Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Louisiana

Each of the proposed I-49 expansion routes run through the heart of the Shreveport community of Allendale. Red dots represent churches.

Highway Boondoggles: I-49 Inner City Connection in Shreveport, Louisiana

By Matt Casale and Gideon Weissman | Jul 3, 2018 | 12 Comments

Like the city-shredding monstrosities of the 20th Century, Shreveport's highway plan would slice through a black neighborhood.

After a truck driver struck and injured Deonte Williams, Cody Mayes, and Tevin Wilson, police charged them for not wearing reflecting clothing at night. The driver was not charged. Photo: KATC

A Truck Driver Struck Three Black People Walking in Ville Platte, Louisiana. Police Charged the Victims.

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 25, 2017 | 45 Comments

A truck driver struck and injured three young black men walking in Ville Platte, Louisiana, on Tuesday, and the local authorities only want to penalize the victims. Police charged the three men who were struck, filing misdemeanors for not wearing reflective clothing and "obstructing a public passage."

Allendale, a lower-income, largely black neighborhood in Shreveport, had plans to build a new park and housing. But regional planners, with support from the mayor, want to bulldoze a new highway right through through the neighborhood. Photo: Allentown Strong

Shreveport Mayor Votes to Bulldoze a Black Neighborhood to Build a Highway

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 22, 2017 | 60 Comments

Mayor Ollie Taylor sided with economic development consultants, and against the wishes of her constituents living in the Shreveport neighborhood of Allendale.

Two Highway Lanes Won’t Fix Baton Rouge’s Traffic Problem

By Angie Schmitt | Sep 4, 2015 | 1 Comment

Everyone agrees there’s a traffic problem in Baton Rouge, but not everyone is sold on the state’s plan to address it. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s solution, presented this week, is to add two lanes to Interstate 10 through the Southdowns neighborhood. The widening will cost $350 million and require the demolition of a […]

What To Do When Main Street Is Also a State Highway

By Angie Schmitt | Nov 21, 2013 | 1 Comment

Like thousands of small towns across America, Jena, Louisiana’s main street is also a federal highway: U.S. 84. That’s actually been a positive thing overall for this town of about 3,000, which relies on passers-by for business. Until recently, U.S. 84 was simply a two-lane road through Jena’s historic downtown, indistinguishable from any other road, […]