CADDO PARISH COMMISSION UPDATE June 1, 2021

I-49 Inner City Connector Status Update Covered last week, see attached from consulting team.

I-69 Service Road Update I-69 in Louisiana consist of three Sections of Independent Utility (SIU) SIU 14 from El Dorado, Arkansas to Haughton, Louisiana; SIU 15 from Haughton, Louisiana to Stonewall, Louisiana; SIU 16 from Stonewall, Louisiana to Tenaha, Texas. The Record of Decision/EIS for SIU 15 identified a service road between Ellerbe Road in Caddo Parish and Stonewall Frierson Road in DeSoto Parish. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in cooperation with the Port of Caddo Bossier and NLCOG have begun to move forward with implementation of this Service Road in order to provide access to the Port of Caddo Bossier.

There are three segments that are underway for the overall service road project.

H.014054 - I-69 Frontage Road (Ellerbe Road to LA 1),this segment utilizes both existing right of way along Robson Road and some new right of way between Ellerbe Road and Robson Road that is within the I-69 SIU 15 and LA 3132 Extension Rights of Way.

H.005184 - I-69 Frontage Road (Stonewall-Frierson Road to Ellerbe Road). This is the original service road identified within the Record of Decision for I-69 SIU15.

H.014056 - I-69 Frontage Road (Stonewall Frierson) which provides for improvements and upgrades to Stonewall Frierson Road from the I-49 Interchange westward to its junction with segment two identified above.

The overall project cost is estimated at $32.25 million with $15 million coming from existing federal earmark funds and state match support, $10.5 million in Federal STP >200k funds, and the remaining $6.75 from local match support.

NLCOG signed the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the local parties this morning.

Jimmie Davis Bridge – LA 511

Currently there is approximately $24 million towards the Jimmie Davis Bridge project from the Capital Outlay program. (see below from HB 2)

Jimmie Davis Bridge Rehabilitation and Lighting, or Design, Engineering, Planning and Construction (Bossier) Payable from General Obligation Bonds

Priority 1 $ 8,982,400 Priority 5 $ 15,000,000 Total $ 23,982,400

There is also several pieces of legislation at the state level now that would allocate roughly $100 million towards the project. Some of these pieces of legislation call for use of the COVID 19 funds dedicated to transportation others call for use of the existing 0.045% sales tax. Current alternatives are rehab the existing facility and build a new 2-lane span just north or build a new 4-lane span just north. If 4-lane option is chosen there will need to be an agreement as to what becomes of the existing facility.

The following notice of projected advertisement was posted on Friday, May 7, 2021.

H.001779 Jimmie Catherine Engineering 5/5/2021 5/5/2021 4th Surveying Services, Geotechnical Davis Mastin and Related Quarter Services, Traffic Engineering, Bridge Services 2021 Preliminary and Final Design, (HBI) Construction Engineering Support and Related Services

Metropolitan Transportation Plan – Set Aside Program NLCOG recently updated our Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). This is our federally required Long Range Transportation plan with minimum of 20-year horizon. The federal requirements include performance-based planning. As part of the safety and security performance measure we included a series of set asides for various programs. One of these programs is upgrade the lighting along the controlled assess facilities. This includes I-20, I-220/LA 3132, and I-49. The overall intent is to illuminate these facilities with new modern LED lighting. This will include repair and replace damaged/deficient bases/poles/mast arms and instillation of new where missing; retrofitting luminaries with new LED kits; and upgrades to the power supply and distribution. This program will set aside $3.2 million in STP >200k funds every 4 years.

The set aside program includes the following:

1. Controlled Access Facility Lighting – Funding set aside to improve safety through lighting upgrades on controlled access facilities. 2. Motorist Assistance Patrol (MAP) – The MAP program provides free roadside assistance to stalled or stranded motorists. 3. Transit Transfer – Program funding set aside for bus replacement and support of SporTran fleet state of good repair. 4. Multi Year Aerial Flight – a multiyear multi flight program to gather aerial photography to support planning efforts. 5. Planning Studies – Planning study funding set aside to support MTP and other planning updates.

Louisiana Watershed Initiative Region 1

The first of the Louisiana Watershed projects have been announced. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced $163 million in federal funding for 15 state projects and programs designed to reduce flood risk for communities throughout the state on March 23, 2021. This included $6.6 million for Black Bayou structure hardening and runoff retention improvements. In addition, $5.36 million for Ockley Basin storage project in Caddo Parish.

Caddo Region $6.6 Black Bayou structure hardening and runoff retention Parish 1 million improvements, including replacing the existing spillway with a concrete chute spillway that has control gates to manage the lake level, along with hardening to reduce risk of damage to critical infrastructure (La. Hwy. 2, water line and fiber optic line) during significant runoff events

Ockley City of Region $5.36 Clearing, grading and earthwork to construct Basin Shreveport 1 million flood storage areas at Mansfield Road and Storage Texas Avenue, Forest Park and Avery Street and Lawhon Street

See attached

Other Projects of Interest

The LA 3132 (Inner Loop) Extension project was scheduled for a public hearing on the Environmental Assessment in March of 2020. Due to COVID 19 restrictions that hearing was put on hold. We have scheduled a new hearing for August 17, 2021 at the Red River Ball Room at LSU-S Student Center.

Linwood Avenue Phase 3 and 4 projects pre-design meeting was held last week. It is anticipated that construction could begin within the next 16 months. These projects are total rehab to Linwood Ave from Mt. Zion north to 70th Street.

SPN H.003915 I-49 ICC EIS Status Update May 2021

General Status

1. Cultural Resources Survey and Section 106 Process

Required: A revised CRS with an addendum summarizing the new survey data has been submitted to DOTD for review, after which it will be submitted to FHWA and the SHPO for review and comment.

A second Consulting Party meeting will be required during/after the SHPO review as part of the Section 106 process.

Currently: The revised CRS was submitted to DOTD in January 2021, the complete CRS addendum was submitted in late February, with some edits the first week of March 2021. During the Agency Team Project Status meeting held April 22, 2021, DOTD advised that comments would be forthcoming in mid-May, as of May 18, 2021, Providence has yet to receive these comments.

A second Consulting Parties meeting for the Section 106 process will be scheduled either during or after the SHPO’s review of the revised CRS and addendum, which will confirm culture resources anticipated to be adversely affected. SHPO review of the documents will not occur until after FHWA review, which has not begun.

2. Finalize conceptual interchange layouts with potential impacts

Completed: Providence resubmitted Build Alternative 1 geometry with comments addressed from October 2019.

Currently: Providence submitted revised geometry in January 2021. DOTD review of this material was completed, and additional comments provided on April 30, 2021 relative to both geometry and traffic. Revisions associated with the comments are on hold until the Section 106 process has further progressed.

3. Bridge concepts

Required: Bridge structure types and layout are required as part of the line and grade, additionally, the project calls for the consideration of aesthetic designs/concepts for the urban section of elevated highway.

Currently: Due to the progress on this work that had occurred prior to the stoppage of work for the Section 106 process, this work was completed in draft form and presented internally to the DOTD for comments. Comments were received, revisions associated with the comments are on hold until the Section 106 process has further progressed.

2021 0518 SPN H.003915 I49 ICC Status Update 489-001-001-122NG SPN H.003915 I-49 ICC EIS Status Update May 2021

4. Prepare draft sections of the EIS for DOTD and FHWA Review

Currently: Providence developed an avoidance alternative that will be required for the EIS (and was referenced in the December 2020 update). This alternative will not be fully considered until after SHPO review of the revised CRS and addendum. Providence has updated as much detail in the previously drafted chapters of the EIS as can be done while awaiting the outcome of the Section 106 process.

5. Review and concurrence with the draft Alternatives Chapter of the draft EIS by FHWA and DOTD (required to complete the draft EIS) and the Preparation of Technical Studies

These require completion of the Section 106 process and submittal, review, and agreement on the draft Alternatives chapter under Items 3 and 4 above.

6. Public Outreach in the form of stakeholder briefings, a Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting, and a public hearing will be conducted in conjunction with the release of the draft EIS

Currently: We should be unveiling an upgraded project website in May 2021. No stakeholder briefings or the next CAC meeting will be scheduled until the Section 106 process is further progressed.

Other Items of Note:

A Project Status Update Meeting was held on April 22, 2021. These meetings involve multiple staff from the lead and decision-making agencies (NLCOG, FHWA, DOTD) and the consultant team (Providence, Stantec, Franklin, Coastal). The primary focus of this meeting was to discuss the status of the culture studies review and the impact of the Section 106 process on the overall schedule. The project website refresh, bridge structure aesthetics, and Context Sensitive Solutions were also discussed, along with any schedule items that could be worked while awaiting the conclusion of the Section 106 process.

These discussions did yield direction from FHWA that any work for the project that is in development through the contract with Providence and the environmental process that has not been reviewed and approved by DOTD with concurrence of FHWA is not to be shared in a public setting at this time and would be done so with the issuance of the Draft EIS. This guidance limits the materials that can be uploaded to the website as well as that which can be shared with interested parties to only those items/deliverables that are final and/or approved.

Project status meetings were not previously held on a specific schedule. As of the meeting held in April 2021, we will be holding these meetings every two months until the Section 106 process is complete, at which time it is likely we will hold monthly status meetings.

2021 0518 SPN H.003915 I49 ICC Status Update 489-001-001-122NG STATE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM DO? $163 In 2020, the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s coordinating state million agencies selected 15 projects to receive $163 million in federal funding. The projects were selected because they align with in CDBG-MIT funds the missions of these agencies and the long-term resilience for 15 projects objectives of LWI. Specifically, the projects will reduce flood risk in communities throughout the state, store floodwaters in ways that State agencies coordinated to determine enhance natural habitats and move people in flood-prone areas out project awards that further agency missions of harm’s way. As the granting agency of these funds, the Louisiana and LWI resilience objectives. The Office of Office of Community Development vetted the projects to ensure Community Development is the granting they meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development agency of these funds, responsible for requirements and align with the state’s $1.2 billion Action Plan for determining project eligibility and alignment Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds. with the state’s Action Plan.

I A LA. HWY 22 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION G ST. TAMMANY PARISH RESIDENTIAL AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS BUYOUTS, ELEVATIONS OR RECONSTRUCTIONS B MERMENTAU BASIN INUNDATION RELIEF PROJECT H VERMILION PARISH RESIDENTIAL BUYOUTS, ELEVATIONS OR C LIVINGSTON PARISH DRAINAGE M RECONSTRUCTIONS IMPROVEMENTS I BLACK BAYOU STRUCTURE D ANACOCO CREEK WATERSHED F HARDENING AND RUNOFF IMPROVEMENTS RETENTION IMPROVEMENTS E BUNDICK LAKE FLOOD SURCHARGE O J UNIVERSITY LAKES FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT REDUCTION PROJECT F TURKEY CREEK RETENTION K K LSU ALEXANDRIA DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AND CRITICAL D IMPROVEMENTS N INFRASTRUCTURE HARDENING L THREE MILE LAKE BACKWATER FLOOD REDUCTION E

L M CANEY LAKE FLOOD SURCHARGE J C G MANAGEMENT

A N BAYOU COCODRIE RUNOFF RETENTION AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

H O IATT LAKE DRAWDOWN B IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT TYPES

Project types include dam, flood control, drainage, critical infrastructure, nonstructural mitigation and capital improvements. All projects meet the following criteria:

• Reduce flood risk in a project • Feature an eligible activity and • Address project long-term benefit area or support analysis to advance a national objective operation and maintenance needs optimize flood risk reduction for • Do not increase flood risk in project in design stage surrounding areas

PROJECT LOCATIONS AND AWARD AMOUNTS

PARISH WATERSHED REGION AWARD AMOUNT

ASCENSION AND LIVINGSTON PARISHES Region 7 $42 million

CAMERON AND VERMILION PARISHES Regions 4 and 5 $25 million

LIVINGSTON PARISH Region 7 $15 million

VERNON PARISH Region 4 $14.3 million

BEAUREGARD PARISH Region 4 $12.89 million

FRANKLIN PARISH Region 3 $10.2 million

ST. TAMMANY PARISH Region 7 $10 million

VERMILION PARISH Region 5 $10 million

CADDO PARISH Region 1 $6.6 million

EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH Region 7 $5 million

RAPIDES PARISH Region 5 $3.7 million

ST. LANDRY PARISH Region 5 $2.97 million

JACKSON PARISH Region 2 $2.75 million

RAPIDES AND EVANGELINE PARISHES Region 5 $2.2 million

GRANT PARISH Region 1 $1.1 million

This program is part of the state’s Action Plan to spend $1.2 billion in federal Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds. For more information, visit watershed.la.gov or email [email protected].

Stay up to date on our progress

watershed.la.gov [email protected] @lawatershedinitiative @lawatershed @lawatershed louisiana-watershed-initiative CRITICAL FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM

STATE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Dam and Spillway Resilience Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION In 2020, the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s five coordinating state agencies selected 15 projects to receive $163 million in federal funding. The projects were selected because they align with the missions of these agencies and the long-term resilience objectives of LWI. Specifically, the projects will reduce flood risk in communities throughout the state, store floodwaters in ways that enhance natural habitats and move people in flood-prone areas out of harm’s way. As the granting agency of these funds, the Louisiana Office of Community Development reviewed the projects to ensure they meet HUD requirements and align with the state’s $1.2 billion CDBG-MIT Action Plan.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Dams and spillways enhance drainage capacity and serve other critical functions throughout Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Dam and Spillway Resilience Program is focused on the improvement or hardening of dams and other spillway features at locations throughout the state for the purpose of increasing drainage capacity, improving drainage efficiency and enhancing dam and spillway system resilience.

COST ESTIMATE $ 51.3 million

Aerial view of the eight DOTD projects that will be implemented to reduce flood risk statewide. These are eight of 15 projects funded by LWI as part of its initial $163 million investment in reducing flood risk statewide. PROJECT DURATION PLAN CONSISTENCY

LOUISIANA CDBG-MIT MASTER ACTION PLAN (2020) Planning/Engineering TBD The project is consistent with the Louisiana CDBG- and Design MIT Master Action Plan’s focus on implementing “state-identified regional retention/detention, natural flood management and infrastructure projects.” OCD Construction/ 57 months from identifies flood control projects as unmet mitigation Implementation groundbreaking, date TBD needs.

PROJECT LOCATION LOUISIANA STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (2019) Vernon, Beauregard, Franklin, Caddo, Jackson, Rapides, Evangeline, Grant, and St. The project is consistent with the Louisiana State Landry Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan’s number one goal, which is to “protect the people, property and natural resources (State-Identified Most Impacted and Distressed Areas) of Louisiana by promoting strategies and policies that increase resiliency and minimize vulnerability to natural hazards.” The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness ranks local flooding as the greatest risk to more than 8,500 state- SCALE OF INFLUENCE owned properties.

LOCAL SUB-BASIN BASIN REGIONAL

PROVISIONAL WATERSHED REGION AND PROJECT LOCATION

The projects are located in Provisional Watershed Regions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, which include 44 parishes throughout the state. Most of the projects are located in central or northern Louisiana.

Project Location(s)

Project Location Parish(es)

Provisional Watershed Region(s)

Location of Watershed Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, with project locations indicated by the green circles.

LEARN MORE AT WATERSHED.LA.GOV/STATE-PROJECTS-AND-PROGRAMS Round 1 Statewide Projects