LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SB 435 SLS 22RS 1247
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: June 3, 2022 10:11 AM Author: CORTEZ
Dept./Agy.: Department of Transportation and Development
Subject: Signage on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Analyst: Patrice Thomas
TRANSPORTATION/DEV DEPT EN INCREASE SD EX See Note Page 1 of 2
Provides relative to the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act. (8/1/22)
Under present law, fines for violating the LA Highway Regulatory Act are $175 or imprisonment up to 30 days, or both for
1st offense; and $500 or imprisonment up to 90 days, or both for 2nd and subsequent offense. Proposed law provides fines
in present law shall be twice the standard fine while on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge - $350 for 1st offense and $1,000 for
2nd and subsequent offense. Proposed law requires the Department of Transportation and Development to do the following:
(1) install camera safety devices, (2) establish a process for identification of vehicles traveling over the posted speed limit,
issue warnings and citations, and collection of fines, (3) place signs on the eastbound and westbound entrances that state
“Safety Corridor, Fines Doubled for Speeding and Other Violations”, (4) place eight sets of speed limit signs equally spaced
on the eastbound and westbound portions, and (5) place six sets of “Trucks Right Lane Only” sign on the eastbound and
westbound portions. Proposed law creates the Atchafalaya Basin Bride Safety Fund. Traffic camera safety citations on the
bridge shall be deposited into the fund for expenses in DOTD and then divided between Iberville and St. Martin parishes.
EXPENDITURES 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total
REVENUES 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE INCREASE
Annual Total
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
Proposed law will create a direct and indirect increase in expenditures within the Department of Transportation and
Development (DOTD) as a result of installing camera safety devices and additional signage on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.
The proposed law requires DOTD to install camera safety devices, erect “Trucks Right Lane Only” directional signs - 6 sets (2
per set) on the eastbound and 6 sets on the westbound, and equally place speed limit signs - 8 sets (4 per set) on the
eastbound and 8 sets (4 per set) on the westbound. In addition, the proposed law doubles existing traffic fines on the
bridge and requires those fines to be deposited into the newly created Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Fund.
Signage
DOTD reports the provisions of the proposed law that require the installation of signage at specific intervals will result in
significant costs to relocate existing highway signage and markers due to federal regulations that provide guidelines about
spacing and placement requirements on interstate highways. DOTD estimates the total cost of placing new signs as
prescribed in the proposed law and making the necessary adjustments to existing signage at between $490,000 to
$690,000 Statutory Dedications out of the TTF-Regular. Expenditures will provide for the material, fabrication cost,
mounting posts, and labor required for the installation of new signs as well as moving existing signs to maintain equal
spacing. EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION Continues on Page 2
REVENUE EXPLANATION
Proposed law may result in an indeterminable increase in revenue from the newly created Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety
Fund within DOTD and an increase in Local Funds revenue within Iberville and St. Martin parishes as a result of potential
traffic fines. The proposed law imposes fines twice the standard fine if a driver traveling on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
violates the LA Highway Regulatory Act. The fine for a 1st offense would increase from $175 to $350 and subsequent
offenses would increase from $500 to $1,000. The number of drivers that will be fined is unknown and the revenue impact
from the fine is indeterminable.
Revenue from the traffic fines will be deposited into the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Fund. Subject to legislative
appropriation, the proposed law provides that monies from the fund will be used to cover expenditures within DOTD for
setting up signage, camera safety devices, and other expenses. Afterward, monies in the fund will be divided equally
between Iberville and St. Martin parishes, which will be remitted to entities and organizations within each parish in the same
manner as if the traffic fines were issued by a law enforcement officer.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
x 13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Evan Brasseaux
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Interim Deputy Fiscal Officer
 LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: SB 435 SLS 22RS 1247
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: June 3, 2022 10:11 AM Author: CORTEZ
Dept./Agy.: Department of Transportation and Development
Subject: Signage on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Analyst: Patrice Thomas
CONTINUED EXPLANATION from page one: Page 2 of 2
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION Continued from Page 1
The indirect increase in expenditures is attributable to the long-term maintenance and possible replacement costs for
damaged or destroyed signs. The maintenance cost over time should be negligible, but to the extent that additional signage
is added to the department’s inventory each year, the department’s effort to maintain them increases incrementally. Material
and labor costs for any new signage are estimated to recur every 10 years in perpetuity, as roadway signs must be replaced
due to age or damage.
Cameras
Also, the proposed law requires DOTD to install camera safety devices on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. The installation of a
camera system is anticipated to increase expenditures within DOTD by $6 M for construction costs associated with
installation in FY 23. The department reports the installation of 16 cameras, 8 per eastbound side and 8 per westbound side.
In addition, the proposed law authorizes DOTD to contract with a third-party vendor to monitor the camera. The department
estimates annual operating costs of $1 M to $3 M, which depends on the duration of camera use and monitoring.
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Fund
Proposed law creates the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Safety Fund, in which monies collected from traffic fines on the bridge
shall be deposited. Subject to legislative appropriation, the proposed law provides that monies from the Atchafalaya Basin
Bridge Safety Fund will be used to cover all expenditures incurred by DOTD for signage, cameras safety devices, and any
other expenses necessary to carry out the provision of this measure. At the end of each fiscal year, all unexpended monies
in the fund shall be divided equally between Iberville and St. Martin parishes. Furthermore, the proposed law provides that
Iberville and St. Martin parishes shall remit monies from the fund to entities or organizations within each parish in the same
proportions as traffic fines collected by the parishes for violations that are issued by a law enforcement officer.
Treasury
Creating a new statutory dedication within the state treasury will result in a marginal workload increase for the Department
of Treasury, which can generally be absorbed within existing resources. However, to the extent other legislative instruments
create new statutory dedications, there may be material additional costs associated with the aggregate effort to administer
these funds. The Treasury performs fund accounting, financial reporting, banking, and custodial functions for 436 special
funds. When unable to absorb additional workload with existing resources, the Treasury anticipates it will be required to add
one T.O. position at a total personnel services cost of approximately $73,000, plus approximately $2,450 for a one-time
purchase of office equipment. These expenditures are assumed to be SGF in this fiscal note.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
x 13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
Evan Brasseaux
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee 6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Interim Deputy Fiscal Officer