Transportation visionary Dr. Kam Movassaghi joins host Kathryn Fenstermaker to discuss the state of Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure and the reforms needed to build a safer, more connected future. Movassaghi draws on his experience as former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and past president of Fenstermaker to examine why funding, accountability and technology matter. He explains how he increased annual project lettings by 78 percent without a net revenue increase and expedited the massive TIMED program, which bundled 16 highway, airport and port projects funded by a four-cent gas tax. Movassaghi calls for holding elected officials and civil servants accountable to their promises and schedules, and discusses the need for sustainable funding mechanisms. He also champions the use of GIS as a public communication tool, envisioning a future where citizens can click on a map to learn about every project’s timeline and funding source.
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Dr. Kam Movassaghi on Transportation Infrastructure
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- December 20, 2020
- Episode: 3
- 52 mins
Episode Summary
“Today, the big win was the TIMED program – sixteen major projects funded by a four-cent gas tax.”
“Getting serious means holding our public officials accountable. If you said you would do it, then deliver and don’t make excuses.”
Meet the Leader Behind the Vision
Dr. Kam Movassaghi is president and CEO of Movassaghi LLC. With degrees from UL Lafayette and LSU, he has served in academia, consulting and government. As head of UL Lafayette’s Civil Engineering Department, he expanded programs and research. Appointed in 1998 as Louisiana’s secretary of transportation, he increased construction lettings by 78% without additional revenue and implemented a management plan to expedite the TIMED program, the largest construction initiative in the department’s history. Movassaghi later served as president of Fenstermaker from 2005 to 2014.
“I wish one day we’d get smart enough to use GIS so citizens can click on a project and see when it started, where the money came from and when it will be completed.”
Dr. Kam Movassaghi on Transportation Reform, Accountability, and Innovation
Episode Highlights
- Movassaghi recounts leading the TIMED program, a package of 16 highway, airport and port projects funded by a four-cent gas tax, and the challenges of completing such a massive initiative.
- He emphasises the importance of accountability: elected officials and civil servants should be held to their promises, budgets and timelines without excuses.
- The transportation leader advocates for sustainable funding solutions, noting that Louisiana has not raised its gasoline tax in decades and that local governments lack resources to maintain roads.
- Movassaghi argues for using GIS as a public-facing tool so citizens can click on a map and see up-to-date information about infrastructure projects, enhancing transparency and trust.
- He highlights the need for comprehensive, long-range planning that addresses both local and statewide transportation challenges.
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