Wheels still turn on New Orleans to Baton Rouge light rail

Saintswrath · 03-01-2010, 08:58 AM

Don Ames Reporting
High-speed light rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge may not be entirely off-track.

Greater New Orleans, Inc., the chief economic development arm for the New Orleans region, thinks the concept is still viable, despite Governor Jindal's refusal to seek federal funds for the project last year.

Michael Hecht, president and chief executive officer of GNO Inc., says Jindal was against going to Uncle Sam for the money, because local officials had not come up with a plan to finance it and state taxpayers would have been responsible for the operation and maintenance expense.

"We believe there a number of ways, including public/private partnerships or local support that can help defray some or all of the operating costs," Hecht says.

He says his group and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce are currently working with the feds on funding, and some residual may be available in President Obama's budget for the project.
[............ READ FULL ARTICLE HERE .......]

03-01-2010, 08:58 AM	#1
Saintswrath +Mod Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Between 504 & 813 Posts: 1,776 Blog Entries: 4	Wheels still turn on New Orleans to Baton Rouge light rail Don Ames Reporting High-speed light rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge may not be entirely off-track. Greater New Orleans, Inc., the chief economic development arm for the New Orleans region, thinks the concept is still viable, despite Governor Jindal's refusal to seek federal funds for the project last year. Michael Hecht, president and chief executive officer of GNO Inc., says Jindal was against going to Uncle Sam for the money, because local officials had not come up with a plan to finance it and state taxpayers would have been responsible for the operation and maintenance expense. "We believe there a number of ways, including public/private partnerships or local support that can help defray some or all of the operating costs," Hecht says. He says his group and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce are currently working with the feds on funding, and some residual may be available in President Obama's budget for the project. [............ READ FULL ARTICLE HERE .......]
	Last edited by Saintswrath; 05-05-2010 at 05:31 PM..