BR loop issue in Mayor's race

• By SCOTT DYER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 7, 2008 - Page: 4A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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During his first term in office, Mayor-President Kip Holden has breathed life into a proposed Baton Rouge area loop.

Last year, Holden got the ball rolling by persuading the Metro Council to allocate $2 million in surplus city-parish funds to help develop an implementation plan for the loop.

Also last year, Holden convinced the Louisiana Legislature to appropriate $4 million to keep the loop implementation plan funded. And Holden said the loop is poised to receive additional funding from the state’s Transportation Mobility Trust Fund, created to help implement toll-supported project.

But even the mayor’s consultants concluded that with a 15-cent per mile toll, the 90-to-100 mile toll-supported loop around the urbanized area still will need about $1.4 billion from the state and federal governments.

Despite the shortfall, Holden remains bullish about the loop’s chances, noting that the Baton Rouge Area Chamber is supporting the project. And the mayor said the loop still is a great deal for state and federal officials, who could build a $4.5 billion project with only $1.4 billion.

Holden faces Republicans Wayne Carter and Dan Kyle as well as fellow Democrat Ron Johnson in an Oct. 4 primary. The runoff will be Nov. 4, if one is necessary.

Carter, Holden’s most outspoken opponent in the mayor’s race, called the loop “a big waste of taxpayer money.”

Carter said Holden’s implementation plan basically mirrors  a study conducted by former Mayor Bobby Simpson that focused on a bypass north of Interstate 10. Carter claims the section of the loop  south of I-10 is unfeasible because that area is too heavily developed.

“To basically get what cost Simpson $500,000, they spent $5 million — $2 million from us, and another $3 million from the state.”

But Carter said he would push efforts to build a northern bypass along the proposed Comite River Division Canal all the way the Livingston Parish.

Digging the Comite River diversion canal would provide the dirt for the bypass’ road base, Carter said. In addition, Carter said he wants to upgrade the proposed Canal Division Canal into a reservoir

“It would be a big economic development package in itself. You’ve got a 1500-foot-wide, 10 –mile-long reservoir and a major northern bypass on the south side of the reservoir that opens up economic development for everybody. It’s a no brainer,” Carter said.

But Carter noted that the widening of I-10 and Airline Highway should be done before a northern bypass is started.