TRANSPORTATION/DEV DEPT: Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and Development to conduct a review of public-private partnership contracting practices.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Carter

directs DOTD to study and compare P3 contracting practices, using Belle Chasse as a reference, and report findings and improvements to lawmakers by Feb 1, 2027.

Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate and sent to the Secretary of State by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.

Summary of Senate Resolution No. 173 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and intent

Urges and requests the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to conduct a comprehensive review of its public-private partnership (P3) contracting practices.

Specifically compares and contrasts the Belle Chasse Toll Bridge project with active or future P3 projects to identify differences, improvements, and lessons learned.

Key provisions and changes

Directive to DOTD: Initiate a formal study of P3 contracting practices within the department.

Scope of review (as directed by the resolution):

Procurement processes and methods used for P3 projects.
Contract terms, including risk allocation and financial structures.
Financial assumptions, particularly tolling and revenue projections.
Project oversight, governance, and accountability mechanisms.
Timelines, delays, and cost escalations.
Impacts on communities, including residents and local businesses.
Best practices and lessons learned from the Belle Chasse Toll Bridge project.

Deliverables:

A report detailing differences, improvements, and lessons learned between the Belle Chasse project and other P3 projects.
Recommendations and findings to be provided to:
Senate and House committees on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works.
David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library (as required by law).
Deadline: No later than February 1, 2027.

Communication: Copies of the resolution transmitted to the DOTD secretary.

Who or what would be affected

primarily the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and its P3 contracting practices.

Indirectly, stakeholders in P3 projects, including:

Residents, motorists, and local businesses affected by tolling and project impacts.
State legislators and oversight committees (Transportation, Highways, and Public Works).
The David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as a repository for the report.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Status: Introduced in the Senate; rules suspended for consideration.

Reporting timeline: Final report due by February 1, 2027.

Legislative pathway: The resolution directs inquiry and reporting rather than enacting new law or altering current statutes, serving as a formal oversight and information-gathering measure.

Context and significance

The Belle Chasse Toll Bridge project is used as a focal point, given tolling controversies and public concerns that arose after its initiation in 2025.

The resolution follows prior Auditor recommendations (2023) to develop formal P3 evaluation policies, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and better risk management in future projects.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison framework or draft a proposed outline for the DOTD report that aligns with the resolution’s objectives.