Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Highway Planning and Construction, composed of members of both the House and the Senate Committees on Transportation, Highways and Public Works, begin a series of community meetings around the state in early October to get public input on the development of Louisiana’s highway priority program. Lawmakers want to know what citizens and local officials think about the state’s highway improvement plans in their communities and across the state.

"This is an opportunity for folks to meet with lawmakers and have their say on state government plans for highway improvements, without having to travel to Baton Rouge, State Senator Francis Heitmeier (D-Algiers), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said. "The public meetings around the state also give legislators a chance to see first hand what the highway needs are in various parts of the state."

At the community meetings, legislators and state transportation officials will outline the state’s highway priority program and discuss the planned projects for specific areas of the state. The highway priority hearings are held each year, by law, to make sure the public knows about the highway improvement plans and has an opportunity for input on the proposals.

"I think it is important for us, as legislators, and state transportation officials to hear the public's concerns regarding highway needs. The people are closer to the issue and the problems and therefore have a better appreciation of their community needs," Representative Juba Diez, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said. "I hope that our citizens will participate in these meetings and help us to make rational decisions about our highway priorities."

The Highway Priority Hearings begin October 2, 2001 in Winnsboro and continue through early November with additional planned meetings in Monroe, Bossier City, Pineville, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Hammond, Westwego and Baton Rouge. The hearings are scheduled by highway district. A complete schedule of the hearings is attached.

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Tuesday, October 2, 2001 4:00 P.M. Monroe, LA
Highway District 05 (Includes E. Carroll, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Union and W. Carroll parishes)
Monroe City Hall
City Council Chambers
400 Lea Joyner
Monroe, LA

Wednesday, October 3, 2001 10:00 A.M. Bossier City, LA
Highway District 04 (Includes Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Red River and Webster parishes)
Bossier City Municipal Complex Council Meeting Room
629 Benton Road
Bossier City, LA

Tuesday, October 30, 2001 1:00 P.M. Pineville, LA
Highway District 08 (Includes Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon and Winn parishes)
Pineville City Hall Council Meeting Room 910 
Main Street
Pineville, LA

Tuesday, November 6, 2001 3:00 P.M. Westwego, LA
Highway District 02 (Includes Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Terrebonne parishes)
Alario Center
2000 Segnette Blvd.
Westwego, LA