Letter: Loop opposition strong in Central

• Published: Mar 3, 2008

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Reference your article in Tuesday’s The Advocate “Central residents object to part of proposed loop.”

I’m glad your staff writer accurately quoted several Central residents in their opposition. But I take exception to the comment by Mike Bruce, principal of ABMB Engineers coordinating the loop planning effort, who was reported as stating the opposition to the loop in Central is not nearly as strong as it was before it was moved south to avoid much of the existing development.

I don’t know where Mr. Bruce was during Monday’s session, but apparently he was nowhere near the northern segment board indicating the potential loop, where many Central residents’ concerns, comments and discussions fell on the deaf ears of the ABMB staff.

When this schedule of community meetings was published, nothing was scheduled for the Central community as was done in the last round of community meetings.

I understand Central Mayor Mac Watts requested the proponents have another meeting in the Central area, but this was denied by the planners.

Did they get too much objection the last time? I know they were overwhelmed with the attendance, concerns and objections. Did they get the message that Central had more opposition than they could handle, and were they reluctant to return?

Personally, I don’t think a north loop is the answer to Baton Rouge’s traffic problems. There are already several considerations in planning and under way.

There are solutions to this; they just need to be considered and agreed upon. Don’t leave us out of the loop planning.

But it’s OK if you leave the loop out of Central.

Jim McCurry
retired engineer
Central