WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• More people talking about 'outdated' car seat law Play Video

  May 20, 2013 10:17 PM

  GONZALES- More experts suggest a state law needs to be changed, so drivers have a clearer understanding of the proper way young children should be restrained in car seats. A WBRZ News 2 Investigation found the law is outdated. Doctors recommend babies remain rear facing until they are two-years-old.... more »

• Senate panel approves bill to create national ID

  May 15, 2013 6:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Senate Transportation Committee has backed a proposal to use Louisiana driver's licenses to comply with federal law requiring each state to create a national identification card for air travel, including domestic flights. Senators added that language into a bill by Rep. Johnny Guinn, seeking to reverse... more »

• Lawmakers to look at conflicting law after News 2 report Play Video

  May 14, 2013 9:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Louisiana lawmakers plan to take a look at resolving the frontwards/backwards child seat requirements. State law tells parents to face kids a year and older forward in their car seats. But a American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 study showed children under two are 75 percent... more »

• Small jet crash kills 5 in eastern Georgia

  February 21, 2013 8:55 AM

  THOMSON, Ga.- The National Transportation Safety Board says in a statement that a small jet "overran" a runway during its landing and crashed into a wooded area in eastern Georgia. Authorities say five people died in the crash shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday and two others were taken to a... more »

• Ascension, Livingston to hold public roads meetings

  February 13, 2013 10:11 AM

  GONZALES - Leaders in Ascension and Livingston will hold meetings next week to discuss an upcoming feasibility study on constructing a new pathway between the parishes. Ascension Parish President Tommy Martinez made the announcement today. Officials say the study will look at the impacts of building a new... more »

• State to receive million-dollar grant for road repairs

  February 13, 2013 7:48 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $24.1 million grant to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to fix highways affected by Hurricane Isaac. Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter says the money will start the process of rebuilding or repairing infrastructure that suffered significant damaged... more »

• CATS members blast management

  February 1, 2013 6:51 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The parish bus system's governing board began a series of meetings Thursday to discuss how to move the system forward following a recent report that recommended replacing CATS' top managers with contracted employees from a transit management firm. The Advocate reports some members of the Capital Area... more »

• NYC school bus drivers, matrons go on strike

  January 16, 2013 5:59 AM

  NEW YORK - More than 8,000 New York City school bus drivers and matrons have gone on strike over job protection. Some 152,000 students, many disabled, have to find other ways to get to school. Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott says the strike started at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Most... more »

• La. seeks federal loan to pay for bridge

  December 21, 2012 4:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State transportation officials are trying to negotiate a $174 million federal loan to ease problems in paying for a toll bridge in south Louisiana. The $371 million bridge, which opened in 2009, is on Louisiana Highway 1 in Leeville and crosses Bayou Lafourche, just west of Grand... more »

• NTSB: Require ignition locks for all drunk drivers

  December 11, 2012 10:41 AM

  WASHINGTON - A federal safety board is recommending that all states require ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders. The five-member National Transportation Safety Board said the devices are currently the best available solution to reducing drunk driving deaths, which account for about a third of the... more »

• Wrong-way driving crashes claim hundreds of lives

  December 11, 2012 10:29 AM

  WASHINGTON - A federal study says about 360 people a year are killed in wrong-way driving crashes on high-speed highways, a majority of which involve alcohol. The National Transportation Safety Board was meeting Tuesday to review the study and consider recommendations on countermeasures to prevent such collisions. One... more »

• First CATS budget with new tax money to be revealed next week

  November 9, 2012 8:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- For the first time since voters approved a controversial tax in the spring to fund city public buses, leaders with the Capital Area Transit System will present its full operating budget for 2013. The budget will include the full tax revenue and could amount to $18 million,... more »

• Florida Blvd. construction begins Play Video

  October 15, 2012 5:20 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Department of Transportation and Development is working to repave a bumpy patch of Florida Blvd. The 2.6 mile stretch is from N. Foster Dr. to Airline Highway. Prep work has begun in the intersection of N. Foster Dr. and by the Airline Highway ramps. ... more »

• Engineer to unveil Gonzales roads plan draft

  September 25, 2012 10:14 AM

  GONZALES - Gonzales officials are a few weeks away from unveiling a comprehensive transportation improvement plan that includes upgrades to many of city's major roads. Glenn Shaheen, a consultant and engineer working on the transportation plan, called The Go Program, presented a preliminary report to the city council on... more »

• Tolls suspended on 2 bridges for Isaac

  August 27, 2012 10:29 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - State transportation officials say toll collection is being suspended on two major bridges in south Louisiana. The suspension affects the Louisiana Highway 1 bridge, an evacuation route for the Grand Isle and Port Fourchon areas along the coast, and the Crescent City Connection, which links the New... more »

• CATS details 2012 LSU game day shuttle service

  August 13, 2012 5:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The LSU football season kicks off in less than three weeks, and the Capital Area Transit System wants to give you a lift to Tiger Stadium. Fans can ride the Touchdown Express Service to and from the stadium every home game. The service runs a continuous... more »

• Lawmaker calls for study of Hwy. 190 widening Play Video

  April 9, 2012 5:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State Representative Sherman Mack, R- Livingston, says the Louisiana DOTD needs to begin examining plans to widen Highway 190 east of Baton Rouge. He will ask the state for a study on the project tomorrow during a Louisiana House Transportation Committee meeting. Mack says an exact dollar... more »

• Lawmaker wants study to examine widening Hwy. 190

  April 9, 2012 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE- There is already construction underway to relieve traffic along Interstate 12. Now a state lawmaker wants another project examined by DOTD. It involves widening Hwy. 190 between Baton Rouge and Hammond. There is already construction underway to relieve traffic along Interstate 12. Now a state lawmaker wants another... more »

• Bill would expand Florida Blvd.

  April 2, 2012 12:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE- A House committee is reviewing a transportation bill that would assess the feasibility of adding two lanes to Florida Boulevard (Highway 190.) Rep. Sherman Q. Mack is the primary author of the bill. An expanded highway would begin at the Tangipahoa Parish line and end at... more »

• Monroe council accepts DOTD grants for airport

  March 14, 2012 11:04 AM

  MONROE- Monroe Regional Airport is moving forward on rehabilitating runways with the help of grants from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The News-Star reports the Monroe City Council on Tuesday accepted $1.5 million in grants to rehabilitate six taxiways. The council then voted to enter into an agreement... more »

• DOTD: Lane shift on I-12 to be gone in April Play Video

  February 29, 2012 1:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The state Department of Transporation and Development said today that safety measures already in place on I-12 would do until April, when construction barriers and a lane shift there are supposed to be removed. State Police said this morning a Texas trucker was driving too fast... more »

• DOTD: I-10 construction update Play Video

  January 20, 2012 5:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Less than a month in and The Department of Transportation and Development says Boh Brothers construction in making significant progress on completing the Interstate 10 widening project. Boh Brothers took over the expansion between the 10/12 split and Siegen Lane after the state fired Austin Bridge... more »

• CATS to run out of money by July Play Video

  December 21, 2011 8:22 AM

  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Parish's public transit board says that if it doesn't find more financing, buses will stop rolling next summer. The Advocate reports that the CATS 2012 operating budget of $9.5 million only covers half the year. Board members pledged to try to find more... more »

• DOTD to install "J" turn at dangerous intersection in Addis Play Video

  December 19, 2011 3:48 PM

  ADDIS - State Transportation leaders are planning to add a "J" turn at a deadly intersection. It's at LA One and Sugar Plantation Parkway. Over the weekend, 68-year-old Elise Boudreaux was killed there. Earlier this year, Les Miles' sister, Ann Hope Brown died there too. State Transportation leaders... more »

• EBRSS unsure how transportation changes have helped, hurt

  September 26, 2011 10:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE- After spending the summer tweaking a controversial busing plan for students in East Baton Rouge Parish, no one's sure if it's working. Parents complained budget cuts would send more students to a controversial transfer point on North Sherwood Forest. The district compromised by creating collection points. That... more »

• DOTD Inspection of LA 1 Bridge

  August 2, 2011 5:26 PM

  PORT ALLEN - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will wrap up a two-day inspection of the LA 1 bridge in Port Allen on Wednesday. Crews are using a high-tech bucket truck on rental from the state to do the work. One lane will be shut down on... more »

• EBR transportation plan presented to parents

  July 18, 2011 10:54 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Threats of breaking off and creating a new school district in Baton Rouge forced change to the system's busing plan. Monday night, the district revealed a transportation plan for gifted and talented students that was a compromise between the district and parents. Those parents started complaining... more »

• Bridge out in St. Amant

  June 22, 2011 5:13 PM

  ST. AMANT - After an inspection last month, the Department of Transportation and Development decided the bridge on Harry Savoy Road in St. Amant needed to be fixed. Crews started dismantling the bridge Monday morning. The next step will be replacing the rotten wooden pilings with new ones. The... more »

• EBR School Board adopts budget, cuts $33 million

  June 20, 2011 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE-  Larger class sizes, school closures, canceled year-round schooling and no more teacher stipends are all the result of more than $30 million in cuts to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System budget for next school year. The school board gave a unanimous thumbs-up to the spending... more »

• EBR School Board studies transportation needs

  June 16, 2011 5:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has started collecting a list of potential ways it could save money in transporting children to school. School Board member Kenyetta Nelson-Smith is leading up the effort. Nelson-Smith said Wednesday's meeting aimed to determine the issues that a still-to-be-named transportation task... more »

• Plaquemine ferry opens Monday

  June 3, 2011 5:51 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - It's been well over three weeks since the Plaquemine ferry crossed the Mississippi River. That all changes Monday as the Department of Transportation and Development have deemed it safe for the boat to operate once again. The ferry closed once the river hit 43 feet. Last week... more »

• Commission gives public transit recommendations

  June 2, 2011 11:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A commission put together to find public transit solutions in Baton Rouge gave their recommendations to local leaders today. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Together Baton Rouge gave a presentation to city stakeholders this morning on suggestions to improve public transportation. The commission was... more »

• Study: 1 in 8 bridges in LA need work

  March 30, 2011 4:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- From rusted guard rails to old wood beams, some of Louisiana's bridges show their age. "You get beat to death going across them," said Mike Spencer, from Prairieville. A study released by Transportation for America says one in eight bridges in the state are structurally deficient.... more »

• Commission created for Baton Rouge transit

  March 24, 2011 11:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE- A new commission has been created to address the parish's public transit challenges. 17 community members will be tasked with the following: -Gather community input to prioritize future projects -Estimate costs of the projects and consider alternative and sustainable revenue services to fund the projects... more »

• LSU buys parking violation cameras

  January 31, 2011 5:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The next time you park illegally at LSU and get ticketed, know that your car will be caught on camera. The university's Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation purchased new handheld devices along with new software to replace the previous 14-year-old ticket writing machines. "Over... more »

• CATS bus riders counting on new proposal

  January 17, 2011 5:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - People who normally take the bus may be left at the station if CATS doesn't come up with a new plan to fill a $1 million budget hole. The Capitol Area Transit Board meets Tuesday to discuss a new plan to give to Metro Council next... more »

• State lawmakers consider new fee for oversize vehicles

  December 16, 2010 9:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE- The state's joint transportation committee will consider a plan that charges more for operating oversize vehicles on Louisiana highways. An annual fee would be part of a special permit for vehicles that exceed height, width, length and weight limits. The plan involve a fee plan similar to... more »

• New sign regulations could cost Baker $620,000

  November 30, 2010 2:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Potential changes to street sign regulations could cost local communities hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to make them easier for everyone to see. By 2018, street signs must use letters that are at least six inches tall, be reflective so they can be... more »

• Terrebonne Parish looks to expand public transit

  November 25, 2010 1:01 PM

  THIBODAUX, La. - A proposal to expand public transportation in Thibodaux has been placed on the back burner until the new mayor takes office in mid-December. City officials say discussion of a proposed agreement between Terrebonne Parish and Good Earth Transit is deferred until Dec. 21 so Mayor-elect Tommy Eschete... more »

• Louisiana DOTD's Traveler Information website

  November 14, 2010 9:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE- For information about road closures, construction, traffic accidents, and access the state's traffic camera system, visit the LA DOTD's Traveler Information website . more »

• No immediate jobs under new Obama transportation spending plan

  September 6, 2010 11:32 AM

  Even if he can get the plan through Congress, at a time when lawmakers and voters are worried about federal deficits, the transportation spending plan envisioned by President Barack Obama wouldn't create jobs right away. Senior administration officials say the initial projects would lead to new jobs over the course... more »

• 'Smarth growth' summit being held in Baton Rouge

  August 18, 2010 5:24 AM

  Community planners and national experts on everything from housing to transportation issues are gathering in Baton Rouge this week. The Center for Planning Excellence, a Baton Rouge-based organization, is hosting its fifth annual Smart Growth Summit to talk about comprehensive planning efforts for neighborhoods, communities and cities. The summit runs... more »

• Judge OKs 1st step in Tangipahoa unitary status

  August 10, 2010 7:10 AM

  A federal judge has ruled that the Tangipahoa Parish school system has reached unitary status in transportation, providing a first step in getting complete unitary status in the system's desegregation lawsuit. School Superintendent Mark Kolwe says he expects the resolution of the suit to come in parts like last week's... more »

• Board votes to delay deseg case request

  May 6, 2010 6:42 AM

  The Avoyelles Parish School Board is delaying unitary status for its transportation system in the district's federal desegregation lawsuit until the district's staff can gather additional information. The board had considered seeking unitary status for transportation at its upcoming June 4 status conference with U.S. District Court Judge Dee Drell,... more »

• Agencies merge water regulation efforts

  January 13, 2010 7:55 AM

  The state transportation department and the Department of Natural Resources are consolidating their regulation of water wells and ground water. The agreement signed between the two agencies allows for merging several databases and proprietary water well information, according to a news release. The agreement transfers management of the Water Well... more »

• Transportation leaders gear up for icy weather

  December 3, 2009 4:47 PM

  State Transportation leaders are gearing up for the potential for icy conditions on roads this weekend. They spent the day making sure de-icing trucks and sand trucks are in good working order. "Our crews have been put on standby," Dustin Annison with the Department of Transportation and Development... more »

• Fewer DOTD sites considered

  November 16, 2009 4:37 PM

  A state government streamlining panel approved a plan dealing with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development properties. The recommendation urges DOTD to consolidate or eliminate sites whenever possible to cut costs. The plan includes everything from the nine district offices to smaller maintenance yards. DOTD leaders say the... more »

• San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Reopen

  September 8, 2009 10:17 AM

  The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is reopen today after transportation officials said the bridge would probably remain closed until tomorrow while a crack was repaired, but they made the surprise announcement just before the bridge reopened at 7 a.m. PST more »