It has been said before, but bears repeating: Louisiana must increase transportation infrastructure investment if critically-important projects, like I-49 South, will ever be completed.
The failure to raise transportation revenue during the 2017 legislative session was disappointing. Without a funding increase, Louisiana will be unable to produce enough federal match dollars for transportation projects as early as 2019, leaving millions on the table for other states. However, a chief concern of the public during the debate to raise revenue was the need for greater assurance that increased funding will be spent on direct project costs and not on administrative overhead.
Louisianans deserve certainty that our tax dollars are being spent for their intended purpose. That’s why the I-49 South Coalition urges fellow voters to APPROVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3 on October 14.
This amendment would require any future gas tax increase be dedicated solely to construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure projects, and would specifically prohibit funding from being used on state employee salaries or benefits. By guaranteeing that funding is used to build and maintain roads and bridges, we move closer to realizing the benefits of I-49 South and other pivotal transportation projects in Louisiana.
Please join us in supporting accountability on October 14 – vote YES on Constitutional Amendment No. 3.
I-49 South Coalition Board of Directors
The I-49 South Coalition unifies and builds upon decades of continued efforts to make I-49 South a reality through public awareness, advocacy, education, policy, and seizing the opportunity for federal and state funding.