October 22
October 22, 2007
Richard Weaver
October 24, 2007
South Central Planning & Development Commission CEO Kevin Belanger spoke generally about the organization’s purpose at the South Central Industrial Association’s meeting last week.
SCPDC is one of eight Regional Planning Commissions in Louisiana. The commissions were created by the Louisiana Legislature to help fulfill federal and state requirements for regional economic development planning and to help coordinate the activities of city, parish, state and the federal governments.
The commission is probably best known locally for providing building code inspection services and coordinating roadway improvements.
SCPDC covers Terrebonne, Lafourche and Assumption parishes, and parts of St. James, St. John and St. Charles parishes. The membership comprises the six parish presidents, public officials, business leaders and minority leaders. Its budget is over $3.8 million, with more than half of the revenue coming from the federal and state governments.
Belanger discussed a few of the issues dealt with by the commission.
“We do wastewater improvements and sewage planning,” he said. “We have big problems with sewage in our region.”
Belanger said the commission is concerned about the deterioration of the water quality in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
The fecal coliform count in Bayou Lafourche is a problem, he said. Bilge pump water coming from boats has been an issue in Bayou Terrebonne.
“If you change your Freon or your oil, don’t pour it in your yard,” he said.
Belanger said the SCPDC is under funded in highway construction.
“We get $3.5 million each year from the federal government for highway improvement,” he said. “The cost of roads has gone up so much, $3.5 million doesn’t go far.”
The Metropolitan Planning Organization, a program run by SCPDC which addresses transportation issues, has coordinated funding for several highway improvement projects, including widening Hollywood Road to four lanes from Louisiana Highway 311 to Martin Luther King Boulevard ($7.34 million, work to begin in 2008 or 2009), extending Westside Boulevard from Louisiana Highway 24 to Louisiana Highway 3052 ($4.85 million, work to begin in 2009 or 2010), and replacing the Bayou Lafourche Bridge in Larose on Route 310 ($13.4 million, work to begin in November 2007).
Belanger introduced the MPO’s Traffic Count Data system on the Internet at the MPO’s Policy Committee meeting Oct. 4 at the SCPDC building in Gray. The system displays the number of cars using individual roadways during certain periods in south central and southeastern Louisiana. Anyone can access the site by typing in South Central Planning & Development, clicking on “Programs” on the left, clicking on Houma-Thibodaux Metropolitan Planning Organization, then hitting “Traffic Count Data” on the left.
Belanger also discussed the Houma Intelligent Transportation System, the fiber-optic network that will monitor traffic management and traffic incidents. The system will be installed first in West Houma beginning in 2008, then in East Houma.
He touted SCPDC’s Building Division, which provides residential and commercial structure inspection services and issues building permits.
South Central Planning & Development Commission CEO Kevin Belanger detailed the services his organization provides in a six-parish region. Belanger spoke at last week’s South Central Industrial Association meeting. * Staff photo by MIKE BROSSETTE
