Baton Rouge railroad crossings public comment period extended with new outreach effort
Monday, December 04, 2017 at 11:57:57 AM
Baton Rouge, LA – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced an extension to the public comment period for a proposed railroad rehabilitation project in Baton Rouge. The proposed project involves railroad crossings along the Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad in Baton Rouge. The public comment period is being extended to the end of January 2018. The additional public comment period will give the Department an opportunity to reconsider plans that were presented at a public meeting on November 6.
In an effort to gather more information and to provide the public with insight into the railroad project, DOTD is launching a new public outreach effort to uniquely serve the communities surrounding the railroad crossings. This new outreach effort will engage elected officials, community leaders, clergy, and residents in several small group listening sessions and tours through the impacted areas.
“We have heard the concerns of local residents and their elected officials,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “We’re working with our governmental partners and KCS to be more collaborative and sensitive to the community impact that this proposal will have.”
In February 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $1.1 million grant to DOTD to make changes to the railroad crossings. The original proposal called for a combination of upgrades and closings to crossings along a stretch of about 1.5 miles.
“The input we receive from our local communities is extremely important,” continued Wilson. “As part of our accountability to our stakeholders, this input will be invaluable in how we reconsider the plans for this project.”
Comment cards can be downloaded from the project’s website and returned via mail or fax (225-242-4500).