Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2006-11-15

Duration: 00:58:11

Subjects: Interstate 49 | Regional planning | Filmed panel discussions | Urban sprawl | Louisiana Recovery Authority | Transportation | Local transit

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Segrave, Carrie Interviewee
• Lambert, Mark Interviewee
• Wilmot, Chester Interviewee
• Renne, John Interviewee
• Oubre, Steve Interviewee
• Landry, John Interviewee
• Grant, Cedric Panelist
• Calthorpe, Peter Panelist
• Brooks, Walter Panelist
• Kopplin, Andy Panelist
• Guissinger, Ann Panelist
• Thomas, Elizabeth Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from November 15, 2006, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the state of Louisiana’s roads, public transit, and land use. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Carrie Segrave, Covington resident; Mark Lambert, director of communications at the Louisiana Department of Transportation of Development (DOTD); Dr. Chester Wilmot, Louisiana Transportation Research Center; Dr. John Renne, University of New Orleans (UNO) professor of Urban Planning and Transportation Studies; Steve Oubre, Lafayette-based architect; and John Landy of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA). The audience members then discuss traffic congestion, walkable cities vs. suburban sprawl, and how to utilize public space better in order to support a more robust public transit system in Louisiana’s large cities. The audience members are then joined by a panel of experts to answer their questions. The panelists are: Cedric Grant, Deputy Secretary of DOTD; Peter Calthorpe, lead planner for the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan; Walter Brooks, executive director of the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission; and Andy Kopplin, executive director of LRA. They discuss: budgets and plans to build more highways connecting urban and rural areas, the effects of growth and population migration on traffic, and how to promote the use of alternative transportation (bikes, walking, carpooling, and public transit) in urban areas. Special guests in the audience include: Ann Guissinger, Strategic Advisor for the LRA Economic and Workforce Development Task Force, and Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas, President and CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence. This program was preserved through a 2022-2023 Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman