STRATEGIC PLAN ITEMS

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION

TOP PRIORITIES

Public transit operations: support the plans of the 2011 Blue Ribbon Commission to achieve fiscal stability and improved performance of transit operations in the Capital Region

In 2011, Mayor Kip Holden chartered the Blue Ribbon Commission on transit. BRAC participated on this commission and is committed to seeing the plans and goals of the commission – now transitioned into the Baton Rouge Transit Coalition (BRTC), implemented. The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) has been subject to perennial budget shortfalls that impair its ability to focus on improving operations and adjusting to changes in the Baton Rouge area. The work of the Blue Ribbon Commission and the BRTC represent the first steps for improving transit and mobility in the Baton Rouge area. BRAC will work with partner organizations to ensure the implementation of the recommendations and advocate for continued improvement of transit operations with the appropriate level of revenues and overall service levels to sustain economic vitality in our region.

ACTIVE INITIATIVES

Transportation and infrastructure: assist the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in developing a strategic plan

BRAC has identified the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) as a key economic development asset in the Capital Region. In order to ensure BTR's potential is realized over the long-term, BRAC is spearheading the development of a new strategic plan for the airport that takes into account current and future conditions in the ever-changing aviation industry. The strategic plan will provide the foundation upon which future airport development will be supported by identifying opportunities that enhance BTR's competitive position. Specifically, the strategic plan will comprehensively evaluate all of BTR's components and operations, with an eye towards land-use development opportunities and the creation of a strategic business plan and financial plan to guide the implementation of the recommendations relating to capital improvements. 

Regional airport services: support strategic investments in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, including aggressive use of airline incentives that may be applied to efforts to recruit new low-cost carrier services and air service to new destinations

Airports play a critically important role in a region's economic vitality by providing efficient and effective air transport to and from other markets. Based on a BRAC strategic assessment, residents and businesses of the Baton Rouge area would be best served over the next twenty-five years by making continued investments in the BTR at its existing location and by aggressively leveraging airline incentives to recruit a new low-cost carrier service to the airport.  This extremely cost-effective strategy is expected to result in substantially-reduced ticket fares and increased airline service levels (including the number of destinations served by direct flights and the number of flights per day) for Baton Rouge area travelers.

Inter-city passenger rail: actively pursue the development of inter-city rail between the Baton Rouge area and the greater New Orleans area through a multi-region coalition

In today's economic development climate, a regional mindset is critical. While regions within a state may have once competed with each other, today's economic landscape values the development of super-regions as regional communities unite to leverage each other's assets.  The development of a Baton Rouge-New Orleans rail would allow for increased economic and business development of much of south Louisiana and would provide a critical evacuation route for several of the state's most vulnerable parishes. BRAC and Greater New Orleans, Inc. continue to work together to put forth a sound operational strategy for this important infrastructure asset.

POLICY POSITIONS

Regional transportation planning: continue to improve the metropolitan transportation planning activities modeled on best practice entities around the country

Congestion remains a significant concern for the region's businesses and much of the concerns could be addressed through better regional transportation planning. Of the roughly 450 metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) around the country, only a handful stand out as leaders. While most are primarily "maintenance" organizations that try to meet minimum federal requirements, the top-performing organizations are very active in developing a vision for future transportation needs, linking land use and transportation in innovative ways, helping to build thriving economies while reducing congestion, and gaining regional consensus on those needs. The exemplary MPO's have been successful at pursuing additional federal dollars to improve road and transit systems and leveraging private and other funding sources as well. Efforts to improve the Baton Rouge area's MPO based on national best practices will better prepare our region with robust transportation plans. 

Baton Rouge loop and other toll road projects: support and advance the Baton Rouge loop project toward implementation and support efforts to develop toll roads to enhance regional mobility

According to a five-parish poll in 2009, the construction of a Baton Rouge loop project is supported by four out of five, or 83 percent, of residents. Many regions across the country have constructed toll roads to provide residents and businesses new transportation options despite shortages in state and local government transportation budgets. In Louisiana, toll roads are relatively uncommon. Local and regional communities have state authorization to establish tolling authorities that enable the financing of new toll roads; however, toll road projects typically do not generate enough revenue to fully fund themselves. BRAC and its regional economic development organization partners support the Baton Rouge loop and will advocate for its implementation in part or in whole. If there is a financing gap, the Transportation Mobility Fund (TMF) and federal sources could address it by supplementing toll revenue with other public transportation funds. If properly funded, the TMF could allow for implementation of the first phases of the Baton Rouge loop project and would catalyze the development of necessary new regional thruways that would increase mobility and commerce throughout the Capital Region. However, the Baton Rouge loop and other projects should be accompanied by master land-use plans in the parishes in which this infrastructure will reside.

Regional transportation funding: secure funding for important regional transportation projects identified by BRAC's business-led regional transportation group that enhance regional transportation mobility and accessibility

The Capital Region's economic development depends on regional mobility and accessibility for businesses and individuals. Through a fact-based approach in 2008, BRAC's business-led regional transportation group worked to identify and build consensus around a set of high-impact regional projects that will have the biggest impact on eliminating traffic congestion. The Capital Region has secured over $250 million toward these projects since 2008, and construction is underway on the I-12 and I-10 expansion projects. Securing funding for all or some of these projects will greatly enhance regional mobility by eliminating hundreds of thousands of hours of traffic congestion. The region must again identify and prioritize the next major regional road projects and identify funding options for their completion. 

State transportation funding: aggressively support a statewide transportation financing solution to improve roads

With a backlog of state transportation needs amounting to $14 billion and growing, additional funding is necessary to address Louisiana's substandard road and bridge conditions, highway safety issues, and increasing traffic congestion. A transportation financing solution that includes 1) the dedication of at least $500-600 million per year in additional sustainable funding, including a portion allocated to the TMF; 2) the strategic use of tolls for major capacity expansion projects; and 3) a substantial allocation of one-time funds from budget surpluses, could address at least half of the state's transportation needs over the next twenty years. 

Local road improvements: monitor and support the execution of the Green Light Plan in EBR to ensure its success

The Green Light Plan, a $460 million roads program spearheaded by EBR Mayor-President Holden aims to develop greater connectivity between existing streets and to create alternate routes that will help get traffic flowing safely throughout EBR. By supporting the implementation of this program, the business community will help ensure the success of an initiative that directly addresses one of its top concerns: traffic congestion.

Mixed-use and traditional neighborhood developments: support well-designed mixed-use developments that create vibrant alternatives to traditional single-family home neighborhoods

Each Canvas Workshop trip taken by Baton Rouge area business leaders to another national market has shown that well-designed, mixed-use developments offer unique and attractive neighborhood options. When these projects are designed based upon smart growth principles such as walkability, BRAC supports the risk taken by development businesses to build these creative alternatives to traditional residential neighborhoods. They can be distinctive options to economic development prospects seeking unique housing and neighborhood alternatives for their employees.

Land development processes: pursue consistent and fair approval processes in planning/zoning matters

With the recent surge of development in the Capital Region, there is increased need for streamlined and consistent rules in the permitting process for new projects. In addition, outside businesses looking to expand or relocate to our region are often deterred due to the perceptions of permitting complexity. Planning and zoning rules that are consistently applied will support fairness and integrity in development as our region continues to grow. In addition, timeliness and consistency will instill confidence in investors who are considering expanding or relocating to the Baton Rouge area.

Wastewater infrastructure: monitor and support the execution of the EBR wastewater improvement program and offer options as necessary to ensure the success of the program

The wastewater system in EBR has severe environmental deficiencies and is in need of major upgrades. The city-parish has approved the wastewater improvement program to make these upgrades in a cost-effective manner, yet the program is still estimated to cost over $500 million to complete. An inadequate wastewater system can create roadblocks to new industrial and commercial growth in EBR and can make the region less competitive in our efforts to attract and grow jobs in the region. An expedient, yet rigorous, effort to execute on the approved wastewater improvement program should remedy this situation.

Louis Armstrong International Airport: support governance of and investments in the Louis Armstrong International Airport that allow the state's only international airport to compete with neighboring peers

The Louis Armstrong International Airport is a key asset to our economic competitiveness.  The airport has suffered from a landlocked position and years of political arguments spurring from the fact that it is owned by one parish and sits mainly in another. The creation of the Southeast Regional Airport Authority is a good first step in bringing all parties together to determine the best course of action to ensure that our state can compete with our peers by having a world-class international airport. Regional cooperation and a well-founded strategy are necessary to ensure that we maximize the potential of this key economic asset. 

Download » BRAC's 2012 Strategic Plan