Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves, a senior member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, made the following statement after an additional $104,044,257 in federal funding was awarded today to the State of Louisiana for transportation and infrastructure projects. The funds will be used for shovel-ready projects and will help expedite project completion.

“The Capital Region has the fourth worst traffic in America. Not per capita. Total worst traffic. And the energy logistics of our Bayou and River Regions are crucial to Louisiana’s and America’s economy.  Infrastructure must always be high on everyone’s ‘to do’ list in Louisiana, and we must fight for every penny we can get. This $104 million can help launch or finish critical projects like improvements to LA 30/LA 1 to connect a new Mississippi River bridge; the Intracoastal Bridge and the LA 415 Connector in West Baton Rouge; to expedite the closure of the Washington St. Exit; to expedite LA 70 construction; and complete the LA 1 extension in Lafourche Parish. Today’s funds build on the billions we’ve secured in infrastructure investments to reduce traffic and increase the safety and efficiency of our roadways. As I’ve said, we’re running through the tape. We will not complete this term without exhausting all our energy on securing wins for our great state,” Graves said.

Federal “Redistribution Funds” are when federal programs funded through the federal Highway Trust Fund do not fully use their allocated dollars in a given year. The Federal Highway Administration reallocates unused funds to states across the country with an ability to obligate funds before September 30^th of each year.