I49 in LA

[Anthony_JK]

Meanwhile, here's some news of some progress downstream of Lafayette.


LADOTD just released the Final Supplemental EA/FONSI for the proposed interchange between US 90 and LA 318 near Four Corners, west of Franklin. This supersedes and replaces the original EA/FONSI that was approved in October of 2013.


The main reason that a Supplemental EA was needed was due to changes in the design of the interchange prompted to reduce ROW acquisition costs and offer a better design for heavy trucks and sugar cane harvesters. The project is being built under a Design-Build contract.


Here is the original design that was approved under the Oct. 2013 EA/FONSI:





As you see, due to the proximity of the subdivision in the northeast quadrant, a loop ramp was added to provide access to US 90 west/Future I-49 north. Also, note how the east frontage road is behind the subdivision, and the old frontage road is converted to a local access road which dead-ends at a cul-de-sac near the grade separation.


However, the designers wanted to retain a more traditional diamond interchange for better traffic movement; so they came up with this alternative design, which was ultimately approved in the Supplemental EA/FONSI.





In this alternative, the loop ramp is eliminated in favor of a tighter straight "urban diamond" design, where the onramp to US 90 westbound is squeezed between the access road and the elevated mainlines.  It allows also for less required takings of ROW for the east frontage road.


Construction should now be able to proceed; with completion scheduled for some time in 2018. When finished, this would essentially eliminate one of the final gaps in freeway grade for US 90 between LA 88 and Ricohoc/Wax Lake Outlet. (An overpass of a railroad spur near Jeanerette is scheduled to begin construction next year.)


Slow progress, but progress nevertheless.

[Grzrd]

I-49 connector status?

I-49 Shreveport Inner City Connector is still under environmental study/review ...

The I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport website has been updated to to announce six Community Input Meetings scheduled for January 19-21.  Here is the Public Notice for the meetings, in case anyone is interested in attending.

[Grzrd]

The Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments ("NLCOG") has posted its August 15, 2014 Transportation Policy Committee Draft Minutes, which provide some detail on what improvements would need to be made to the Inner City Connector I-220/LA 3132 Build Alternative No. 5 in order for it to be designated as I-49 (page 2/4 of pdf):

1. I‐49 Inner City Connector
... this has been a lengthy process to ensure that all costs are defensible, since it is reasonable to assume the Loop It group will challenge the EIS.

Here's a story put out in yesterday's paper about the I-49 ICC: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/03/21/environmental-process-inner-city-connector-underway/25163103/

John Norquist is quoted extensively in the article linked by cjk374 with comments about the Shreveport I-49 Inner City Connector that could also apply to the Lafayette I-49 Connector:

Those who've studied the impact of highways on inner city neighborhoods aren't convinced of the proposed connector's promise.
Some, such as former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, equate the hope supporters have for the economic benefits of inner city connector in Shreveport to false confidence.
"I don't know of any situation in any urban area that has benefited from putting a road in," said Norquist, who also is the former president and CEO of the Congress of New Urbanism, a nonprofit that promotes walkable, mixed-used communities ....
"A freeway might give you a couple of gas stations, but even then the gas stations won't usually go into a neighborhood that is otherwise deteriorated," he said ....
"They don't work in the middle of a city. All they do is concentrate traffic and create more resolve," Norquist said.

The I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport website has been updated to to announce six Community Input Meetings scheduled for January 19-21.

The Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments ("NLCOG") has posted its November 20, 2015 Transportation Policy Committee Draft Minutes and those Draft Minutes reflect considerable discussion about Context Sensitive Soutions ("CSS") for the I-49 ICC, including the possibility of maximizing the amount of at-grade roadway, and whether the water table limits options for depressing the roadway:

Members Present
Mr. Bill Altimus — Bossier Parish Police Jury
Mayor Lo Walker — City of Bossier City
Mayor Ollie Tyler — City of Shreveport
Mr. Mark Sweeney — Shreveport MPC
Mr. Eric England — Port of Shreveport — Bossier
Mr. Dinero Washington — SporTran
Others Present
Ms. Anna O'Neal — Legal Counsel for NLCOG
Mr. Kent Rogers — NLCOG ....
Mr. Rogers introduced Ms. Jolie Maberry with Providence Engineering to give an update of the I-49 ICC. Ms. Maberry stated the ICC is still in Stage 1 of the DOTD process. She stated this is due to adding a fifth build alternative and the study required on the improvements needed along LA 3132 to bring it up to interstate standards. She stated a lane would need to be added along with some interchanges closed. She reviewed the other four alternatives. Ms. Maberry stated they were also updating the costs due to increases over the years ....
meetings would be January 19-22, 2016 ....
After the meetings, the selection process for the preferred alternative can begin ....
Mr. Sweeney stated with the four alternatives there are elevated portions and that there is some consideration now to have some at-grade. Ms. Maberry stated Providence is putting together an estimate and that the grade would fall between the bayou. Mr. Sweeney stated the key is that as much as possible to make it grade-level to make it more connected to the neighborhood. Ms. Maberry stated originally all of the area was considered wetlands and that has now changed. Mr. Sweeney stated another issue is that as much as possible the road can be at-grade, the route that is selected a key component is how it is designed. He stated that as much as possible relating it to the adjacent neighborhoods, designing it aesthetically pleasing so that it becomes a signature road and a benefit to the neighborhood. He said the reality is how the road is built and the design element is what the area has to live with for the next 50 years and how it impacts the community. Mr. Sweeney stated it is his hope that this committee will discuss those issues as we get closer to development. Mr. Rogers stated that in the public meetings over the span of this project was for the community to look at Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) and fitting in green spaces in the area. He stated that as we get further into the project, we can look more detailed into this issue. Mr. Rob Williams with Providence] stated that once a preferred alternative is selected, they will be able to dig deeper into CSS and what they community would like to see. He stated they have already done a small-scale study, but once they get closer to a preferred alternative they will be able to look more closely at CSS and alternative methods to keep the area open. Mr. Sweeney asked if any option or consideration to go below grade to create less of an impact. He asked if there were any obstacles such as the water table. Mr. Williams stated the water table is an issue and early on they did look at that as an option. Mr. Sweeney stated that in some cases depressing the roadway even a bit can create a more connected pedestrian and local roadway going over the top.

I am interested in which "wetlands" are no longer considered "wetlands"; also, I have a feeling that the "lengthy process" that will continue with the upcoming meetings will evolve into an "extremely lengthy process".

[Anthony_JK]

Sounds like Shreveport needs to make some calls to Lafayette and get some views of the I-49 Lafayette Connector Corridor Study that's now ongoing.

Considering the one-way couplet of Pete Harris Avenue and Allen Avenue that currently carries traffic from existing I-49 south of I-20 to the neighborhoods, I think that transitioning to an at-grade or even depressed/capped I-49 ICC  up to near Cross Bayou would be an excellent idea...especially since they've abandoned the railroad line that used to run parallel to Pete Harris. It would be similar to what Alexandria did with I-49 through Ninth and Tenth Streets.

CSS should be as involved with the ICC in Shreveport as it is in Lafayette.

[The Ghostbuster]

I assume the Interstate 49 extension from Interstate 20 to Interstate 220 has no construction date as of yet. Am I correct?

[Anthony_JK]

I assume the Interstate 49 extension from Interstate 20 to Interstate 220 has no construction date as of yet. Am I correct?

Correct...right now, it's just in the Enviornmental Impact Statement stage of development. Earliest we could see a ROD would be late this year or early 2017.

[cjk374]

I am interested in which "wetlands" are no longer considered "wetlands"; also, I have a feeling that the "lengthy process" that will continue with the upcoming meetings will evolve into an "extremely lengthy process".

I learned...from a screw up performed by my employer...that according to the rules set forth by the Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality, if land lowers a certain amount per some distance (I can't find the numbers), the land is officially a wetland.

But if a new wetland is built, then you can use the original land as you wish.

[JON30]

http://www.ksla.com/story/31005112/final-round-of-i-49-public-hearings-underway

Final rounds of public hearings are now underway for the 3.5 mile I-49 Shreveport Inner-City connector.  Hopefully a decision about this will be made soon.

[Buck87]

How are things progressing on the LA 1 to I-220 section?

[JON30]

How are things progressing on the LA 1 to I-220 section?

Drove on 220 by the construction site this past weekend.  Looks like it is progressing well.  I believe construction on the portion from LA1 to MLK drive(LA 3194) is completed; however, I'm not sure on the signage and striping portion.  Where the interchange at 49-220 is, they have a few bridge segments set aside (looks like they are making those on site).  They should be on schedule to finish late this year or early next.

[bassoon1986]

How are things progressing on the LA 1 to I-220 section?

Drove on 220 by the construction site this past weekend.  Looks like it is progressing well.  I believe construction on the portion from LA1 to MLK drive(LA 3194) is completed; however, I'm not sure on the signage and striping portion.  Where the interchange at 49-220 is, they have a few bridge segments set aside (looks like they are making those on site).  They should be on schedule to finish late this year or early next.

I think signage is up between MLK and LA 1. Driving on Pinehill Rd, you can see an exit sign for N. Market. St/ LA 1 for the unopened I-49 northbound.

[Grzrd]

Also, no mention of I-49 South as a mega project?

Welcome to Louisiana politics. The northern and southern halves of the state might as well be separate states. Every region focuses on their own needs.

Welp, North Louisiana will just have to wait their turn, just as South Louisiana had to wait until I-49 North from Shreveport to the Arkansas state line was completed. I-49 South is the main emphasis now, and will be until at least the I-49 Connector in Lafayette and the segments from Lafayette to Morgan City are fully funded and completed. They will get theirs for the I-49 ICC and I-69 ultimately.

(above quote from I-69 in LA (and LA 3132/Shreveport Inner Loop Extension) thread)

At least one North Louisiana businessman, in a Shreveport Times Letter to the Editor, takes a holistic view of both I-49 and Louisiana's interstates:

As a business owner of a local manufacturing company in north Shreveport and a resident of northern Caddo Parish, I strongly support the completion of Interstate 49 through Shreveport. The completion of I-49 through the most direct route from Interstate-20 to Interstate-220 is exactly what Shreveport needs to help us grow as a city and region ....
I have personally spoken to many business owners, managers and business organizations and have found absolutely no one who is in support of Alternative 5 which is using the "loop"  around the city for I-49. I truly believe that alternative will be (and was intended to be) a "no-build"  due to the enormous cost and environmental issues associated with that route. Every business person I have spoken with fully supports completing the project through the city and not around it ....
After spending a significant amount of time at the recent public meetings this week, I have reaffirmed my decision the project needs to be completed through the city using the most direct, lowest-cost route possible. Since the federal government now has a new highway bill in place, now is the time our community needs to get together on completing this last small section of I-49.
While Interstate 69 is very important so is I-49. Recently, in an article earlier this week on I-69, the first paragraph of that article mentioned that "I-49 was now finished."  Well that is simply not true. It will be finished once the inner-city connector through Shreveport is completed and south Louisiana finally completes its last portions between Lafayette and New Orleans. We need to support ALL of these projects for our state and our region and stop playing one against the others.

At least he's talking the talk of a unified Louisiana .............

[Grzrd]

The I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport website has been updated to to announce six Community Input Meetings scheduled for January 19-21.  Here is the Public Notice for the meetings, in case anyone is interested in attending.

The Documents page on the I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport website now includes materials from the January 19-21 Round 3 Community Input Meetings, including the Meeting Presentation.

[Grzrd]

The documents section of the ICC website now has letters from both Rep. Burrell and Loop It stating their cases and complaining about the treatment, along with LADOTD's response to those letters. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.)

In Representative Burrell's January 9 letter, he .... identifies local architect Kim Mitchell as assisting in the formation of Loop It, LLC.

Here is a snip from (former) Rep. Burrell's January 9, 2013 letter:



In his letter, Rep. Burrell identifies "local retired Architect Bill Weiner" as the individual who formed Loop It, LLC. I believe that Rep. Burrell misspelled Bill Wiener's last name.

This January 27, 2016 article (including an undercover video) reports that Wiener was physically removed from a recent City Council meeting and that he later seemed to be alleging corruption by local clergymen and other people of influence:

On Tuesday, Jan 26, 2016, during a City Council meeting to discuss the future of I-49, a local businessman was escorted from the chamber in, what some call, a breach of protocol on the city's part. According to our anonymous source, who shot a video of the altercation, this is what occurred:
"Bill Wiener had addressed Council for 3 minutes, and then that prompted Chairman Bradford to ask NLCOG Director Kent Rogers to come forward so that he could ask Mr. Rogers some questions about what Mr. Wiener had said.
Following that, Mr. Wiener stood up again, invoking a point of personal privilege under Roberts Rules of Order. Mr. Bradford then started shouting at Mr. Wiener.
Mr. Wiener believed he should be recognized and requested clarification from the Parliamentarian, but rather than politely grant him that clarification, Bradford shouted him down and then CAO Brian Crawford signaled for the police captain to come remove Mr. Wiener from the chamber."
Our source can only speculate why Mr. Wiener was removed, but he says, "The real investigative story is the fact that numerous churches in Allendale and in its surrounds have purchased adjudicated property in Allendale for $1 per lot, and they are holding secret meetings amongst themselves and with white collar business people and elected officials but these same pastors refuse to meet or even communicate with Allendale residents about their intentions with all that property they hold. It is potentially hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate."

An interesting aspect of the article is that it refers to Wiener as a "local businessman", but is completely silent regarding his affiliation with Loop It (hmmmm.... is "the source" also affiliated with Loop It?). All of which makes for a great Louisiana brew of antics, politics, undercover video, alleged corruption, and journalism.

Is Loop It trying to manufacture a "controversy" out of desperation?

[Grzrd]

The Documents page on the I-49 Inner-City Connector-Shreveport website now includes materials from the January 19-21 Round 3 Community Input Meetings, including the Meeting Presentation.

A January 2016 Economic Impacts of I-49 Completion Inner City Connector Study has recently been posted on the website; the Executive Summary compares the economic impact of the four Inner City Build Alternatives to the Build Alternative 5 (I-220, LA 3132) and concludes that the Inner City Build Alternatives will have the greater economic impact (pp. 2-4/56 of pdf):


....



The Study also has a brief section on "Interchange Scenarios", which indicates that a final recommendation will come at a later point in time (p. 21/56 of pdf; p. 17 of document):

[Grzrd]

The documents section of the ICC website now has letters from both Rep. Burrell and Loop It stating their cases and complaining about the treatment, along with LADOTD's response to those letters. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for the links.)

In Representative Burrell's January 9 letter, he .... identifies local architect Kim Mitchell as assisting in the formation of Loop It, LLC.

A march and rally protesting the possibility of the ICC being routed through Allendale was held on March 5.  The march is interesting both in terms of the number of participants and the messaging of the organizers. 

Reporting on the planning of the march provides useful insight into the eventual number of participants. This February 23 article reports that planners initially wanted at least 500 people to attend the march:

An Allendale community group is planning a rally and potential march to protest possible routing of I-49 through the neighborhood.
A group of about a dozen concerned Shreveport residents recently met at the Community Renewal International Inc. building on Clay Street to discuss plans for an upcoming rally. Dorothy Wiley, president of LOOP-IT, a group advocating for the I-49 route that loops around the city, said the rally, scheduled for Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m. at the downtown courthouse, is an attempt to raise awareness at the local level about the dangers of routing I-49 through the historic Allendale neighborhood ....
"Allendale is the last historic black community," Wiley said. "This is our community and we don't want it to come through here. We don't need a freeway to come through and displace us. This is where we are, this is where we are connected and we look out for each other."
The group discussed the logistics for the rally, including how to raise money and what they would need.  They also started discussing plans for a march that would proceed the rally. Wiley asked those gathered to reach out to at least 10 people to join the march because the group had set a goal for at least 500 to attend.
Gregory Young, a retired postal service worker in attendance at the meeting, said amassing that critical number was important to the group's cause.
"Imagery means a lot. The last thing we want is to validate the premise that we're a handful of people in opposition," Young said.

Later, this March 4 article about the march and rally includes a photo of a flyer contending that Allendale is leading Shreveport to a "national movement" towards boulevardization. Here is a snip of the flyer:



Next, this March 5 article about the march and rally reports that "more than 30 marchers" participated in the march, that "about 10 people" attended the rally, and that Kim Mitchell contended at the rally that "cut-through freeways" in 25 cities (specifically including New Orleans, Houston, and Little Rock) have not panned out:

On Saturday, an Allendale community group marched to raise awareness about the I-49 connector that it doesn't want running through the neighborhood.
More than 30 marchers carried poster-board signs reading "Save Our Community," sang songs and handed out fliers during the march to raise awareness about the repercussions of running a highway through the Allendale community
"We come together to fight for our community, our neighborhood and each other," declared Dorothy Wiley, president of the LOOP-IT group – a group advocating for the I-49 route to loop around the city. "There has to be a better, cheaper route and that is a boulevard that will separate business traffic from through traffic." ....
Keynote speakers – including Allendale resident Louis Brossett, LSUS professor Brian Salvatore and city architect Kim Mitchell – talked about different concerns of the I-49 connector. The concerns included Shreveport taxpayers shouldering costs for the interstate, the health and environmental risks associated with the vehicular exhaust, and the deficits facing several Shreveport communities in need of repair.
Mitchell pointed to 25 U.S. cities – including Houston, Little Rock and New Orleans– that have recognized cut-through freeways did not pan out the way their investors planned.
"The expressways that carve up Shreveport allow people to go faster to nowhere –and have had our area grow geographically in a way that we cannot support," Mitchell said.
The rally lasted for an hour, during which about 10 people gathered or stopped by to listen to the Loop-It group's featured speakers ...

Speaking of national movements, Loop It President Dorothy Wiley seems to nod to another important national movement in one of her comments:

"We want to thank those who came to join us, to support us," Wiley said. "Lives matter. Our lives matter."

This story still has some interesting chapters to be written.

[Anthony_JK]

Yeah, right.

They're basically pimping *proposals* to eliminate inner city freeways that have not been vetted or analyzed for actual impacts. The Claiborne Elevated proposal in NOLA is simply just that...a PROPOSAL. Same for the removal of I-30 through Little Rock. No one is even talking about removing I-30 in Dallas or US 59/I-69 in Houston (only the Pierce Elevated, and even there the idea is to reroute it through US 59/I-69 and I-10, not totally bypass the downtown area via I-610 or the Sam Houston Tollway.

This is just another round of NIMBY combined with the typical New Urbanist anti-freeway nonsense.

Plus..."boulevarding" through downtown Shreveport is simply a non-starter, since you still would have to upgrade I-220 and LA 3132 to full Interstate standards, including crossing Cross Lake, which could threaten Shreveport's drinking water. In that case, you might as well keep the Pete Harris/Allen couplet up to Ford Street, then widen Ford to Market Street.

I wonder whether any of those "marchers" were paid by the Allendale project developers.

"Our lives matter", my ass.

[NE2]

Only lives of motorists matter. Fuck the rest.

[Henry]

Yeah, right.

They're basically pimping *proposals* to eliminate inner city freeways that have not been vetted or analyzed for actual impacts. The Claiborne Elevated proposal in NOLA is simply just that...a PROPOSAL. Same for the removal of I-30 through Little Rock. No one is even talking about removing I-30 in Dallas or US 59/I-69 in Houston (only the Pierce Elevated, and even there the idea is to reroute it through US 59/I-69 and I-10, not totally bypass the downtown area via I-610 or the Sam Houston Tollway.

This is just another round of NIMBY combined with the typical New Urbanist anti-freeway nonsense.

Plus..."boulevarding" through downtown Shreveport is simply a non-starter, since you still would have to upgrade I-220 and LA 3132 to full Interstate standards, including crossing Cross Lake, which could threaten Shreveport's drinking water. In that case, you might as well keep the Pete Harris/Allen couplet up to Ford Street, then widen Ford to Market Street.

I wonder whether any of those "marchers" were paid by the Allendale project developers.

"Our lives matter", my ass.

Add to that list of "proposals" the removals of I-83 in downtown Baltimore and I-375 in Detroit. I'm all for preserving urban areas and all, but this New Urbanist NIMBY bullshit has gone too far. A compromise needs to be done, in which I-49 can still be routed with as little impact to Allendale as possible, although that would be very hard to pull off.

[Bobby5280]

I could just imagine how horribly bad a clusterf*** traffic in downtown Dallas would be if a highway like I-30 was removed. Traffic there is bad enough as it is, but could you imagine all those many thousands of cars stuck on surface streets? The gridlock would be epic in scale. People would end up doing everything they could to avoid downtown, period. Maybe the ulterior motive of the anti-freeway campaign is blowing many billions of dollars into light rail or subway lines. I complain a lot about the absurdly high cost inflation of highways, but mass transit projects always manage to up the ante. It's nothing for a new subway tunnel to cost a few billion.

[DNAguy]

I think you guys are creating straw man arguments here.... esp. the idea that Dallas would remove I30. The proposal is to remove I345 which carries significantly less traffic and blocks downtown from a very popular area. In addition, this thread is about building a new freeway where there was no freeway before. Big difference.

It's 2016 guys and gals. If you don't expect people to oppose highways being built through neighborhoods, you're living in a dream world. There have been decades of examples where these highways kill neighborhoods. These highways are typically built in low income and minority neighborhoods. These highways promise more economic development but seldom deliver. The classism and racism of prior freeway construction is a huge, HUGE hurdle to have to overcome.

That all being said, if the project is better (I don't know if it is and I don't have a dog in this fight) then it should win out on the merits. I think having to jump a higher hurdle for new urban freeways is a good thing.

[noelbotevera]

So sixty years have passed since the Interstate System began....so please tell me, what has changed within sixty years? Do you not see more trucks on those roads?

[Anthony_JK]

Only lives of motorists matter. Fuck the rest.

I suppose rerouting I-49 through I-220 across Cross Lake and threatening the city's water supply would be better, right?

[Anthony_JK]

I think you guys are creating straw man arguments here.... esp. the idea that Dallas would remove I30. The proposal is to remove I345 which carries significantly less traffic and blocks downtown from a very popular area. In addition, this thread is about building a new freeway where there was no freeway before. Big difference.

It's 2016 guys and gals. If you don't expect people to oppose highways being built through neighborhoods, you're living in a dream world. There have been decades of examples where these highways kill neighborhoods. These highways are typically built in low income and minority neighborhoods. These highways promise more economic development but seldom deliver. The classism and racism of prior freeway construction is a huge, HUGE hurdle to have to overcome.

That all being said, if the project is better (I don't know if it is and I don't have a dog in this fight) then it should win out on the merits. I think having to jump a higher hurdle for new urban freeways is a good thing.

Except that a rally of 30 people and a meeting of 12 people claiming to represent an entire neighborhood isn't exactly a majority of that community, right?

Also, if the New Urbanists and John Norquists would have their way, I-30 near the Mixmaster would definitely be removed, and traffic diverted via I-20 or I-635. Just because no one has openly advocated it yet doesn't mean that they aren't thinking about it.

The merits of the Inner City Connector speak for themselves. Allendale has a right to their objections, and to have their concerns addressed, but they are not the only ones who should have a final say.

[NE2]

Only lives of motorists matter. Fuck the rest.

I suppose rerouting I-49 through I-220 across Cross Lake and threatening the city's water supply would be better, right?

Then I-220 should be closed. Duh.