Photograph: DOTD transportation planner Jason Duet and engineer Vijay Kunada, address the Opelousas City Council. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas city officials have agreed to become part of a statewide pilot program that intends to develop a long-range municipal transportation plan.
The Board of Aldermen agreed to proceed with the program following a presentation by DOTD officials during a meeting last week.
According to a brief overview of the program provided by DOTD transportation planner Jason Duet and Vijay Kunada, an engineer associated with the project, the year-long study will allow the city to be included as part of a larger program that will study aspects of traffic patterns in some state municipalities.
“What we want to do with this study is to get feedback from citizens about whether there is a need to make changes as part of a comprehensive plan,” Duet told board members.
Kunada estimated that it will take a minimum of nine months to complete the study that he said will make city transportation recommendations for the next quarter century.
The results of the program that will be conducted at no cost to the city, will be provided with a great deal of public transparency, said Kunada.
“We intend to come back and show (the Board) the plan and how you can come up with projects for that. We want to have an open house setting and get feedback. Individuals will be able to fill out surveys online,” said Kunada.
Duet said during an interview after the presentation that Opelousas is one of several other cities that were chosen for the pilot program.
None of the members of the Board asked either Duet or Kunada for any details associated with the proposed pilot program.
