After ‘unexpected’ $20M windfall, state to fund train from New Orleans to Baton Rouge

Some lawmakers oppose the state's decision.

BY SAM KARLIN | Staff writer Aug 17, 2023 Updated 14 hrs ago



Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards steps off a Kansas City Southern Lines train at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal after a passenger train trip from Baton Rouge in New Orleans, La., Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Governor Edwards met with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson and Amit Bose, the Federal Railroad Administrator, as they traveled by passenger train from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

Sophia Germer

Earlier this year, Louisiana reached a deal with the federal government to end a long-winding and contentious battle over misspent grant money that was part of the Road Home program, aimed at helping victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

As part of the deal, Louisiana would only have to pay $32.5 million back to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—a dramatic decrease from $300 million it could have owed.

But this summer, HUD unexpectedly told Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration that it could keep $20.5 million of that money, as long as the state spent it to help people in parishes most impacted by the devastating 2005 storms. ... Edwards’ administration has decided to spend that money on the long-planned but slow-moving New Orleans-Baton Rouge passenger rail line.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said the state needed to act quickly to spend the money, and argued before lawmakers recently that the rail line—which is still years away—could eventually help evacuate some residents ahead of a storm.

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