Desire Streetcar Project

By Sue Klein

I was delighted to attend a recent RTA meeting regarding the Desire Streetcar Project, since my great-grandfather was a motorman on the Desire Streetcar! Mari Kornhauser joined me in representing French Quarter Citizens for Preservation of Residential Quality. Also in attendance were Tom Bissell representing VCPORA and Michie Bissell representing Lower Quarter Crime Watch. These were the only Vieux Carré residents I saw in attendance.

The final public hearings to comment on the DEIS and FEIS documents will be held the last week in January. Prior to that time it is imperative that these documents be reviewed and that the various Vieux Carré groups meet and have consensus on the points we support and oppose, with alternative suggestions for implementation. The documents may be accessed via the RTA website at www.norta.com .

These were the comments and concerns of the Vieux Carré residents present at the meeting:

 *   The downriver tracks would be in Rampart Street and not on the neutral ground. This is because the neutral ground was narrowed to allow a second traffic lane for the buses and other vehicles. However, the buses will be gone. We were told that widening the neutral ground has been opposed by the Department of Public Works. The Vieux Carré residents, as well as businesses present (Wm. B. Allen and the Saenger), would be in favor of widening the neutral ground, because then they would not lose their freight loading zones on Basin Street, which would be necessary if the current Plan A or Plan B were implemented.

 *   The Department of Public Works believes the neutral ground cannot be widened because of morning traffic flow into the DDD. When I asked if studies had been made to verify this, the presenter started to crawfish and noted morning traffic studies in all major cities. I do not know if an actual vehicle count was done on Rampart. They spoke of the numbers sited as {derived". Also, Mari noted that in all major cities, parking is prohibited during major traffic times. If this were done on the lake side of Rampart only during peek morning traffic hours, it would not adversely impact Wm. B. Allen or the Saenger. And most importantly, having both tracks on the neutral ground would allow for additional traffic flow, because you would have two lanes of upriver and downriver vehicular traffic, with no buses or streetcar stops to delay the traffic. Note: In the 1975 and 1987 Growth Management Plans, both had traffic statistics showing that the outbound evening traffic was heavier than the inbound morning traffic.

It was the general consensus that we would like both tracks on the neutral ground. Because of this project and the new zoning issues, it is most important that we all do our part by joining the telephone tree and mobilization committee led by Pat Henican.