Baton Rouge, La. (September 14, 2017) – BRAC today released the following statement by BRAC President and CEO Adam Knapp following the failure of the Better Transportation and Roads (BTR) plan at last night’s Metro Council meeting. The $445 million proposal was aimed at improving infrastructure and mobility in East Baton Rouge parish.
“The business community, in surveys by BRAC, has said repeatedly that traffic and congestion is the number one obstacle today to doing business in our region. In one year, we have seen inaction on state transportation funding to build critically needed infrastructure for the state, and now local failure to act on local funding for transportation. Rather than speculate on reasons, we must look ahead to action. The tone of the two branches of local government toward each other last night was collegial. We seek for that tone of partnership to continue.
“We encourage the Metropolitan Council and Mayor-President to commit immediately to a plan of action on transportation for 2018, using this opportunity to gather broad-based public input and seek infrastructure projects designed on the best solutions to address the traffic and infrastructure needs of the parish. At the same time, everyone must acknowledge that local solutions alone are not enough, and that they can also mount a joint campaign to seek private, state, and federal sources to address the urgently needed new megaprojects for the region.”
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, mid-sized firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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Morgan is the Marketing Manager for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In her role, she manages writing organizational publications and materials, oversees BRAC’s social media and blog, and coordinates timelines for all internal marketing projects.