Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The Advocate continues to report that the Department of Transportation and Development study was "commissioned by the Legislature." It is my understanding that study consultant was selected and paid by the highway advocate association known as the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads. That is an organization of highway contractors, highway material suppliers and consultant engineers who do highway projects.
It is not surprising that the results of the study offer little about reforming DOTD and a lot of rehash about the need for more tax dollars for highway projects. While I agree completely that the highway program is grossly underfunded, how can this be solved when the public and the Legislature are unhappy with DOTD's performance? Most of this unhappiness is due to the fact that past Legislatures have not done their job of providing the funds needed to meet current and future highway needs. It's easy to shift the blame for bad roads; it's hard to find a real solution for the problem.
Until there is a better relationship between the Legislature and DOTD, it will be difficult to build the trust and understanding needed to develop a first-class highway system. KENNETH A. PERRET Baton Rouge.
