(The Center Square) – Shreveport’s public transit authority director identified an approach to utilize existing city assets as leverage for a $175 million federal grant that, if awarded, would deliver two major transportation infrastructure projects.
The City Council approved a resolution on Tuesday that gives SporTran and City Engineering the green light to move forward with a $175 million Federal Transit Administration grant application.
The money would fund replacement of the Linwood Avenue Bridge and phase two of the Medical Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project.
“The good news about this one is there are no new match requirements,” said Tom Dark, chief administrative officer.
The federal program requires the project sponsor to contribute 20% of the cost from non-federal sources. To win the grant, the city would need to come up with $35 million as a match.
“Based on the information that we’ve received from City Engineering, and also some of the projects that SporTran currently has going on in the corridor,” said Dinero Washington, SporTran’s chief executive officer, “we feel that we’ve already met the local match requirements.”
Washington identified around $42.6 million in existing and planned investments within the project corridor that he believes will qualify as eligible matches, which is subject to FTA approval.
The spending to be evaluated will come from city and state investments for transportation, infrastructure and redevelopment initiatives, including roadway reconstruction, an Amtrak facility, and a bridge rehab project.
“We worked very heavily with city engineering and public works, and we put together a program that we’re ready to submit,” Washington said. “Our objective is to maximize the amount of federal funding brought to Shreveport, while minimizing and potentially eliminating the need for new direct cash contributions from the city.”
The Linwood Avenue Bridge in Shreveport has been closed since 2022 because of structural problems that made it unsafe. The bridge is an important north-south route connecting areas near Interstate 20, but its reopening has been delayed because the city’s repair plan is not complete and still needs approval from the railroad that owns the tracks underneath the bridge.
The Medical Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project is a planned transit and infrastructure effort intended to improve transportation through Shreveport’s medical corridor, which includes major hospitals and medical schools like Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Willis-Knighton Health System and the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center.
Washington said it’s an opportunity to leverage federal money to replace critical infrastructure, expand high-quality public transportation and support continued economic and community development.
