Council approves engineering contract for $870,000 Safe Streets demonstration project

The Natchitoches City Council voted unanimously Sept. 20 to authorize the mayor to negotiate and award an engineering contract to Bukart Horn for a Safe Streets for All demonstration project.

Council members and staff said the city was awarded $870,000 in federal demonstration grant funding, with a required city match of $217,500, for a total project budget of $1,087,500. The funding will support temporary traffic-calming measures and related design work on multiple streets, including Fairgrounds, East Fifth, Parkway and Hill Street, among others, city officials said.

"Of the 4 awards, we were 1 of the 4 throughout the state of Louisiana, and they decided to make ours a demonstration," the meeting chair said during the discussion. Staff explained the demonstration project will let engineers test what works before installing permanent measures.

Council members raised safety concerns for specific neighborhoods and school zones. Resident Paul Lohr described high speeds on the riverfront and urged action: "I see people come down to their 50, 60 mile an hour," he said, noting children have almost been struck.

City staff said the selected firm will review submitted sites, determine where temporary speed tables and access-control measures should be installed, and help prioritize locations for testing. The council also discussed a larger pending application ($6 million) for broader improvements; officials said they expect to know by December whether the city receives that larger award.

The resolution authorizing award of engineering services carried on a roll-call vote.