policy
East Baton Rouge allocates funds for I-10 repairs and transit expansion
The revised plan directs resources toward road repairs along the Interstate 10 corridor and expanded public transit routes serving residents in the 70805 and 70806 zip codes.
How we reported this
The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council approved revisions to the Capital Improvement Plan on July 7, directing $48 million toward road resurfacing, drainage upgrades and transit vehicle purchases for the 2027 fiscal year.
Why the update arrives now
The parish faces a backlog of 312 lane miles needing repair, according to the 2025 Public Works Department report. Council members tied the timing to the expiration of prior bond measures and the need to align spending with federal surface transportation formulas that require local matching funds.
Residents in the Scotlandville and Old South Baton Rouge neighborhoods stand to receive new bus shelters and sidewalk connections under the transit portion of the plan. Construction contracts will require prime contractors to meet a 25 percent local workforce participation target for projects exceeding $1 million.
Budget figures and service changes
The plan sets aside $19.2 million for Interstate 10 frontage road improvements between the Dalrymple Drive and College Drive exits. An additional $11.8 million covers replacement of 47 aging transit buses, with the first deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Public Works staff will begin accepting bids for the initial resurfacing package in August. Local advocates note that the local hiring requirement applies only to projects funded through this specific allocation and does not alter existing procurement rules for smaller maintenance contracts.
City-Parish officials project that the combined projects will generate 380 temporary construction positions between October 2026 and June 2028. The administration has stated that quarterly progress reports will be posted on the parish website beginning in October.