Upgrades Coming to Johnston St, Bertrand Dr.

[CajunT]

Don’t worry, they’ll get a federal/state grant.

As one councilman years back remarked regarding a grant, “Good, it’s not costing us anything.” What a post turtle.

SMH. If it’s coming from any government body, we’re paying for it.

I'm not totally against the project, but there aren't tons of people riding bicycles daily past the Bertrand light going south. The Bertrand corridor is not a major economic attraction for new businesses. This seems like one of those beautification projects similar to the University Project. While wonderful to have, it isn't more important than the backlog of current roads and drainage projects needed to address Lafayette's ongoing infrastructure concerns.

[facelessjonmoon]

Johnston St is US 167 HWY, exactly how much more access should it have outside of the current bike lanes in place? I can understand the idea of adding more access at some point, but does this project supersede others on the book of infrastructure for the city of Lafayette and will it eventually be part of a much larger rumored project to include the infamous Johnston Street Blvd that was killed during Joey Dural's administration? How much of taxpayer's money will go to this project?

I was replying to another poster’s comment regarding South College.

Johnston Street does currently have bicycle and walkable access . It’s not pretty or necessarily safe but it exists

as far as beautifying it (ie burying power lines) as you mentioned there seem to be more pressing infrastructure needs that don’t have funding

[RedTails]

I'm not totally against the project, but there aren't tons of people riding bicycles daily past the Bertrand light going south. The Bertrand corridor is not a major economic attraction for new businesses. This seems like one of those beautification projects similar to the University Project. While wonderful to have, it isn't more important than the backlog of current roads and drainage projects needed to address Lafayette's ongoing infrastructure concerns.

I am more interested in the beautification of Johnston St to renew development there, rather than bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Although tidying up power infrastructure like on Verot and nice sidewalks would no doubt be included.

But I have no desire to walk or bike when every other driver is looking down at their phone.

And it's something I wouldn't mind my taxes going towards or even taking on a new "temporary" tax (I know everyone is going to roll their eyes at that).

But if we want to remain a leading city in this quickly lagging state, we have to continue to make improvements.

[CajunFun]

Wasn’t sure if the mayor president was still alive. This is the first I’ve heard/read her name since the election.

Well you may remember she inherited a few problems... which left her fending off large lawsuits against the CP govt. That has kept here occupied.

But don't forget, she also lowered the hammer last week to get the kids on the Northside a first-rate library. As immediate past president of the Library Foundation, I am grateful. The Foundation struggled to protect our libraries... and we spent a small fortune doing so.

[ZoomZoom]

I’m still beating the drum to get the ~19 million the city “loaned” to the broke ars parish government for digging holes in the ground out in the parish.

This is what happens when the feds give too much money to other entities. If DOGE gets this deep, the CoL may be stuck never seeing a penny back.

And can anyone explain what COVID relief/stimulus money has to do with retention ponds. Very few received money from this work.

[RaginCajun77]

The parking situation at Moncus Park is a result of poor planning and they expected local businesses to play nice and let people going to the park occupy their parking lots. I think UL shouldn't have let this property go and instead found a way to develop it to generate cash flow.

Making improvements to Johnston Street will require millions upon millions of dollars to make a meaningful impact. Frankly, LCG doesn't have the money to make it happen. So, they float the idea of giving Johnston Street a "road diet" between UL and Downtown to make this area walkable and link the two. I expect said road diet to create traffic chaos, but we must keep promoting the idea that downtown is hip and trendy and everyone should flock there.

Zoom Zoom, you, and I both know LCG is broken. There have been years of fuzzy accounting going on and until the parish is fully consolidated or LCG is dissolved the "loans" will continue.

[facelessjonmoon]

The parking situation at Moncus Park is a result of poor planning and they expected local businesses to play nice and let people going to the park occupy their parking lots. I think UL shouldn't have let this property go and instead found a way to develop it to generate cash flow.

Making improvements to Johnston Street will require millions upon millions of dollars to make a meaningful impact. Frankly, LCG doesn't have the money to make it happen. So, they float the idea of giving Johnston Street a "road diet" between UL and Downtown to make this area walkable and link the two. I expect said road diet to create traffic chaos, but we must keep promoting the idea that downtown is hip and trendy and everyone should flock there.

Zoom Zoom, you, and I both know LCG is broken. There have been years of fuzzy accounting going on and until the parish is fully consolidated or LCG is dissolved the "loans" will continue.

Oh boy- the “road diet” concept on Johnston St would be a ____ing nightmare . Yeah- if we had adequate infrastructure elsewhere (loops, bypasses etc) that may be something to consider but in reality none of that will happen any time soon

[RaginCajun77]

Oh boy- the “road diet” concept on Johnston St would be a ____ing nightmare . Yeah- if we had adequate infrastructure elsewhere (loops, bypasses etc) that may be something to consider but in reality none of that will happen any time soon

The only way loops get built are if they are toll roads. I remember the discussion about Ambassador Caffrey North, even received mail about it. The proposed route would have come very close to our former home in Carencro, it was supposed to link to LA 182 at I-49. Never heard another word about it over the years. Building a loop off of I-49 north of Lafayette isn't going to get any cheaper, seeing lots of land being bought up for subdivisions. Unfortunately, we have a bad habit of delaying road projects to the bitter end. For example, Camelia Blvd.

[DieHard 1280]

I saw her on a horse in a Mardi Gras parade, and I live in Austin. You need to try harder.

[DieHard 1280]

Every time I hear Lafayette and loop, it brings me back to my Civics teacher in 8th grade at Youngsville Middle School in the early 80s talking about how they were planning to build a loop in Lafayette. He may have been drinking the Kool-Aid but was explaining that some at that time were projecting that Lafayette would be almost as big as Houston by the year 2000 or something like that. Of course that was before the oil bubble burst.