On a national level the federal government is experiencing difficulty agreeing on fiscal policy. Congress has failed to act. Automatic cuts in the 2011 Budget Control Act have been allowed to take effect.
Offered in 2011 as a highly distasteful alternative to inaction, they don't seem to have been distasteful enough. As small as these cuts are, they are being decried by politicians as devastating. The military will apparently be disbanded (one day per week) while civil government all but shutdown. Massive layoffs could result across the government and civilian workforce (or not). The White House suspended tours of that building, closed the national parks and fired "Smokey the Bear." Only the compensation of the leadership is unaffected.
ADP announced March 6 payrolls nationwide had increased by 198,000 jobs in February The BLS confirmed the jobs trend and noted the unemployment rate was 7.7% in February. The DJIA reached its highest level ever on March 5th then continued to climb and break records daily. The Fed's OMO and QE III continued to pump liquidity into the economy.
In Baton Rouge on March 5 a state judge suspended the
CCC tolls on the grounds that as many as 1,000 provisional ballots used during the November election did not include the toll election. Since the 1,000 ballots could have changed the results, he ordered a re-vote on May 4 and suspended the tolls effective 5 pm on March 5. He is still considering a class action lawsuit that could result in refunds of tolls collected between December 31 and March 5. Political maneuvering including the usual posturing and fear mongering erupted even while the paint on the cardboard "25MPH, Do Not Stop, Toll Free" signage dried. Although they are holding $31 million of our money, apparently the lights will have to be shutoff immediately (March 15) and street sweepers furloughed.
On March 14 the Jefferson Parish council adopted a resolution asking the legislature to cancel the re-vote on the tolls. Ostensibly this is to give the state time to establish the new equilibrium around bridge operations and funding before making a decision. In reality it looks like a last gasp effort by toll supporters to fend off the voters.
Traffic on the bridge and the section of the Pontchartrain Expressway running past the Superdome has been a mess for several months. Locals attribute this to a few factors. First toll collections snarled traffic on the westbank approaches to the toll booths. Then past the 12 booths, traffic funnels into four lanes causing additional congestion. Absent fender benders on the bridge, eastbound lanes move smoothly unless traffic backs up on the Pontchartrain Expressway, which it often does around rush hours in the morning and afternoon. The new constriction to two lanes just past the New Orleans East exits is often cited as the cause. Westbound lanes fare better but can experience congestion near the dome and at the Tchopitoulas (Convention Center) exit. DOTD traffic engineering needs to take another look at these patterns. Of course these are the same guys who conceived the brilliant "venturi tube" 3 lane constriction for 200 feet, at the new I-10 W Causeway entrance.
The underutilized HOV lanes provide another opportunity that may never be realized while we fight over decorative lighting. Welcome to New Orleans!