Lower St. Bernard Parish, LA Roadway Network & Resilience Study
The Regional Planning Commission (RPC), along with the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and St. Bernard Parish, is conducting a “Stage 0” Feasibility Study. Together, we are checking on how changes in transportation in lower St. Bernard Parish, like more industry and a new Port project in Violet, might affect the Parish and how to make transportation better for the Parish and the Port project. The planning process includes public notice that the planning products produced in the planning process and study may be adopted during a subsequent environmental review process.
The RPC Study has a larger focus than what Port NOLA has been studying, including if there are ways to handle the extra traffic and jobs that will come to lower St. Bernard Parish because of the new Port NOLA project, as well as other projects down the river. We are also working to ensure this effort meets future federal requirements regarding community engagement, and supports the needs of the Port, St. Bernard Parish, and the whole region over time.
The Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) Project
Port NOLA is planning to build a new container terminal called the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) in Lower St. Bernard Parish. This terminal will cost about $1.5 billion and is expected to eventually handle around 2 million containers every year. The Port chose Violet as the location because it has deep water, is close to railroads, and is protected by levees. Port NOLA has already bought around 1,200 acres of land in Violet for Port operations, and the actual terminal area will be about 400 acres. The Port has started the process to get the necessary permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. You can find more information about this project on their website: louisianainternationalterminal.com.
II. Who Does It Impact?
The Study area includes all of St. Bernard Parish, LA, with a focus on understanding how everyone gets around, including people who may not be fluent in English, people over 65, people with disabilities, those without cars, or anyone who finds it difficult to travel.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to tell us what they think about the transportation network (i.e.; roads, rail, and bridges) and how future projects should be designed to best support the community. We’ve set up different ways for you to participate to support this goal, including online surveys, in person and online community meetings.
III. Timeline
*Note: Additional time is needed to develop project alternatives and work with DOTD. As a result, Public Meeting No. 2 is scheduled for February 4th. This study effort is expected to be complete by mid-2025. An updated Timeline is posted above. Thank you for your patience and participation in this important study.
IV. How to Stay Informed and Get Involved
Outreach Update: Finding and Analysis To-Date
We acknowledge there has been unexpected delays in the project schedule, and everyone would benefit from a “refresh” of engagement efforts and feedback received to-date prior to the second public meeting scheduled for February 4. 2025.
Please take a look at the Revised Public Outreach Plan linked herein.
For an overview of the Outreach Efforts thus far, please refer to the Outreach Update to Date linked herein.
Register to attend the second Public meeting!
This meeting is open to the public and registration is only helping the Project Team prepare printouts, etc. You DO NOT need to register to attend. Register by visiting https://arcg.is/0CKLzy1 or scan the code here:
Meeting: St. Bernard Transportation Study - Public Meeting No. 2
Date: February 4, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Format: Open House – attendees are encouraged to arrive anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and will be guided through materials and an exercise to collect feedback.
Place: South Ballroom, Civic Center
Address: 3220 Jean Lafitte Parkway, Chalmette, La 70043
The subject building is ADA accessible. If you would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact Jared Carter, the Chief Operations Officer at Desire Line, at 504-605-7158 or email [email protected].
Review Project Presentations
Public Meeting Number 1 Presentation (April 11, 2024)
St. Bernard School Board Presentation (June 11, 2024)
V. Common Questions and Answers To Read:
A1: This study considers how St. Bernard is growing and changing, and is checking to see if the transportation system—like roads, sidewalks, and bridges—works well for people today and will keep working in the future. The study also looks at ways to reduce or mitigate the potential impacts of the Port of New Orleans Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) Project.
Community impacts considered include how proposed project transportation solutions could impact: (1) new and current housing areas, (2) emergency vehicle access for police or firefighters, (3) evacuation routes, (4) connectivity between Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes, (5) long-term growth, (6) access to local business, and (7) industry access to warehousing and supply chains.
A2: It’s about more than the Port of New Orleans Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) Project. While the study will focus on reducing negative effects from the Port’s potential terminal, it will also help plan for the future growth and needs of the Parish to make the community stronger and more efficient.
This study might lead to more money from the federal, state, and local governments to make the transportation network better, so emergency services can respond faster, the community can bounce back from challenges, and people can get to their jobs more directly.
A3: 80% of this study is paid for with federal dollars allocated to the Regional Planning Commission for transportation planning purposes and 20% is paid from funding allocated to the Port by the State legislature. The Port of New Orleans’ role is to provide relevant information to the RPC related to freight movements of the proposed downriver terminal in Violet, La.
A4: Major construction is years away. Right now, we’re counting how many cars, trucks, train cars, pedestrians and bicycles usually operate in the area. From this we will estimate how this traffic may grow, and how many more businesses or people it may attract. That information will support development of different project solutions or alternatives to respond to traffic. After careful consideration and community engagement, some ideas will be kept and others will be set aside. Further analysis will be completed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) after the Study is complete to make a final decision on whether or not a project solution will be constructed. If selected for construction, LADOTD will create a cost estimate for engineering design. Funds for a project must be dedicated before construction begins. We’ll have a better idea of when construction could potentially start after these steps.
A5: The Study is taking about 18 months. It started in October 2023 and should be finished around April 2025.
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Translation And ADA Support Services
Meetings and events are held at ADA accessible locations and buildings.
If you require translation or ADA support services, please contact [email protected] and we will be in touch!
Si necesitas servicios de apoyo en traducción o ADA, por favor contáctanos en [email protected] ¡y estaremos en contacto contigo!
Nếu bạn cần dịch vụ hỗ trợ dịch thuật hoặc ADA, vui lòng liên hệ với chúng tôi tại [email protected] và chúng tôi sẽ liên hệ với bạn!
Please note that information collected in support of this Study may be used in a future NEPA Process.