A.  The development, improvement, expansion, and maintenance of an efficient, safe, and well-maintained system of roads, highways, transitways, and other transportation facilities are essential to Louisiana’s economic health and promote intermodalism and the ability of business and industry to compete cost effectively on a regional, national, and global scale in order to provide a high quality of life for the people of this state.

B.  The expansion of local transportation facilities is vital to growth and development of the parishes and the state.

C.  Public sources of revenues, including federal funding, to provide an efficient transportation system have not kept pace with the state’s growing population and transportation needs, and all available alternative sources of funding should be utilized to supplement available public sources of revenues.

D.  Because public funding sources are not providing the state with sufficient funds to meet all of its transportation needs, it is determined that parishes and municipalities should be encouraged to utilize public/private partnerships as a means to assist the state in financing improvements to the state highway system and meeting local transportation needs.

Acts 1997, No. 1017, §1, eff. July 11, 1997.