LATTS - The Southeastern Transportation Alliance is an organization of the Departments of Transportation (DOT) of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia in cooperation with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the US DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD). LATTS II - Phase II of the Study includes Missouri and Oklahoma. This Alliance is an informal agreement between these partners to provide a means of financing and conducting the study. Each state is represented by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of their respective DOT (or State Highway Agency if applicable). The DOT CAOs (or their designated representative) constitute a Management Committee which functions as the study Steering Committee. The Steering Committee has active control of all decisions relating to the work of the study. Decisions are made with a simple majority of the participating states voting in favor of an issue. ITTS Institute for Trade & Transportation Studies - At a LATTS II Steering/Working held on June 10-11, 2004, it was recommended and approved that an architectural (2-step) approach be implemented to create and administer Latin American Trade & Transportation Institute.

Current Study History: ITTS (Institute for Trade & Transportation Studies)-Phase III Creates an Institute, perhaps at one of the Universities. The Institute will include but not be limited to analytical and coordinative services to: 1. Provide trade & transportation related information to Member State agencies based on information obtained in previous phases of LATTS. 2. Coordinate the dissemination, review and analysis of information on forecasts of trade and transportation to State agencies and the FHWA. 3. Assist State agencies in developing work statements, data collection frameworks, specialized trade & transportation related analysis among States, plus other items not listed here. LATTS II - Phase II covered implementation and monitoring of the recommended LATTS strategies. LATTS - Phase I has concluded. The Latin American Trade and Transportation Study concluded with a detailed investment strategy with numerous elements.

The initial effort was a multi-year analysis of the critical transportation needs identified. These needs were studied in greater depth and provided information for Alliance members to use in planning as well as provide useful investment information to both state and federal appropriators and decision- makers. The analysis was accomplished through the use of a consultant, supervised and guided by the states and FHWA. Study Objectives: 1. Supplement Original LATTS Databases and Findings 2. Highlight findings and strategies of LATTS and develop the cost of failing to make the necessary improvements to the infrastructure to accommodate the increased trade with Latin America. 3. Monitor the Results of Implementing LATTS recommendations including individual States success stories;. ITTS. At a LATTS II Steering/Working held on June 10-11, 2004, it was recommended and approved that an architectural (2-step) approach be implemented to create and administer Latin American Trade & Transportation Institute. The former Transportation Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development was approved as the Architect to get this established under the current project number TPF-5(025). The Institute will include but not be limited to analytical and coordinative services to: 1. Provide trade & transportation related information to Member State agencies based on information obtained in previous phases of LATTS. 2. Coordinate the dissemination, review and analysis of information on forecasts of trade and transportation to State agencies and the FHWA. 3. Assist State agencies in developing work statements, data collection frameworks, specialized trade & transportation related analysis among States, plus other items not listed here.

Active: ITTS (Institute)07/1/2004-12/2006. LATTS II 11/1/2002-04/30/2005 LATTS 08/1/1997-10/30/2002 (SPR-3(038)