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code. The district shall be comprised of St. Landry Parish in its entirety.

B.(1) The district shall be known and designated as the St. Landry Parish Road District, hereinafter referred to as the "district". The district shall be governed by a board of seven commissioners which shall be known as the Board of Commissioners of the St. Landry Parish Road District, hereinafter referred to as the "board". The commissioners of the board shall be appointed by the governing authority of St. Landry Parish.

(2)(a) The commissioners initially appointed shall have terms of office as follows:

(i) Two commissioners for one year.

(ii) Two commissioners for two years.

(iii) Two commissioners for three years.

(iv) One commissioner for four years.

(b) The length of the term of each individual appointed shall be determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.

(c) The members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

(d) The terms of commissioners of the board appointed upon the expiration of the initial terms shall be three years, and upon expiration of a term of office, the successor shall be appointed by the governing authority of the parish.

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

C.(1) As soon as practical after the 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 consider 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 district 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 considers 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. The board shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

D.(1) The district 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 drainage facilities in the parish, and, without limitation, shall have all the rights, powers, and authority enumerated for road districts in Part II of Chapter 2 of Title 48.

(2) In addition, and without limitation, the board shall have the following powers:

(a) To levy and collect within said district, 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 of tangible personal property and upon the sale of services, as presently defined in R.S. 47:301 through 317. Except where inapplicable, the procedure established by R.S. 47:301 through 317 shall be followed in the imposition, collection, and enforcement 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 board. The board 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. 1 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.

(i) The resolution imposing such tax shall be adopted by the governing authority of St. Landry Parish 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 of the parish at an election to be called, conducted, canvassed, and promulgated by the governing authority of the district in accordance with the general laws of the state of Louisiana governing the authorization of general obligation bonds of the parish, 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.

(ii) The resolution imposing any tax hereunder, or amendments hereto, shall specify that the avails or proceeds of the tax after payment of collection cost shall be used by the district for construction, acquisition, operation, and maintenance of the roads, bridges, or drainage facilities of the district. 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.

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

(c) Repealed by Acts 2010, No. 546, §2, eff. June 25, 2010.

(d) To construct any necessary improvements to drainage facilities from immediate road surfaces.

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

(f) 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.

E.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon the district becoming effective, the parish road districts created pursuant to R.S. 48:600, 600.1, 600.2, 600.3 and 600.4 shall be absorbed into the district and shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

(2) The district shall be the successor to any district absorbed pursuant to this Subsection. All unfinished business, documents, liens against property for unpaid taxes, money, movable, and immovable property, and books and records of the absorbed road districts shall be transferred to and become the responsibility and property of the district. Any legal proceeding to which the district is a party and which is filed, initiated, or pending before any court on the effective date of abolition and all documents involved in or affected by said legal proceeding shall retain their effectiveness and shall be continued in the name of the district. All obligations of the absorbed districts shall become the obligations of the St. Landry Parish Road District.

(3) Until such time as the district proposes a parish wide tax and it is approved by voters as provided in Subsection D, the district shall continue to levy the ad valorem and sales taxes authorized by the electorate of each former district, and the revenues generated in each former district must be utilized for benefit of that former district.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, upon the district becoming effective, the parish governing authority shall create drainage districts having boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the road districts being absorbed. Such drainage districts shall have all the powers provided by law to construct, acquire, operate and maintain drainage facilities in their respective districts.

Acts 1992, No. 1001, §1; Acts 1995, No. 895, §1; Acts 1995, No. 975, §1; Acts 1997, No. 58, §2; Acts 2010, No. 546, §§1, 2, eff. June 25, 2010.

1 NOTE: See La. Const. Art. VII, Sec. 3(B).
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1253 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1253
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Chapter the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent:

(1) "Authority" shall mean the Department of Transportation and Development.

(2) "Project" or "expressway project" shall mean any limited access express highway, bridge, tunnel, approach or facility thereto constructed or to be constructed under the provisions of this Chapter, including but not limited to bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, traffic circles, interchanges, feeder roads, landscaping, entrance plazas, approaches, toll houses, service areas, communication facilities, such facilities for motor fuel and food as the authority may deem necessary or desirable, and administration, storage and other buildings which the authority may deem necessary for the operation of such project, together with all property, rights, easements and interests which may be acquired by the authority for the construction or the operation of such project.

(3)(a) "Cost" as applied to an expressway project shall embrace the cost of construction, the cost of acquisition of all land, rights of way, property, rights, easements and interests acquired by the authority for such construction, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and, if considered advisable by the authority, for one year after completion of construction, cost of traffic estimates and of engineering and legal expenses, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of cost and revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to the construction of a project, the financing of such construction and the placing of the project, the financing of such construction and the placing of the project in operation;

(b) Any obligation or expense incurred by the Louisiana Department of Highways, or its successor, prior or subsequent to July 28, 1954, for traffic surveys, borings, surveys, preparation of plans and specifications, and other engineering services in connection with the determination as to whether or not an expressway project should be constructed in Louisiana shall be regarded as a part of the cost of the project authorized by R.S. 48:1252, and shall be reimbursed to the Department of Transportation and Development out of the proceeds of expressway revenue bonds hereinafter authorized.

(4) "Owner" shall include all individuals, co-partnerships, associations or corporations, and all parishes, political subdivisions, municipalities and all public agencies and officers of the state of Louisiana having any title or interest in any property, rights, easements and interests authorized to be acquired by this Chapter.

(5) "Bonds" or "revenue bonds" shall mean bonds of the authority authorized under the provisions of this Chapter.

(6) "Feeder road" shall mean any road which in the opinion of the authority is necessary to create or facilitate access to a project.

(7) "Public roads" shall include all public highways, roads and streets in the state, whether maintained by the state, parish, other political subdivision, city, or town.

(8) "Revenues" shall mean all tolls, charges, rentals, gifts, grants, moneys, and all other funds coming into the possession or under the control of the authority by virtue of the provisions hereof, except the proceeds from the sale of bonds issued under this Chapter.

(9) The following definitions shall be applicable to the alternate methods of routing an express toll highway between Shreveport and Alexandria:

(a) "West bank segment" shall mean a limited access express toll highway to be located in a corridor extending from the Shreveport area near or at Interstate Route 20 and proceeding southward along the west bank of Red River and terminating in the vicinity of Alexandria.

(b) "East bank segment" shall mean a limited access express toll highway to be located in a corridor extending from the Shreveport area near or at Interstate Route 20 and proceeding southward wholly or primarily on the east bank of the Red River.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §3. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 247, §2; Acts 1977, No. 220, §1, eff. July 7, 1977.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2175 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2175
Directors
Status: in_force

A. The board of the compact shall consist of such directors as are specified in the compact agreement, provided the board shall consist of at least five directors, including the Louisiana designee to the Southern Rail Corridor to be appointed by the chairman of the Southern Rail Corridor.

B. All directors shall be appointed by the parish or municipality forming the compact, if there is only one. If more than one parish, municipality, or any combination of parishes and municipalities is involved in forming a compact, each parish or municipality shall appoint an equal number of directors.

C. The compact shall elect from its directors a chairman, a vice chairman, and a secretary-treasurer who shall serve one-year terms. Where more than one parish or municipality is involved in the formation of a compact, the chairmanship for each successive term shall be alternated among the representatives of all participating parishes and municipalities.

D. Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of a 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 as set forth in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the compact.

E. Upon the effective date of an appointment, or as soon as practicable thereafter, each appointed member shall enter upon their duties. A member shall hold office until a successor has been appointed. Any member of the compact is eligible for reappointment.

F. All directors shall have equal status, and each director shall have one vote.

G. The presence of a majority of the board shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of those present and voting shall be necessary for any action taken by the board.

H. A vacancy on the board shall not impair the right of a quorum to exercise a right or perform a duty of the board.

Acts 2010, No. 838, §2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 858, §1, eff. June 30, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:251.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 251.1
Provision for trenching and shoring in construction contracts
Status: in_force

A. On any construction project for the Department of Transportation and Development in which a contractor is employed and in which trench excavation will exceed a depth of five feet, the bid documents provided to all of the bidders and the contract must include:

(1) A copy of special shoring requirements of the Department of Transportation and Development with a separate pay item for such special shoring requirements.

(2) A copy of any geotechnical information that was used in the design of the project.

(3) A separate pay item for trench excavation safety protection on that portion of the project on which trench excavation exceeds five feet.

B. The separate pay item for trench safety shall be based on the linear feet of trench excavated. The separate pay item for special shoring requirements, if any, shall be based on the square feet of shoring used.

Acts 1990, No. 918, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 775, §1, eff. July 18, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 228, §1, eff. June 1, 1993.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:250.4.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 250.4.1
State-owned toll facilities; toll collection and enforcement
Status: in_force

A. Pursuant to R.S. 48:250.4, the department may exercise so much of the police powers of the state as shall be necessary to maintain the peace and accomplish the orderly handling of authority, subject to the provisions of this Section. The department's exercise of these powers shall extend to any state-owned toll facility. The department may delegate the exercise of these powers to any private entity acting on its behalf in the operation of a toll facility.

B. Terms as defined in R.S. 32:1 shall retain such definitions, except as specifically defined in this Subsection. As used in this Section, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) "Electronic mail" means a message, file, or other information transmitted through a local, regional, or global computer network.

(2) "Electronic mail address" means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, to which electronic mail may be sent or delivered.

(3) "Electronic toll collection" or "ETC" means a system of collecting tolls or charges capable of charging an account holder for the appropriate toll by transmission of information between a device on a motor vehicle and a toll collection facility.

(4) "Operating entity" means any entity operating a toll facility subject to the requirements of this Section.

(5) "Pay" means paying a toll by cash, by permitting a charge against a valid toll-tag account with the department, or by any other means of payment approved by the department.

(6) "Photo-monitoring system" means a motor vehicle sensor installed to work in conjunction with a toll collection facility that automatically produces a photograph, microphotograph, videotape, or other recorded image of a motor vehicle or trailer when the operator of the motor vehicle fails to pay a toll.

(7) "Private entity" means a corporation, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, business trust, or other business entity.

(8) "Toll" or "tolls" means any fee, or charge imposed, revised, and adjusted from time to time for the use of a state-owned transportation facility.

(9) "Toll tag" means an electronic device issued for use with an ETC on any state-owned toll transportation facility.

(10) "Valid toll-tag account" means a toll-tag account with the department that has a balance of not less than fifty cents.

C. No motor vehicle shall be driven and no motor vehicle or trailer shall be towed through any state-owned toll collection facility without payment of the proper toll. If the proper toll is not paid, as evidenced by video or electronic recording, the registered owner of such vehicle or trailer shall be liable to make prompt payment to the department of the proper toll and an administrative fee of twenty-five dollars to recover the cost of collecting the toll.

D. The registered owner is prima facie responsible for the payment of the toll, administrative fees, and late charges that the department may assess pursuant to this Section. It is not a defense to liability for payment under this Section that a registered owner was not operating the motor vehicle or trailer at the time of the failure to pay the toll, except that the registered owner shall not be liable under this Section when the registered owner makes a report to a law enforcement officer or agency that the motor vehicle or trailer was stolen before the failure to pay a toll occurs or within forty-eight hours after the registered owner becomes aware of the theft.

E. The department shall adopt policies and procedures for the collection of tolls, administrative fees, and late charges authorized pursuant to this Section, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

F.(1) Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall result in the following late charges or sanctions, or both, against the registered owner:

(a) The department may assess the following penalties for late payment, for failure to pay, or for otherwise failing to respond, or both, against the registered owner:

(i) A registered owner who fails to pay the administrative fees specified in a violation notice and who fails to appeal a violation notice as provided by this Section within thirty calendar days after the date of the issuance of the violation notice shall incur a late charge of five dollars. A registered owner who fails to respond to a violation notice within sixty calendar days after the date of issuance of the violation notice shall not be able to renew his driver's license until all matters regarding the alleged toll violation are disposed of in accordance with law. The violation clerk shall notify the registered owner by first-class mail of this delinquency and consequences thereof.

(ii) A registered owner who fails to respond to a violation notice as provided by this Section within sixty calendar days after the date of the issuance of the violation notice shall be prohibited from renewing his driver's license. The violation clerk shall notify the Louisiana office of motor vehicles of this delinquency. Upon notice from a violation clerk of the department, the office of motor vehicles shall place the matter on record and shall not renew the driver's license of the registered owner or the registration of the vehicle until after notice from the violation clerk that the matters have been disposed of in accordance with law.

(b) After a notice to the office of motor vehicles provided in Item (a)(ii) of this Paragraph, the department shall not be required to send violation notices of delinquency to registered owners with ten or more toll violations. However, the tolls and administrative fees of such registered owner shall continue to accumulate.

(2) The department may pursue such civil and criminal action as it deems appropriate to collect the tolls and administrative fees assessed in the violation notice as well as such subsequent late charges assessed in accordance with this Section.

G.(1) A photograph, microphotograph, videotape, or other recorded image produced by a photo-monitoring device is admissible in a proceeding to collect a toll or other charge of the department, to collect criminal penalties imposed, or to impose criminal liability for a failure to pay the toll or charge.

(2) An original or facsimile of a certificate, sworn to or affirmed by an agent of the department that states that a failure to pay has occurred and states that it is based upon a personal inspection of a photograph, microphotograph, videotape, or other recorded image produced by a photo-monitoring system, as defined in this Section, is prima facie evidence of the facts contained in the certificate.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a photograph, microphotograph, videotape, or other recorded image prepared for enforcement of tolls is for the exclusive use of the department in the discharge of its duties under this Section.

H. The department shall from time to time designate one or more violation clerks and agents to perform the functions specified in this Section at the pleasure of the department and for such finite or indefinite period as the department deems desirable. The department shall supervise and coordinate the processing of violation notices in accordance with this Section. The department may hire or designate such personnel and organize such sections as the department may consider necessary to carry out the provisions of this Section.

I. The department may contract with an operating entity to carry out the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2019, No. 361, §1, eff. June 11, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:854 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 854
Purchase of bridges
Status: in_force

Any parish may acquire by purchase any toll bridge wholly or partly constructed, or any franchises, servitudes, permits, or contracts for the construction of any such bridge, upon terms and at prices which are reasonable and can be agreed upon between it and the owner thereof. Title to the bridge shall be taken in the name of the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:25.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 25.2
New Orleans Ferry Fund; ferry operations
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created, as a special fund in the state treasury, the New Orleans Ferry Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund". Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, beginning July 1, 2019, and each fiscal year thereafter, after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, and after making the allocation for state highway fund No. 2 for the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, the treasurer shall deposit into the fund, an amount equal to the total of all of the funds derived from the collection of registration and license fees and taxes collected by the state pursuant to R.S. 47:462, and as provided in R.S. 47:481, in the parish of Orleans.

B. The monies in the fund shall be subject to an annual appropriation by the legislature and shall be used only as provided in Subsection C of this Section. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the monies in the state general fund, and all interest earned shall be deposited and credited to the fund. All unexpended or unencumbered monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain to the credit of the fund.

C. Monies appropriated from the fund shall be used exclusively by the Department of Transportation and Development to fund operations of the Chalmette ferry and to provide ferry service formerly operated by its Crescent City Connection Division. These monies shall be in addition to monies the department shall contribute from its operating budget as provided by law.

Acts 2013, No. 273, §2, eff. July 1, 2013; Acts 2019, No. 163, §1, eff. July 1, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 362, §5, eff. June 11, 2019.

NOTE: Subsection D, which was not included in the enactment of this provision in Acts 2019, Nos. 163 and 362, provided for the termination of the New Orleans Ferry Fund as enacted by Acts 2013, No. 273, and is no longer effective.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1353 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1353
Domicile of commission; meetings; quorum and vote
Status: in_force

A. The domicile of the commission shall be in Baton Rouge; however, the commission may hold meetings at other places in the state. Meetings shall be held on the call of the chairman or of the governor or as otherwise fixed by the commission with approval of the governor.

B. One-third of the current membership of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the commission, and the vote of a majority of the members present and voting shall be necessary to take any official action. However, any member who finds it impossible to attend a meeting may be represented by a person selected by him and such representative shall have the right to vote for or in the stead of the absent member.

Acts 1968, No. 275, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:261 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 261
Maintenance work by department employees; exceptions
Status: in_force

A.(1) The department shall maximize third-party contracts for maintenance of the state highway system.

(2) At the request of the governing authority of a municipality, a parish having a municipal type government, or a parish located within a standard metropolitan statistical area having a population of one million or more as determined by the latest federal decennial census or by the division of business and economic research of Louisiana Tech University under the most recent federal-state cooperative program for local population estimates, whichever is more recent, the work may be contracted out to such municipality or parish, but all such maintenance costs not to exceed the previous year's pro rata mileage cost of each category of state highway maintenance, shall be paid for by the state, provided that the state shall not be responsible for the maintenance of sewers, street lighting, gas and water mains, and other public utilities.

(3) At the request of the governing authority of a parish having a consolidated form of government, the work of roadside vegetation and drainage maintenance may be contracted out to the governing authority of such parish and shall be paid for by the state.

B. The department may arrange by contract with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for the use of prison labor, and with the sheriff of each parish for the use of labor of its prisoners, to perform any maintenance functions, on the highways in the state system or any of the department's facilities. No contract may relieve the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or the sheriff of the duty to supervise and to maintain security of the prisoners at all times.

C. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.

D. All vacancies existing or occurring in highway maintenance gangs shall be filled in accordance with civil service rules and regulations.

E. In no event shall this Section be construed to permit the use of prisoners who:

(1) Have committed violent infractions while in prison; or

(2) Have been convicted one or more times of the crimes of aggravated or first degree rape, homicide in the first or second degree, armed robbery, kidnapping, aggravated escape, or any attempt to commit any of the above enumerated offenses.

F. The department may enter into maintenance agreements with the governing authorities of state levee districts for the upkeep of the medians and shoulders along state highway rights of way, including grass cutting and weed killing.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 421, §1; Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1978, No. 485, §1, eff. July 10, 1978; Acts 1981, No. 533, §1; Acts 1986, No. 568, §§1 and 2; Acts 1988, No. 506, §1, eff. July 10, 1988; Acts 1997, No. 915, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1064, §1; Acts 2011, No. 143, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §26, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 184, §5; Acts 2025, No. 380, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:2026 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 2026
Conflict of interest; ethics code
Status: in_force

Any authority created pursuant to this Chapter, and all directors and officers thereof, shall be subject to the Code of Governmental Ethics (R.S. 42:1101 et seq.).

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:286 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 286
Retention of consultants
Status: in_force

There are no conditions which shall limit or prohibit the retention of the services of consultants by the department.

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. § 48:451.16 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.16
Contents of charge to jury
Status: in_force

In his charge to the jury, the judge shall instruct the jurors on the law applicable to the cause submitted to them, but he shall not recapitulate or comment upon the evidence in such manner as to exercise any influence upon their decision as to the facts.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:673 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 673
Appropriations by parish governing authorities for highways
Status: in_force

The governing authority of a parish may, for the purpose of connecting or completing permanent, or continuous highways, appropriate out of its general fund sufficient monies to defray not more than one-half of the total cost of constructing permanent, hard-surfaced paving in the municipalities of the parish. Such appropriations shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in any one year. The provisions of this Part shall not prejudice the right of any municipality to demand the return of any taxes for road purposes to which it may be entitled by law.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1269 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1269
Project, property, income and bonds free from taxation
Status: in_force

The exercise of the powers granted by this Chapter will be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and as the operation and maintenance of projects by the authority will constitute the performance of essential government functions, the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any project or any property acquired or used by the authority under the provisions of this Chapter or upon the income therefrom, and every project and any property acquired or used by the Authority under the provisions of this Chapter and the income therefrom, and the bonds issued under the provisions of this Chapter, their transfer and the income therefrom (including any profit made on the sale thereof) shall be exempt from taxation within the state.

Acts 1954, No. 232, §19.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:600.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 600.4
District Three 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 Three 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 Three 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 Three Road Commission of St. Landry Parish, hereinafter referred to as the "board".

B.(1) The governing authority of St. Landry Parish shall appoint seven residents as commissioners from Police Jury District Number Three of St. Landry Parish. A minimum of one resident shall be appointed from each of the towns of Arnaudville and Leonville. The governing authority of the parish shall attempt to achieve a geographical and racial balance when appointing the commissioners to the board.

(2) Of the seven initially appointed, three 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. 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 drainage facilities in the district, 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:

(1)(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 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 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 obligation 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 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, including the St. Landry Parish Road District, created in R.S. 48:601 or other public works commissions.

(4) To perform all necessary functions to facilitate drainage from 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.

(7) To exercise the option to separate from the St. Landry Parish Road District, created in R.S. 48:601.

Acts 1995, No. 895, §1; Acts 1995, No. 975, §1; Acts 1997, No. 658, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:456.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 456.1
Estimate less than deposit
Status: in_force

The plaintiff shall not be required to amend its petition in order to obtain judgment in an amount less than that originally deposited into the registry of the court, but the plaintiff may not introduce evidence as to any special benefits unless specially pleaded. If severance damages are pleaded by the defendant, the plaintiff shall have the opportunity to plead special benefits twenty days prior to trial.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 391, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1976.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1352 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1352
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission; created; appointment of members; terms; vacancies
Status: in_force

A. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is hereby created as a division of the office of the governor. The commission shall be composed of twenty-one members who shall be appointed by the governor. At least one member shall be a resident and qualified elector of each of the congressional districts into which the state is divided. Each member shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

B. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled by the governor, who may receive recommendations therefor from the executive committee of the commission.

Acts 1968, No. 275, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 278, §1, eff. July 7, 1977; Acts 1980, No. 725, §1, eff. July 29, 1980; Acts 1984, No. 565, §1, eff. July 12, 1984.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1984, NO. 565, §2.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:451.20 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.20
Special verdicts
Status: in_force

With the consent of all parties, the court may require a jury to return only a special verdict in the form of a special written finding upon each issue of fact. In that event, the court may submit to the jury written questions susceptible of categorical or other brief answer, or may submit written forms of the several findings which might properly be made under the pleadings and evidence, or may use any other appropriate method of submitting the issues and requiring the written findings thereon. The court shall give to the jury such explanation and instruction concerning the matter submitted as may be necessary to enable the jury to make its findings upon each issue. If the court omits any issue of fact raised by the pleadings or by the evidence, each party waives his right to trial by jury of the issue omitted, unless before the jury retires he demands its submission to the jury. As to an issue omitted without such demand, the court may make a finding, or, if it fails to do so, it shall be presumed to have made a finding in accord with the judgment on the special verdict.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:260 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 260
Scope and extent of maintenance operations; emergency work
Status: in_force

The scope and extent of maintenance operations may include any operation involving employment of labor, purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment, and the severance, processing, and application of materials necessary to maintain the highway system together with the other facilities of the Department of Transportation and Development at the maximum level of efficiency for its type. In case of damage to the state highway system caused by flood or other disaster, requiring immediate attention, or for construction urgently needed, or for construction that may be undertaken more efficiently, the secretary may execute such work of improvement with department maintenance forces, with the approval of the chief engineer or the assistant secretary of operations.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 1984, No. 625, §1; Acts 2006, No. 11, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1751 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1751
Definitions
Status: in_force

The following words and terms shall have the following meanings as used in this Chapter:

(1) "Commission" shall mean the El Camino East-West Corridor Commission (U.S. Highway 84 and Louisiana Highway 6).

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

(3) "Highway" shall mean U.S. Highway 84 East and Louisiana Highway 6, as the said U.S. Highway 84 East extends from the eastern boundary of Louisiana, being the Mississippi River on the east, up to its intersection with U.S. Highway 71 at Clarence, Louisiana, and Louisiana Highway 6 from the point of its intersection at Clarence, Louisiana, with the aforementioned U.S. Highway 71 extending westward to the border between the states of Texas and Louisiana, and shall further mean any improvements or extensions of either highway within the boundaries of the commission.

(4) "Project" shall mean the construction, expansion, improvements, or extension of the highway as that term is defined in this Section, including the four-lane improvements for any portion thereof within the boundaries of the commission and the construction of bridges, overpasses, causeways, underpasses, traffic circles, interchanges, landscaping and wildflower establishment, and historical marker establishment related thereto, and any other construction which may be necessary in order to completely modernize, renovate, and update the aforementioned highways, along with economic development and improvement of the geographic areas served thereby.

Acts 1992, No. 214, §1; Acts 1997, No. 260, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1162 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1162
Effect of transfer of functions
Status: in_force

A. Under the transfer of functions provided for by this part, any pending or unfinished business of any of said authorities shall be taken over and be completed by the board of highways with the same power and authority as the authorities from which the functions are transferred. The board shall be the successor in every way to the authorities from which such functions are transferred, and every act done in the exercise of such functions by the board or under its authority shall be deemed to have the same force and effect under any provisions of the constitution and laws in effect on the effective date of this merger, consolidation and transfer as if done by the authorities from which such functions are transferred.

B. Whenever any authority from which functions are transferred hereby is referred to either as an authority or by other reference or designated by name by the constitution or by any law or contract or other document, such reference or designation shall be deemed to apply to the board of highways, and the legislature hereby specifically states that the provisions of this part are in no way and to no extent intended to nor shall they be construed in any manner which will impair the contractual obligations of any authority heretofore existing, or of the State of Louisiana.

It is hereby specifically provided that all such obligations hereafter shall be deemed to be the obligations of the board of highways to the same extent as if originally made by it. In like manner, and in order to prevent any violation of the provisions, terms or conditions of any gift, donation, deed, will, trust or other instrument or disposition by which property of any nature or description has been vested in any authority affected by this merger, consolidation and transfer, or diversion from the purposes for which such property was donated, deeded, devised or bequeathed or otherwise vested in any such agency, it is hereby specifically provided that each and every such instrument or disposition hereafter shall be deemed to have been vested in the board of highways in the same manner and to the same extent as if originally so done. In addition, the provisions of this part shall not be construed or applied in such a way as to prevent full compliance by the state or any agency thereof with the requirements of any Act of the Congress of the United States or any regulation made thereunder by any officer or agency of the federal government by which federal aid or other federal assistance from the United States has been or is hereafter made available to this state or any subdivision or agency thereof, anything contained in this part to the contrary notwithstanding, and such compliance hereafter shall be accomplished by the board of highways.

Added by Acts 1972, No. 726, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:346.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 346.1
Temporary road signs; sugarcane harvest season
Status: in_force

During the sugarcane harvest season, the Department of Transportation and Development may install in those parishes where sugarcane is harvested, temporary road signs which warn motorists of particular road hazards existing throughout the harvest season.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 137, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 291, §1; Acts 2006, No. 11, §5.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:451.15 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 451.15
Time for charging the jury; recordation of charge
Status: in_force

After the trial of the case and the presentation of all the evidence and arguments, the court shall charge the jury in accordance with law. This charge shall be in writing or recorded in the same manner as testimony taken in the case.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1158 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1158
Tolls
Status: in_force

Whenever all indebtedness incurred by an Authority, including interest thereon, shall have been fully paid and satisfied, or duly provided for in the manner specified in the resolution, indenture, agreement or other proceedings under or pursuant to which such indebtedness was incurred, the Department of Highways may continue the operation of such bridge as a toll bridge, and may charge tolls for the use thereof at such rates as it shall exclusively determine, until all advances made from the State Highway Fund with respect to such bridge, including the cost of construction of connecting highways and approaches thereto, shall have been refunded to the State Highway Fund or, in the discretion of the Department of Highways, it may thereupon operate such bridge as a free bridge. After all such advances have been refunded to the State Highway Fund, the said bridge shall be operated as a toll free bridge; provided, however, if an authority pursuant to law constructs and operates more than one bridge and secures indebtedness incurred by the authority to pay the cost of construction of one or more of such bridges, including the interest thereon, by a pledge of all or part of the combined tolls, charges and fares derived by the authority from its operation of such bridges, or any of them, and any other funds and revenues received by the authority pursuant to law, all such bridges, the combined tolls and other revenues of which are pledged to the payment of such indebtedness, shall be operated by such authority as toll bridges until all such indebtedness, including interest thereon, shall have been fully paid or satisfied, or duly provided for in the manner specified in the resolution, indenture, agreement or other proceedings under or pursuant to which such indebtedness was incurred. When an authority deems it necessary and advisable in the public interest and pursuant to law to undertake the construction of an additional bridge or bridges and to pay the cost of construction thereof by incurring indebtedness secured by a pledge of all or any part of the combined tolls, charges and other funds and revenues of such authority, the Department of Highways is authorized and directed to enter into amendments and modifications of any existing contract or contracts previously entered into with such authority pursuant to this Part if such amendment and modification is required in order to permit the operation of all or any of such bridges as toll bridges until all such indebtedness shall have been fully paid and satisfied, or duly provided for.

Acts 1952, No. 8, §8. Amended by Acts 1968, No. 270, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:725 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 725
Authorization to dispose of immovable property; methods and procedures; sale
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, upon a determination by the governing authority of the city of Mandeville to the effect that any immovable property owned by the city or title to which is in the public, including but without limitation, streets, roads, and alleys, 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 immovable property pursuant to this Part unless such property has been held by the governing authority for at least ten years.

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

(a) Revocation of the dedication of the property if it consists of a street, road, or alley dedicated to public use.

(b) Sale of any type of property at public auction.

(c) Sale of any type of property at private sale.

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

(2) The governing authority of Mandeville shall adopt an ordinance after advertising a summary of said ordinance in the official journal of the city 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 servitudes, streets, roads, or alleys 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 servitudes, street, road, or alley 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 any of said 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 any of said 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 any immovable property by the governing authority pursuant to this Part shall not have the effect of denying access to such property to any person.

Acts 1989, No. 635, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:892 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 892
Expenses of enforcing Sub-part; how paid
Status: in_force

All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Sub-part shall be paid solely from funds provided under the authority of this Sub-part, and no liability or obligation shall be incurred hereunder beyond the extent to which money has been provided under the authority of this Sub-part.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:295.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 295.4
Actions by or against the department in connection with contracts
Status: in_force

A. Any judicial action under this Part shall be governed by R.S. 49:978.1.

B. Any appeal for judicial review of the secretary's decision shall be commenced in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court within sixty days after receipt of the decision of the secretary under R.S. 48:295.3(E).

Acts 1993, No. 879, §1, eff. June 23, 1993.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:484 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 484
Employment of engineers
Status: in_force

The governing authority of any parish may employ an engineer to design blacktop, concrete or other hard surfaced roads, highways, bridges and tunnels in the parish to be constructed with funds from the royalty road fund whenever the department of highways is unable to assign engineers for the purpose; provided that the design must be approved by the state department of highways.

Acts 1956, No. 418, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:874 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 874
Limitation of bonded debt
Status: in_force

Bonds issued under this Sub-part are not subject to the limitations as to the amount of bonded debt in a parish, based upon the amount of the assessed value of taxable property.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 127, §19.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:1151 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 1151
Definitions
Status: in_force

The following terms whenever used or referred to in this Part shall have the following meanings except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:--

(a) "Bridge" means a toll bridge over navigable water operated by a bridge and ferry authority, and includes a ferry or ferries operated by such authority.

(b) "Authority" means a bridge and ferry authority organized as a public corporation under the laws of the state of Louisiana for the construction, maintenance and operation of toll bridges and ferries.

(c) "Construction" includes acquisition by purchase or otherwise.

(d) "Department" means the department of highways created by R.S. 48:11 or such other agency or agencies which may hereafter exercise the powers now vested in the Department.

(e) "Louisiana Public Service Commission" means the commission created by Const. 1921, Art. 6, §3 or such other agency or agencies which may hereafter exercise the powers now vested in said commission.

Acts 1952, No. 8, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 48:461.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 48 / Section 461.10
Junkyards lawfully in existence
Status: in_force

Any junkyard lawfully in existence on July 27, 1966 which is within one thousand feet of the nearest edge of the right of way and visible from the main-traveled way of any highway on the interstate or primary systems shall be screened, if the department determines that it is feasible to do so, by the department at locations on the highway right of way or in areas acquired for such purposes outside the right of way so as not to be visible from the main-traveled way of such highways.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 474, §1.