Persistence Pays at Local Bus Stop

May 27, 2016 by Charlie London

Robert Thompson writes:
It took over a year and a half, but a problem existing for more than a decade is no longer. Thanks to Cheryn Robles, Community Outreach Manager, Department of Public Works, a sidewalk hazard and eyesore at the Esplanade and Crete bus stop has been repaired. It may be a small step, but eliminating the chance an elderly transit rider would trip and fall is a worthwhile project. Here are the before and after pictures:

BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

***********************
Many thanks to Robert Thompson for continuing to follow up on this safety issue!

***************************************************************************************************************************************
article below by Charlie London
311atNOLAdotGOV

Some folks lament about how they’ve called and called some nameless person about an issue they are having with the City. Don’t be that guy.

Call 311 but don’t expect the City to drop everything because you have a pothole or other City service issue. There is a serious backlog. So, call 311 or report the issue online at the link below:
http://nola.gov/311/

Mark the issue on your calendar two months later then call 311 and follow up. Yes, I said YOU need to follow up. After all, aren’t YOU the one who wants the issue taken care of?

NOLA-311-smallNew Orleans and City services are getting better. I’ve had excellent response from the City on a number of issues. However, there is not a pot of gold for the City to keep dipping from and there are plenty of issues that need attention all over New Orleans.

While there are always those who will gripe, moan and complain that they didn’t get what they wanted when they wanted it, there is no quick-fix solution. You have to call 311 about problems you notice and you have to follow up on the issue. There is no City employee running around in a pickup truck looking for streetlights that are out, potholes that need filling or storm drains that need to be pumped out. The City needs you to work WITH them and call 311 whenever you see something that needs to be taken care of… and follow up. http://nola.gov/311/

Call 311 and wait patiently. You can do this.

http://nola.gov/311/

NOLA-311-web

Filed Under: Featured, HISTORY, Living Well, More Great Posts! Tagged With: bayou st john, best neighborhood in New Orleans, bus stop, cheryn robles, city of new orleans, crete, esplanade, faubourg st john, new orleans best neighborhood, public works, robert thompson, safety, transit, transportation

NOLA BIKE TO WORK DAY

April 4, 2014 by Charlie London

nola-bike2work-day4web

NOLA Bike to Work Day is Tuesday, April 8th. 

Participate in the day’s free events by registering here, ( register and you might win a free bike!) .   Show your support for safe, fun, easy bicycling in New Orleans!   As part of the day’s events, there will be neighborhood group rides meeting at different locations around town.
The MidCity Neighborhood Ride will meet at Bayou St. John and Orleans Ave at 7 am for free PJs coffee before riding down to Lafayette Square as a group.
For more information, contact Mary Matthews |  [email protected]
504-717-1337

nolabikeday1nolabikeday2nolabikeday3

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: bayou st john, bicycle, bike to work day, bikes, faubourg st john, fun, New Orleans, nola, transportation

Streetcars in Faubourg St. John 1927

April 21, 2013 by Charlie London

Many thanks to Gary Parky for sharing his 1927 streetcar map!

streetcar1927-fsjClick on the map for a larger view.
streetcar1927-legendstreetcar1927d

streetcar1927;-crescentstreetcar1927a
What is now Desmare Playground was the Esplanade Barn in 1927.
streetcar1927b1
streetcar1927carrolltonstreetcar1927polandbarnstreetcar1927-uptown
The Arabella Barn is now Whole Foods on Magazine.
streetcar1927-uptown1

Reported in the Times Picayune newspaper:
November 1, 1901
1901nov1-streetcars-fsj

Reported in the Times Picayune newspaper:
April 28, 1873

ORLEANS RAILROAD.

– Owing to the energy shown by the officers and directors of this company, the double track on Broad Street and Grand Route Saint John is completed. In consequence of this wise improvement, the line of this company is now the shortest from Canal street to the Fair Grounds. The cars run without change as far as the turning-table, opposite the central gate of the Fair Grounds, fronting on Savage Street, between the third and fourth building, a few steps from the stand. The Orleans Railroad cars start without interruption, from the Clay Statue, corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets.
Click here to view the original article from April 28, 1873.

July 3, 1868

Inauguration of the Orleans City Railroad

The first trip over the Orleans City Railroad was made the occasion of a pleasant excursion yesterday.

About 6 o’clock p.m. the officers of the road – President, George Clark; Secretary, Jules Benit; Directors, G.W. Hynson, D.B. Macarthy, B. Saloy, Joseph Hernandez, L.E. Lemarie and Frances Mouney – together with a large number of stockholders and invited guests, proceeded from opposite the office of the company, on Dauphine street, in two of the bright, new and elegant cars provided for the occasion, to travel over the length of the road and make as thorough an inspection of the same as circumstances would admit.
The route of the road is down Dauphine to Dumaine, out Dumaine to Broad, down Broad and beneath the overhanging branches of the trees that line this street, to Laharpe, and down Laharpe to the terminus of the road, where the spacious though as yet incomplete stables, etc., of the company are situate.(now Stallings Playground)
The depot is located on two squares of ground situate at the head of Bayou Savage, and near the Gentilly Road.
Though, the buildings have not been completed, the stables will be ready to afford shelter to the animals by tomorrow, when twelve cars will be placed upon the line.
Returning to the city the route passes down Grand Route Saint John, up Dumaine street to Broad, and thence by St. Peter and Basin streets to Canal.
After the excursion there was a very delightful collation spread at the office of the company, at which the greatest good feeling prevailed, and many toasts were drank to the success of the road, etc.
Click here to view the original article from July 3, 1868.


Click on the map for larger view and to see the dotted lines where the streetcars ran.
***
Ord2518-1874-EsplanadeStreetcar
sale-orleansrr-page1

sale-orleansrr-page3

sale-orleansrr-page4

sale-orleansrr-page5

sale-orleansrr-page6

sale-orleansrr-page7

sale-orleansrr-page8

sale-orleansrr-page9

sale-orleasrr-page10

sale-orleansrr-page11

sale-orleansrr-page12

sale-orleansrr-page13

EsplanadeAveStreetcar1921-photobyCharlesFranck-websiteStreetcar on Esplanade in 1921. Photo by Charles L. Franck

research by Charlie London

On June 6, 1883, the Times Picayune reported the following:
“A boy named Albert Musgrove while running after a street car at the corner of Esplanade and Grand Route St. John, at 7 o’clock yesterday morning, fell and fractured his arm. Dr. Souchon attended the boy at his residence, No. 108 Grand Route St. John.”

Click here to see the original article from 1883

Filed Under: HISTORY Tagged With: 1927, bayou st john, car, faubourg st john, map, New Orleans, public, street, streetcar, transportation, trolley

The Urban Bicyclist

August 18, 2012 by Charlie London

article from www.good.is
We start on tricycles, graduate to training wheels, then the fateful day when we’re off on two wheels. But remember, cycling is a constantly evolving learning process. Keep fine-tuning technique and safety measures and that first moment of exhilaration can be a constant.

Be Aware of Bike Laws

Take time to learn local bike laws before hitting the road. Kurt Snyder discovered this firsthand when cycling in his Burke, Virginia neighborhood. “I was pulled over by a police officer with a radar gun,” he says. “At 15 miles per hour, I was apparently riding over the speed limit.”

Cycling laws aren’t one size fits all. “Knowing the codes, regulations and laws, as well as your rights and responsibilities is key,” says Allison Mannos, urban strategy director at the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition. “Your state’s Department of Transportation’s website should be able to point you in the right direction.” Robyn Cooper learned California’s laws through her workplace. “My company’s commuter program filled us in on local laws,” she says. “Because of that I learned where it’s legal to ride in Burbank.”

Not sure about a law? Santa Monica-based cycling and fitness coach, Riley McAlpine suggests thinking like a driver, particularly when it comes to stop signs and stoplights. “A major reason cyclists get hit is due to running stoplights,” she says. “And if you’re not injured, you’re still eligible for a traffic violation on your driver’s license and a hefty fee.”

Be Alert to Surroundings

As a safety measure, New York resident Thom Payne plans out his route before heading out on a ride. “It’s easier to navigate the streets and a lot safer if you discover those that have bike paths,” he says.

In a time when the world is full of distractions like texting, cyclists should keep their senses highly attuned. “Never take your concentration off your surroundings,” says McAlpine. “Don’t just look in one direction. Constantly look around you, scanning the road in all directions.”

Cooper found out cars weren’t the only things to keep an eye on during one of her daily work commutes. “Walkers rarely pay attention to what’s coming up behind them,” she says. “A woman walking a dog made an unanticipated move and my front tire grazed her leg.”

Cyclists are urged never to assume a car is going to do what’s anticipated. Like many riders, Los Angeles-based Margaret McGlynn has a developed a system for avoiding potential hazards during her daily 20-mile, round-trip commutes. “Drivers aren’t looking for cyclists, they’re looking for other cars and pulling moves like changing lanes or turn without signaling,” she says. “I wave, make eye contact, look, and ask permission. I also use arm signals. Sure, people have cursed at me, but I’ve found the nicer cyclists are, the safer we are.”

Turn Up the Volume… and the Lights

Making others aware of your presence with sound like a bell. Vocals are effective, too, especially when cycling in a group. “Always announce what you’re going to do,” says Mannos. “When passing other cyclists, call out if you’re coming up on the left or right. Even announce a stop.”

Another way cyclists can ensure pedestrians and drivers notice them is by gearing up with lights (see more about gear here). Missing Link customers get the following advice from Cummings, “Have at least one white light on the front of your bike and one red on back,” she says. “Flashing ones are more visible, but most lights will do both. There are lights that go on the front and back of helmets, too.” Though she usually commutes by bike, Cummings got a dose of reality when recently driving a car. “I started noticing who was visible and who was invisible,” she says. “I came straight into work and bought a bright yellow, reflective jacket.”

Avoid Car Doors

Keeping an eye out for people exiting their driveways is a given for cyclists. Another rule of thumb – “Cycle three feet away from parked cars,” says Mannos. Why? It’s very easy to get “doored.” “If a car door opens when you’re driving past, that’s a painful situation,” says McAlpine. “Be on the lookout for brake lights. The driver has their foot on the brake and has either just parked or is about to pull out.”

Road Hazards

Cars don’t like them and neither do bicycles: potholes, wet roads and railroad tracks. “If crossing railroad tracks or a lip in road, never hit it straight on, go at an angle,” says McAlpine. And if there’s something in the road? “Look where you want to go rather than at something you don’t want to hit,” she advises. “Slowly and calmly move away without making a jerky motion.”

Another tip from McAlpine is remembering when roads are wet, avoid paint lines. Especially the white ones. “Those get very slick in rain,” she says. “And if you should happen to hit one and start skidding, never brake on water.”

Right Turn Lane

Extra care should be taken in right turn lanes, whether cyclists are continuing straight or turning. “When approaching a place where a right turn only is authorized, cyclists should not be in the right-turn only lane, or on the right edge of a dual-destination right or straight lane,” says McAlpine. “If intending to go straight, avoid riding in a lane that must turn or diverge to the right rather stay to the far right of the straight lane allowing the right turn only traffic to pass on your right.”

The Golden Rule

To experience a fantastic ride, it all comes down to this, says McAlpine. “Cyclists, drivers and pedestrians have to work together to make it a happy relationship.”

Learn more about bicycle safety and view the original article at:
http://www.good.is/post/city-biking-101-road-tips-for-a-safe-ride

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: avenues, bayou, bayou st john, bicycle, bike, bike safety, city, faubourg, faubourg st john, fsjna, New Orleans, ride, roads, safety, streets, transportation, urban

New Orleans Rail Gateway Program

February 8, 2012 by Charlie London

CLICK HERE for the February 9, 2012 article in the Times Picayune.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Federal Railroad Administration will conduct and open forum meeting on upgrades to New Orleans Rail Gateway Program in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.

Wednesday, 6-7:30 p.m., Joseph S. Yenni Building, Council Chambers, 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Elmwood.

Notice is hereby given that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Federal Railroad Administration will conduct open-forum public meetings for:

State Project No. H.005168
Federal Aid Project No. DE-9208(500)
New Orleans Rail Gateway Program
Jefferson and Orleans Parishes, Louisiana

A public meeting will be held tonight:

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Joseph S. Yenni Building
Council Chambers
1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard
Jefferson, LA 70123

The purpose of the public meeting is to present an overview of the New Orleans Rail Gateway (NORG) Program and the study process for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate environmental and related impacts of upgrading NORG and infrastructure in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes; and to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to express their views. All comments received during the public meetings and written comments post-marked within ten (10) calendar days of the meeting will become part of the official public record. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may mail your comments to the address listed below.

New Orleans Rail Gateway
c/o The Hawthorne Agency, Inc.
818 Howard Avenue, Suite 300
New Orleans, LA 70113

Interested persons or their representatives are invited to be present at the above time and place to review the study materials and will be afforded an opportunity to express their views concerning the information presented. Information on the Program can also be viewed at http://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/NORG/.

For more information and to download a map of the proposed project, please visit the link below:
http://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/norg/

CLICK HERE for the February 9, 2012 article in the Times Picayune.

Filed Under: More Great Posts! Tagged With: administration, crossings, department, development, federal, FRA, gateway, louisiana, New Orleans, program, rail, railroad, transportation

Copyright © 2023 · BG Minimalist on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in