I believe that New Orleans should add a rail line to the city. We must show the world that we are eco-friendly. Something we are totally not currently expressing in numerous ways, but for now lets focus on Rail.
We have a dead Downtown CBD. There is no call for this. We have a vibrant entertainment district the French Quarter nearby. I believe there are several solutions for improving the CBD occupancy rates, and help the over all economy including tourist economy.
The big issue with commercial rentals, the major player in CBD’s around the nation — hence the name Central Business District –, is employee housing. Sure you can do mixed use, but obviously that is not being done. Increasing incentives for residential units downtown would play a role, but getting back to the title of this post, getting people into the city from the burbs via rail is the ultimate solution for the local culture.
That culture is 1-4 unit housing (Singles/Doubles/etc). People have proven that they want to still be near New Orleans, and have moved to the north shore.
The north shore is a 20+ mile drive mostly without any exits. That’s 29 miles on I-10 from Old Spanish Trail Rd to Poydras; add 5 miles for Door to Door. That’s 18+ miles between Slidell and the first New Orleans East Exit.
I am only going to focus on Slidell to the CBD for now:
- First, the bridge required is short. The crossing of lake Pontchartrain where it is narrow near Lake Borgne, and a little bit of swamp vs. ~28 miles at the Causeway (sure if the bridge can be easily added to, it may be feasable)
- Second, one of the two structures of the twin span is still intact, and was being used for traffic. This could easily be adapted for train use even if used only temporarily to prove feasibility and/or while a permanent structure is built.
- Third. There is talk of removing the Elevated I-10 Claiborne expressway bridge With or without a bridge, lets give residents, employees, and visitors an alternate way to enter the city.
- Fourth, an additional egress to move people north. Even though we would still need to use buses to get evacuees north of Slidell, it would minimize the congestion, traffic, and delays of buses picking up in the city.
- Fifth, if built, Mississippi can and would most likely at least look into extending the rail line to the Mississippi Gulf coast tourism district.
- Something they spend a lot of money on.
- This could help fill New Orleans hotels in quiet times.
- Off load overflow during busy times
- Add a viable airport to New Orleans (Gulfport)
- Give people thinking about visiting another reason to choose NOLA
- Eventually bring Mobile into the Metro Area — Making us an easier destination for much of the gulf coast who does not want to bring a car to New Orleans.
You could use dedicated lanes and highways for a bus like they do in Texas, but Rail is the solution that investors know they can count on not going away with the flick of a pen in the future. Plus rail in the end becomes more energy efficient, and that is important as we realize petrol fuels becoming an issue over the next 20 years.
Actually, I think that pretty much says it.