St. Ferdinand Street Correction

BTN-6

Observation

St. Ferdinand Street is a dangerous high- speed road, with four lanes all heading south. Northward traffic is diverted into the neighborhood at Penalvert, confusing drivers. Somerulos Street consists of two one-way streets encountering each other at a baffling intersection at Louisiana Street.

Discussion

The Downtown’s old comprehensive one-way traffic retrofit has proved to be a failure. One-way streets speed up traffic at the expense of pedestrians, and confuse and frustrate visitors. Just as one-way traffic has been discredited and eliminated in other city cores, it should be eliminated here.

Recommendation

Reduce St. Ferdinand Street to one lane in each direction, with parking along both sides. If this creates excessive congestion, the parking can be prohibited during rush hours. Once St. Ferdinand Street is converted to two-way, the diverter can be removed at Penalvert, and Somerulos can run northward for its entire length.

Responsibility

Downtown Development District and Metro Council

Project Status

The Baton Rouge Downtown Transportation Plan recommends that two-way operation be implemented on St. Ferdinand between North Boulevard and Penalvert Street. The diverted island at Penalvert Street will have to be removed. DPW is planning to complete this in two phases in 2003.

Implementation

Explanation of Terms

Product

Road Improvement

Responsibility

DDD & MC

Implementing Agent

DPW

Feasibility Analysis

DPW

Initial Financing

DPW

Project Financing

CPW

Timing