Today, Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) announced the expected designation of Louisiana Highway 1 (LA-1) as a 'high priority corridor,' a distinction which could bring increased federal funds to the section of the highway south of U.S. Highway 90 (I-49 South). This designation is the result of a multifaceted offensive by Sen. Landrieu to promote Louisiana's transportation needs and seek federal funding for these projects.

Thursday evening, the Congressional Conference Committee on Transportation Appropriations completed a report which includes $3 million for the Leeville Bridge along LA-1 and $16 million for the I-49 South project. Additionally, the report designates LA-1 as a 'high priority corridor.' The report will now be sent to the full Senate and House where approval is expected. Once approved by Congress and signed by the President, the designation and funding become law.

The Conference Committee's action follows a recent, multifaceted offensive by Sen. Landrieu. Utilizing her rising prominence as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Landrieu invited Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to Louisiana earlier this month. Notably, Sen. Murray serves as the Chair of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

While in Louisiana, Sen. Murray not only experienced the state's hospitality but was also the featured guest at a meeting conducted by Sen. Landrieu. At the meeting, Sen. Landrieu explained the state's transportation needs to Sen. Murray, and key projects were presented by, among others, DOTD Secretary Kam Movassaghi, LA-1 Coalition representatives Ted Falgout and Roy Francis, I-49 South Task Force representatives Caul Bauer and Bill Fenstermaker, and the Governor's Millennium Port advisor Ron Brinson.

Following the meeting, Sen. Murray said, "Sen. Landrieu and the other speakers gave an excellent presentation on Louisiana's transportation system and made a persuasive case for its needs."

After returning to Washington, Sen. Landrieu continued her offensive by addressing all of her colleagues on the floor of the Senate in a speech focusing on the essential role of Louisiana's transportation system in supplying energy to the nation. Specifically, Sen. Landrieu explained that LA-1 serves as the only land route to Port Fourchon, which is the gateway to approximately 13% of the United States' imported crude oil and more than 75% of current offshore oil and gas production in the Central Gulf of Mexico. La-1's vital role is demonstrated by the approximately 1,000 large trucks that are counted traversing this highway daily.

"Because Louisiana's transportation system is a vital link in moving imported and domestically produced energy to the nation, greater federal spending to improve our highways and ports is a wise national investment," said Sen. Landrieu.

Senator Landrieu also emphasized the large amount of revenue that the federal government collects because of the activities supported by Port Fourchon and LA-1. Since the early 1950's when drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) began, the federal government has collected over $120 billion in some form or another of taxation from OCS drilling activities, and more than half of that amount has come from activity off of Louisiana's coast. Senator Landrieu said, "Fairness demands that the federal government return some of this money to the region that created it, and federal funding of LA-1 improvements would be a good start."

In addition to the fairness and national energy supply related reasons, safety concerns also support the case for federal funding to improve I-49 South and LA-1. These safety concerns exists because the US Hwy. 90 / I-49 South route has a long history of vehicular fatalities and because more than 35,000 citizens in South Lafourche and Grand Isle must travel on LA-1 during a hurricane evacuation. Sen. Landrieu said, "Improvements to I-49 South and LA-1 will increase safety during normal conditions and will enhance evacuation capabilities during disasters. These safety concerns are of the utmost importance."

As a 'high priority corridor,' the LA-1 segment south of US Hwy. 90 becomes part of the National Highway System and eligible for federal transportation and infrastructure grant funding. These grants are administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) primarily through the National Corridor Planning & Development Program (NCPD) and the Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program (CORBOR). In recent years, as much as 70% of projects which were funded through CORBOR had the Congressional 'high priority corridor' designation.

Additionally, the prestige and visibility that a Congressional 'high priority corridor' designation carries is an asset during the federal budgeting process. According to the FHA, roughly half of the funds earmarked in the FY2001 Transportation Appropriations Bill were earmarked to these designated corridors.

With the inclusion of the LA-1 segment south of US Hwy. 90 as a 'high priority corridor,' it becomes only the 44th highway corridor in the nation to have such a coveted designation. Previously in 1998, US Hwy. 90 from Lafayette to New Orleans (I-49 South) was designated as a 'high priority corridor.'