EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 98-65

Roadside Rest Area Task Force

WHEREAS: Louisiana's citizens, tourists and travelers expect the state of Louisiana to provide well maintained roadside rest areas to accommodate their traveling needs;

WHEREAS: the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development, maintains thirty-four (34) roadside rest areas, ten (10) of which are adjacent to tourist information centers;

WHEREAS: in recent years, the roadside rest areas in many of Louisiana's neighboring states appear to have become a part of the tourism infrastructures of those states; in contrast, in recent years many of Louisiana's roadside rest areas have fallen into disrepair; and

WHEREAS: the interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana would best be served by the creation of a task force charged with the duty of evaluating the condition of Louisiana's roadside rest areas, comparing Louisiana's roadside rest areas to those of neighboring states, and recommending to the governor effective and efficient means to revitalize and maintain Louisiana's roadside rest areas;

NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: The Roadside Rest Area Task Force (hereafter "Task Force") is established within the executive department, Office of the Governor.

SECTION 2: The duties of the Task Force shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

A. evaluating the present condition of Louisiana's thirty-four (34) roadside rest areas, the services available at those roadside rest areas, and the manner in which those roadside rest areas are designed, maintained, and patrolled;

B. analyzing, through reports and otherwise, the condition of roadside rest areas in neighboring states, the services available at those roadside rest areas, and the manner in which those roadside rest areas are designed, maintained, and patrolled;

C. making a comparative analysis between Louisiana's roadside rest areas and those of neighboring states;

D. evaluating alternatives, including those set forth in a plan for roadside rest area improvement submitted by the Department of Transportation and Development, for maintaining, repairing, revitalizing, and constructing Louisiana's roadside rest areas in an effective and efficient manner; and

E. preparing recommendations for a cost effective and efficient revitalization of Louisiana's roadside rest areas.

SECTION 3: The Task Force shall submit to the governor a comprehensive written report which addresses the issues set forth in Section 2 by March 1, 1999.

SECTION 4: The Task Force shall be composed of eleven (11) members appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the governor selected as follows:

A. the governor, or the governor's designee;

B. the lieutenant governor, or the lieutenant governor's designee;

C. the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, or the secretary's designee;

D. the secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, or the secretary's designee;

E. one (1) member of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works selected by the speaker of the House of Representatives;

F. one (1) member of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works selected by the president of the Senate;

G. a representative of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association;

H. a representative of the Louisiana Restaurant Association;

I. a representative of the Federal Highway Administration;

J. a representative of the Louisiana Good Roads Association; and

K. a representative of Louisiana's tourism industry.

SECTION 5: The governor shall select the chair of the Task Force from its membership. All other officers shall be elected by the membership of the Task Force.

SECTION 6: The Task Force shall meet once a month and at the call of the chair.

SECTION 7: Support staff for the Task Force and facilities for its meetings shall be provided by the Department of Transportation and Development.

SECTION 8: The members of the Task Force shall not receive additional compensation, a per diem, or travel expenses from the Office of the Governor.

SECTION 9: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Task Force in implementing the provision of this Order.

SECTION 10: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the state of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 10th day of December, 1998.

M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor

ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State