[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6219117,"mediaKeyId","3624021-e23f105a12436e9f4c034e023ef5abe6","parentId",3624021,"title","Joint Transportation Committee defers decision on Belle Chasse CPI buy‑down invoice after members raise objections to using liquidated‑damages funds","audioSeconds",3270,"startMs",596000,"endMs",3866000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624021-e23f105a12436e9f4c034e023ef5abe6&start=596&end=3866","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624021-e23f105a12436e9f4c034e023ef5abe6/thumbnail_596000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219117/Louisiana/Joint-Transportation-Committee-defers-decision-on-Belle-Chasse-CPI-buydown-invoice-after-members-raise-objections-to-using-liquidateddamages-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219117-7ab3a9fe86bdf8a4c1b8451ebba435b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770942915&Signature=RtwMBqSebo-aqdFXYFFKV1l2cRBj6E3jEQWQBV45F8Unv8~wfY6z-qGywQ9M6GbabKni5cG8mf0XA4y70LZJSqce3wUnpzhJtgC4DFr3IIdOjNDSJ3FFfGPQXhkFdD2gfVRsDVXmw4QMsNNFDJcIRsMGjLMFB5jnHaNPbJlsQG0dVBz8R~98EyJTwooMbScXaov6ZX~5qRZ5slNzJkhA5xumXew2dI4s39dSyd5CvCCZVxP6Xx8MoWY96y2dyl9FDQ88WQe7yUPChFDax50H46Qv8Nd8h1Rh4lFCawcpQ2qjNLhrln0S3U9REoYOstt8Q4JxIR-GQFL-6ajJI~741Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","article","Joe Donahue, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, presented a packet and an invoice from Plenary Infrastructure seeking payment related to the CPI buy‑down in the Belle Chasse public‑private partnership contract. Donahue said the invoice calculation reflects the contractual mechanism to subsidize a lower toll rate for local residents and that Act 73 of the 2024 regular session directs proceeds generated from the Belle Chasse project to certain listed uses, one of which includes the CPI buy‑down.

Donahue told the committee that Treasury had received $3,555,000 in liquidated damages to date; $450,000 had been invoiced but not yet received; and an additional $1,490,000 was expected if the project met its currently anticipated final acceptance schedule, producing a total estimated liquidated‑damages pool of $5,495,000. He said the invoice at issue—the contractual CPI buy‑down payment to Plenary—was for approximately $1,100,000 and that the contract allows payment from the Belle Chasse escrow established for windfall proceeds and liquidated damages.

Several members, led by Representative Breaux and other West Bank legislators, objected to using liquidated‑damages money—funds that accrued because the developer failed to meet contractual deadlines—to pay the contractor for a CPI subsidy. Representative Breaux said constituents expected liquidated damages to fund alternative local facilities such as improvements to Woodland Highway or Peters Road. He asked that the committee defer a decision while DOTD explores other funding sources (Transportation Trust Fund or general fund) and requests an extension from Plenary. Other members raised concerns about contract terms, the role of outside counsel (Nossaman LLP), tolling rollout problems with the GoPass system, and whether Plenary might continue depositing anticipated LDs if payment was not made.

Donahue said the CPI buy‑down payment is a contractual obligation and that, under the contract and the statute, funds in the Belle Chasse escrow (held at Hancock Bank) can be used to pay the buy‑down. He agreed to request an extension from Plenary and to continue discussions with the developer. After discussion, Chairman Connick and Representative Breaux moved to defer action; the motion to defer was made on the record and carried with no objections noted on the audio record.

Committee members asked DOTD for additional budget and funding analyses and urged staff to consult outside counsel and to seek more information from Plenary about the invoice, its requested due date (correspondence cited July 3, the contract requires payment within 30 days of invoice), and whether an extension would be possible. Donahue said DOTD would continue to engage with Plenary and provide follow‑up information to the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation Joint Meeting - June 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee deferred action on a DOTD request to use Belle Chasse P3 proceeds to pay a CPI buy‑down invoice from Plenary Infrastructure after multiple legislators objected to using liquidated‑damages proceeds rather than other state funds and asked for further analysis and outreach to Plenary.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219122,"Joint Transportation Committee approves two Port Priority applications for Terrebonne and Caddo‑Bossier ports",281,100000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624021-e23f105a12436e9f4c034e023ef5abe6&start=100&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624021-e23f105a12436e9f4c034e023ef5abe6/thumbnail_100000.jpg","/articles/6219122/Louisiana/Joint-Transportation-Committee-approves-two-Port-Priority-applications-for-Terrebonne-and-CaddoBossier-ports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219122-9f1cee2191a93dae1d41322df5fea15f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770942915&Signature=CPw9ouK4zOZq33fiPeGcxenCCxK9OIMuWD24Rnpjyabc4iy9RS4PCh1fTWUnMkZHoYpSDfLb21iwP5si-itDrs8vOgQHRGdUchY3o3sn5QWmAjNe1didtYjjUwyFpZiyCX~r3965k38taZUhA2fp0FF8m823cm7xmjBQgf9e~bb0-FY-7yYwlVOLiaTt85lTSWYXNpsLn~wUS3pbKtLJt7Dl3BAuk1d45SbneRL5JOoeoAg-qPfXemLAzXbfcfVT-RmSV1dUtR-y8wWA--J-HnGrHSlSpnoIMJvHwWPywWmH1rF44lU~hl6AQkrnm6hEEwthz6isIaB-IY0ysji-fQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julia Fisher Cormier, Commissioner of the Office of Multimodal Commerce, told the Joint Transportation Committee that two Q1 Port Priority applications required committee action before the end of Q2. \"Port Priority serves our 41 Louisiana ports. We've got approximately $40,000,000 annually to fund the port infrastructure and improvements,\" Cormier said, and she summarized the two applications in members' folders.

Cormier described the Port of Terrebonne application as an acquisition of property and an acquisition of a tenant. She said the Caddo‑Bossier Port application would improve and increase rail service to two warehouse rail cargo facilities and estimated the project would create three new jobs and generate additional commerce. She also told the committee that Louisiana Economic Development provided an economic analysis included in members' materials and cited benefit‑cost ratios listed on the packet: 48 for Terrebonne and 4.8 for Caddo‑Bossier.

Representative Phelps moved to approve \"the recommended port priority applications received through March 1.\" The chair asked, \"Are there any objections?\" and, after no objections were raised on the record, the chair announced the projects were approved.

The committee recorded supporters present but not speaking, including David Robblett, Michael Noblach, and Jennifer Marusak, and noted Craig Romero and Senator Romero were present in support. No further committee action or budget detail was requested during the brief discussion; Cormier said the two projects will be included in the full Port Priority program the department plans to present later this year.

Members of the committee did not debate the individual project budgets during the floor discussion; the approval was limited to advancing the two Q1 applications as described in the materials provided to members.

The committee did not identify any statutory citations in the discussion beyond program rules requiring Q1 applications be heard before the end of Q2. The Office of Multimodal Commerce and LED analysis in the packet are the primary documentary sources cited by presenters.","The Joint Transportation Committee approved two Port Priority Q1 applications — one from the Port of Terrebonne for property and tenant acquisition and one from the Caddo‑Bossier Port to expand rail service for two warehouses — after a short presentation by the Office of Multimodal Commerce.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Joint Transportation Committee defers decision on Belle Chasse CPI buy‑down invoice after members raise objections to using liquidated‑damages funds

Joint Transportation Committee approves two Port Priority applications for Terrebonne and Caddo‑Bossier ports