transportation

Louisiana driver's licenses could move in line with a federal identification law, under a proposal that won the backing of the House Transportation Committee.

The bill is designed to keep state residents from running into domestic flying difficulties by 2016, if licenses aren't deemed compliant with the REAL ID law.

Lawmakers enacted a prohibition against compliance with the federal law in 2008, because of concerns about privacy.

A state audit finds an amnesty program aimed at getting motorists to cough up the cash they owed for Crescent City Connection toll violations cost Louisiana almost $225,000 more than it brought in.

The state Legislative Auditor's report, which examined how funds from the CCC tolls have been used since the tolls ended last year, also found nearly $6.6 million remained unclaimed in an account set up to refund money to motorists who used Geaux Pass toll tags at the end of December.

Wednesday, April 9th is NOLA Bike to Work Day, a citywide initiative that aims to highlight the benefits of biking and new developments to improve safety and conditions for cyclists. Now in its third year, Entergy and community organization Bike Easy have teamed up to offer "bike trains", giveaways and meet ups throughout the day.

Several environmental and advocacy groups are working to unite the 9th Ward by improving ways to cross the Industrial Canal. A weekend bike ride highlighted the problem of getting from one side to another with no dedicated bike path.

Louisiana residents could have trouble boarding a plane if state driver’s licenses don’t come into compliance with federal law by 2016.

The leader of the House Transportation Committee is trying to broker a compromise that will put Louisiana driver's licenses in line with a federal laws.

State lawmakers rejected the added security requirements for a driver's license in 2008, saying they were too intrusive. That resulted in Louisiana driver's licenses that are not compliant with federal REAL ID laws.

Louisiana drivers will not face new restrictions on using handheld cellphones while driving. An effort to require drivers to use hands-free devices stalled Monday in the House Transportation Committee.

Republican Rep. Mike Huval of Breaux Bridge voluntarily shelved his proposal after criticism that the cellphone ban was too broad.

Louisiana has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Reducing the risk of accidents by limiting cellphone use while driving could help to lower those costs.

In New Orleans, hundreds of school buses criss-cross the city every day, picking up and dropping off kids at school. The city’s schools rely on a dozen fleets of private buses that travel along hundreds of routes.

Last month, 6-year-old Shaud Wilson was crossing a busy street to meet his school bus when he was hit and killed by a car.

The days of a free ride across the Mississippi River are coming to an end. Starting Sunday, passengers and cars will have to pay $2 to use the ferry system.

Plans are in the works for a $100 million streetcar line in the fast-developing Nicholson Drive corridor.

Planner John Fregonese tells The Advocate the corridor is a hotbed of commercial and residential development. Fregonese is working to implement the city's master land-use plan, known as FutureBR.

He cites developments such as IBM's service center, the residential tower going up next to it, the Water Campus coastal research center and the mixed-use River District development.

Louisiana State Police say motorists should not expect to see Interstate 10 reopened before Thursday.

Capt. Doug Cain says the state's major east-west thoroughfare remains closed between the Jefferson/Orleans parish line through Lafayette.

Cain says the concern is that temperatures won't warm up enough to thaw bridges along the highway like the Bonnet Carré Spillway, four miles at LaPlace and Interstate 55 over Manchac.

The Times-Picayune reports Cain also couldn't say when Interstate 12 might reopen.