Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing District Streetscape Improvements

SIG-1

Observation

Although Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing has many appealing features, the district does not offer an atmosphere of hospitality to people.

Discussion

There are very few amenities for pedestrians in Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing District.

Several lanes of fast traffic on River Road, St. Philip Street, and St. Louis Street discourage pedestrians. There are no traffic lights or marked places for pedestrians to cross the street. River Road and St. Philip Street do not have street trees. Although Baton Rouge’s climate is very hot, there are no drinking fountains or public garden fountains for refreshment from the heat. In addition there are no public restrooms. There is no designated way for visitors to the Catfish Town District to walk to the vari-ous existing and proposed attractions. Neither is Catfish Town District connected to other districts, corridors, or neighborhoods by a pedestrian way.

Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing needs to be emphasized as a district that is specialized for visitors. The addition of pedes-trian amenities will create a place of hospitality for people.

Recommendation

A. Define a Pedestrian Way

Provide Safe Crossings: Pedestrian crossings are recommended for the following intersections: Square at the Centroplex, Gov-ernment Street and St. Ferdinand, and Government Street and St. Louis. The Pedestrian Way will be a distintive pattern to be compatible with the old brick existing on France street.

[As part of the Centroplex Convention Center Ex-pansion, 3 pedestrian crosswalks are planned.]

Paving: Sidewalks should be 8' wide depending on available space.

Bikeways: The completion of a bike path on the levee from Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing to the proposed Batture Park is recommended. Bike racks should be located in Catfish Town/ Baton Rouge Landing near the Atrium and the Centroplex.

[The State of Louisiana is planning to connect the bike path through the DeSoto Park. Casino Rouge has been contacted about extending the bike path through its property.]

B. Create Pedestrian Scale

Street Trees recommended for Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Land-ing District are: South Boulevard: Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera , River Road: Live Oak Quercus virginiana allee, St. Philip Street: Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera , North Boulevard: Live Oak Quercus virginiana in front of proposed city hall.

C. Enhance District Identity

Distinctive Entrances: Entrances to the Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing District should be created for the intersections of St. Ferdinand and Government, and St. Ferdinand and South Boulevard.

Defined Edges: South Boulevard is an edge to Catfish Town, of the Downtown District, and of Beauregard’s old plan for Beauregard Town. At present it is a weak edge. Strengthen the edge of South Boulevard and Catfish Town with Signature Trees planted on both sides and in the median. Create a greenway of evergreen and deciduous trees under the bridge approach in the large empty parking lot. Street trees are recommended for St Philip : Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera , and South Boulevard: Live Oak: Quercus virginiana. The other edges of Catfish Town District, the Mississippi River, and North Boulevard are strong.

Signs and Banners: The “Transit and Information Referral Sys-tem Study” should include Catfish Town/Baton Rouge Landing as a visitors’ center. The consistent use of the logo on signs and banners in the district would help create a strong identity.

Project Status

Safe crosswalks throughout downtown (SIG A-1)

The Baton Rouge Downtown Transportation Plan recommends paving crosswalks with textured materials at the Fifth Street/Spanish Town Road intersection and striping crossings on the Government Street Corridor to improve pedestrian safety. The Transportation Plan also recommends amid-block pedestrian crossing of Government Street at or near Napoleon Street with a push-button activation pedestrian signal. DPW has approved 3 pedestrian crosswalks across River Road at the Centroplex. DPW will also study other pedestrian crossings as new signals are installed.

Bikeways (SIG A-2) (See #90, T-10)

Capitol Region Planning Commission (CRPC) contracted with Urban Systems to study the feasibility of extending bike paths along the River Road or along the levee. Using this information, Fred Raiford, DPW Director, was successful in getting a grant from the Corps of Engineers and TEA-21 to construct the bike trail connecting downtown with LSU. In the Fall of 2001, DPW hired Reich Associates and August Perez & Associates to design the bike path. A preliminary design proposal was submitted for public comment on February 27, 2002. Construction is scheduled to begin Fall 2004.

Walking Map (SIG A-3)

The Downtown Development District has maps of downtown points of interests, CTC bus routes, and bike rack locations available on their website: www.ci.baton-rouge.la.us/dept/ddd/.

Streetscape, Street Furnishings, Lighting, Signage (SIG B-1)

Design and installation of street furnishings, lighting, and signage was submitted as part of the DPW grant proposal. TEA-21 funding is also a possibility. The Downtown Merchants Association installed new benches, trash receptacles and bike racks on Third Street and in other strategic locations throughout downtown.

Implementation

Explanation of Terms

Product

Streetscape Improvements

Responsibility

PBR & DDD

Implementing Agent

DPW

Feasibility Analysis

DDD

Initial Financing

PBR

Project Financing

CPF

Timing