MPO committee OKs Tiger Drive changes

The Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee at its meeting last week made changes to two projects to be funded in Thibodaux under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus bill.

The committee approved changes to plans for an asphalt overlay of the Tiger Drive Extension costing $400,000 and building several turning lanes. Thibodaux Mayor Charles Caillouet will select the turning lanes to be constructed.

A quorum to make further changes would have to be called by June 16, said committee member Clayton Voisin. He called last week’s last-minute changes significant.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization issued a list of around 60 roadway projects to be funded under the stimulus bill.

The committee voted to approve an interim update to the MPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan requested by MPO administrator Leo Marretta. The plan lists the organization’s prospective roadway improvement projects.

Marretta said funding for a north-south hurricane evacuation corridor and further installation of “smart lights” traffic signals are part of the list of projects U.S. Rep Charlie Melancon (D-Napoleonville) will include in the federal transportation bill.

Also at the meeting, Yousheng Zeng, managing partner with Providence environmental engineers in Baton Rouge, said the amount that Lafourche Parish is exceeding ozone level standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency is marginal. However, new businesses locating to the parish will have to meet stricter emission requirements.

Zeng touted electrification at truck stops to replace engine idling as a way to reduce ozone emissions.

Lafourche has until March 12, 2010, to come into compliance with ozone standards, but EPA requirements could become more strict, Zeng said.

Marretta said, “If the MPO has to react to this it will cost lots of man-hours.”