Gov. Landry asks Congress for more funding in key infrastructure projects
BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) -- Gov. Jeff Landry testified before a congressional committee Wednesday to make a pitch for federal funding for major infrastructure projects and to give context to how important some of the state’s projects are to the nation as a whole.
Notably, the governor made a pitch to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for more money towards key infrastructure projects such as the Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, a new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge and the I-49 corridor that has never been completed.
The Baton Rouge bridge project has been slow moving with a final location not yet selected and state funds for the project temporarily being diverted to cover recent tax cuts. The project is estimated to cost over $2 billion.
“We need a new bridge in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge has the fourth highest traffic congestion in the nation,” Landry said.
The state recently approved a toll to be added to the Calcasieu River Bridge to help pay for the multi-billion dollar price tag. The federal government has allocated $150 million for the project. Landry said Congress could help the state out by giving them more money to cut down on the state’s share of the project.
“We would basically beg Congress to help us secure additional funding so we could lower the toll on the commercial traffic that's going to flow over that bridge,” Landry said.
Landry explained that the bridge has been rated a three out of nine in terms of safety. In comparison, the bridge in Baltimore that collapsed after it was struck by a ship, was rated as a five.
Louisiana is slated to get billions of dollars in funding for infrastructure needs through the Infrastructure and Jobs Act which expires in 2026. Landry said those dollars aren’t going as far due to the regulatory process being tied up in bureaucratic red tape. He urged representatives to find ways to cut down on lengthy environmental studies that often take years. While those studies take place, construction costs have risen and the studies take up a chunk of the allocated funds.
“It always amazes me as to why each and every one of you would allow a federal agency to be the gatekeeper between the projects you need in your district,” Landry said.
Representatives questioned Landry on how Congress can manage all these infrastructure projects that each state says are important while trying to curb government spending as many conservatives have signaled they want to do. Landry said there has to be a focus on the needs versus wants of projects and emphasized the reduction of bureaucracy leading to project delays and price increases.
Landry took the point of view that Louisiana is a key path for commerce to travel and an energy-producing state. Having reliable roadways and completing projects like the I-49 corridor could benefit the entire country by speeding up the delivery of goods, according to the governor.
“The completion of this project helps everyone in the middle states of America, and it also serves as a very important hurricane evacuation route. It has not been completed,” Landry said.
The committee did not take any votes but will use the testimony for reference in future legislation debates.