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House lawmakers will meet this week to find out how state transportation officials plan to use $340 million in new money the Legislature approved this year. 

The discussion comes as an industry group, at Gov. Jeff Landry’s request, works on a potential overhaul of the Department of Transportation and Development.

“We’ve had a month to let the dust settle [after the session],” House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Chair Ryan Bourriaque said. “Now that we’ve done that, what is our game plan?”

He said the new funding is earmarked for a few different purposes, including:

— Shovel-ready road overlay projects that have been identified as state priorities but didn’t have the funding to move forward

— Supplemental funding for DOTD’s regional district offices 

— The road transfer program, which allows state officials to transfer authority over state roads to local governments

The transfer program has a $300 million backlog, Bourriaque said.

“The more funding that we can provide in relation to the road transfer program, the more state highways we’re getting off of our books,” he added. 

Committee members also plan to discuss a survey DOTD is conducting with lawmakers regarding their needs and goals. Responses are due July 22, Bourriaque said. 

Landry has asked the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads, an advocacy group of contractors, concrete firms and others, to “privately fund, procure and manage a national consulting firm to assess DOTD and make actionable recommendations.” The coalition selected Boston Consulting Group for the project. 

The House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works is scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Capitol. 

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