“Active Environments” are spaces that support and encourage non-motorized forms of transportation and recreation such as walking and bicycling.  Planning for active environments is key to making City’s healthier places to live, work, and thrive.   Since Fall of 2008 a grant from Entergy Corporation to LPHI has supported the creation of active environments in New Orleans through the expansion of new walking and bicycling facilities. The Entergy grant primarily supports the salary of a pedestrian and bicycle engineer who works in New Orleans City Hall to support and foster environmental changes and strong partnerships around reducing obesity, improving the environment, and supporting a healthier quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. With this assistance, the total network of bikeways was grown to 50 miles.  More than 13 miles of new sidewalks were constructed as part of street resurfacing projects.  The total funding awarded to Orleans Parish schools through the Louisiana Safe Routes to School Program now exceeds over $1M. 

Expected outcomes include:

• Continued implementation of new bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Improved quality and safety of existing transportation corridors for bicycling and walking
• Integration of carbon reduction strategies and improved storm water management practices into transportation projects
• Increased awareness of nationwide best practices relating to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and environmentally sound transportation practices
• Continued support to the City of New Orleans in implementing the City’s “Complete Streets” Ordinance (adopted December 2011)
• Increased community awareness of bicycle and pedestrian issues and publicity for successful bike and pedestrian projects 

For more information about LPHI's Active Environments Planning work, please contact Jennifer E. Ruley, PE, at (504) 658-8063 or by email at jeruley@nola.gov.