Lafitte Corridor
Years: 2009 to present

This project is part of RTC's Urban Pathways Initiative. Learn more about this work.

Location:
New Orleans, La.

Partners:
Friends of Laffite Corridor; Urban Conservancy; University of New Orleans Center for Urban and Public Affairs

Project Deliverables:
Community engagement process; trail amenities recommendations and assistance.

New Resource!
The Lafitte Corridor and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Urban Pathways Initiative: An Emerging Opportunity to Connect Neighborhoods to Healthy Living (3.6MB)

Project Description:
The Lafitte Corridor is a largely derelict strip of land along the old Norfolk Southern corridor from Basin Street to Canal Boulevard, connecting the French Quarter to the Bayou. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods have been working to preserve this open space by creating a multi-use linear greenway. The path of the proposed greenway follows a corridor which has been critical to transportation throughout New Orleans history, first as a waterway and later as a rail line. There is no other direct route between Mid-City and Tremé, the French Quarter and the Central Business District that is publicly owned and generally undeveloped. In post-Katrina New Orleans, with land use being re-examined throughout the city, supporters have realized the urgency of putting their idea into action. RTC is building upon its previous involvement in this corridor to help move the project forward for the neighborhoods and local businesses along the route.