I-49 South highlighted by One Acadiana

One Acadiana took part in a town hall meeting and Congressional field hearing to discuss the importance of transportation infrastructure for the economic competitiveness of Louisiana and the Acadiana region, in particular the effect of traffic congestion on small business.
The event, hosted by Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, and Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, offered the regional business community a chance to highlight the importance of transportation infrastructure investment, specifically the completion of I-49 South. In addition to the interstate, business leaders stressed the importance of planning for projects that will provide better access to the region.
Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of One Acadiana, highlighted the transportation infrastructure priorities of the regional business community, “Acadiana’s business community continually points to the improvement of regional interconnectivity, especially the completion of I-49 South, as their top priority. Completing I-49 South will encourage investment along the entire corridor by providing the type of market access private industry needs to thrive. In addition to I-49 South, we need to accelerate our regional infrastructure planning. Just as I-49 South will improve access to Acadiana, planning for projects such as the Lafayette Regional Xpressway and improvements to existing routes around the region to establish key corridors will position Acadiana for long-term progress.”
Joseph Zanco, CFO of Home Bank and chairman of One Acadiana, stressed the importance of regional transportation infrastructure investment for Acadiana, stating, “By bolstering our existing roadways, we can build a regional network of roads that alleviates current traffic congestion, introduce new routes for regional commerce and evacuation in case of natural or man-made disasters, and create greater interconnectivity amongst industries and businesses across our nine-parish region.”
David Mann, representing the I-49 South Coalition, pointed out that funding is the major obstacle to completing the interstate. “There is no doubt that completing I-49 South is essential to Louisiana’s economic growth. More than half of the route is already complete. Our challenge is securing adequate funding for completing construction. It’s time to finish what we started and provide “America’s Energy Corridor” with an interstate worthy of its name.”
El Koubi and Zanco represented One Acadiana at the town hall, asking Vitter and Boustany to elaborate on the impact completing I-49 South will have on both Acadiana and the state, and how the region could best ensure completion of the interstate.
Vitter responded, “As the chairman of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, I know how incredibly important completing I-49 South will be for small businesses, as well as providing a dependable connection to Louisiana’s ports and essential energy resources. That’s why I have been working in Congress to prioritize funding for I-49 South, because upgrading our roads will relieve major traffic congestion and boost Louisiana’s economy.”
Boustany stated, “The I-49 South project is one of my top priorities, one that will promote job creation and improve transportation for families and small businesses in Acadiana and across South Louisiana. I’m working together with Sen. Vitter to ensure this project is moving forward, and we’ll make sure that the job gets done.”
Completing I-49 South is the Acadiana business community’s top priority. This major transportation artery would positively impact the state in a number of substantial ways, including significant gains in economic development, hurricane evacuation, traffic congestion relief, and safety. Investing in “America’s Energy Corridor” will have a tremendous impact on the future of Acadiana’s economy.
About One Acadiana
One Acadiana is the leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. With more than 1,200 investors, members, and partners, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of roughly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit.