Central Represented at LA Transportation Conference

    The city of Central's Chief Administrative Officer, David Barrow, spoke before transportation and business officials at the 2013 Louisiana Transportation Conference held at the Baton Rouge River Center on February 19.  Hundreds of city and state transportation and public works officials as well as vendors from across the country are attending the 3 day conference where workshops and seminars are being held throughout the day as well as vendor booths and exhibits are on display in the main hall.

    Barrow spoke during the Local Road Safety Program presentation along with LRSP Director Marie Walsh and LRSP representatives Jason Taylor, Rick Holm, and Nick Verett.   The Local Road Safety Program is funded through DOTD and provides support services and funding for governmental agencies across the state for projects that improve safety on local roadways.   Barrow spoke about three projects for which he applied to LRSP for funding and construction since 2007 as illustrations of how the program works.  These projects include radar display signs on Durmast Drive to curb speeding; rumble strips, centerline striping, advanced curve warning signs, and chevron signs along Denham Rd, Devall Rd, Lovett Rd, and Frenchtown Rd; and additional curve warning and chevron signs on a dozen other roadways throughout Central.   The first two projects have been completed, and the third project should be funded in 2013.  The total cost of all of these safety projects is nearly $120,000.

    Barrow came up with the ideas for these safety improvements on these roadways.  He prepared the applications, performed necessary studies on the roadways, and gathered crash data with the help of the LRSP.  He explained the steps in filling out the applications, including the required supporting documentation, to those in attendance and the effectiveness of the projects.   Speeding has been reduced considerably on Durmast Drive, and the centerline rumble strips and improved signage have helped reduce head-on collisions and roadway departures on Denham Rd, Devall Rd, Lovett Rd, and Frenchtown Rd. 

    This was a good example of promoting the positive image of the city of Central to a statewide audience.  Barrow also stated that he is looking forward to applying for funding through this program for shoulder improvements to Frenchtown Rd between Greenwell Springs Rd and the Central Thruway.