Baton Rouge, La. – July 11, 2023 – Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced the completion of the MOVEBR program’s 14th project, the Florida Street ADA Compliance Project, at the Downtown Development District’s (DDD) board meeting today and held a ribbon-cutting to show typical improvements that were made.

“This project not only improved access in the downtown area, but it also makes the future Bus Rapid Transit stop locations more accessible,” Mayor Broome said. “Throughout downtown, you’ll see improved sidewalks, driveways, new ramps and crosswalks, and more accessible and audible push-button pedestrian signals.”

The Florida Street ADA project is the first of six MOVEBR projects that will improve downtown’s accessibility and ADA compliance. 

Mayor Broome also recognized Director of Transportation and Drainage Fred Raiford, the MOVEBR program management team and Triumph Construction, the Baton Rouge-based certified DBE contractor that worked with the MOVEBR program managers to minimize disruption to downtown businesses and events. “By sequencing construction on this project, our team worked in the heart of our busy Capital City, around 4,700 marathon runners, several Mardi Gras parades, a few schools, a couple of large social events and a legislative session — without disrupting any of them.”

DDD Executive Director Whitney Hoffman Sayal, whose board meetings received monthly updates from the program management team during construction, confirmed the program’s benefit to downtown. “We are thrilled about the MOVEBR Florida Street ADA project improvements that have made Downtown Baton Rouge more accessible to all,” said Hoffman Sayal. “Not only has the project brought additional accessibility features, the construction was well coordinated with all the events, stakeholders, and activities happening downtown on a daily basis. We look forward to continued collaboration with the City-Parish in providing additional streetscape improvements that make downtown a better place for everyone to enjoy.”

“The progress we are seeing with the MOVEBR Project shows the commitment of our city’s leaders to make Baton Rouge a truly inclusive community for people with all abilities,” said Dee Budgewater, President and CEO of Lighthouse Louisiana. “The repairs, as well as the installation of accessible pedestrian signals, will allow people with vision loss and other physical challenges to access all the resources that downtown Baton Rouge offers.”