In 2017, following adoption of the 2017 St. Bernard Bikeway and Pedestrian Plan Update, the Parish’s Bikeway and Pedestrian Advisory Committee met to discuss and prioritize pedestrian improvement projects. Members of the committee were Susan Klees, representing Bike Easy St. Bernard; Howard Luna, serving on the St. Benard Parish Council at that time; and Donald Bourgeois representing St. Bernard Parish Government Capital Projects Division.
Four projects were identified as highest priority and representatives of the Parish Grants Department began to seek funding assistance to construct the improvements. With the help of the Regional Planning Commission for Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes, Federal Highway Administration funding was awarded to construct the three projects which are underway at this time.
These improvements include two crossings of Paris Road at Prompt Succor Church and School and at Solidelle Street connecting shopping centers and retail outlets on both sides of Paris Road. The third project includes sidewalks along Judge Perez Drive in Violet between Colonial Blvd. and Edgar Streets providing safe access to retail businesses, transit stops, and churches.
This $786,000 project is being administered by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development with 100% federal and state funding provided by a Highway Safety Improvement Program-Vulnerable Road Users grant.