Baton Rouge, Louisiana

==Transportation==
{{More citations needed | section|date=February 2024}}

===Highways and roads===
====Interstates====
Baton Rouge has three interstate highways: [[Interstate 10 in Louisiana|I-10]], [[Interstate 12|I-12]] ([[Republic of West Florida]] Parkway), and [[Interstate 110 (Louisiana)|I-110]] ([[Interstate 110 (Louisiana)|Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway]]).[[File:Baton Rouge Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|[[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]]]]
[[File:Baton Rouge from I-10 Nov 13 C Street.JPG|thumb|Interstate 10]]
Interstate 10 enters the city from the [[Horace Wilkinson Bridge]] over the Mississippi River, curving at an interchange with Interstate 110 southeast, crossing the LSU lakes and Garden District before reaching an interchange with I-12 (referred to as the 10/12 split). It curves further southeast toward [[New Orleans]] as it crosses Essen Lane near the Medical District. It passes Bluebonnet Blvd and the Mall of Louisiana at exit 162, and leaves Baton Rouge after interchanges with Siegen Lane and Highland Road.

Interstate 12 (The [[Republic of West Florida]] Parkway) begins in the city at the I-10/I-12 split east of College Drive, and proceeds eastward, crossing Essen Lane, Airline Hwy, Sherwood Forest Blvd, Millerville Road, and O'neal Lane before leaving the city when crossing the [[Amite River]].

Interstate 110 (The [[List of streets named after Martin Luther King Jr.#Louisiana|Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway]]) stretches 8 miles in a north–south direction from the east end of the Horace Wilkinson Bridge to Scenic Highway in Scotlandville, Louisiana. It passes through downtown, North Baton Rouge, and [[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport|Baton Rouge Metro Airport]] before ending at Scenic Highway.

====U.S. highways and major roads====
Baton Rouge has two U.S. highways, along with their business counterparts: [[Airline Highway]] ([[US 61]]) and [[Florida Boulevard]].

U.S. 190 enters the city from the [[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Huey P. Long Bridge]], beginning a concurrency with U.S. 61 after an interchange with Scenic Highway, near Scotlandville. Its name is Airline Highway from this interchange to the interchange with Florida Blvd. At this interchange, U.S. 190 turns east to follow Florida Blvd through Northeast Baton Rouge, exiting the city at the Amite River.
[[File:Huey P. Long Bridge at night (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) recolorized.jpg|thumb|[[Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge)|Huey P. Long Bridge]]]]
U.S. 61 enters Baton Rouge as Scenic Highway until it reaches Airline Highway (U.S. 190). It becomes concurrent with U.S. 190 until Florida Blvd, where it continues south, still called Airline Highway. It passes through Goodwood and Broadmoor before an interchange with I-12. It continues southeast past Bluebonnet Blvd/Coursey Blvd, Jefferson Hwy, and Sherwood Forest Blvd/Siegen Lane before exiting the city at Bayou Manchac.

U.S. 61/190 Business runs west along Florida Boulevard (known as Florida Street from Downtown east to Mid City) from Airline Highway to River Road in downtown. The cosigned routes run from Florida St. north along River Road, passing the [[Louisiana State Capitol]] and Capitol Park Complex before intersecting with Choctaw Drive. North of this intersection River Road becomes Chippewa Street and curves to the East. U.S. 61/190 Business leaves Chippewa Street at its intersection with Scenic Highway. The route follows Scenic Highway to Airline Highway, where it ends. North of Airline on Scenic and East of Scenic Highway on Airline is US 61. U.S. 190 is East and West of Scenic on Airline Highway.

These are important surface streets with designated state highway numbers: Greenwell Springs Road ([[LA 37]]), Plank Road/22nd Street ([[LA 67]]), Burbank Drive/Highland Road ([[LA 42]]), Nicholson Drive ([[LA 30]]), Jefferson Highway/Government Street ([[LA 73]]), Scotlandville/Baker/Zachary Highway ([[LA 19]]), Essen Lane ([[LA 3064]]), Bluebonnet Blvd/Coursey Blvd ([[LA 1248]]), Siegen Lane/Sherwood Forest Blvd ([[LA 3246]]), and Perkins Road/Acadian Thruway ([[LA 427]]).

====Traffic issues and highway upgrades====
According to the 2008 INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, which ranks the top 100 congested metropolitan areas in the U.S., Baton Rouge was the 33rd-most congested metro area in the country. At a population rank of 67 out of 100, it has the second-highest ratio of population rank to congestion rank, higher than even the [[Los Angeles]]-[[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]]-[[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]] metropolitan area, indicating a remarkably high level of congestion for the comparatively low population. According to the Scorecard, Baton Rouge was the only area out of all 100 to show an increase in congestion from 2007 to 2008 (+ 6%). The city also tied for the highest jump in congestion rank over the same period (14 places).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://scorecard.inrix.com/scorecard/Top100Metros.asp |title = INRIX National Traffic Scorecard |website = Scorecard.inrix.com |access-date = April 27, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713040047/http://scorecard.inrix.com/scorecard/Top100Metros.asp |archive-date = July 13, 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Interstate 12 used to have a major bottleneck at O'Neal Lane. The interstate was three lanes wide in each direction to the O'Neal Lane exit, where the interstate abruptly became two lanes in each direction and crossed the narrow Amite River Bridge. This stretch of road, called "a deathtrap"<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8124837.html |title=I-12 accidents piling up |website = 2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184214/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8124837.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> by one lawmaker, had become notorious for traffic accidents, many with fatalities. In 2007, ten people died in traffic accidents within a three-month period on this section of road.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/46588277.html |title=More funds sought for I-12 widening project |website=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090608014023/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/46588277.html |archive-date=June 8, 2009 }}</ref>

In 2009, Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] and the Baton Rouge legislative delegation allocated state and federal funding to widen I-12 from O'Neal Lane to Range Avenue (Exit 10) in Denham Springs. The construction was completed in 2012 and has significantly improved the flow of traffic.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44106607.html |title=I-12 work to begin |website = 2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504055117/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44106607.html |archive-date=May 4, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, The [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act]] provided committed federal funds to widen I-12 from the Range Avenue Exit to [[Walker, Louisiana]]. Noticing the significant improvement in commute times, Jindal further funded widening to Satsuma, Louisiana.

Interstate 10 West at Bluebonnet Road also ranked within the top 1000 bottlenecks for 2008, and I-10 East at Essen Lane and Nicholson Drive ranked not far out of the top 1000. A new exit to the [[Mall of Louisiana]] was created in 2006, and the interstate was widened between Bluebonnet Blvd and Siegen Lane. But the stretch of I-10 from the I-10/I-12 split to Bluebonnet Blvd was not part of these improvements and remained heavily congested during peak hours. In response, a widening project totaling at least $87 million began in late 2008. Interstate 10 was widened to three lanes over a five-year period between the I-10/I-12 split and Highland Road.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/37052144.html |title=Project on I-10 to begin |website=2theadvocate.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184144/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/37052144.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, the [[American Reinvestment and Recovery Act]] provided supplemental funding for this project to extend to the Highland Road exit in [[East Baton Rouge Parish]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.geauxwider.com/ |title=Geaux Wider |publisher=Geaux Wider |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110315155522/http://www.geauxwider.com/ |archive-date= March 15, 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Surface streets in Baton Rouge are prone to severe congestion. But roads are beginning to handle the number of vehicles using them after years of stagnation in road upgrades. Baton Rouge Mayor [[Kip Holden]] has instituted an extensive upgrade of East Baton Rouge Parish roads known as the Green Light Plan, geared toward improving areas of congestion on the city's surface streets. With its first project completed in 2008, it has seen numerous others reach completion as of 2015, with several more under construction and still others yet to break ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greenlight.csrsonline.com/ |title=The Green Light Plan |website=Greenlight.csrsonline.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211842/http://greenlight.csrsonline.com/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A circumferential loop [[freeway]] was proposed for the greater Baton Rouge metro area to help alleviate congestion on the existing through-town routes. The proposed loop would pass through the outlying parishes of [[Livingston Parish, Louisiana|Livingston]] (running alongside property owned and marketed as an industrial development by Al Coburn, a member of President Mike Grimmer's staff), Ascension, West Baton Rouge, and Iberville, as well as northern East Baton Rouge Parish. This proposal has been subject to much contention, particularly by residents living in the outer parishes through which the loop would pass.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44842827.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090703184149/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44842827.html |archive-date=July 3, 2009 |title=Poll shows public support for loop |website = 2theadvocate.com |date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2011 }}</ref>

===Commuting===
The average one-way commute time in Baton Rouge is 26.5 minutes,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.governing.com/gov-data/transportation-infrastructure/commute-time-averages-drive-public-transportation-bus-rail-by-metro-area.html|title=Average Commute Times for Metro Areas|website=www.governing.com|date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> slightly less than the U.S. average of 27.1 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/07/nine-days-road-average-commute-time-reached-new-record-last-year/|title=Analysis {{!}} Nine days on the road. Average commute time reached a new record last year.|last=Ingraham|first=Christopher|date=7 Oct 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007125802/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/07/nine-days-road-average-commute-time-reached-new-record-last-year/|archive-date=2019-10-07|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> Interstates 10, 110 and 12, which feed into the city, are highly traveled and connected by highways and four-lane roads that connect the downtown business area to surrounding parishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aaroads.com/louisiana/baton-rouge/|title=Baton Rouge|last=Alex|website=AARoads|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref>

According to the 2016 [[American Community Survey]], 81.9% of working Baton Rouge residents commuted by driving alone, 8.5% carpooled, 3% used public transportation, and 2.4% walked. About 1.2% used all other forms of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 3.1% worked at home.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Census Reporter|access-date=May 17, 2018|title=Means of Transportation to Work by Age|url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US2205000&primary_geo_id=16000US2205000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054747/https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US2205000&primary_geo_id=16000US2205000|archive-date=May 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The city of Baton Rouge has a higher than average percentage of households without a car. In 2015, 10.4 percent of Baton Rouge households lacked a car, and increased slightly to 11.4 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Baton Rouge averaged 1.55 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|date=December 9, 2014 |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511162014/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|archive-date=May 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Buses and other mass transit===
[[Capital Area Transit System|Capital Area Transit System (CATS)]] provides urban transportation throughout Baton Rouge, including service to [[Southern University]], [[Baton Rouge Community College]], and [[Louisiana State University]]. Many CATS buses are equipped with bike racks for commuters to easily combine biking with bus transit. Greyhound Bus Lines, offering passenger and cargo service throughout the United States, has a downtown terminal on Florida Boulevard.

===Shipping===
The [[Port of Greater Baton Rouge|Port of Baton Rouge]] is the ninth-largest in the United States by tonnage shipped, and is the farthest upstream Mississippi River port capable of handling [[Panamax]] ships.<ref name="FHWA-HOP-07-033" /><ref name="portgbr1" />

===Airport===
[[File:Baton Rouge Airport March 2021.jpg|thumb|Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport drop off lane]]
The [[Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport]], located in the North Baton Rouge community of [[Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Scotlandville]], is situated just 10 minutes north of downtown and nearby [[Baker, Louisiana|Baker]]. The airport serves as a vital transportation hub, connecting the area with the four major airline hubs that serve the southern United States. Commercial carriers include [[American Eagle Airlines|American Eagle]], [[United Airlines]], and [[Delta Air Lines]]. Nonstop service is available to [[Atlanta]], [[Dallas-Ft. Worth|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Houston]], and [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]].

===Rail===
Three major railroads, [[Canadian Pacific Kansas City]], [[Union Pacific]], and [[Canadian National]] provide railroad freight service to Baton Rouge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/carload_map.pdf |title=BNSF Railway System Map |publisher=BNSF Corp |access-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193015/http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/maps/carload_map.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Baton Rouge station|Yazoo and Mississippi Valley station]] had passenger service until the mid-1960s. The Kansas City Southern depot hosted the ''[[Southern Belle (KCS train)|Southern Belle]],'' the final train to serve the city, until 1969.<ref>Carter, Thad Hills (2009). Kansas City Southern Railway. Images of Rail. (Reprint of an article by Philip Moseley originally published in the May 1986 issue of Arkansas Railroader). Charleston, SC; Chicago, IL; Portsmouth, NH; San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing. p. 60. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-6001-4}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.louisianapoliticalmuseum.com/bell.php| title=The Southern Belle| work=Louisiana Political Museum| access-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> Since 2006, Baton Rouge and New Orleans leaders as well as the state government have been pushing to secure funding for a new high-speed rail passenger line between [[downtown Baton Rouge]] and downtown New Orleans, with several stops in between.<ref>{{cite news |agency=The Associated Press |url = http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/louisiana_to_seek_new_orleansb.html |title = Louisiana to seek New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line from federal stimulus pot that Jindal called wasteful |website = NOLA.com |access-date=April 27, 2011 |archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090702060637/http%3A//www%2Enola%2Ecom/news/index%2Essf/2009/02/louisiana_to_seek_new_orleansb%2Ehtml |archive-date= July 2, 2009 |url-status= live}}</ref> A new [[New Orleans–Baton Rouge passenger rail]] service was included as part of the "Amtrak Connects US" expansion vision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amtrak hopes to add new line from Baton Rouge to New Orleans |url=https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/amtrak-to-add-new-line-from-baton-rouge-to-new-orleans/ |access-date=11 June 2022 |work=KLFY.com |date=5 April 2021}}</ref>