As we wrap up the complete demonstration in downtown, it is important to respond to the complaints and questions received about what is going on downtown. The cones and barricades can be confusing and uncomfortable for people, but we have gathered some valuable input during this exercise that will be evaluated and discussed ahead of pending road repairs. Complete Streets is a transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation. They include accessible sidewalks, well maintain pedestrian crossing opportunities and dedicated space for all users of the street. Bicycles and pedestrians are present on all roads to some extent, so it is important that we keep that in mind as we work through our road plan for the city. These users include not only children, elderly, and those with mobility challenges, but also health-minded members of our communities and those on low or fixed income. Keeping all users in mind as we plan the future of Abbeville is essential to improving the quality of life for residents. Active transportation, such as walking and bicycling, are a key component of combating obesity and chronic diseases. Creating opportunities for walking and biking has also been shown to improve economic conditions for local businesses and can also increase property values in communities with connected pathways.
Last year I attended the Walkability Action Institute, put on by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors with funding and support from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionโs Division of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity, where they quoted a very sobering statistic in that this generation is the first generation that is not expected to outlive their parents due to chronic disease. I do not have children, but I have many family members and friends that I love very much. I think it is important to use every project as an opportunity to improve community health. Improving the surfaces of roads is a top priority, and we have set a plan in place to begin funding these projects, but every time we talk about a road or a drainage system, we should think creatively on how we can also build a system to move people, not just vehicles, water or sewer.
I realize not everyone can see the vision through the orange cones and barricades, so I asked Alex Hobdy, with the Center for Planning Excellence, to provide a few renderings of what the built environment could be like if concepts are implemented. This is only a concept, but I hope this helps everyone understand the potential of what a project like this can do to improve our community and bring our downtown back to what it should be, a place for people first. Change, especially in a small city, can be quite challenging, but it is also inevitable. We have an opportunity to set a higher standard for what we want for the future of Abbeville. Demonstrations like this test our patience, and force us to look at things from a different perspective. They make us uncomfortable because they are meant to invoke conversations that make us think about our priorities.
๐๐: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง?
ย To test how adjustments to road design can be used to calm traffic, and improve safety for all users. This demonstration allowed us to observe how eliminating one travel lane into downtown and using four way stops instead of streetlights would affect traffic flow and speed. Prior to the โroad dietโ we measured the speed of vehicles heading south on State Street. This area was marked as a 35 MPH zone, but vehicles entered downtown at speeds up to 49 MPH. This area leading into downtown is residential. Enforcement can curve behavior, but so can road design. By reducing the road to one lane and keeping on street parking, vehicles are forced to reduce their speed as they approach downtown. The adjustments around the courthouse are to make it safer for people who use the courthouse daily by intentionally slowing traffic and making designated crossings for the people shorter and more visible which are proven ways to reduce the occurrence and severity of pedestrian related accidents.
๐๐: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ?
I hope to start a conversation about what is important to our community and what we want the future of our city to be like. To change how we think about infrastructure improvements and set a higher standard for future projects based on input from the people that live and work in Abbeville before we go to construction. For me, it is about improving the quality of life for the people who choose to live here. Until now, we did not have much of a say in how we want downtown to function because all of the roads leading into downtown were state highways. Their design and maintenance were controlled by people who do not live here. As of November, that is no longer the case. We finally have an opportunity to make changes that can improve the safety and health of our community, starting with our historic downtown which is the heart of Abbeville.
๐๐: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ?
It will be reviewed and discussed both internally and in public meetings prior to finalizing the plans for streets.
๐๐: ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฆ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ?
Yes. We are hosting a public meeting to discuss the current demonstration and gather additional feedback on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 beginning at 5:30 PM at the LSU AgCenter located at 1105 W Port Street, Abbeville, LA. I also give updates at every city council meeting. The minutes are available in the Meridional or online. We also have a YouTube channel. We are launching a broader community planning effort to identify and help prioritize additional community projects throughout the city. Those meetings will begin soon.
๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐?
TRY the route, TRY the parking, get down and cross the street during a business day. Talk to people who work at the courthouse and the surrounding businesses. THEN answer the survey and attend meetings and give feedback.
ย ๐๐: ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐?
Yes, we will be repairing the road during the first half of this year.
๐๐: ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ?
I have read some comments that say there is no such thing as free money. I agree 100%. I say this all the time, but we pay taxes to the State and Federal Government and anytime we have a chance to bring some of that back home, we should put in the effort.
For this demonstration, the city received a grant from Well-Ahead Louisiana, which is under the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Well-Aheadโs mission is to connect communities in Louisiana to tools and resources that can improve the health of residents where they live, work, learn, play and pray. LSU AgCenter also partnered with the city by providing paint, signs and other supplies to use for the demonstration. We are thankful for their partnership and support.
๐๐: ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง? ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐?
Yes, they will. I recognize that downtown businesses need access for trucks and we will make sure businesses in downtown are accessible for local deliveries. Any business that is having accessibility issues can call my cell or office at 337-898-4206 and we will work with them before making any permanent changes. However, oversized tractor-trailers should not use downtown as a drive-through. The roads in downtown are no longer state highways, which means they are local streets. Oversized and overweight trucks should not use them to cross the city, they should use Highway 14 bypass. There are signs and message boards out to make drivers aware of this during this transitional period. We are using this time to educate drivers prior to implementing any penalty, however reducing the number of large trucks passing through downtown is one goal of the project.
๐๐: ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ? ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐?
We held a public meeting on November 15, 2023 and presented two designs around the courthouse, one with parallel parking and one with rear entry angle parking. The angle parking received the most votes, so we utilized this configuration for the demonstration. The goal of this demonstration was to look at ways to make the courthouse safe for people who need to access it. One of the big complaints we have heard during the demonstration, mostly from people who have not tried it, is that backing up in a roadway is dangerous. While this can sometimes be true, all parking on a roadway requires some sort of reverse maneuver in the roadway. Angled parking requires less maneuvers than parallel parking and allows for more spots adjacent to the Courthouse. Front angle is more convenient for drivers to park quickly, but still requires you to back into the roadway when exiting. The safety concept of โFirst Move Forwardโ means that you should park in such a way that when you return to your vehicle, your next move is driving forward. Reverse Angle parking allows drivers to have a full view of oncoming cars and pedestrians when pulling onto the roadway making everyone safer.
๐๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ’ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ?
ย Any business having accessibility issues can call my cell or my office and we will work with them before making any permanent changes. Increasing walkability is proven to increase foot traffic for businesses. Change takes adjustments, but this project is proposed to help our small businesses be more successful.
๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐?
ย Reducing the number of lanes between the bypass and the courthouse will require vehicles to slow down when entering downtown, helping to make the community safer. The use of the extra lane as dedicated space for biking is a proposed alternative use of the additional space and still allows for on street parking.
ย ๐๐๐:๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ?
We chose to begin in downtown because it is an area used by everyone and road work is funded for 2024. We want to begin making safety improvements as we repair the streets. While no other location is currently scheduled, the goal is to build safe connected routes to all public places in our community. We will do demonstrations in other areas as we plan additional road improvements. The next areas of focus will be near schools and parks.
๐๐๐: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ก๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง, ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ซ๐ฌ? ย ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฌ?
On a normal business day, the courthouse is the building most utilized in downtown. Most of the people who work at the courthouse cannot park adjacent to the building and are required to cross the street to go to work. When court is in session, there is additional foot traffic. In the past 10 years, there have been 11 pedestrian crashes in downtown, 3 in the immediate vicinity of the courthouse. Abbeville is one of the top 2 pedestrian target analysis areas in the Acadiana Region due to the high number of pedestrian related accidents. We are working with state and federal agencies to identify funds that can be used to incorporate safety into future road projects. Public input, demonstrations and policy will make applications more competitive.
๐๐๐: ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐?
The percentage of households in Abbeville without a vehicle is 21%, with 12.3% of residents reportedly walking or biking to work. As the cost of housing, insurance and vehicles continue to increase, those numbers will continue to rise. Having infrastructure that allows for safe comfortable walking and biking can mean a huge savings to families who live, work and go to school here. Abbeville is in the top 50 cities in Louisiana for bicycle crashes. We should look to incorporate safe access for walking and biking throughout the city. Building a safe, connected system for non-motorized modes of travel increases the quality of life for all residents and will lead to a healthier community.
ย ๐๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐.
As previously stated, this demonstration was designed with the safety of people in mind. The roads around the courthouse currently allow for larger vehicles to pass through town without impediments. This means large corner radii that allow wider turns at higher speeds. Speed matters, and it particularly matters at intersections where vehicles and pedestrians interact. Sharper corners have small or tight corner radii. These corners require drivers to slow down, be more aware, and take a turn safely which reduce the likelihood of severe injury or fatalities in pedestrian involved crashes. Expanding the curb on the west side of the courthouse allows for a better-defined flow of traffic around the courthouse and will reduce the number of wrong way drivers, which was a weekly occurrence prior to this demonstration. It also allows for more time to safely access parking. Downtown is not meant to be a drive-through and should not be designed as such. We have a bypass that allows for vehicles to cross town quickly at a higher speed, especially large vehicles.
