/Lakeland Drive widening project part of 2014 legislative ‘wrangling,’ special session

Lakeland Drive widening project part of 2014 legislative ‘wrangling,’ special session

McGrath, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation wrote a letter to Tate Reeves. Tate Reeves was contacted by McGrath, the executive director of Mississippi Department of Transportation. Traffic signals, J-turns and frontage roads. Because the addition of a traffic sign was not feasible from an engineering (safety, mobility) standpoint, and because of legislative wrangling regarding the Lakeland Drive extension project that required a special legislative sessions to resolve, the frontage route was pursued.” Reeves, who lives in one the two neighborhoods that would have provided easier access via the frontage roads to Lakeland Drive, is a part of the controversy. There are only 150 households living in these two neighborhoods. McGrath stated earlier that this summer, MDOT was under pressure from the Senate to build the frontage road. McGrath mentioned in his letter that Reeves maintained that the expansion and construction of Lakeland Drive from four to six lanes in the area was two separate projects. Reeves described himself as a “champion” for the widening Lakeland Drive but denied that he was involved in the decision to build the frontage road. Emails reveal that Flowood officials as well as residents of the neighborhood were supporting the frontage road over the more expensive J-turn. Both roads were intended to make it easier to turn left onto Lakeland for residents of the neighborhood. McGrath sent a letter detailing the alleged political pressure to Reeves at his request. McGrath refused to comment on the controversy. McGrath has refused to comment further on the controversy. However, in her July 25 letter to Reeves she appears to have stated that the decision to build the frontage roads was tied to the Lakeland Drive widerning project. This was one of several earmarks that resulted in “the wrangling”, and the subsequent special session in 2014. Reeves stated that it was unfair to claim that political pressure from the Senate caused the decision to make Lakeland Drive six lanes, covering five miles in Rankin County. The Dogwood shopping center is located around the end of the six-lane road. Reeves stated that while she believed someone was putting pressure on the Senate to widen Lakeland Drive, the truth is we only pass laws in Mississippi with both the votes of the chambers. Based on the events of the 2014 regular session, it’s clear that the Lakeland Drive was being driven, for worse or better, by the Senate, where Reeves is a member. The House, then led by Robert Johnson (D-Natchez), the Transportation Chair, voted 121-1 to end the MDOT appropriations. Johnson described it as projects to help a few senators while hundreds of millions were needed for bridge repairs across the state. One of those Senate-inserted projects was the widening and repair of Lakeland Drive. Johnson asked members to reject the compromise, saying that Johnson was getting ready to hand it to “three or four” senators. The bill’s earmarked projects, which included the Lakeland Drive widening, were not changed in special session. An agreement was reached to give $32 million more to the counties to repair bridges. Reeves maintains that the Lakeland Drive project is necessary due to the high traffic count and the ongoing growth of the area. Reeves pointed out that Dick Hall, Central District Transportation Commissioner, had praised the Lakeland Drive enlargement project. McGrath acknowledged the merits and benefits of the Lakeland Drive project. However, she pointed out that MDOT had prioritized preservation over new construction due to inadequate funding. The Lakeland project was therefore not considered a priority. McGrath also stated that the Lakeland project did not follow the Vision 21 process. MDOT uses national traffic engineering and roadway designs standards, which include crash statistics, to prioritize projects statewide.