Street connectivity not an early priority in implementing FuturEBR

The FuturEBR implementation team is in the process of finalizing a list of top-priority “low-hanging fruit” that will be presented to Mayor Kip Holden and the Metro Council. But projects that would significantly enhance street connectivity are unlikely to be on the list. “I would have thought that addressing that disconnected system would have been the No. 1 priority,” says Cordell Haymon, CPEX board chairman. “I haven’t heard anything about a plan to even think about that.” Mark Goodson, executive vice president of the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority—one of the key agencies for implementing FuturEBR—says the plan envisions nearly $500 million in street improvements, some of which would establish connections in the Mid City grid. But improving connectivity is more of a long-term process, while the FIT team is looking at things that can be tackled right away. “It’s basically a cost issue,” says traffic engineer Mike Bruce. “I don’t think it’s very far down the road. … At some point, we’ve got to step up to the plate.” The implementation discussion occurred Tuesday afternoon after a panel presentation about FuturEBR at the 2012 Louisiana Smart Growth Summit, which wraps up today in downtown Baton Rouge. CPEX President/CEO Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas points out that DOTD has set aside plans to further widen Interstate 10, adding that the state department instead intends to work with the parish to address surface-street connectivity. —David Jacobs