NORTHWEST LOUISIANA MEGA PROJECTS Status Reports and Updates on the MEGA Projects for Caddo and Bossier Parishes July 01, 2019 The Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Caddo and Bossier Parishes in Northwest Louisiana. Since the passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1962, all metropolitan areas larger than 50,000 people must designate an MPO that is responsible for carrying out a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (3C) planning process to determine how best to invest federal transportation funding in the region. A major component of this 3C process is the development of a Long- Range Transportation Plan for the area including Visionary or MEGA Projects. The purpose of this document is to provide some basic background and status of those MEGA Projects for our region. Background information on transportation and infrastructure funding at the state level developed for the Governor's Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment is also presented. The projects listed are not necessarily in order of priority. Northwest Louisiana MEGA Projects I-20 Maintenance and Improvements 3 I-49 Inner City Connector 7 I-69 Sections of Independent Utility 14, 15 & 16 19 Barksdale Gate Access Road I-220 @ I-20 Interchange Modifications 25 LA 511 - Jimmie Davis Bridge 31 Inner Loop Expressway (LA 3132) Extension 35 North Louisiana Passenger Rail 41 Transportation and Infrastructure Investments 45 Local Contacts 53 Page 1 of 51 This Page Left Blank Page 2 of 51 I-20 Maintenance and Improvements PROJECT DETAILS I-20 corridor is congested with vehicle traffic at many points, with conditions expected to worsen in the coming years. The Statewide Transportation Plan has identified 4 major projects along I-20 within District 04. Each of these projects consists of expansion of the existing 4-lane sections to 6- lane sections. A majority of this expansion can be done along with much needed maintenance improvements along the corridor. The general expansion will be through use of the existing rights- of-way by “stealing from the center” that is conversion of the grass medians to travel lanes. In addition to the expansion projects noted above funding for general maintenance of the existing facility is required. ISSUE Transportation agencies must balance the requirements of sustaining their existing system pavements and bridges against “modernization” improvements (safety, wider lanes, ITS) versus expansion investments (new construction, additional capacity). Under the state’s current Statewide Transportation Plan priority within the Mega Projects is given maintenance and improvements to our existing Interstate Highway System. States across the country have been dealing with similar dilemmas in recent years: Flat or declining federal aid, decreasing revenue from gas taxes, and a growing list of costly, overdue repairs to aging bridges, interstate highways and rail lines. Additional funding is greatly needed for the continued maintenance and development of our Interstate Highway Systems. SIGNIFICANCE Over the next 30 years, motor carriers will require a combination of infrastructure investments and policy strategies to operate efficiently and effectively. Policies and investments that benefit motor carriers can enhance safety and, improve level of service, which reduces the risk of accidents and increases productivity. The factors influencing the freight transportation system are constantly changing as cost, time and customer demands change. Changing technologies, economic conditions, shifts in supply chain methodologies, the availability of providers and the locations of users within the system, are constantly evolving as well. However, the need for access, mobility and good intermodal connections between regions and states is a constant CURRENT STATUS The projects identified in the Statewide Transportation Plan are as outlined below: Total ID Improvement Type Area Facility Limits Cost No. ($M) 23b Shreveport I-20 Red River Bridge (I-49, Shreveport to Widen to six lanes $135 Traffic Street, Bossier City) Page 3 of 51 Total ID Improvement Type Area Facility Limits Cost No. ($M) 23c Shreveport I-20 LA 3 to I-220 E Widen to six lanes $90 23a Shreveport I-20 TX State Line to I-220W Widen to six lanes $180 94 Bossier Webster I-20 I-220 E to Minden, LA Widen to six lanes $200 OUR POSITION We ask for your continued support for federal and state funding and ask the full cooperation for the development of each of these projects. We also support any additional funding that can be garnered for continued maintenance of our existing interstate system. An efficient, reliable and safe roadway system sets the conditions for supporting private sector development. To be economically competitive, industries must be able to get their products to the right place at the right time for the right price Page 4 of 51 Page 5 of 51 This Page Left Blank Page 6 of 51 I-49 Inner City Connector PROJECT DETAILS The Interstate 49 Inner City Connector (I-49 ICC) project is part of the I-49 Corridor which runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. The I-49 ICC will be a new interstate facility approximately 3.6 miles in length. It is proposed to intersect Shreveport in order to connect I- 49 at the I-20 interchange with I-49 North at the I-220 interchange. ISSUE As authorized in the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and subsequent reauthorizations, I- 49 is to be extended from Shreveport/Bossier, Louisiana to Kansas City Missouri. We have made great strides in completion of I-49 North from I-220 to the Louisiana Arkansas state line. This facility is open from LA 1 north to the state line with entire route from I-220 to the Arkansas line opening to traffic in the next year or so. The proposed action is the development of an interstate connector facility that will link downtown Shreveport at the current terminus of I-49 at I-20 with I- 220, the southern terminus of I-49 North. SIGNIFICANCE While this portion of the I-49 Corridor was defined as far back as 1976, lack of funding and community support has prevented further study and development of the route. The MPO completed a Comprehensive Stage 0 Feasibility Study for this section of I-49 and is in the process of completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the connector project. The primary purpose of this project is to provide improved connectivity between the existing I- 49/I-20 interchange and the I-49 N/I-220 interchange currently under construction. The project will reduce travel time and travel distance for those remaining on I-49 and provide a more direct access to downtown Shreveport, the Riverfront areas of Shreveport and Bossier City, the North Shreveport/Agurs Business Districts just north of downtown Shreveport, and the Allendale/Ledbetter neighborhoods. CURRENT STATUS Stage 1 EIS is underway. Our engineering consultants have developed and presented detailed environmental data for the study area and five alignments including four build-through alternatives and the fifth build alternative utilizing the Inner Loop LA 3132 from its juncture at I-49 and I-220 with its future juncture with I-49 North. Throughout this study process, NLCOG has held 24 public meetings in multiple locations, multiple days, and multiple times of day to provide the public with maximum opportunity to participate in the process. An Alternatives Decision Memorandum has been developed, reviewed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Louisiana Division office of the Federal Highway Administration, and has concurred with completing the Draft EIS with Build Alternative 1, Build Alternative 5 and the No Build Alternative. FHWA has also made two 4(f) determinations: (1) SWEPCO Park does not meet the significance requirement, and (2) Cross Lake is a Section 4(f) property. The NLCOG Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee (MPO) unanimously passed a resolution on August 18, 2017 in support of Build Alternative 1 being recognized as the MPO Locally Preferred Alternative. A Final Draft of the Cultural Resources Survey has been submitted to LADOTD, and Louisiana Division of Federal Highways. The State Historic Preservation Office has issued comments back to DOTD on the Cultural Report. Those comments have been forwarded to the consulting team to be reviewed and addressed appropriately. A Draft Page 7 of 51 Preferred Alternative Identification Analysis has also been submitted to LADOTD, and FHWA for review. Once concurrence on these documents is given by DOTD and FHWA the draft EIS will be submitted to both entities for concurrence and then made available for public comment and formal Public Hearing on the project. See attached consultant update for current timeline. Cost Comparison Costs are in the process of being updated with current item costs associated with I-49 Segment K and contingencies. Build Alternative 1 – Fully elevated, 2 internal interchanges, 4 lanes $547M – Fully elevated, 2 internal interchanges, 6 lanes $640M Build Alternative 5** – Resurfacing and widening existing LA 3132 $832M – Reconstruction and widening existing LA 3132 $846M *Costs are NOT final **Salvaging part of the LA 3132 interchange is in both Build Alternative 5 options, but traffic maintenance costs are not. Louisiana House Bill 578 of the 2019 Regular Session appropriated $100 million to the project from the BP Oil spill settlement funds. OUR POSITION We ask for your continued support for federal and state funding and ask the full cooperation of the Federal Highway Administration to proceed quickly on this project. Please note that Northwest Louisiana also supports the efforts by those in South Louisiana to complete the entire interstate in Louisiana. Note there have been more than 24 public meetings held to date on this project. This does not include meetings with the Citizens Advisory Committee, the Pastoral council, neighborhood groups, civic groups, etc.