Lafayette traffic... is it as bad as it used to be. (university, shop)

[Rosinante]

You have to wonder how a town the size of Lafayette could have so much traffic. I used to avoid going there on business unless I absolutely had to. And then I would avoid Johnston Street except for that little stretch in front of the university.

So, how bad is the traffic on Johnston Street these days?

[Innotech]

still just as bad as you remember it.
The problem is, as a hub city, Lafayette doesnt just have to deal with its 120k population. It has to deal with an average influx of 30k more people every work day from surrounding areas. It also services more than 500k people in the Acadiana region who come to visit and shop. Its very, very crowded for a small city.

[sailordave]

Originally Posted by Innotech

still just as bad as you remember it.
The problem is, as a hub city, Lafayette doesnt just have to deal with its 120k population. It has to deal with an average influx of 30k more people every work day from surrounding areas. It also services more than 500k people in the Acadiana region who come to visit and shop. Its very, very crowded for a small city.

And then you have to add to that the lack of a city/parish wide loop, two lane interstate highway that ends at I-10 and then becomes a bottle neck, as well as poor planning. Downtown Lafayette is much better. Certain times of the day, the Evangeline Thruway is a parking lot (south bound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon). Ambassador parkway in the Christmas holidays is also a parking lot but people have begun shopping outside the Acadiana mall lately. There's been talk of a plan to turn the Evangeline Thruway into I-49 and make it an elevated interstate. Perhaps they'll finish it and open it to traffic when I'm on my death bed. Pinhook can be pretty bad as well. Actually, all of the highest traffic roads are to the southern part of Lafayette Parish.

[Rosinante]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking of driving over there to see a man's vintage motorcycle collection, but seeing as the news ain't good I think I'll pass. The last time I was over there was 1994.

Oh, and BTW, the minds on building a loop around BTR are just as narrow. It's been said by some that we need that loop in order to become a nationally recognized city. At least we rank in the top 5 cities in the USA on the FBI's most violent cities list. Perhaps that's what many here consider national recognition.