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Proposed I-410


brresident

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PotentialCorridorsWImagery.jpg

http://www.brloop.com/

"B.R. Loop committee unveils route map, Web site

The Baton Rouge Loop executive committee today unveiled a map showing the potential corridors for the estimated $4 billion project that's intended to decrease congestion by diverting traffic around the city. Click here to see the proposed route. The project's Web site, BRLoop.com should be up early this afternoon, organizers say. The site will feature maps, project and meeting schedules, links to related sites and contacts to give feedback and ask questions. The first public meeting about the project will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the BREC headquarters building. Additional meetings are scheduled for Sept. 11 in Denham Springs, Sept. 12 in Addis and Sept. 13 in Gonzales. "

While I thought the idea was really neat at first I'm starting to wonder if an Atlanta sized loop will really solve our problems. I think one reason that the official might try to make this thing so huge is because it will look good on paper. When companies,residents, etc. look at maps and statistics and see this huge loop they will proably think "Wow ,this city must be pretty impressive."

I personally think that will be much to large of a loop, but of course thats my opinion. I just want to see something happen.

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There are many proposed routes in that map. I would be shocked if the actual route didn't end up being very close to the inner "doughnut hole." Some of those outer routes don't make sense on any level.

I agree I think the final proposal will be very close to the inner "doughnut hole". It makes no sense to make it any bigger than that. First off they are not going to build 2 new bridges for this thing, so the Old Bridge will be used as the bridge for the Northern Loop. Secondly, it makes no sense for the loop to cross the river to far to the south of Plaquemine. I still agree with what someone said early on, about the loop possibly drawing out of BR more than it would help. So with that if they insist on doing it, it needs to be as close as possible to the city, that way it can't be a one way ticket for more people to flee to the burbs.

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I'm sure Pinnacle Casino wants the "loop" to go as close-by as it can to their proposed resort. Wonder who will be pulling some strings to make that happen?? <_<

Oh I think it should go close to Pinnacle, keep those extra people off of Bluebonnet. They could very easily make an exit for River Rd. Heck if you can get it close enough just give them their own exit LOL

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  • 4 weeks later...

:huh: I checked out the Baton Rouge Loop website today. Who are they? Are they a not-for-profit? Are the committee members compensated for their service to the organization and community?

In stories about this loop possible foreign investors are mentioned. Do we know or have any idea of who they are.

The web site says the loop is to be a toll road and implies that sufficent tolls to generate profit drives the project or at least strongly influence the preferred route. This is a thing that the BR Loop folks are speaking of in terms of it IS going to happen. Where is the legislature in this process? Can private property be expropriated for profit of private investors?

signed

Rufus' brother Really

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The web site says the loop is to be a toll road and implies that sufficent tolls to generate profit drives the project or at least strongly influence the preferred route. This is a thing that the BR Loop folks are speaking of in terms of it IS going to happen. Where is the legislature in this process? Can private property be expropriated for profit of private investors?

signed

Rufus' brother Really

According to Kelo v. City of New London, yes, private property can be expropriated for profit of private investors.

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I distinctly remember that court case and how much I was against it. I totally didn't think that a private investor should be able to expropriate land for private development of a business, in that case it was a shopping center. The loop is a little bit touchy in the aspect that is it really a "for profit" project? I don't believe it to be one. The only reason it will have a toll is so that it will pay for itself. So I think the better question is this, "Will it still be a toll road after it has paid for itself?" I think that is a question that really needs to be brought up at one of those BR Loop meetings. If they want it to pay for itself fast then they need to consider the route very carefully. They need to figure out where it will be most traveled by locals as well as out of towners that are just passing threw.

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^There would be a howl of protest if that were the case. Regardless if it's not a private, profit-making venture, there will be some profit involved. Otherwise, why would the investors invest?

Tolls are controversial right now. In Economics of Cities, O'Flaherty argues that tolls should be used to limit congestion - not pay for brand new roads. If he's right, then they need to put tolls on I-10/12, a sort of congestion tax. That, of course, would be greeted with howls of protest too.

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I distinctly remember that court case and how much I was against it. I totally didn't think that a private investor should be able to expropriate land for private development of a business, in that case it was a shopping center. The loop is a little bit touchy in the aspect that is it really a "for profit" project? I don't believe it to be one. The only reason it will have a toll is so that it will pay for itself. So I think the better question is this, "Will it still be a toll road after it has paid for itself?" I think that is a question that really needs to be brought up at one of those BR Loop meetings. If they want it to pay for itself fast then they need to consider the route very carefully. They need to figure out where it will be most traveled by locals as well as out of towners that are just passing threw.

By the time it pays for itself, it will have to be rebuilt. Not to mention, roads need to be maintained. That isn't cheap when you consider how many bridges that will be in this project. Also, they are talking about alternative forms of transit and a bike path.

A bike path around the city might be kind of cool...it wouldn't cost much. Obviously it wouldn't be used as transportation but recreation.

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The more I see and hear of this loop, the less viable it seems. I think it would be better to create a freeway system that can connect different quadrants of the metro area verses actually building a loop as in a circle. All of this money, investment, involved in project like this, with TOLLS might i add, doesn't seem like the best option. All the money that will be spent, could more effectively go to a bypass from port allen to prarieville. Building a loop around the city ignores the fact the traffic problems are in the city. First they should improve the current roads, widen the interstates already present. I think in addition to this they can build a light rail system to go along with it get a lil bit of both for the same price or cheaper, and diversify the means to distribute traffic.

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First they should improve the current roads, widen the interstates already present.

DeSoto County (Memphis' equivalent of Livingston Parish) just widened portions of I-55 to 10 travel lanes. Think how smoothly traffic would flow on I-10 and 12 if they were only widened!

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DeSoto County (Memphis' equivalent of Livingston Parish) just widened portions of I-55 to 10 travel lanes. Think how smoothly traffic would flow on I-10 and 12 if they were only widened!

RIGHT!!!!

I think that should be the first order of business, along with extending what widened like on i-10 to gonzales, etc

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Agreed yall!!! Nice to have yall here on Urban Planet seeing some imput for our city! Then....This is good news in this mornings newspaper :thumbsup: Bad news it won't start til next Summer.

$4.6 million secured I-10 project; Federal funding has potential to free up money for other state projects

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9869047.html

U.S. Rep. Richard Baker and state officials announced $4.6 million in special federal funding has been secured for the Interstate 10 widening project planned between the Interstate 10/Interstate 12 split and Siegen Lane.

Each day, 80,000 or more cars travel the I-10 stretch that backs up in rush hour and has seen congestion worsen since Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana won a competitive process to be named one of the six

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Agreed yall!!! Nice to have yall here on Urban Planet seeing some imput for our city! Then....This is good news in this mornings newspaper :thumbsup: Bad news it won't start til next Summer.

$4.6 million secured I-10 project; Federal funding has potential to free up money for other state projects

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/9869047.html

U.S. Rep. Richard Baker and state officials announced $4.6 million in special federal funding has been secured for the Interstate 10 widening project planned between the Interstate 10/Interstate 12 split and Siegen Lane.

Each day, 80,000 or more cars travel the I-10 stretch that backs up in rush hour and has seen congestion worsen since Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana won a competitive process to be named one of the six

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Okay I totally agree with everyone that 10/12 needs to be widen. I have never nor will I ever argue that point. The problem with it is funding. The whole thing with the loop is they are marketing it as a toll so it pays for itself without the city, parish, state, and feds having to fork out the money for it. Essentially it will pay for itself without tax money. I am not completely sold on the whole loop idea. I don't see a need for a complete circle around the City of BR, it's simply not practical. I think the best alternative to a loop and to solve a HUGE chunk of traffic issues in the city is just to connect 12 to LA1 with a new "interstate" section. The bulk of our traffic problem is morning rush hr with people from Livingston and Gonzales having to cross the river to get to Brusly, Plaquemine, etc... If we just give them a direct route they no long have to come threw the city. I say build the bridge crossing into Plaquemine and toll that.

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Okay I totally agree with everyone that 10/12 needs to be widen. I have never nor will I ever argue that point. The problem with it is funding. The whole thing with the loop is they are marketing it as a toll so it pays for itself without the city, parish, state, and feds having to fork out the money for it. Essentially it will pay for itself without tax money. I am not completely sold on the whole loop idea. I don't see a need for a complete circle around the City of BR, it's simply not practical. I think the best alternative to a loop and to solve a HUGE chunk of traffic issues in the city is just to connect 12 to LA1 with a new "interstate" section. The bulk of our traffic problem is morning rush hr with people from Livingston and Gonzales having to cross the river to get to Brusly, Plaquemine, etc... If we just give them a direct route they no long have to come threw the city. I say build the bridge crossing into Plaquemine and toll that.

There is a project going on in grand prarie texas on I-30, it was originally 3 lanes on each side. Now they are widening it to 5 lanes on each side, and 2 of the lanes to the center will be sectioned off Tollway. I think this could be a viable option to using the toll on the interstate to have it widened.

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I think that they should build a regular non freeway toll bridge south of Brusly to connect to the new Staring extension/Gardere right near the proposed casino site.

Then, rip out/rebuilt or widen the Huey Long Bridge in North Baton Rouge and built the norther section of the loop. Keep the Mississippi River toll free and the bridge over the Comite/Amite river free. Toll everything else.

Then, work on the southeast section from Gonzales to Walker. I only say this because I don't know the southern route. Depending on which route they choose, it may or may not be as effective as the Northern Route, which I see as reducing traffic on I12 and the Mississippi River Bridge the most.

Has anyone in these planning meetings mentioned tunnels instead of bridges?

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I just have a hard time believing there is enough people going to NBR to consitute a loop there. I still say there are more people going to Iberville parish from Livingston and Acsension it's those people that I think would benefit more from a southern bridge into Brusly, Plaquemine, etc.. I do think that the Huey P. Long bridge should be revamped. I do believe the southern bridge should be tolled to pay for itself, much like the Sunshine bridge was when it was built.

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I just have a hard time believing there is enough people going to NBR to consitute a loop there. I still say there are more people going to Iberville parish from Livingston and Acsension it's those people that I think would benefit more from a southern bridge into Brusly, Plaquemine, etc.. I do think that the Huey P. Long bridge should be revamped. I do believe the southern bridge should be tolled to pay for itself, much like the Sunshine bridge was when it was built.

The loop isn't really for people in BR metro area. It's for folks going through town who don't want to spend an extra hour stuck in traffic.

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I just have a hard time believing there is enough people going to NBR to consitute a loop there. I still say there are more people going to Iberville parish from Livingston and Acsension it's those people that I think would benefit more from a southern bridge into Brusly, Plaquemine, etc.. I do think that the Huey P. Long bridge should be revamped. I do believe the southern bridge should be tolled to pay for itself, much like the Sunshine bridge was when it was built.

have u checked a population chart..NBR has more population then people thought.....just because u dont see them clogging up the interstate on that part of town don't mean it's not needed...and the reason u don't see the interstates clogged up heading north is because ...we know it's alotta traffic on 10 and 12 so we'll get off on a hwy like acadian,florida blvd. airline, plank rd. ect. so with that being said...notice the traffic on thoes streets when traffic picks up in the afternoon...i mean we all know the bridge is where the clogg up is....so most of us will get off on college or and acadian and shoot up north...so thats why u don't notice traffic heading North...but trust me...it's more people headed north than u think

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The loop isn't really for people in BR metro area. It's for folks going through town who don't want to spend an extra hour stuck in traffic.

This doesn't need to be just a bypass, but a way for commuters to get from Point A to Point B more easily as well. Besides, bypasses aren't used as often as they should except in cities the size of Dallas.

For it to be convenient for locals or people passing through, the massive outer loop depicted in some of those photos would be ridiculous. A toll road is a good idea, though, regardless of its path. The lack of toll roads, and how little our state spends on its roads in general, is one of the major reasons why I hate this state. Dallas and Houston have toll roads and they are constantly rebuilding and widening roads over there. Texas cares about their roads... even little Texarkana is indicative of that. You should see the plans for Texarkana... what they're doing now will be so nice when it's completed. Louisiana continues to be behind every other state, and that ignorant Blanco needs to be out of office. She looks like an idiot every time I see her on national television and I'm embarrassed to have her as Governor.

We need a real change in Baton Rouge, and I'm not talking about just roads!! We need a huge change in the Capitol, starting with the Governor and working our way down the list. I was in Dallas again two weeks ago and I was so impressed by their latest improvements to I-635 and the freeways up in the Plano/Frisco area of north Dallas. Last time I was in Houston it was the same, I was so impressed by the continued improvements to I-45.

This state makes me sick sometimes. And what irks me more is that - nothing against Baton Rouge - our state's capital city needs to be Alexandria. We desperately need a more centralized capital city rather than having our state divided the way it is between north and south. Once you get south of Shreveport and Monroe there is vitually no population to speak of until you get to Alexandria, and then it begins to pick up as you head south. Because of this there has always been a great divide in this state.

Anyway, off my soapbox now, I'm just really sick of how backward this state is and continues to be.

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This doesn't need to be just a bypass, but a way for commuters to get from Point A to Point B more easily as well. Besides, bypasses aren't used as often as they should except in cities the size of Dallas.

For it to be convenient for locals or people passing through, the massive outer loop depicted in some of those photos would be ridiculous. A toll road is a good idea, though, regardless of its path. The lack of toll roads, and how little our state spends on its roads in general, is one of the major reasons why I hate this state. Dallas and Houston have toll roads and they are constantly rebuilding and widening roads over there. Texas cares about their roads... even little Texarkana is indicative of that. You should see the plans for Texarkana... what they're doing now will be so nice when it's completed. Louisiana continues to be behind every other state, and that ignorant Blanco needs to be out of office. She looks like an idiot every time I see her on national television and I'm embarrassed to have her as Governor.

We need a real change in Baton Rouge, and I'm not talking about just roads!! We need a huge change in the Capitol, starting with the Governor and working our way down the list. I was in Dallas again two weeks ago and I was so impressed by their latest improvements to I-635 and the freeways up in the Plano/Frisco area of north Dallas. Last time I was in Houston it was the same, I was so impressed by the continued improvements to I-45.

This state makes me sick sometimes. And what irks me more is that - nothing against Baton Rouge - our state's capital city needs to be Alexandria. We desperately need a more centralized capital city rather than having our state divided the way it is between north and south. Once you get south of Shreveport and Monroe there is vitually no population to speak of until you get to Alexandria, and then it begins to pick up as you head south. Because of this there has always been a great divide in this state.

Anyway, off my soapbox now, I'm just really sick of how backward this state is and continues to be.

I couldn't agree more :cold:

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