Louisiana is set to get another $98-million federal dollars top apply to transportation and infrastructure projects. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the additional funds are a reward of sorts, for making good use of federal dollars previously awarded the state. He says this will enable DOTD to continue its momentum in road and bridge improvements.
“So historically, we’ve gone back to feds at the ends of every fiscal year and said, ‘hey, we have extra projects that we have ready to go. We can fit those guidelines.’ and this is the largest amount that we have ever received,” Wilson says.
Wilson says the nearly $100-million infusion will be used to help secure financing for projects already in the planning stages, which are ready to begin once they are funded. He says the additional federal money has happened before but this the largest such infusion to date.
“We have done this on a regular basis since I have been secretary. We have learned how to leverage these dollars and put it to good use.”
Wilson says if DOTD were not effective & efficient in their programs, they would not have received the dollars. He says the federal money will be applied to projects DOTD has “planned to let or are capable of letting” before the end of the current federal fiscal year, September 30th. Wilson says the money will go a long way to help planned road and infrastructure projects start turning dirt.
“These dollars typically have been spread all across the state…and it impacts the overall Highway Priority Program, because we can’t just start a new project and expect to get it done.”
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