MESSAGE FROM
THE MAYOR
Improving public transit in East Baton Rouge Parish with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will not only help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, it will also provide affordable transportation to residents and visitors to our Capital City. One of my first goals as Mayor-President was to find ways to extend the benefits of infrastructure projects to a greater number of residents.
By re-imagining the fixed-rail transit project on Nicholson Drive as a BRT, we were able to utilize the original budget to include Plank Road. The project will link North and South Baton Rouge neighborhoods to jobs and attractions, synchronize with the work being done by Build Baton Rouge to revitalize the Plank Road Corridor, and unify the City-Parish with visually distinctive transit stations and vehicles.
The original partnership between the City-Parish and Capital Area Transit System (CATS) was expanded to include Build Baton Rouge, a team that continues to be nationally competitive for funding. Collaboration with the MOVEBR Program, the Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC), and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is also helping bus rapid transit become a reality for Baton Rouge. I look forward to cutting the ribbon on this first stage of a modern, high-quality public transit network for our city and parish.
PROJECT HISTORY
The idea for a modern, high-capacity transit system to move people efficiently between neighborhoods and job centers began with an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Nicholson Drive Corridor and the exploration of building a modern streetcar, or tram system, called TramLinkBR. On July 29, 2016, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the EA.
When Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome assumed office in January 2017, she authorized a study to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a nine-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor that redefined the project into a more cost-effective transit corridor that could serve a larger number of Baton Rouge residents. This reimagination of the project started with the Nicholson Drive corridor, but expanded its reach to include the Plank Road Corridor and a transit hub planned by Capital Area Transit System (CATS) on a location next to the new LSU emergency services facility on Airline Highway.
The redefinition study included extensive public outreach to North Baton Rouge and South Baton Rouge neighborhoods as well as the Downtown Development District. A preferred route and station locations were identified, operations and integration with the existing CATS system planned, and the search for funding initiated.
In 2019, Baton Rouge was awarded a $15 million Department of Transportation grant through the federal government’s Better Utilizing Infrastructure to Leverage Development (BUILD) program to build the BRT along the nine-mile corridor. The City-Parish is providing additional funding for planning, design and construction through approved MOVEBR roadway Improvement projects within the corridor, and is also working with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) to access additional funding through the LADOTD Road Transfer Program, which includes Plank Road. This kind of collaboration has so impressed the nation that Build Baton Rouge, which highlighted the BRT project in its Imagine Plank Road Plan for Equitable Development, just received a $5 million grant from JPMorgan Chase’s Advancing Cities Challenge to implement their plan.
WHAT IS BUS RAPID TRANSIT?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality rapid transit mode for buses combining physical and operating improvements into the existing integrated transit system. It is a cost-effective bus-based transit system that delivers fast, reliable and efficient service with:
SCHEDULE
ROUTE MAP
Plank-Nicholson Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) connects neighborhoods, employment centers, medical facilities, and major destinations. It will promote revitalization on these corridors by encouraging transit-oriented development and supporting small business activity. This map shows the BRT route and station locations.
PLANNING STUDIES
An Environmental Assessment for the Nicholson Drive Corridor was completed in 2016. The study was amended to include downtown and Plank Road and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant impact (FONSI) for a Categorical Exclusion (CE) in April 2020, signifying that the project is environmentally sound. You can read more about these studies below.
2020-04-28 FTA CE Approval Letter
PlankNicholson_BRT_Region 6 CE Checklist_Final
TechMemo-HazMatSites-Text_20200403
TechReport_Cultural_Resources
TechReport_Enviro_Justice
TechReport_ROW
TechReport_Wetlands
TechReport-Noise
PARTNERS
Because of the potential to support economic development in North Baton Rouge and the need to begin integrating Bus Rapid Transit into the Capital Area Transit System (CATS), Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome invited CATS and Build Baton Rouge, formerly the Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority, to join the Bus Rapid Transit project as partners.
CATS operates 23 bus routes and one microtransit service in the cities of Baton Rouge and Bake. An independent agency, created by the Louisiana Legislature, CATS is funded by local millage, self-generated funding, and federal transportation dollars. The East Baton Rouge Metro Council appoints the nine members of the CATS Board of Commissioners.
LADOTD Road Transfer Program has been established to transfer roads currently in the state highway system to local governments. Roads will be repaired prior to transfer and the receiving local governments will be credited for 40 years of routine and capital maintenance which can be applied to any highway capital project(s). Plank Road and Nicholson Drive are on the list of highways planned for transfer to the City-Parish.
Build Baton Rouge was created by the Louisiana Legislature in 2007 and began operations in 2009 as the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority. Its jurisdiction includes the entirety of East Baton Rouge Parish and it is governed by a five-member Board of Directors. In 2019, the authority changed its name to Build Baton Rouge and is leading the comprehensive, transit-oriented revitalization plan for Plank Road, Baton Rouge’s most blighted commercial corridor, which will be served by Baton Rouge Bus Rapid Transit.
The MOVEBR program represents the single largest infrastructure initiative in the history of our City-Parish. In time, the program will deliver less congested corridors, safer streets, and enhanced quality of life for all residents. MOVEBR will be the industry standard of excellence for delivering transportation, key to building our economy. Projects are planned for every part of the community including Nicholson Drive, Florida Boulevard, and Plank Road, roads that will carry the BRT line.
FAQs
What is BRT?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a high-quality and cost-effective bus-based transit system that delivers fast, reliable and efficient service with amenities that may not be available on traditional bus service.
How does BRT work?
BRT is designed to provide enhanced bus service in key corridors by reducing travel times and providing a high level of passenger amenities.
BRT amenities can include:
• Frequent service
• Specially designed stations and buses with unique graphics
• Real-time schedule information displays at stations
• Level boarding. Stations are designed to be level with doors on the buses, so there are no steps to navigate. Simply walk or roll right onto the bus
• Improved station lighting
• Improved pedestrian and bicycle connections to stations
• Bicycle amenities at stations
Why bus rapid transit for Baton Rouge?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an increasingly popular approach to deliver enhanced public transportation services to improve mobility, increase transit ridership, reduce congestion, and support economic development. It provides a perfect fit for the Nicholson Drive and Plank Road Corridors.
What is the vision for Plank-Nicholson BRT?
To provide a premium Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that conveniently and efficiently links the north and southside of Baton Rouge with the central business district.
When does the BRT service start?
The BRT is currently transitioning from design to construction, with 18-24 months of construction scheduled for roadway improvements, station infrastructure, a transit center, and delivery of vehicles. Check back here for future updates on the expected service start date.
What is the city’s vision of the Plank Road of the future?
The Plank Road Corridor as a thriving, socially diverse, and walkable network of neighborhoods anchored by good transit, strong, local businesses, quality housing and resilient infrastructure. Read more about BUILD Baton Rouge’s Plank Road Master Plan.
Do other cities have Bus Rapid Transit?
BRT is operating in hundreds of cities worldwide, including 30 systems in the United States. Dozens of more are under construction across the country. BRT is a cost-effective and customizable approach to providing a premium service for high-capacity transit corridors.
How will BRT integrate with regular bus service?
BRT is an enhancement, not a replacement to the existing transit system. BRT will be designed and operated to fully integrate into the CATS transit network to provide a better transit experience.
Where will I catch the BRT buses?
The Baton Rouge Bus Rapid Transit study has identified convenient stops along the corridor that are about four blocks apart. Stops will be located near the following street crossings along Plank Road, Florida Street, 4th Street/St. Ferdinand, and Nicholson Drive. You can see a map of the stops here
PLANK ROAD
Denham Street
Hollywood Street
Delmont Village
Clayton Street
Mohican Street
Winbourne Avenue
Chippewa Street
Choctaw Street
Fairfield Avenue
Fuqua Street
North Street
FLORIDA STREET
Renaissance Park
13th Street
4th STREET/ST. FERDINAND
7th Street
5th Street
North Boulevard
France Street
NICHOLSON DRIVE
Oklahoma Street
Van Buren Street
McKinley Street
Aster Street
Galvez Court (Southbound)
North Stadium Road (Northbound)
I’ve never ridden the bus before. How easy is it to use the BRT?
It is easy. BRT service will have stations with level boarding, to make it easy for all passengers to get on and off, real-time signs to let you know when the next bus will arrive and CATS has the UMO app that will let you pay with your phone or a card that can be purchased at the CATS terminal or a variety of retail stores throughout Baton Rouge.
I need to ride my bike to the bus stop. Do the BRT buses have convenient ways to transport my bike?
Yes! There is a bike rack on every vehicle, so you can transport your bike on the BRT bus. The platforms will also feature bike racks if you prefer to store your bike at the station.
How long will I have to wait at the bus stop?
BRT buses will run every 15 minutes during peak times in the morning and afternoon and every 20-30 minutes during non-peak travel times.
How is the project funded?
The Plank-Nicholson BRT project is funded is funded by a combination of federal, state, and local dollars. Notably, the project has been awarded a $15 million federal grant. Read more about Baton Rouge BRT funding here.
OUTREACH
To build Bus Rapid Transit for Baton Rouge, your input is important!
As we begin to build our first Bus Rapid Transit routes for Baton Rouge, we will announce opportunities for the public to learn more about the project and provide valuable input.
NEWS
Plank-Nicholson BRT moves forward with foundational agreements in place.
Nov. 30th, 2020
City-Parish, DOTD and CATS Execute Agreements for Louisiana’s First Bus Rapid Transit Project.
Nov. 24th, 2020
East Baton Rouge secures $15M federal grant earmarked for CATS bus rapid transit project.
Nov. 7, 2019