1. GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE Next Steps for Building a Thriving, Connected Super Region between New Orleans and Baton Rouge John Robert Smith President and CEO Reconnecting America CONNECT Policy Forum Baton Rouge, LA July 21, 2011

2. At Reconnecting America, we help transform promising ideas into thriving communities – where transportation choices make it easy to get from place to place, where businesses flourish, and where people from all walks of life can afford to live, work and visit.

3. Our Partners: Creating a national marketplace for TOD, working with cities, transit agencies, developers, investors + communities Improving practice through technical assistance, research + policy reform On-line Clearinghouse of TOD + Transit Best Practices A coalition with over 500 members of business, housing, environment, development, labor, health, aging and transportation interests Campaign Focus on the Next Federal Transportation Bill Transportation investments that are economically sound, respond to markets and improve the lives of people

4. RA/CONNECT policy briefs

5. Brief #1: One Great Region The Baton Rouge/New Orleans Super Region

7. improves job access and economic opportunity for individuals and businesses

9. Traffic congestion threatens to dampen the quality-of-life and economic prosperity of communities

10. Lower Vehicle Ownership than National Average 6 Housing and Transportation Affordability Index, Center for Transit-Oriented Development and Center for Neighborhood Technology, www.htaindex.org 3 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2005-2009, for the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans 7

11. Housing Affordability – New OrleansHousing only Housing and Transportation 8

12. Housing Affordability – Baton RougeHousing only Housing and Transportation 9

14. Region needs: Improved connections between the state’s largest metro areas Improved transit within parishes Affordable, walkable transit-oriented communities

15. Brief #2: Connected and Ready to Compete “People have to go back and forth between Baton Rouge and New Orleans for meetings all the time, and when you drive you basically lose an hour of your life. Then you have to go back, so that is two hours, and if there is traffic it is three. If you were on the train you could be working.” -Dr. Karen DeSalvo New Orleans Health Commissioner

17. Increased innovation

18. Access to an expanded and diversified labor pool

19. Opportunity for real estate development

22. In regions with extensive fixed-guideway transit systems that connect all major employment centers, as many as 45% of jobs can be near transit

24. Efficient public investments

26. Private sector leaders

27. Nonprofit and philanthropic

28. organizations

29. General public

30. Keep the “big picture” in mind when making investment and development decisions

32. Next Steps 2. Develop a Commuter Rail Implementation Plan for the Baton Rouge to New Orleans Rail Project Timeline:Near-term Key Actors: Louisiana Intrastate Rail Compact

33. Next Steps 3. Form a Regional Commuter Rail Advisory Council Timeline:Medium-term (1-3 years) Key Actors: Convened by the Intrastate Rail Compact. Membership could include City and Parish staff such as Public Works and Community Development Directors, Redevelopment Agency Executive Directors, Capital Region Planning Commission, Regional Planning Commission, Capital Area Transit, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, Louisiana Department of Transportation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Greater New Orleans, Inc., Southern Louisiana High-Speed Rail Commission, a representative from the CONNECT Coalition, a leader from the faith-based community or other public groups, freight rail owners (CN and KCS) and Amtrak

34. Next Steps 4. Prioritize Investments and Policies that Improve Walkability and Bicycle Access Timeline: Near term, ongoing Key Actors:Cities and Parishes, Capital Region Planning Commission, Regional Planning Commission, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and possibly State Legislature

35. Next Steps 5. Develop a Transit-Oriented Development Strategic Plan Timeline: Medium-term (1-3 years) Key Actors: Louisiana Intrastate Rail Compact in partnership with City and Parish staff, MPOs, Public Stakeholders, private sector stakeholders (landowners and developers), NO and EBR Redevelopment Authorities, Planning Commissions and Public Works Departments

36. Next Steps 6. Conduct a Scenario-based Cost Benefit Analysis for Mobility in the Baton Rouge to New Orleans Corridor Timeline: Medium-term (1-3 years) Key Actors: Louisiana Intrastate Rail Compact, CONNECT Coalition

39. Funding in part from voter-approved regional sales tax increase

40. City and County adopted TOD Strategic Plan

42. House: 6 years, 30% cut from current levels

43. Senate: 2 years, current levels plus inflation

44. Will affect funding levels for existing and new transit projects

46. Conclusion 27 Why work together? Because no one city or parish can do it alone.

47. Thank you! John Robert Smith President and CEO Reconnecting AmericaEMAIL: jrsmith@reconnectingamerica.orgPHONE: 202.429.6990 ext.205 Visit us at www.ReconnectingAmerica.org Twitter@reconnecting YouTube reconnectingamerica Flickr ractod Find us on Linked In Facebook