CONNECT Policy Brief #3: Getting from Here to There
To download the full brief, visit the CONNECT website >
Baton Rouge (July 21st, 2011) – The New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas each year waste about $900 million due to traffic congestion, and these cities fall 15 points below the national average in households with access to a bus or rail transit stop, a new policy brief released today says.
The “brief, “Getting from Here to There,” also states that a commuter rail line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans could reduce I-10 traffic by nearly 5,000 vehicles a day, or 89 million vehicle miles annually, even as demand for households near transit in the super region is expected to double in the next 25 years, the brief concludes.
Those and other findings will serve as catalysts to advocate for development of a “super region” where smart transportation options connect jobs and housing to boost economic development, said Rachel DiResto, vice president of the Center for Planning Excellence.
According to the brief, three things must be in place within the next five years in order to build a “Super Region:”
• Enhanced transit services in Baton Rouge and New Orleans
• Coordinated plans and policies at the city, parish and regional levels that support affordable, walkable, transit-oriented communities
• Improved connectivity via commuter rail service between Louisiana’s two largest economic centers, Baton Rouge and New Orleans
The policy brief was prepared for Louisiana’s CONNECT Coalition and was released today at the group’s transportation policy forum. The CONNECT Coalition, funded through the Metropolitan Opportunities Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, is comprised of key stakeholders involved in transportation, jobs and housing throughout the region. CPEX formed the coalition in early 2010 to focus attention on regional transportation needs.
The 15-page brief is the third and final in a series commissioned by CONNECT and authored by Reconnecting America, a Washington, D.C. based non-profit that focuses on transportation issues. The other briefs were “One Great Region” and “Connected and Ready to Compete.” All three briefs are available at connect.cpex.org and were underwritten by a grant from the Surdna Foundation.
Today’s CONNECT transportation policy forum, sponsored by HNTB and Shaw Group, featured a series of updates and discussions about current and future transportation options in the region, including passenger rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
In his opening remarks, John Robert Smith, President and CEO of Reconnecting America said, “This region needs to take the opportunity to move transportation projects forward while the eyes of the nation are still on you.”
Panelists at the forum included representatives of the Federal Highway Administration, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Capital Region Planning Commission, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission, South Central Planning and Development Commission, New Orleans Regional Transit Agency, Baton Rouge Capital Area Transit System (CATS), City of New Orleans and City of Baton Rouge.
ADD ONE – CONNECT POLICY BRIEF #3 – July 21, 2011
The forum also served as a backdrop for the release of CONNECT’s newest policy brief which also outlines six key steps for creating a super region.
1. Expand education and outreach on transit and transit-oriented development to build support and awareness around issues of transit funding.
2. Develop a commuter rail implementation strategy for the Baton Rouge to New Orleans rail project that would include an operating service plan, preliminary engineering, a grade-crossing plan, evaluation of connecting key destinations, preliminary assessment of environmental and historic impacts, prioritized list and timeline for track upgrades, and a funding strategy. The proposed rail link between New Orleans and Baton Rouge would be part of the future Gulf Coast High-Speed Rail Corridor on which both high-speed and commuter trains would both operate on the tracks, similar to the well-developed systems in the northeast U.S. The brief notes that since 2009, the Obama Administration and the Congress have provided $10.1 billion for U.S. rail projects and plans.
3. Form a Regional Commuter Rail Advisory Council to make recommendations about rail service, project financing, land acquisition, community outreach, station-area planning, equity opportunities and other issues.
4. Prioritize investments and policies that improve walkability and bicycle access, as studies have shown that walkable environments with safe sidewalks and pedestrian paths can support increased transit ridership, higher home values, improved public health and better air quality as fewer vehicles are necessary.
5. Develop a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategic plan to coordinate development along the commuter rail corridor to ensure that station-area planning is done in a cohesive way that keeps both local and regional goals in mind.
6. Conduct a scenario-based cost benefit analysis for mobility in the NO to BR corridor
A 2009 feasibility study for the Baton Rouge – New Orleans rail line found that the project would generate about $187 million in benefits over 30 years – a return of $1.40 for every dollar invested. To help build further support, the brief recommends a new cost-benefit analysis that compares the rail option to other future transportation scenarios like widening highways. The brief cites three current highway-widening projects in Baton Rouge and New Orleans that together cost about $255 million for about 10 miles of roadway. In contrast, the rail project would cost about $105 million for initial expenses that would provide 78 miles of rail benefits. In addition, the brief notes that rail lines use far less land than highways – land that could be used as green spaces or developed for business, industry, shopping centers and neighborhoods.
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Center for Planning Excellence is a non-profit organization that helps South Louisiana communities define and realize their visions by providing models, tools, and expertise for inclusive planning processes. CPEX helps create highly functional, equitable communities throughout Louisiana that capitalize on their unique qualities through community-driven planning and implementation. Visit their website at www.cpex.org.
Reconnecting America is a national non-profit that is helping to transform promising ideas into thriving communities – where transportation choices make it easy to get from place to place, where businesses flourish, and where people from all walks of life can afford to live, work and visit. Contact John Robert Smith @ (202) 429-6990
