For decades, there’s been talk of rail service connecting Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La. But now, after lobbying from the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) for a Gulf Coast regional rail coverage, this talk has begun to shift toward actual commitments.
Before leaving office, former Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed Act 764, enabling the state’s Department of Transportation and Development to outline the scope, time, and budget to gain approval and secure permits to implement rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Now the state is moving forward with that exploratory work. With a focus on applying for grants and other funding sources, the Baton Rouge-New Orleans (BR-NOLA) Intercity Passenger Rail Feasibility Study was conducted to identify a path forward in implementing the project.