In the News

On behalf of the members and board of directors of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, I want to thank the members of the North Louisiana Council of Governments (NLCOG) MPO Transportation Policy Committee and its board of directors for their vote to select Alternative Route 1 as the locally preferred alternative for the I-49 inner-city connector.

In particular, we want to recognize the strong leadership demonstrated by Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker, who respectively made and seconded the motion that has finally allowed this vital commercial artery to take a critical step toward completion.

We also want to recognize State Sen. Barrow Peacock, City Council Member Willie Bradford and former State Rep. Roy Burrell, who also spoke eloquently and forcefully in support of this route.

Chip Layton of U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson’s staff, read a statement from the congressman in support of Route 1, demonstrating his crucial support for this effort at the federal level.

Over the course of more than 25 public meetings and listening sessions an average of 95 percent of respondents are supportive of this route, the benefits of which are substantial.

NLCOG has indicated that the inner-city connector will generate upwards of $350 million per year of much needed economic value to downtown Shreveport and the Allendale area.

The ICC will open up additional entrances into Shreveport’s downtown business center with exits onto Hearne and Caddo Streets.

Residents of North Shreveport and the Martin Luther King neighborhoods will have direct and unrestricted access to University Health and Mall St. Vincent, and students from across Shreveport and Bossier parishes will have streamlined access to both the MLK and downtown Southern University campuses.

With this important decision behind us, we must come together to take the next steps in the process. We must collaborate in developing plans for the kind of vibrant commercial and residential areas we want and need around the connector. A design that will allow those living and working around the connector to experience an increased quality of life and provide direct access to amenities and opportunities.

We also must be prepared to advocate in Washington, D.C., and Baton Rouge for the additional resources to finalize our vision, and a coherent community vision will be essential to making that case.

There are numerous places around this country that have recognized the need to balance economic growth with the needs of the surrounding community and are prime examples of how to do this right. There is no reason Shreveport can’t be one of those.

We have strong leadership in our cities and parishes. We have vibrant and energetic businesses committed to this community. And most importantly, we have an engaged and creative citizenry who, if we work together, can be an example to this nation and the world of collaborative community development.

With the selection of this route, we have decided as a community to not just fulfill Shreveport’s promise to America to complete I-49, but also to cement a promise to each other to design and build the world-class city we all want and know we can be.

All that is left is for us to begin.