Projects Riverfront Process Program Context Alternatives A B C D E Communications Contact Links Organization Projects Waterfront Project Location Functional Diagram Spatial Diagram Plan Plan Section through levee Elevation WEST BATON ROUGE RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: LEVEE-TOP IMPROVEMENTS The City of Port Allen has received federal and state funds to construct the first stage of a comprehensive, levee-top improvement program geared toward increasing multiple transportation linkages throughout the City and region and will be constructed to accommodate pedestrian, bicycle and limited vehicular transportation. Improvements will include approximately 800 linear feet of pedestrian promenade, constructed of special paving, with benches, bollards, ornamental street lighting and waste receptacles. The Leveetop Improvement Project is a pedestrian and bicycle trail following the top of the westbank protection levee along the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the City of Port Allen. The primary element of the project for which funding is sought at this time entails 436 linear feet of paving. The first construction stage of this trail project involves an additional 800 linear feet of paving to be funded by the West Baton Rouge Tourist Commission, for a total length of 1236 linear feet. It is intended for this trail, when fully realized, to extend from Rosedale Road (LA Highway 986) at the northern corporate limit, to Oaks Avenue at the city's southern residential fringe bordering on property owned by the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The eastern end of Court Street (LA Highway 76) - the city's traditional main street and commercial center - connects to the levee and is the site of a previously operating ferry service landing. In constructing an extensive leveetop trail along this route the municipality's goals are multi-dimensional: • to provide access for pedestrians and cyclists from the foot of Court Street to other parts of the city including the schools along Rosedale Road; the City/Parish government complex, library, museum and park land via Louisiana Avenue and/or Courthouse Street; mixed business, institutional, residential uses via Oregon or Maryland Streets; The Oaks neighborhood via Avenues B, D, or F; and industrial uses via Oaks Street; and those urban paths and trails west of State Highway 1 (refer to the attached Port Allen Greenways program). • to link the trail facility with a proposed reconstituted ferry service at the foot of Court Street (high-speed, non-vehicular, water bus) and conventional bus service connected to other westbank communities and downtown Baton Rouge. • to create a new opportunity for citizens of the community to exercise and engage in active recreation pursuits by providing an environment that is fully accessible to all. • to employ the leveetop trail and extensions as components of an educational interpretive program. • to afford citizens and visitors with opportunities for entertainment and education melded into an enjoyable and rewarding outdoor experience. The length of the leveetop trail to be constructed within this first stage is approximately 1,236 linear feet, as scaled from the attached 400 scale plan. It is the intention of the City and other sponsors to pave the entire length of the leveetop with imprinted concrete architectural paving (brick pattern paving). The width of the trail will be 12 feet and the paving will be constructed of modules 12 feet by 12 feet in size. In the vicinity of trail heads, every fourth module will be 17 feet in width to accommodate a lighting standard, bench and waste receptacle. As the distance increases from trail heads, the density of these special modules will decrease, although the spacing and rhythm of the lighting standards will remain fixed at 48 feet throughout. The pavement cross section will be designed to withstand the travel impact of maintenance and inspection vehicles. In subsequent construction stages specially designed diagonal paths along the levee slope at Court Street and at other principal trail heads will make the leveetop trail accessible by the wheelchair-bound handicapped as well as to the able-bodied from city streets. These diagonal routes will also connect with conventional stair access to the leveetop at selected locations tied to east-west streets. Transportation Services As envisioned in exploratory planning studies documents, the trail head at the foot of Court Street will become part of a modest but functional multimodal transportation center. As a component of the Westbank Riverfront Development Program, ferry service between the City Dock and Baton Rouge and the Court Street landing will be reestablished, perhaps using fast, highly maneuverable water buses. People will be able to move back and forth between the two cities without relying on the automobile - currently the only means of transportation available. The Port Allen ferry landing will be reconstructed enabling pedestrians and bicyclists to come to Port Allen and the Atchafalaya Trace Region to enjoy a trail system largely unavailable in Baton Rouge. Coordinated development planning for the river edge will integrate the ferry landing with a boat launch ramp. the boat ramp will provide still another means of access to Port Allen, its tourist attractions and trail system. Where the trail traverses the leveetop at Court Street, a paved platform approximately 100 feet in diameter will be created. This levee widening will allow space for a bus turnaround and route terminal, thus permitting travelers and trail users to connect to other locations on the westbank and back to Baton Rouge by way of a reestablished ferry service (currently under active consideration). Sheltered seating along the land side of the levee trail will strengthen the functionality of this site as a terminal. An improved and widened Court Street extension ramp to the leveetop and to the ferry landing site will provide two-way vehicular access, pedestrian paths and 'spillover' parallel parking on grass aprons along both ramps and along both 12 foot lanes. Consequently, bus service could be routed along Court Street, buses could climb the ramp, turn around, take on or discharge passengers who could proceed afoot to their destinations or transfer to ferries, boats, taxis, private autos or bicycles. Conveniences Traveler conveniences to be provided at this minor transportation hub would include overhead shelter, rest rooms, benches, emergency telephone, lighting, drinking fountain, waste receptacles, large format information and map displays, and transportation schedules and map dispensers. Identification, directional and interpretive signage are to become integrated into the total design approach. Incorporated into the space planning for this "crossroads' place would be space for temporary fair booths, perhaps a large tent and ceremonial platform. A special shelter for bicyclists would contain bicycle lockers, bicycle racks, a repair bench/rack and a simple overhead showerhead - conveniences sometimes found on well-travelled trails elsewhere across the country. Gateway Arch A tall gateway arch spanning the Court Street extension where it meets the levee and fitted with appropriate signage and lighting will announce the significance of this location from both the riverside and the city side of the levee as a major portal to the westbank and the region beyond. This landmark arch should also be highly visible from many locations on the leveetop trail and serve as an orienting feature. Seating In addition to benches placed along the trail edge, stadium style revetment seating, similar to that on the Baton Rouge levee, will provide an opportunity to accommodate large audiences for special events staged on the batture, such as Bonfest (a Christmas season bonfire on the levee celebration), for occasional presentations to tour groups, and similar gatherings.