by Larry Lagarde
Today, President Bush was here in New Orleans meeting in private with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon to discuss NAFTA. In between discussions regarding how to defend the North American Free Trade Agreement from attack by protectionists, immigrant phobes, the Clinton & Obama campaigns and others, Mr. Bush found time for some Earth Day related sound bites and even a photo op.Mr. Bush joined New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin (introduced by Bush as El Alcade) to plant an oak tree in front of Gallier Hall (New Orleans old city hall). This was Mr. Bush's contribution to replacing the 50,000 trees in New Orleans' public spaces that were lost to Katrina. In several sound bites, Mr. Bush also claimed that his approach to climate change will decrease the rate of US carbon emission GROWTH by the year 2020 or something like that. How he plans to keep that promise once he's out of office in 9 months was not discussed.
Mr. Bush also boasted that New Orleans has recovered from Katrina. While the city's ability to host major events has recovered (over 100K attendees are expected to go to Jazz Fest this weekend and next), he obviously forgot about the huge homeless enclave living half a mile from the Summit's digs at the Windsor Court Hotel or the thousands of empty, destroyed homes standing today in Central City, Gentilly, the 9th Ward, New Orleans East, etc.
Too bad that Mr. Bush didn't take the opportunity of today's record gasoline prices to promote transportation alternatives like cycling. Despite being seriously strapped for cash and with few funds to rebuild New Orleans' Katrina decimated transit infrastructure, the city is making every effort to make cycling safer and easier by adding bike lanes, paths and routes. Just look at this list of improvements:
New Orleans Bike Facility Improvements:
Robert E. Lee Blvd. Bike Path & Lane
Where: West End Blvd. to Wisner
Status: Complete.
Description: Shared lane and off-road (0.8 miles) facilities that allow users to enter City Park. This path will connect to the Wisner Bike and Ped Path.
St. Claude Ave. Bike Lane
Where: St. Claude Ave. from Elysian Fields Ave to the Orleans/St. Bernard Parish line
Status: Complete.
Description: Shared lane facility for commuting into/out of downtown New Orleans.
Magazine/Camp St. Bike Lane
Where: Magazine St. from Calliope and Canal St.
Status: Complete.
Description: Shared lane facility for commuting into/out of downtown New Orleans.
Wisner Bicycle and Pedestrian Path
Where: Wisner Blvd from Robert E. Lee Blvd to Esplanade Ave.
Status: Under construction
Description: A combination facility which includes an off-street path and on-street shared lanes. This route will allow users to connect from the N. Jefferson Davis Path to the Lakefront (a great way to get to Jazz Fest next year).
Wisner Blvd. Asphalt Overlay
Where: Wisner Blvd from Robert E. Lee Blvd to I-610
Status: In design phase
Description: The City will be funding the inclusion of bike lanes and minor intersection modifications between I-610 and Robert E. Lee Blvd.
Harrison Ave. Asphalt Overlay
Where: Harrison Ave. between West End Blvd. and Orleans Ave Canal
Status: In design phase
Description: The City will be funding the inclusion of bike lanes.
Press Street Asphalt Overlay
Where: Press St.
Status: In design phase
Description: The City will be funding the inclusion of bike-and-chevron pavement markings and route signage (shared lane facility).
Additionally, the city is chasing the federal Katrina repair projects with bike money. According to urban planning specialist Jennifer Ruley with the Louisiana Public Health Institute, "(i)n some cases we are adding facilities on top of the federal repair segment. In other cases we are filling gaps between bike routes. There are more bike routes in the planning stages in these areas."
New Orleans is no Portland but we're doing what we can to provide realistic transportation options for the future.
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