| Description
| The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) proposes to undertake a Major Investment Study (MIS) of the Desire Corridor in New Orleans. The Desire Corridor is defined as a half-mile wide area that is bounded by North Rampart Street/St. Claude Avenue on the north and the Mississippi River on the south. The upriver (western) boundary of the corridor coincides with Canal Street and the downriver (eastern) boundary is defined by the Industrial Canal, approximately 3 miles from Canal Street.
The study corridor contains densely developed residential areas, tourist- related commercial activities, Port activities, and the F. Edward Hebert Defense Complex between Poland Avenue and the Industrial Canal. The Defense Complex is the home of the U.S. Navy Support Activity Center. The future home of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) is in the corridor, at Chartres and Press Streets. The corridor includes the Vieux Carre (French Quarter), Faubourg Marigny, and Bywater, three of New Orleans oldest neighborhoods and also National Register for Historic Preservation Districts.
The MIS will evaluate a streetcar (build) alternative, a TSM alternative, and a no build alternative in terms of providing improved transit service to the corridor.
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| Status
| It is anticipated that a Major Investment Study will be initiated in
FY 1997 and will take approximately 12 to 18 months to complete.
The MIS is included in the MPO's financially constrained Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The selected alternative will be included in the Long Range Plan based on the results of the current analysis.
Through FY 1997, Congress has appropriated $1.99 million in Section 5309 New Start funds for the MIS.
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