• Terrace Ave./Washington St.: The proposed exit at Terrace Avenue from I-110 Southbound is a stand-alone project that resulted from the I-10 Corridor Improvement Study. The project is currently in Stage 1, Planning/Environmental, though funding for Stage 2 is secured. The topographic survey was just completed. DOTD is performing the environmental process with in-house personnel for submittal to FHWA for review.

At this time, the project will be ready to bid by the end of 2017 or early 2018. The estimated construction cost remains at $20 million, but this estimate will be refined during the plan development process.

• I-10 in Acadiana: I-10 Widening from I-49 to La. 328: This is the first stage of the I-10 widening project from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Bridge. This stage recently was bid for construction. I-10 widening from La. 347 to Atchafalaya Basin Bridge will go to bid in January 2017 and I-10 widening from La. 328 to La. 347 will go to bid in Fiscal Year 2018/2019.

• I-10 at Loyola: The FASTLANE grant funds will also free up funds needed for designing and reconstructing the interchange at Loyola Avenue. This exit is for the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. DOTD will take bids in spring 2017 for interim improvements. A traffic study is ongoing for the full interchange.

• I-10 Highland Rd. to La. 73: In September Louisiana received $40 million in additional federal highway funding due to successfully obligating the full amount of its federal funding during the 2016-2017 federal fiscal year. This money allowed DOTD to repurpose the more than $40 million in earmark funds and move forward with plans to widen I-10 from Highland Rd. to LA 73. Once completed, this project will offer welcome relief to commuters between Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes. This is a design-build project and is currently in the procurement phase. The schedule is to issue a notice to proceed in summer 2017.

• I-10 Capital Region: DOTD continues to move forward with the I-10 widening project in the Capital Region, from La. 415 to Essen Lane.

The Stage 0 feasibility study was completed in summer 2016 and cost approximately $2 million. The project is currently in the Stage 1 environmental study, which began in winter 2016. The process will take about 16-18 months if the environmental assessment proves satisfactory. If not, it could take longer. The maximum cost limit of Stage 1 is $2.9 million.

Because this project can be done in phases, the entire $408 million is not needed to begin. The design phase can begin before all of the funding is secured. If funding is secured and all goes as planned, the first in a series of construction contracts could be awarded in the summer of 2020.

• New Mississippi River Bridge: DOTD recently finished the Stage 0 Feasibility Study for the new MRB. All five proposed alternative crossings will be moving forward to the Stage 1 Environmental Study as all alternative crossing are feasible (thus no crossing was eliminated). DOTD intends to proceed with a NEPA study when funding becomes available.

• Task force: In July Gov. Edward appointed an 18-member Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment to recommend community-driven solutions for Louisiana's transportation infrastructure investment needs.

Members of the Task Force held regional meetings throughout the state to gather feedback, information and ideas from elected officials and the public. More than 750 business leaders and citizens participated in regional task force meetings to offer input. Meetings were held in New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Houma, Lafayette, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge and Houma.

On Dec. 13, the task force unanimously adopted 10 resolutions that was included in a report to Governor by Jan. 1. The 10 resolutions included various policy and financing recommendations for addressing the State’s multimodal transportation needs for the Governor to consider as he plans for the 2017 Regular Legislative Session. Most notably, the Task Force has determined that an annual increase of $700 million for transportation is necessary in order to finance the important megaprojects across the State and to better serve all users of the transportation system in both urban and rural areas of the state.

• Transportation focused budget: In Gov. Edwards’ first budget, he removed the State Police funding from the Transportation Trust Fund. This freed up more than $60 million. A portion of these funds will be used on infrastructure and allow DOTD more flexibility with the trust fund.

Also, a portion of this trust fund adjustment was used to double the Port Priority Program. This is beneficial to Louisiana and the nation because the state has three of the top 8 U.S. water ports based on rank by total tonnage.

• Improved Public Private Partnerships process: In August, a law was passed that will streamline the public-private partnership process. The law authorizes the department to utilize P3s to finance projects that qualify. This law differs from exiting law in that DOTD does not need to get authorization from the Louisiana Transportation Authority to solicit proposals for P3 projects.

• Multimodal Commerce Commissioner appointed: In August, Gov. Edwards announced the appointment of Tommy Clark as Commissioner of the Office of Multimodal Commerce, coordinating the state's programs for ports, railroads, aviation and commercial trucking.

The Office of Multimodal Commerce is newly formed and is in place to enhance the state’s focus on multimodal transportation.

• More efficient Design Build process: By combining the issuance of the request for qualifications simultaneously with a draft request for proposals, the Design-Build process was shortened by three to four months. This change to the Design-Build bid process was instituted in 2016 and is being used to widen I-10 from Highland Road to La. 73.

• U.S. 90 interchange: In March 2016, DOTD began construction on its $56 million design build project at U.S. 90 at La. 318. The project involves upgrading the existing U.S. 90 and La. 318 signalized intersection to a full control of access, grade-separated interchange including the reconstruction of the U.S. 90 frontage roads to provide local access to La. 318. Work is estimated for completion in fall 2017.

• Paths to Progress: In May, DOTD celebrated the completion of the Paths to Progress/Submerged Roads Program. One hundred twenty-three roadway segments in the New Orleans metropolitan area, some of which were damaged as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, were successfully rehabilitated, restored, and enhanced through these programs.

With a combined investment of over $208 million, the South Louisiana Submerged Roads Program and Paths to Progress were funded by the Emergency Relief Program of the Federal Highway Administration.

• Passage of the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation/Water Resources Development Act bill that changed the cost share for channel deepening project construction from 50/50 to 75/25 which allows for DOTD to move forward to deepen the Mississippi River to 50 feet.

• The Governor doubled the Port Priority Program from $19.7 Million to $39.4 Million for FY 16-17.

• Oversaw State expenditures of $25.1 Million for the completion of 6 port projects with a total construction cost of $35.9 Million.

• There are 10 port projects under construction for a total construction cost of $56.7 Million and $36.4 Million in State funding with $26.8 Million expended to date.

• There are 17 port projects in design for a total construction cost of $175.3 Million and $48.3 Million in State funding.

• Gulf Coast Working Group, of which DOTD is a member, completed first step toward the reintroduction of passenger rail service between New Orleans and Orlando by providing a report to Congress evaluating the feasibility of restoring the service. This route was discontinued following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

• Legislation was passed allowing state public funds to be used for rail improvements with significant public benefits.

• Received approval from the state legislature to administer $28,491,193 in airport infrastructure projects and development at 69 public airports throughout the state.

• Secured $77,739,842 in federal funding from the Airport Improvement Program for critical airport infrastructure and development projects throughout the state.

• Secured $300,000 in FAA funding for Pavement Condition Index analysis at 62 general aviation airports throughout the state.

• Secured $720,000 in FAA funding for Wildlife Hazard Assessments at 9 large general aviation airports throughout the state.

• Let approximately $75 million in Bridge Preservation projects (Replacement, Rehabilitation and Repairs) for on-system and Off-system bridges so far this year.

• The Federal Aid Off-System Bridge Program let 27 structures in 13 parishes this calendar year for a total sum of $17,201,725.65

• For Calendar Year 2016, DOTD picked up 58,632 cubic yards of litter.

• Mowed 360,000 acres in 2016.

• Issued 232,388 truck permits, valued at $23,968,614.

• Number of QA bridge inspections – 1,400 (inspections of various types that include traditional blind QA inspections, new InspectTech inspections, Special – Highwater inspections during 2 major flood events, Unknown foundation preliminary field reviews, etc.)

• March Flooding incident produced 466 Road closures.

• August Flooding incident produced approximately 398 closures.

• Total of 121,505 cubic yards of flood debris removed.