Improve transportation in New Orleans

An editorial in the Times-Picayune called the opening significant not just for its utility, but as a symbolic sign of progress.

 

"The bridge opening represents far more than a trip across Lake Pontchartrain: It's a milestone in the metro area's recovery from Hurricane Katrina," the editorial states.

 

The $803 million federally funded project, the costliest bridge project in Louisiana's history, is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

 

According to the White House, all projects prompted by Katrina except for the I-10 bridge replacement in New Orleans have been completed. 
 
In addition, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority $10 million to assist with operating expenses and purchase 21 buses, all of which are now in service.  In addition, over $10 million from the economic stimulus package, combined with enhancements disallowed under the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, are being used to construct bike paths along the streets of New Orleans.
 
According to the White House, the Federal Transit Authority has, to date, waived over $40 million in local share and allowed $46 million in operating assistance that would have otherwise remained only eligible as capital assistance. 
 
Statistics from the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority show that average daily ridership between May 2008 and May 2009 rose by 10 percent. Still, as of May, ridership remained at only 43 percent of pre-Katrina levels. 

 

As for light rail — which wasn't promised but only raised as a possibility — the administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal decided not to seek $300 million in stimulus high-speed rail money for a New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge rail link. The state's transportation chief concluded the system would incur an annual operating loss of $18 million per year.

 

As the ridership statistics show, progress is being made, but a lot more work needs to be done. We rate this one In the Works.