In The News › Infrastructure

Coverage of BGR in local, regional, and national media

BGR In The News

Sewerage & Water Board schedules public meetings over rate increase plan

Jan 20, 2012

In an October report, the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit policy research organization in New Orleans, recommended removing elected officials from the board and giving the board authority to increase water and sewerage rates by an indexed amount annually, citing that local politics have long interfered with needed rate increases.

Source: CityBusiness

State panel votes to issue report in favor of renewing Crescent City Connection tolls

Jan 20, 2012

The task force’s recommendation to renew the tolls is at odds with a report released in April by the non-profit Bureau of Governmental Research, which said the tolls should be allowed to expire because just 19 cents of every toll dollar goes toward bridge maintenance and policing.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Stuck in the toll lane at New Orleans Crescent City Connection: An editorial

Jan 18, 2012

Lawmakers also should consider the Bureau of Governmental Research report from last year, which pointed out the basic unfairness of the tolls that are now collected on east-bank-bound drivers.

Source: The Times-Picayune

BGR: Sewerage and Water Board needs more cash, fewer politicians

Oct 28, 2011

The beleaguered Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans needs the power to increase water and sewerage rates annually and fewer politicians controlling its activity in order to aptly tackle billions of dollars in city infrastructure improvements, according to a report the Bureau of Governmental Research released today.

Source: CityBusiness

Panel looks at life without CCC tolls; Bridge police, lighting likely to go

Aug 14, 2011

The Bureau of Governmental Research released a study in April saying that the tolls should be allowed to lapse because too much toll revenue is being spent on “far-flung services,” such as the ferries.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Task force reviewing Crescent City Connection tolls holds first meeting

Jul 29, 2011

The Bureau of Governmental Research released a study in April saying bridge tolls should be allowed to expire because only 19 percent of toll revenue goes to policing and maintaining the bridge. The report said much of the rest is spent on “far-flung” services, including the ferries, which consume 32 percent of toll revenue.

Source: The Times-Picayune

State funding is the way to finance the Crescent City Connection bridge: A letter to the editor

Jun 29, 2011

In a recent letter to the editor on the Crescent City Connection, Transport for NOLA stated that BGR and others had raised concerns “about the efficacy of independent bridge and ferry operations and maintenance, which they argue are better left to the state Department of Transportation and Development.”

I would like to clarify a few points.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Mapping the future of the Crescent City Connection toll: An editorial

Jun 28, 2011

Bridge tolls are due to expire at the end of 2012, and audits that have found questionable spending as well as a report by the Bureau of Governmental Research, make a strong case for allowing that to happen. Crescent City Connection users have been paying for lots of things that have little or no benefit to them, and that’s unfair.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Algiers Point, Canal Street ferry terminals being repaired

May 12, 2011

Noting that 32 percent of toll revenue goes to the three Mississippi River ferries, the nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research issued a report recently saying the tolls should be allowed to expire because they are paying for too many services unrelated to bridge operations.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Commentary: Crescent City Connection Dysfunction Needs Legislative Action

May 4, 2011

The Bureau of Governmental Research, a New Orleans-based policy institute, has determined that only 19 percent of all toll revenues actually go towards policing and maintenance of the bridge. The remainder is allocated to unrelated expenditures, such as the three Mississippi river ferries which use 32 percent of the CCC’s toll revenue. Additionally, an audit last year by Steve Theriot, the state’s legislative auditor, found that the CCCD has managed to deplete half of a $61 million dollar reserve fund.

Source: The Pelican Post

For Whom the Bridge Tolls

May 3, 2011

Last week, the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) issued a report saying lawmakers should let the tolls expire at the end of 2012. BGR found that only 19 percent of the toll funds collected were used to maintain and police the bridge.

Source: Gambit

Sunday Edition: CCC Toll Study

May 1, 2011

But the watchdog group, Bureau of Governmental Research, BGR, has a new report out that argues the tolls should be allowed to expire.

The study also shows that only a fraction of each dollar a driver pays to cross the bridge actually goes to the bridge itself so Dennis sits down with CEO of BGR, Janet Howard to talk about the findings of the study on the tolls and the Crescent City Connection bridge, itself.

Source: WWLTV

There’s no good reason to renew the Crescent City Connection toll: An editorial

Apr 30, 2011

Crescent City Connection tolls will expire at the end of 2012 unless the Legislature renews them, but a Bureau of Governmental Research report on bridge finances should be required reading for lawmakers. That report, along with audits that have found instances of questionable spending, make it clear that Crescent City Connection users have been paying for a lot of things of little or no benefit to them.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Opinion: It’s time to tank CCC tolls

Apr 28, 2011

The Legislature ultimately will decide whether the tolls will stay in place or be removed. In making the decision, they should take a good look at a study the Bureau of Governmental Research released this week that analyzes how money collected from tolls is spent.

Source: CityBusiness

Crescent City Connection engineer fired

Apr 28, 2011

The disclosures come a day after the Bureau of Governmental Research released a study saying bridge tolls should be allowed to expire because only 19 percent of toll revenue goes to policing and maintaining the bridge. The report said much of the rest is spent on “far-flung” services, including three Mississippi River ferries that consume 32 percent of toll revenue.

Source: The Times-Picayune

End Urged for New Orleans Bridge Tolls

Apr 28, 2011

A report issued Tuesday by the Bureau of Governmental Research recommended the tolls on the Crescent City Connection not be extended past the end of 2012, because almost a third of the toll revenue subsidizes three ferry services across the river.

Source: The Bond Buyer

Research group: Let CCC tolls expire

Apr 27, 2011

The Bureau of Governmental Research, in a report released Tuesday, said the Crescent City Connection is the only Mississippi River bridge in Louisiana that tolls its users. The organization adds that only a small portion of toll revenue goes to the operation and maintenance of the bridge, and that the cost of collecting the tolls is disproportionate to the revenue generated.

Source: CityBusiness

Small slice of tolls pays for bridge

Apr 27, 2011

Just 19 cents of every toll dollar collected on the Crescent City Connection goes toward policing and maintaining the bridge, according to a Bureau of Governmental Research report that says the tolls are improperly being spent on “far-flung” services and should be allowed to expire at the end of 2012.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Audits find mispayment, faulty contracting involving Crescent City Connection funds

Apr 27, 2011

The findings of those state-requested audits come on the heels of a separate independent report, released by the Bureau of Governmental Research. It concluded the Crescent City Connection tolls should be allowed to expire at the end of 2012 because a large portion of the toll money is being used on things other than the bridge.

Source: WWLTV

BGR report supports expiring CCC tolls at end of next year

Apr 26, 2011

A new report by the Bureau of Governmental Research recommends state lawmakers allow the tolls on the Crescent City Connection to expire at the end of next year, agreeing with critics who say the tolls paid by CCC motorists should not fund other transportation projects.

Source: WWLTV

Dedicated Renewals

Apr 26, 2011

The proposition would renew the current 2.91 mills and increase the millage rate by a scant 0.59 mills — to a total rate of 3.5 mills. While renewal of the tax would produce a marginal property tax increase — literally pennies a day for a typical homeowner — failure to renew the measure would leave the Department of Juvenile Services without a dedicated funding source. The nonpartisan Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR), which supports this measure, noted that without it the department’s work would “fall to a thinly funded state office.”

Source: Gambit

Voters asked to renew tax for drainage

Apr 26, 2011

Renewing the millage will translate to an upswing in tax bills for property owners. Over the years, the Parish Council has rolled the tax back from 5 mills to 3.6 mills. Approval Saturday would return the tax to 5 mills. The Bureau of Governmental Research estimates that the owner-occupants of a house valued at $150,000 would pay $10 more a year and a house at $250,000 would pay $24 more.

Source: The Times-Picayune

“High-speed” ferries considered, but bridge tolls must float first

Jan 25, 2011

Connick says the Bureau of Governmental Research has agreed to study the toll extension issue and issue a report in time for the regular session of the legislature, which begins in March.

Source: Fox 8

Landrieu asks business group to review water agency’s books

Dec 16, 2010

The group’s findings will be considered with similar reviews by the Bureau of Governmental Research and local chambers of commerce, Landrieu said.

Source: The Times-Picayune

S&WB customers question wide disparities in monthly bills

Nov 22, 2010

After extensively studying the city’s infrastructure needs, the Bureau of Governmental Research identified sewerage and water systems as the most critical.

Source: WWLTV

Few answers about what caused water outage

Nov 22, 2010

The Bureau of Governmental Research has extensively studied the city’s infrastructure needs and identified the sewerage and water system as one of the most critical in past reports.

Source: WWLTV

On Anniversary of Katrina, Signs of Healing

Aug 27, 2010

“That you would end up with a major blight problem was absolutely predictable,” said Janet R. Howard, executive director of the Bureau of Governmental Research, a nonprofit advisory group here. “You come to a point where you have to get beyond the political question to the actual question.”

Source: The New York Times

Common neighborhood troubles still hold up recovery after storms

Aug 24, 2010

Experts cautioned that, even with billions of dollars in aid expected to flow to the city, New Orleans wouldn’t get enough to properly rebuild every section of town — or to keep rebuilt facilities in good shape.

“Unless the city’s plan addresses the mismatch between the city’s footprint and its population by initially directing development into more compact areas, the outcome will be random, scattered development in a sea of blight,” the nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research wrote in December 2005.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Sunday Edition: Changing New Orleans’ infrastructure

Aug 15, 2010

The Bureau of Governmental Research has put out a new report addressing the infrastructure needs of the city of New Orleans and recommendations for how to budget for improvements that need to be made. Dennis sits down with Janet Howard, the CEO of the Bureau of Governmental Research, to discuss the findings.

Source: WWLTV

Editorial: The underpinnings of a city

Aug 14, 2010

New Orleans, at age 292, has far more creaky infrastructure than any agency can afford to fix, according to a new report from the Bureau of Governmental Research. “The Price of Civilization” defines the problem in detail, although researchers say their tally of capital needs is not complete.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Report says city lacking badly in resources to prevent flooding from rains

Aug 12, 2010

A new study by the independent Bureau of Governmental Research suggests there are “startling gaps” in the city’s ability to prevent the type of flooding seen in parts of New Orleans, Wednesday morning.

Source: WWLTV

Recent Flooding Underscores Need For Drainage Upgrades

Aug 12, 2010

A report released Wednesday from the Bureau of Governmental Research indicated that the city needs billions to upgrade its badly impaired infrastructure.

Source: WDSU.com

BGR issues warning on N.O. capital needs

Aug 12, 2010

While much attention has been paid recently to a projected $67.5 million shortfall in New Orleans’ 2010 operating budget, the Bureau of Governmental Research has been focusing on a shortfall of billions of dollars in the city’s ability to address its infrastructure needs.

Source: The Times-Picayune

Road work ahead

Apr 29, 2010

The Bureau of Governmental Research in 2008 called on City Hall to adopt such a program to cure what the watchdog agency saw as three critical problems: “the unsophisticated, and at times ad hoc, process for managing street work; inadequate coordination with utilities, particularly the Sewerage & Water Board, (in planning construction); and the city’s utter failure to invest in preventive maintenance and rehabilitation.”

Source: The Times-Picayune

BGR backs Jefferson Parish transit taxes

Mar 16, 2009

The nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research today threw its support behind two Jefferson Parish transit taxes up for renewal by voters, saying that “serious cuts in service” will result if they are not renewed.

Source: New Orleans CityBusiness

New Orleans: The Streets That Care Forgot

Oct 27, 2008

The city of New Orleans spends about $3 million every year fixing our streets, and in Baton Rouge they spend in the neighborhood of $26 million.

Source: New Orleans CityBusiness

Public Works Director Seeks $50.7 Million for Streets

Oct 14, 2008

Virtually everyone living in New Orleans would agree its suffering streets are a major detriment to a
first-rate quality of life in the city. Understanding that is easy.

Source: New Orleans CityBusiness

Officials Grilled about Cameras

Oct 10, 2008

New Orleans City Council members spent more than an hour Thursday grilling Nagin administration officials about the city’s crime camera program, questioning whether the millions spent on the cameras were properly authorized and whether they have produced meaningful results.

Source: Times-Picayune

N.O. Can Do Better on Streets, Watchdog Says

Oct 1, 2008

New Orleans spends far too little money on maintaining its notoriously bad streets, but the city can do a better job even with its limited resources, a private, nonpartisan research organization said Tuesday.

Source: Times-Picayune

In The News Archives