Submitted by United States Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
WASHINGTON (May 30, 2024) – United States Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will receive $1,346,532.00 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for road safety thanks to his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This funding supports constructing a realignment CC Bel Road at the S-Curve to address safety and roadway departure concerns resulting from narrow road width, steep drainage ditches, inadequate signing, and no striping.
“By addressing road safety, we are creating a better environment for families who rely on them,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Because I had a seat at the table, the infrastructure law will give Louisiana tribal communities the tools needed to keep people safe on the road.”
Background
Transportation fatalities and injuries severely impact the quality of life in Indian country. Each year under IIJA, 4% of the available Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) funds are set aside to address transportation safety issues identified by federally recognized Indian tribes through a competitive, discretionary program. Projects are chosen whose outcomes will reduce fatal and serious injuries in transportation related incidents, such as motor vehicle crashes.
Cassidy has long supported projects to upgrade infrastructure and improve the safety surrounding CC Bel Road. Last year, Cassidy announced $11,416,689.00 from IIJA for the Coushatta Tribe for the engineering design, environmental compliance, right-of-way, and construction to upgrade and extend approximately 2.5-miles of CC Bel Road.
