Infrastructure: A long road ahead

A long road ahead

Billions of dollars will be spent on easing traffic and promoting alternative transportation, but the solutions may be only temporary as long as we’re addicted to cars—and sprawl. BY DAVID JACOBS

BATON ROUGE MAY not have the worst traffic in America, but at least one recent study ranks the congestion here right up with some of the biggest cities in the country, a dubious distinction for a metro area with fewer than a million residents. Planned federal, state and local infrastructure investments may loosen up some of the bottlenecks, but the region’s housing sprawl and auto-oriented culture may present even greater challenges when it comes to making it easier to get around.

CHARGING AHEAD WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric vehicles aren’t all that popular in the Capital Region right now, which is partly because the Baton Rouge area doesn’t have many charging stations, and they’re not all available to the public. But the infrastructure shortage should be addressed soon: President Joe Biden’s administration wants zeroemissions vehicles to make up half of new auto sales by 2030, and the federal infrastructure bill dedicates about $75 million for charging stations in Louisiana.

HOPING FOR A NEW, NEW BRIDGE

Baton Rouge residents might finally have to stop calling the circa-1968 Horace Wilkinson Bridge that carries Interstate 10 between Baton Rouge and Port Allen the “new bridge.” Louisiana lawmakers this year approved a $300 million down payment for another Capital Region bridge over the Mississippi River. There are several steps left before final approval is granted and work can begin on the multibillion-dollar project, so when it could open is anyone’s guess, though drivers likely will have to pay a toll to get across.

GET MOVING ON ‘COMPLETE STREETS’

MovEBR, the nearly $1 billion initiative to alleviate traffic congestion in the Baton Rouge area, lists more than 70 completed, under construction, or proposed infrastructure projects on its website. Mayor Sharon Weston Broome has prioritized a “complete streets” approach that takes all users, not just drivers, into account, though some advocates hope to see those principles codified into East Baton Rouge Parish law so they will outlast the current administration.

NO PAIN, NO GAIN ON I-10 TRAFFIC WOES

The state’s plan to widen Interstate 10 from La. 415 to Essen Lane may cost around $2 billion and will, over a 20-plus-year window, significantly add to the highway’s congestion; officials plan to shut down one lane of traffic in each direction for at least a year beginning in 2024. Whether having a total of four lanes in each direction compared to the current three by 2028 or so will shorten anyone’s commute remains to be seen. A counterproposal that is smaller in scope and price to address local I-10 traffic has failed to gain traction.

ISTOCK

IN CARS WE TRUST

Perhaps some of the Capital Area Transit System’s struggles can be attributed to mismanagement, and maybe someday the system will be privatized, but the region’s sprawling and auto-loving population also presents challenges. CATS is planning a bus rapid transit route from LSU to north Baton Rouge, which should benefit some commuters within the city. The long-sought passenger rail service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans is finally inching closer to reality. But unless Baton Rouge embraces greater density, most people will probably still want a car to get around.

TROUBLE WITH THE CONNECTION

While major infrastructure projects get headlines and may well be needed, some argue that Baton Rouge can’t fix its traffic woes solely by adding lanes and bridges to major highways. What’s needed, they say, are more connections between neighborhoods, giving drivers added options for getting around. But politically, connectivity is a touchy subject, as many residents would prefer not to see more cars on their quiet, suburban streets.

PEDALING ALONG…

The idea that riding a bicycle is a viable form of transportation, not just recreation, seems to be catching on in Baton Rouge, and getting around via bike should get easier in the coming years. More than 100 miles of marked bicycle lanes and 250 miles of off-road bike paths and walking trails are part of the city’s master transportation plan.