transportation

In December, the forecasted revenue for the LA1 toll-bridge will be less than the bill the state owes that month on the borrowed money it took to build it. Toll revenue is by statute bound to pay off the bonds. If the state defaults on the bridge, it could negatively effect the entire state's credit rating.

The LA1 bridge is the only way to access Port Fourchon and Grande Isle by car. The bridge was built after hurricanes wiped out parts of the unelevated road now called "Old LA1."

LA Swift got its start after Hurricane Katrina, shuttling evacuees and recovery workers between the Crescent and Capitol cities.

Ridership spiked after the storm, dropped off, and is now steadily growing. But the riders are commuters, using the bus to get to work.

The bus ran out of funding in June, but the service provider agreed to keep rolling another month. Long-time rider MiLisa York, who’s started a petition to keep the bus going long-term.

This City Life Snapshot brings us sound of an old fashioned technology for connecting our cities that's still operating in some parts of the country. We board a Pullman Rail Car that regularly makes the trip from Chicago to New Orleans thanks to the company, Pullman Rail Journeys. Head Steward Rick Hansen gives us a tour. This comes to us from Jennifer Brandel at member station WBEZ and the Localore project Curious City.

State plans to shut down the low-cost bus from Baton Rouge to New Orleans may harm economic ties between the cities.

According to a survey released Wednesday by The Center for Planning Excellence, more than half of LA Swift riders use the service to get to and from work.