Louisiana starts process to reorganize state's transportation agency

(The Center Square) — Louisiana lawmakers and Gov. Jeff Landry say the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is not completing transportation projects efficiently and a restructure could be in the offing.

Landry issued an executive order in May calling for a complete restructuring of the department and the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met this week to discuss the possibility.

Louisiana hired an outside consulting firm to assist with the reorganization plan, Boston Consulting Group, which handles business strategies globally in many different markets for both the public and private sectors. The firm is involved 3,000 transportation and infrastructure projects, according to their website. The consulting firm met with the committee Monday to discuss their progress in improving efficiency and quality of work at the DOTD.

Mel Wolfgang, the senior partner with Boston Consulting, says so far they're still analyzing the current internal systems to see how they can be improved. Along with that, they are also comparing the Louisiana DOTD practices to other states.

This includes interviews with the staff and industry groups like construction along with the Legislature. The firm is analyzing data to create proper benchmarks that the department might not meet at present.

The group expects to present a roadmap to the DOTD based on those assessments by the end of September. The governor mandated in his executive order that the Secretary of DOTD to submit a feasibility report based on the recommendations from the consulting group.

Sen. Patrick McMath. R-Saint Tammany, felt that beyond project efficiency and productivity, the department could also reduce specialization among its employees.

"Employment flexibility based on performance is important," McMath said regarding the number of administrators in the department.

Sen. Gary Carter, D-Jefferson, felt employment flexibility will also help lawmakers correctly appropriate monies.

"We've taken many steps in the Legislature the last several years, I believe, to try to make certain the Department of Transportation and Development was spending its money on actual projects as opposed to administration," Carter said.

Lawmakers asked the group what they have done other states and its effectiveness. Although Wolfgang said they can't get into details due to confidentiality agreements, he said he believe there are some areas in need of improvement.