If you were designing a New Orleans to Baton Rouge passenger train service, what would it look like? What departure times or route stops would you include on the depot schedule?

The University of New Orleans Transportation Institute is seeking public input via an anonymous survey to determine interest in a New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail service and to determine travel patterns post COVID-19.

The survey seeks input from potential passengers along the corridor between Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, Kenner and New Orleans. 

Questions in the survey are aimed at understanding the public’s interest in using regional transit, and identifying recommendations for improving connections to proposed rail stations, as well as existing intercity bus services, via transit, walking and bicycling, said UNO Transportation Institute researcher Tara Tolford. 

The survey is part of the ongoing research efforts sponsored by the LSU Tran-SET research consortium, and builds on previous feasibility studies supporting the proposed passenger rail project. The UNO Transportation Institute was awarded a $150,000 grant in 2018 as part of a statewide passenger and freight rail analysis.
 
“The purpose of this survey is to get in-depth insight into how different people throughout the region travel, and how people anticipate that may change as we head into the post-pandemic new-normal,”  Tolford said. “Importantly, we want to make sure that if Louisiana does invest in new or improved regional transportation options, we can design the service, stations and surrounding community connections to ensure that they are as useful and convenient as possible to travelers.”

Residents and frequent visitors to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and all points in between are encouraged to participate, Tolford said. The survey takes about 15 minutes and is available here.