Louisiana Highway Department Will Not Give Crash Data To College Student for Service Learning Project

Centenary College Student, Trevor Stine, is using U.S. Census Bureau's On the Map to tell Shreveport's story of how Caddo Parish, Louisiana residents are relocating their homes in the City's core for bigger sprawled out homes on the outskirts of town due to perceived crime, and low quality education in Shreveport. In addition, the state highway department has helped fuel the exodus out of Shreveport's core thanks to good arterials to get them to work in under 20 minutes.


Trevor is working with the citizen advocacy group, ABetterShreveport.org, as part of Centenary College's service learning program required by all students. ABetterShreveport.org's mission is to improve the quality of life in Shreveport using proven best management practices in transportation, economic development, education, permaculture, and urban planning in general. Each student gets to select the nonprofit organization of their choice, and Trevor wanted to work with ABetterShreveport.org to help them get maps of the City and Parish's demographics and economic stats on maps for citizens to learn about our stark situation regarding quality of life. No other entity (public or private) in Shreveport has maps of the area's demographics online as of 2011.


Under the direction of Strategic Director, Stephanie Pedro, Trevor requested crash data from the Louisiana Highway Department, LA-DOTD, and he received this response:


Good Morning Mr. Stine,

I have spoken to our local traffic engineer and the crash report data that you requested is protected by 23 USC 409 and is not given out to the public. 23 USC 409 is the designation of a legal statute established by federal law. I apologize that I cannot assist you further with you questions but please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for contacting the DOTD.

Have a great day,
Susan Stafford
Public Information Officer
Department of Transportation and Developmentwww.dotd.louisiana.gov
318-549-8402 Office
318-230-8985 Cellsusan.stafford@la.gov


If no other entity, including our own DOTD, is mapping out important data that could lead to better decision-making, then why is this information not being shared with college students who are offering to dissect this data for free?  Hopefully Streetsblog and Secretary LaHood will pick this article up and share with us how other communities are dealing with 23 USC 409.


In addition, it appears that LA-DOTD is already having problems with their code: 
From Louisiana Injury Lawyer Blog:  In Quinn v. State of Louisiana, DOTD, 2009-0085 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/23/09), writ denied, 2010-358 (La.4/23/10), the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, in an opinion not designated for publication, held that once the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) chooses to exercise the privilege set forth in 23 U.S.C. §409, that protects from discovery any reports, surveys, schedules, lists or data compiled or collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential accident sites and hazardous roadway conditions, and which prevents the plaintiff from discovering any evidence of prior accidents at a location involving an alleged highway defect, that it follows that DOTD is then precluded from offering any evidence establishing an absence of other accidents at the same location at trial. In other words, "DOTD cannot have its cake and eat it too. If plaintiffs cannot discover and use the evidence of prior accidents, then DOTD should not be able to use evidence of the lack of prior accidents to prove no defect, all the while preventing plaintiffs from verifying the accuracy of DOTD's representation that no accidents occurred."

ABetterShreveport Meeting Monday, June 20, 2011 @ the Downtown Shreve Memorial Library

In attendance: William Hartman, Carolyn Manning, Jack Waterman, Feico Kempff, Will Loe, Robert Trudeau, Susan Keith, Cynthia Keith, Maurice Loridans, Ian Webb, Garrett Johnson

ABETTERSHREVEPORT.ORG IS THE BIKE ADVOCACY GROUP IN TOWN

Feico questioned why the other bike clubs do not participate in bicycle advocacy. Ian responded that they look to ABetterShreveport.org to do this work for them because their main focus is riding, not administrating, meeting, and advocating. They help out on the sidelines, and offer advice when sought out, and sign our petitions, give us moral support, etc. ABS is the voice for the people who ride for choice or for economic necessity.

COUNCILMAN OLIVER JENKINS AIRED ON TIME FOR A BETTER SHREVEPORT 91.3

The radio show hosts were very impressed with Councilman Jenkins' interview on Monday. Oliver explained why the bond issue will not cost us anything more. This is because there is a sales tax allocation that will service debt left over from other bonds, and no new millage rate will be needed. The fees that we pay make our property tax lower. Franchise fees, 2% is rolled into our rate, and Bossier has higher rates than us. We charge SWEPCO 2%, but cities are allowed to charge up to 5%, but it would be taxed to us. So, the question is who’s getting the wash out? Carolyn will get back with Oliver on that question. Oliver Jenkins was a great speaker. The trash pickup is undergoing a study for the next three months so that the two cities could have a fair contract. Should Shreveport privatize trash? Should there be a weight-based fee?

Angelic Feister, a drama production of Mohagomy Productions was the other radio show guest. She is taking their show on tour.

It was asked if there are there any Neilson ratings for our show. We'd like to quantify our listener base as we are hearing more and more about people listening to the show.

LOGO

The logo is almost complete. Please respond to this blog if you have any other changes you'd like made.

MEETING SPACE AND ROAD SHOW PLANNING

It’s going to be hard to get things done other than just meetings if we do a road show. It was suggested that we have liaisons that will help us, such as PR and Communications college students.

The library closes at 7pm, and there is no AV equipmemt, but we will continue to meet there until Loren gets back, then we will go back to Centenary Square.

Artspace was an idea, but not open past 6, and they are getting ready for an expansion, and working on a full installation.

There is a gallery space in Lee Hardware, but we would need A/C.

Ian offered his space, but no chairs.

Maurice suggested SciPort—we can ask Jennette

Qurerbes Park and Valencia Community Center—Feico checked on this & it's $20 per visit.

Barnwell is not an option because ABS does not have an art or gardening focus.

HIGHLAND PARK

Dan Marculus of the Highland Restoration Association reached out to ABS for advice on Highland Park improvements. The group suggested that terracing could be an option. The Native Plant Society could be explored to look at a native solutions for erosion control. A man in Doyline is specializing in native plants, called Willis Farms. The owner is a retired doctor.

DOG PARK

Cynthia and Stephanie met with Jeff Everson and SPAR on an update and Cynthia presented the north end of the park as the new location, which is a Civil War bluff used to build tanks in. Gary Joiner has promised to come talk to us next week about a partnership with LSUS to establish a marker and promote the site to tourists.

SPAR is mandating that the Dog Park Alliance install a wrought iron fence instead of a green chain length fence. The fence preference in nearly all dog parks is chain length. SPAR wants the riverfront to look nice, and they think a green chain length fence will not be aesthetically pleasing. But Loyola football field has a black chain length fence along the riverfront. A wrought iron fence costs about $60-75 per linear foot, and would not be feasible to raise funds for. A six foot green chain length fence is $10.50 per linear foot. The City Council will introduce the ordinance at the next City Council meeting just after the first of July!

BIKE CO-OP ON THE WAY

The National Park Service is writing a bike co-op grant for ABS. Garrett is taking the lead on assisting the NPS. Ian and/or Feico is checking on a location for the co-op.

A BIKEABLE WALKABLE SHREVEPORT

Ian suggested that ABS create a Facebook page so that the citizens can show their enthusiasm for a safe place to walk and bike in Shreveport. The FB was created Tuesday, and it already has many posts, including what facilities other cities have, photos, and videos. We already have 132 likes!

COMPLETE STREETS ADVOCACY

We have made a lot of headway with getting crosswalks and bike facilities included in the three intersection designs at Youree/Kings, Youree E. Washington, and E. Kings/Shreveport Barksdale Hwy. Steph Pedro was interviewed on KTAL Thursday, and the story was the third of the night on the 10 o'clock news.

Jennette and Steph created an online petition which automatically sends an email to our state legislators and highway administrators each time a person signs. We have 100 signatures already. Please post the link on your own FB page to spread the word about our intersections not including crosswalks in the design. Also, DOTD Secretary LeBas has launched a study of the project thanks to Senator Buddy Shaw and Commissioner Matthew Linn. ABS has asked Kent Rogers, Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) for a public meeting to discuss what type of planning, if any, was conducted, and what kind of public input was there?

Louisiana already has its own Complete Streets legislation, and now there is national Complete Streets Act that is in the Commerce Committee, which Senator Vitter is a member of. Vitter emailed Stephanie Pedro last week to inform her that he will be closely monitoring the Complete Streets Act, and any other legislation regarding the safety of our roads.

ABetterShreveport Meeting Monday, June 13, 2011 AT COHABITAT

In attendance: Maurice Loridans, Garrett Johnson, Jennette Ginsburg, William Hartman, Jack Waterman, Carolyn Manning, Cynthia Keith, Steph Pedro, Robert Trudeau, Feico Kempff, Susan Keith

OPENING REMARKS

Maurice opened the discussion with the Times article on the annexation and it’s impact on the City and how it does not jive with the Master Plan. He enjoyed the good journalism that it portrayed. Carolyn commented that we need new businesses, and tax dollars, and annexation is not the answer.

Jennette brought a book by William Upski Wemsatt, Bomb the Surburbs, to share with Garrett.Stephanie is currently reading Wemsatt's book No More Prisons which references that book and it is quite refreshing.

There are urban pioneers that develop an urban core correctly. Maurice: Austin is not a good model because they have a huge university and Austin is the state capital. Steph: We should look as close as Tyler, TX; Lafayette, LA; and Little Rock, AR. Just like New Orleans, the nonprofit sector is fully engaged in the progression of the city, and they get the big rock of local government slowing beginning to move. First things first: have a solid, fully vetted, and UPDATED zoning code! Zoning is one of the most powerful tools that local governments have! So let's use it to reduce risk in investment!

Cynthia shared a FB group on Stoner bike trails. These guys are putting in long hours of sweat equity--join the fun and see what they're up to!

EDWARDS STREETSCAPE PROJECT

Maurice and William are volunteering on the DDA's Edwards Streetscape project. Other members include Liz Swain, Tim Wachtel, Valerie McElhose (Sportran), Donna Curtis. Edwards ends up dead ending at the convention center. The grant is to fix Texas as far as Milam, one street short of the bus station. We will figure out a way to get it all the way. Trees, planters, bike racks, trash, Maurice wants to see how many bike racks our citizens will need. Bike rack designers were talked about. It was asked why the grant is focused on Edwards. Convention Ctr was to help spur tourist activity (Edwards is conduit to street level retail on Texas & Milam). There is a ½ block gap between Fannin & Travis. It was asked where the tourists walk around? No where, cause the retail is obsolete as of now. Casinos never gave the tourist flow through downtown. Edwards could end up as the sidewalk café street. William asked the streetscape committee why it doesn’t go all the way to Crocket, where the bus terminal, residential buildings, and Festival Plaza are? Well, because Andy Taft, past DDA Director didn’t think it should go beyond Milam, and they can’t amend the grant right now.

BIKE RACK REVIEW FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

The following locations have been identified for needing bike racks. ABetterShreveport members suggested the following be added to the list:

2 at Festival Plaza

Noble Savage

Robinson

Lee Hardware

United Jewelers

Water Spray Fountains

EXISTING LIST:

Travis @ Market

Travis @ McNeal

Travis @ Louisiana

Texas @ Common (Outbound Side)

Texas @ McNeal (Inbound Side)

Texas @ Marshal (Outbound Side)

Texas @ Spring

Milam @ McNeal

McNeil @ Crockett

Edward @ Milam

Cotton @ Common

Fannin @ Spring

Spring @ Caddo

Maurice: bike rack style should conform to the green streetlamp color, called bollard, a post with a loop that needs to face so that bike is inline with street traffic. There is a city that did lamppost bikeracks.

DUMP THE PUMP JUNE 16

Did you? Maurice shared a nice poster promoting Valerie McElhose's Dump the Pump Day, June 16. She is quite the progressive assistant director of Sportran, a semi-new position for her. She came from Monroe, and is from Kentucky. She's managed transit in various cities, and is a go-getter! Yay! Robert has noticed bikes on the front of buses. Robert asked how many of us will commit to riding the bus Thursday. Carolyn wanted to know where the maps of the routes were, and it takes too long. Steph noted that you have to call the number to get the schedule. Robert and others did not know that—most people don’t!

VELO DENDRO

Since we are in a long range planning cycle, (October 22), Matthew Linn, Donna Curtis, and Hallie all have approved of the date. Robert is in contact with League of American bicycles and they want $75 for one-year of membership which includes insurance. The group thought it was a great deal. The next step is to ask Pratt Industries for a donation. Dates need to be included on t-shirts. Jennette: In New Orleans, there are tree tours of what happened during that tree’s lifespan and brought in historical antidotes that way. Hallie does a little bit of that, but attention is lost after about 1.5 minutes. Robert will mention the idea to Hallie, and she can feature the log jam. The tree planting was a favorite among some of the members that rode last year.

The contact lists are scarce. Michael Hartman and Carolyn will research it. Carolyn will also ask Matthew Linn about the contact list. Steph will make a project timeline. Posters, t-shirts, are needed, and marketing to bike stores should be heavy. Ian has been contacted, but the Peddler needs to be contacted, as well as Scooters. Garret will serve as Robert’s soundboard for input.Safety wagon logistics is needed, last year there were 2 incidents, need to purchase first-aid?

LOGO REVIEW

The top left gray background looks great! All the icons will be different links on the website.Icons: people, bus, tree, city, bike, bell pepper, anchor with people on both ends. Italicize ‘better’ through in a recycle sign. Narrow down to 5 symbols. The framed look is nice to apply to every other icon. Move Shreveport to second line and then have icons spaced evenly. Could be a winding road to keep symbols. Love the colors. The group got a little unwieldy and some who were trying to voice their opinions were not heard. Perhaps they could reply to this blog for the unheard critiques.

UNPLANNED/OUTDATED DESIGN INTERSECTION UPDATE

Stephanie spoke to the City Council about the history of the three intersections, E. Washington/Youree; Youree/Kings; E. Kings/Shreveport-Barksdale Highway. The project has been in design since 1989. It was noted that traffic patterns have drastically changed in those locations since 1989, and the enlarging of the intersection could be a waste of taxpayer dollars. A few ABS'ers have been filming at the intersection of Youree/Kings at 5pm on various weekdays, and there is hardly a traffic que even at peak traffic flow! If alternative modes of transportation were integrated into the design, then there would possibly not have to be any widening, only geometrically correcting, and painting crosswalks and installing pedestrian count-down signals. One of our ABS members put Stephanie in contact with the engineer that the City has been contracting with since 1989, and when asked if Complete Streets policies would be used, he had not heard of the Complete Streets Policy.

WOODWORD BRIDGE DESIGN REVIEW AND DISCUSSION

Our new design intern presented a rendering of the Sheriff's Marina bridge over Bayou Pierre where Woodward Street deadends. The group was thoroughly impressed, and decided to pursue the engineering report from some of our engineer members. Susan Keith has put us in contact with the school board engineer that has done a similar bridge at Caddo Magnet High, and we will follow up with him as well.

FUTURE MEETING SPACE

Carolyn and others like the old Centenary meeting space and the downtown library. Parking is free for those auto-dependents in both places. Jennette thinks eateries are discourages and exclusive, but it’s a good time to start our road show, and meet every first week at the host location. Feico got us signed up starting Monday, June 20 at the downtown library. ABS will be road showing it beginning in July hopefully with Caddo Heights/Ingleside neighborhood...there is a lot of culturally significant activity happening there and Stoner Hill, as well as North Highlands...all representing our City's core.

MEMBER REMARKS

Susan spoke with Diane about Coates Bluff funding, and Diane asked if Billy Montgomery was contacted because he got them a $70K grant for trails. Maurice knows Billy and will reach out to him.

ABetterShreveport Monday Meeting on the steps of Hurley Music Hall

A TRANSPORTATION-FOCUSED MEETING

In Attendance: Jack Waterman, Robert Trudeau, Annie Blazer (our soon to be newest resident of Shreveport and Centenary Professor!), Craig (local IT business partner), Jennette Ginsberg, Feico Kempff, Randy Ross

RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S MEETING WITH SHREVEPORT COMMON AND SRAC

It was noted to follow up on Loren's point to make public the 50 or so interviews that the Shreveport Common Team have conducted. Without public meeting minutes, the team is participating in back-door urban planning which took place during the urban renewal ages and still happens in some cases today. Another comment that was made is to emphasize Steph Pedro's point to integrate the plan strategies into existing resources that we already possess as a community today. Our community has a lot to offer in terms of infrastructure, land, skill sets, and investment potential, but the will to utilize them is still bleak. Robert Trudeau is going to invite Wendy Benscoter, Project Manager for Shreveport Common, to the radio show next week. Jennette and Jack have volunteered to join them as well.

YOUREE DRIVE/E. KINGS INTERSECTION AND E. KINGS/SHREVEPORT BARKSDALE INTERSECTION DESIGN IS UNDERWAY

BUT NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, COUNTDOWN SIGNALS, OR BIKE REFUGES ARE INCLUDED!!!

Two ABetterShreveport members are attempting to acquire the design drawings of the Youree Drive/E. Kings Hwy intersection. The E. Kings/Shreveport Barksdale intersection design has been provided by Andrew Zagars, City of Shreveport Engineering Department. The Youree Drive/E. Kings Intersection design has been offered to view only at the City office. Representative Carmody has been notified of the City's reluctance to send a pdf of the Youree Drive/E. Kings Intersection design and ABetterShreveport is waiting for his response. Also included in the letter to Rep. Carmody is the statement: We strongly believe that pedestrian countdown signals are needed at this intersection in order to cross safely. Many pedestrians are crossing the intersection with children at their own risk today.

Robert Trudeau has offered to shoot a short video this Friday to further explain the issue and importance of creating a walkable environment for our citizens when we invest public dollars into road construction.

Our new summer design intern, Jack Waterman, has offered to integrate bike and pedestrian facilities into the drawing once it is acquired. We are seeking to request a public meeting to openly discuss the use of DOTD's new legislation called Complete Streets. DOTD's Complete Streets Policy states that restricting non-motorized access should not be considered as an appropriate strategy with the exception of those limited access facilities where pedestrians and bicyclists are prohibited. http://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/policies/Signed_Complete_Streets_Policy_20100718.pdf

City Engineering is currently checking into whether Youree, E. Kings, and Shreveport Barksdale are limited access facilities. Since there are bus stops along all three corridors, pedestrians are currently permitted to be on the corridors.

RELOCATING AN UNUSED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE TO BAYOU PIERRE!

An update was given to the group for the status of relocating one of the pedestrian bridges attached to the Sheriff's Marina to Bayou Pierre near Woodlawn (behind the baseball fields at Centenary). A ABetterShreveporter took some pics of the bridge and sent to Ron Norwood, Chief Engineer, City of Shreveport, for review. His response was that ABS should hire a structural engineer to verify the sound relocation and ensure that it will not impede the flow of the bayou for this public pedestrian bridge that will connect two neighborhoods in Shreveport. City Engineering also needs a canvas of both neighborhoods to ensure that there is a willingness for the pedestrian bridge.

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS

Every other year, DOTD offers all communities in Louisiana to apply for projects under the Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP). Examples of projects funded through TEP include, but are not limited to, sidewalks and bike paths, safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists, landscaping and other scenic beautification, and historic preservation.

ABetterShreveport is advocating for a levee trail that connects the MLK neighborhood along 12-mile Bayou to downtown. Another project mentioned was a bike path connecting the SWEPCO Park in Allendale to downtown. Lee Jidders of the Fuller Center for Housing was mentioned as a contact for that potential project.

NEW SUMMER INTERN

Jack Waterman, a Tulane architecture student, is joining us for the summer to help brand ABetterShreveport and provide design work for us. He will also be interning at a local architectural firm. His interests include downtown, bike and pedestrian designs, and an online resource library for urban best practices that apply to Shreveport. The resource library is anticipated to have a video for viewers to quickly get into the same mindset as ABetterShreveport members have and provide an enlightenment system to all.

DOG PARK UPDATE

The Shreveport Dog Park Alliance (an ABS committee) is patiently waiting on approval of Hamel Park as Shreveport's first dog park. Once the City Council passes a resolution approving the site, fundraising from the big donors can begin. The City through SPAR is also working on a new design at Hamel that incorporates the higher elevation areas on the north side of the park.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUR MEMBERS

Robert Trudeau noted that in three weeks City Council Chair, Oliver Jenkins, will join us on Time for ABetterShreveport, our weekly radio show airing Mondays at 5pm, 91.3.

Robert also noted that he will be chairing the 3rd Annual Velo Dendro leisurely tree ride in October. It was noted to contact Shreveport Green as they are usually a partner in our event.

Monday is our next big Coates Bluff meeting at 201 Hurley on Centenary's campus. Please join us! It was noted that Sci-Port be invited to attend that meeting.