 | NARP blogTRAINS: A travel choice Americans want |
Louisiana Moves Forward
Thursday, July 08, 2010
After his efforts to thwart progress towards establishing passenger train service between Louisiana’s capital (Baton Rouge) and its largest city (New Orleans) were met with resistance from citizens, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)—known for his criticism of government spending—took a major positive step by signing a law that will create the Louisiana Interstate Rail Compact and authorize cities and parishes (i.e. counties) within the state to form their own compacts to develop passenger rail. These compacts will be able to oversee the design, construction, operation and maintenance of train services, and will have the power to float bonds and raise revenues, subject to the approval of the voters in the affected jurisdictions.
In the law’s language [PDF] is the state legislature’s finding that “The development, improvement, expansion, and maintenance of an efficient, safe, and well-maintained system of railways, transitways, and other transportation facilities that promote mobility are essential to Louisiana’s economic health and are intended to act as a system that provides a basis for business and industry to compete cost effectively on a regional, national, and global scale in order to provide a high quality of life for the people of this state.”
NARP applauds Governor Jindal and the legislature—thanks to the leadership of Rep. Michael Jackson (I-Baton Rouge)—for putting in place the framework for ongoing investment in increasing Louisianians’ mobility choices and thereby improving the state and region’s quality of life. If you live in Louisiana, please take a moment to send the Governor a note of your approval and encouragement.
—Malcolm Kenton