New Orleans East I-10 Service Roads Corridor Safety Analysis

About this Project

The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) and the City of New Orleans are working together to create a safe and accessible network of walking and biking facilities and acknowledge that some communities experience a higher number of crashes with resultant fatalities or injuries to people walking and biking. The City and RPC adopted policies with the goal of increasing the modal share of walking and biking through a Complete Streets approach that considers the safety and comfort of all types of roadway users. The agencies are committed to improving safety and comfort of vulnerable users as a policy objective.

The I-10 corridor in Eastern New Orleans is identified as a substantial barrier for people walking, biking, or using wheelchairs and non-traditional types of transportation to get around. The interstate divides New Orleans East, obstructs local travel, and makes access to local services difficult. Reviewing five years of crash data (2017-2021), a high number of pedestrian fatalities (4) and serious injuries (11) have occurred in the area.

This document and the information contained herein, is prepared for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, and planning safety improvements on public roads, which may be implemented utilizing federal aid highway funds.  This information shall not be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in Federal or State court pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 407.

Getting Around the East Walking and Biking

Our Analysis

The purpose of the New Orleans East I-10 Service Roads Corridor Safety Analysis is to gather information on existing traffic and roadway conditions, to evaluate a suite of alternative potential improvements for walking and biking facilities along the project corridor, to assess infrastructure improvement concepts and costs, and engage public input. This is part of an overall effort to invest in “Getting Around the East” safely. Following analysis of both the north and south service roads, including the major intersections, feasible treatments will be proposed. These treatments will include a range of facilities that are the best fit for segments of the 5.5 mile-long corridor. Future implementation will likely utilize a phased approach.

The alignment and alternatives identified through this evaluation will work to provide uninterrupted non-motorized connectivity along the length of the corridor and between the north and south sides of I-10. Connections to the existing biking and walking network and the planned or proposed improvements of the Moving New Orleans Bicycle Blueprint will be part of study considerations. The location of current transit stops and routes will also inform a best fit design approach.

Community Participation

This study includes holding two public meetings. We encourage public participation so we can understand how the north and south I-10 Service Roads are currently used by people biking and walking, what problems people face in traveling these corridors, what feasible solutions are possible given limited right-of-way width, permitting requirements around the interstate, and federal or state design constraints. The participation of community members is encouraged whether they walk, bike, drive, or take transit.

Public Meetings

The Regional Planning Commission will host the second public meeting for the New Orleans East I-10E Service Roads Corridor Safety Analysis (State Project #H.972422.1) on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the East New Orleans Library located at 5641 Read Blvd.  Concepts to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety will be presented.

Photos From Our June and July Public Meetings

Project Limits and Area of Interest

The Project Limits are the portion of the I-10 service roads located between Dwyer Road and the vicinity of Paris Road (LA 47/I-510) seen in yellow. The pink area represents the catchment area for people walking and biking within ½ mile of the Project Limits. The blue area represents the Project Area using a demographic analysis of the surrounding area whose boundary follows Title VI requirements to identify an Area of Interest for outreach and public participation. The full corridor length is approximately 5.5 miles long.

We Need Your Input

Please use the link below to access a survey about walking, biking, and other alternative transportation needs in the corridor. Your experience as a New Orleans East stakeholder is very important to the success of this feasibility study and will help shape recommendations.

Survey Map

If you have any specific locations, particularly within the Project Limits, where there are obstacles or concerns to walking, biking, or using other forms of alternative transportation that you would like to tell us about please click the link below to access the online Survey Map. Please be as descriptive as possible and tell us what your mode of transportation is and what your concerns are as well as any information about the time of day or other conditions that help to paint a detailed picture of your experience. (Example: There is no sidewalk. I have to walk in the street on the North I-10 Service Rd to go to and from the transit stop at the corner of Wright Rd and the North I-10 Service Rd.)

Feel free to drop a pin and point out locations within the Study Limits or Area of Interest that are part of your bicycling or walking network. This information will inform planning and identify related infrastructure needs.

Project Timeline

Project Timeline starting in January and ending in July-August

If you have any questions, please contact either:

Final Report

The Regional Planning Commission has completed the Active Transportation Improvement Study for the EAst I-10 service roads. Download Final Report Here

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