The Baton Rouge Area Foundation released its annual City Stats report Monday. The survey, which looks at over 70 indicators, revealed some surprising answers this year.
BRAF Communications Director Mukul Verma said one key finding was that 57 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay to avoid traffic on Essen Lane and College Drive. He says the proposed $40 million road project to connect Kenilworth to Corporate Blvd prompted the question.
"We were just curious because there are so few options out there for financing road," said Verma. "We were curious if a toll road would be appropriate."
Verma said other surprises from the survey include that, for the first time in three years, more people supported legalizing same-sex marriage than were opposed it, and that a majority of respondents believe in global warming and want the Baton Rouge government to do something about it.
Overall, Verma said certain indicators point to residents being happier about living in the parish.
"We know that people are still impatient about progress in the parish but there are fewer that are impatient, which means that I guess the city parish is doing better at giving them what they want," said Verma. "There are fewer percentage saying their neighborhoods are worse and more saying their neighborhoods are getting better. And for the first time in several years, the police department, the sheriff’s office are rating better."
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