[StBernard] Web cast of the Community Dialogue on Transportation and Land Use in South Louisiana Now Online

[Westley Annis]

Web cast of the Community Dialogue on Transportation and Land Use in South Louisiana Now Online

BATON ROUGE, La. - South Louisiana residents that missed this week's episode of "Louisiana Public Square," which focused on the challenges of land use and transportation in South Louisiana, now have access to view and hear rebroadcasts of the show through a variety of mediums. 

Residents can watch the program online anytime by clicking here 
<mms://wm.lpb.org/lps/lps305_200611.wmv> . (The Web cast is in Windows Media Player format. To download Windows Media Player, click here <http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.mspx> .) 

Residents can also access the program through iTunes Podcasting by clicking here <http://www.lpb.org/podcast/video/lps/lps305_200611.mp4> . 

A transcript from the show is also available online here <http://www.lpb.org/programs/LApublicsquare/transcripts/lps20061115.txt> . 

The segment was taped before a live studio audience that included residents that are concerned about the critical transportation and land use issues facing the rebuilding of post-hurricane South Louisiana. 

Main panelists included Andy Kopplin, Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA); Cedric Grant, Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development; Peter Calthorpe, principal of Calthorpe Associates and lead planner for Louisiana Speaks; and Walter Brooks, Executive Director of the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission. 

Titled "Gridlock 2050: Transportation and Land Use in South Louisiana," the program features a focused discussion and potential solutions to address traffic congestion, increased capacity on major connecting roads, and other factors limiting our transit between communities. 

"We have a mission to rebuild South Louisiana safer, stronger and smarter than every before, and that means we're going to have to plan better too," said Andy Kopplin, LRA Executive Director. "Through forums such as this, the Louisiana Speaks process will enable us to be more strategic with future investments because we can be more responsive to what people really want."

This community dialogue served as one of many opportunities that residents will have to weigh in on South Louisiana's long-term recovery and future growth through Louisiana Speaks. 

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Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives and destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating against jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana.

Louisiana Speaks is the long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. With support from the LRA Support Foundation, Louisiana Speaks has engaged a team of top local and national planning experts to gather public input and support the development of a regional vision for South Louisiana that will guide long-term recovery and future growth. This work combines the efforts of many experts, stakeholders and citizens, into a comprehensive approach that will work in tandem with local plans across the region to better protect our coast, better connect our cities and strengthen our regional economy.