Between 1890 and 1936 there were a few routes designed for streetcars within the Baton Rouge area, but unfortunately in 1936, the final route was shut down. Since then, most routes around the city have been replaced with the Capital Area Transit System, or CATS.

Let’s face it, CATS sucks. There never seems to be a bus available when you need one, and they often get stuck in traffic, because Baton Rouge has some of the worst traffic that you could ever experience. This is one of the many reasons why a streetcar would be perfect here, because it would decrease the number of cars on the road.

A streetcar could also offer an alternative to those who cannot drive. Not only is this safer for students and teachers who live near the streetcar, but it would also be safer for the average pedestrian.

Furthermore, with less cars on the road, that will also reduce the amount of CO2 produced daily, according to KCATA.org. It would also lessen the cars on the road, which will reduce city wide traffic, making commutes for those not using the streetcar lessen also.

Streetcars are a known thing in New Orleans, and the streetcars there are mostly ridden by tourists, especially the St. Charles Line, which is the oldest continuously running streetcar line in America.

So, what if Baton Rouge took a slice of that pie as well? What would a BR streetcar even look like?

In my mind, this laid out plan would start in downtown, service LSU and Perkins Rowe, and finally end at the Mall of Louisiana. The proposed plan is around 12.7 miles long. While this may be  a long distance for a normal streetcar, the implementation shouldn’t be too difficult, considering the current repairs on Nicholson Drive, Burbank Drive and Bluebonnet Blvd. that would run throughout it.  

This proposed streetcar route that would maximize usage would start on Fourth St., go through downtown, with stops by the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, City Hall, and the Raising Cane’s River Center, and go onto Nicholson Drive with a few LSU stops, and then turn onto Burbank Drive with various stops along the way until the final turn, on Bluebonnet Blvd., with services to the Mall of Louisiana and Perkins Rowe.  

In total, there would be 16 stops, which will be serviced by both Northbound and Southbound streetcars. Each of the stations will have a crosswalk from the stop to the sidewalk.

The price for implementing this system would cost around $1 billion dollars, and around $500 million per subsequent year after implementation. The cost for the consumers would be around $2.00, which is the same price as Portland, Oregon’s streetcar. 

Similarly to Portland, the BR Streetcar would offer a reduced fare of $1.40 for honored citizens, which includes those who are elderly, impoverished or college students. Similarly, this system will exist so that those who are in need can still travel where they need to go without the worry of the cost.
A billion dollars is a lot of money, but it’s merely a fraction of what the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) spends on our roads per year. In fact, Louisiana spends $7.6 billion per year on roads. That seems like quite a large figure considering the quality of our roads down here. The roads in Louisiana have been the worst that I ever drove on with all of their bumps and potholes. I’ve driven in a ton of states, and by far the worst roads have been in Louisiana.

Not only this, but every year, the LADOTD and the US Department of Transportation operates highways in this state at a loss. This means that roads will never pay for themselves, especially because there are no toll roads in Louisiana. The streetcar will eventually pay for itself, even if it takes a while. Moreover, the streetcar will boost the local economy by allowing easier access to the Mall, Perkins Rowe, LSU Campus, and Downtown.

With all this in mind, the idea of a streetcar in Baton Rouge is not too far-fetched. It would also be quite beneficial to the city. Not only would it benefit those traveling to watch a concert or football game at Tiger Stadium, but it could help LSU students take a day-trip to the Mall or Perkins Rowe. Ultimately, this implementation will be better for the environment and traffic.

Andrew Sarhan is 18-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, LA.