Merritt C. Becker, Jr. UNO Transportation Institute

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Potential Impacts of Proposed Passenger Rail Projects on Post Katrina Recovery Efforts in the Greater New Orleans Region
James R. Amdal, Department of Planning and Urban Studies, UNO

Historically, passenger trains and streetcars have played key roles in the growth and development of the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. This research project addresses their potential impacts on contemporary Louisiana, the City of New Orleans and the greater New Orleans – Baton Rouge region in a post-Katrina environment, as recovery tools and as enhancements to existing public transportation systems. Through multiple recovery planning processes citizens have debated the merits of new passenger rail service. From these efforts two projects have emerged. The first is a proposed commuter train between Baton Rouge and the New Orleans Central Business District. This project is currently on hold based on Governor Jindal’s opposition to its annual operating costs, which he believes will be a recurring burden for the state. The second project, recently funded by ARRA at 100%, will construct a new streetcar line between the existing New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal and Canal Street. This research evaluates these rail passenger projects in light of national best practices for both new commuter rail services and urban streetcar lines, and examines the relationship between the proposed lines and existing or planned real estate development.

Maps, at various scales, illustrate the apparent disconnect between the investments being made or planned within the CBD and adjoining neighborhoods and the investments being built or proposed by these streetcar extensions. This is directly related to the lack of a public policy that links public investment in public transit with development in New Orleans, regardless of location or neighborhood. This however need not be the case, as our two case studies demonstrate. In both Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California public agencies and political bodies have adopted proactive development policies that have directly tied development to public transit investment. The degree of success however is still being debated. With this study, another residual value is this freeze-frame of development prior to the construction and operation of any of the proposed streetcar extensions. This will also allow late researchers to quantify the actual impact the streetcars made on corridor development, neighborhood revitalization, etc. using a number of specific metrics: property value increase; sales tax revenue.

 

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Evaluating Privatization as a Strategy to Provide Regional Transit Service
Dr. Hiroyuki Iseki, Department of Planning and Urban Studies, UNO

Abstract: This study will examine efficiency and effectiveness of providing regional transit service through privatization as a strategy to achieve financial resiliency for regional transit systems. In particular, we seek to answer the following two sets of questions in this study. The first set of questions evaluates the consequences of the transit service privatization by measuring changes in service improvements, cost efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of service provision in two individual transit service districts. The second set of questions examine whether or not and how efficiently one private firm that contracts with two different jurisdictions can achieve better regional coordination for transit service in multiple aspects, such as planning, management, operation, and adopting new technologies, while avoiding geographic equity issues and other jurisdictional problems. While the overall cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of regional transit service also depend on transaction costs of contracting and actual contractual terms, it is hypothesized that a private firm has a strong incentive to increase ridership to generate more fare revenue and present a good performance for future contracts by combining services in the two separate areas through internal coordination. This study will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of transit service contracting, and will improve our understanding of the benefits and costs of privatization as a provision strategy to achieve financial resiliency for regional transit service. It will also help transit mangers and policy makers learn about issues that need to be addressed to improve their systems’ cost-effectiveness by privatization. Additionally, State and Federal agencies may increase their capability to design and target technical assistance and financial resources to encourage more cost-effective transit services.

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Incorporating the ports & waterways system capabilities into the local emergency response system, July 2011

The recent devastations caused by hurricanes in Louisiana and the recent oil spill impact to coastal Louisiana underscore the need for a more effective local emergency management system.  A coordinated first response by emergency teams in the area using local resources is the most effective means to minimize loss of human life as well as property and environmental damage.  The objective of this research is to examine how the resources in the ports and waterways sector could be mobilized to augment existing emergency management capabilities in south Louisiana.  The scope of work will include the development of an inventory of physical resources in the maritime sector that could meet different emergency needs, and explore an appropriate institutional framework that would allow these resources to be mobilized under emergency conditions. To date, little or no research has been conducted into how the assets at ports and the network of waterways could be utilized in the case of an emergency.  This research will investigate how individual assets within the maritime sector could assist in times of emergency and to suggest an effective and coordinated procedure between the public ports, the private tenants and emergency management officials to utilize these assets in times of emergency.

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Rails to Recovery: The Role of Passenger Rail Transportation in Post-Katrina Louisiana, July 2011

Through multiple recovery planning processes citizens have debated the merits of new passenger rail service. From these efforts two projects have emerged. The first is a proposed commuter train between Baton Rouge and the New Orleans Central Business District. This project is currently on hold based on Governor Jindal’s opposition to its annual operating costs, which he believes will be a recurring burden for the state. The second project, recently funded by ARRA at 100%, will construct a new streetcar line between the existing New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal and Canal Street. This research evaluates these rail passenger projects in light of national best practices for both new commuter rail services and urban streetcar lines, and examines the relationship between the proposed lines and existing or planned real estate development. Maps, at various scales, illustrate the apparent disconnect between the investments being made or planned within the CBD and adjoining neighborhoods and the investments being built or proposed by these streetcar extensions.

This is directly related to the lack of a public policy that links public investment in public transit with development in New Orleans, regardless of location or neighborhood. This however need not be the case, as our two case studies demonstrate. In both Portland, Oregon and San Diego, California public agencies and political bodies have adopted proactive development policies that have directly tied development to public transit investment. The degree of success however is still being debated. With this study, another residual value is this freeze-frame of development prior to the construction and operation of any of the proposed streetcar extensions. This will also allow later researchers to quantify the actual impact the streetcars made on corridor development, neighborhood revitalization, etc. using a number of specific metrics: property value increase; sales tax revenue.

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UNOTI / UTC Resilient Transportation Projects
Resilient Transportation Systems in a Post-Disaster Environment: A Case Study of Opportunities Realized and Missed in the Greater New Orleans Region, 2010

This project uses the New Orleans Region as a case study to assess transportation resiliency both pre and post- Katrina, the devastating storm of 2005. Using the Katrina experience as a point of reference, the objective of this research was to better recognize how the New Orleans region has progressed in terms of transportation resiliency. Pre–event planning and post-event recovery highlighted the importance of a transportation system’s ability to withstand the stresses associated with a catastrophe of this magnitude. In order to review the system as a whole, the study focused on pre-storm transportation and policy composition, the failures that resulted from the event, and what policy changes have strengthened the post-storm transportation system. Researchers assessed key transportation assets and systems before, during and after this horrific event using key stakeholder interviews. “Lessons learned” and key policies in both the public and private sector post-disaster are highlighted. Transportation leaders in both passenger and freight modes were interviewed to assess their pre-storm preparations and their post-storm recovery efforts. Inputs from planning and government officials were also used to identify policy and procedural changes that affected both evacuation and disaster response.

Rails to Recovery: The Role of Passenger Rail Transportation in Post-Katrina Louisiana

Historically, passenger trains and streetcars have played key roles in the growth and development of the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans. This research project addresses their potential impacts on contemporary Louisiana, the City of New Orleans and the greater New Orleans – Baton Rouge region in a post-Katrina environment, as recovery tools and as enhancements to existing public transportation systems.

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Louisiana Intermodal Transportation Infrastructure Study: Feasibility Analysis for Inland Waterway Container Transport Systems within the lower Mississippi Region and the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, June 2011
Client – New Orleans Regional Planning Commission

The primary objective of this study is to conduct an analysis of successful inland waterway container transport in selected U.S. locations and to assess the feasibility of this transportation mode within the Mississippi River corridor. A “marine highway” initiative is being proposed by the USDOT to encourage a shift of cargo movements from traditional surface transportation modes to maritime systems. This research will be conducted in partnership with the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC). As a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the RPC has the distinct advantage of providing a regional perspective on transportation systems. This project will allow the RPC to expand their traditional perspective to include the regions extensive maritime transportation assets as well as a perspective of resilient freight transportation utilizing inland waterways as an alternate delivery system.

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Port of Lake Providence - Market Assessment and Infrastructure Development Plan, Aug. 2009
Client – Port of Lake Providence

The Merritt C. Becker Jr. Maritime and Intermodal Transportation Center entered into an agreement with the Lake Providence Port (LPP) to conduct a market assessment and develop a 5-year port infrastructure plan.  The scope of the study, as described in the CEA Project Plan, is to conduct market research and identify appropriate areas for future expansion, develop a list of specific medium-term (5-year) projects for investment, and assess additional port infrastructure needs to accommodate identified growth opportunities.

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Port of Morgan City Strategic Plan, Mar. 2008
Client – Port of Morgan City

Comprehensive analysis of the port’s existing condition and prepare a long-range Strategic Plan for its development and operation. Market assessments on the macro and micro level were conducted in the maritime, oil and gas supply and service sectors, specific cargo types prevalent in the region as well as trends affecting LA’s Energy Coast

Short, Medium, and Long range recommendations were made for the future growth and development of the port.

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An Overview of Selected Gulf Ports, Sep. 2008
Client – Port of South Louisiana

The Port of South Louisiana, in partnership with the LA Department of Economic Development, entered into a contract with the University of New Orleans Department of Planning and Urban Studies, to conduct a comparative analysis of specific Gulf Coast bulk ports. The primary objective was to determine emerging issues and opportunities that could be advantageous to the Port’s future growth and development. Principal investigators included staff members from the UNO Transportation Center as well as the National Ports and Waterways Initiative. The relevance of this report to both the Port and the Department of Economic Development is to identify the specific physical and operational characteristics of competitive Gulf ports and to describe their unique market strengths that allow them to capture specific cargo types. However, care was taken in choosing which ports to investigate and which to omit. Within the Gulf, competing Louisiana ports were not considered as they are currently under review as part of the Statewide Port Strategic Plan.