John Renne, director of the Merritt C. Becker Jr. University of New Orleans Transportation Institute, is a member of a diverse coalition of transportation advocates supporting the passage of a new City of New Orleans ordinance that changes the way city agencies design streets.
The “Complete Streets” ordinance was authored by Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer and approved unanimously by the New Orleans City Council on December 15. The ordinance directs city administration, specifically the Department of Public Works and City Planning Commission, to create internal policies that require engineers to consider curb ramps, bike lanes, sidewalks and bus stops when they are resurfacing or rebuilding roads.
The council worked in close collaboration with the Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee, chaired by Renne.
“This legislation is not only a signal that New Orleans is recovering, but doing so in a way that promotes a sustainable future,” Renne said. “We are grateful to Councilmember Palmer, the entire City Council and the Mayor’s administration for getting behind this policy, which is the first municipal policy in the State of Louisiana and one of the first in the entire southern United States.”
“Complete Street” policies make streets safe and convenient for people of all ages and abilities whether they are traveling by car, foot, bicycle, bus or streetcar. According to Renne, safe roads are essential to healthy, livable communities.
“This is where the rubber meets the road,” said Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer. “The new ordinance directs city agencies to work together to make sure that all users can easily move along and across our roadways. As New Orleans creates a healthier city, it’s vital that we have streets that support all users from vehicles and bicycles to pedestrians and those who are physically challenged.”
The mission of the Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee is to advise the New Orleans City Council on policies to encourage a multimodal transportation system that promotes economic vitality, environmental stewardship and healthy, interconnected neighborhoods across the City of New Orleans.
The Merritt C. Becker Jr. UNO Transportation Institute focuses on the role of transportation in creating a sustainable, livable and resilient future. UNOTI combines applied research, outreach and education to impact positively the transportation field from the local to the international spheres.