The Voice of Southwest Louisiana March 2017 Issue

SWLA news
Economic Impact of I-10
...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
1. A new Ryan St. Exit ramp, because
the one that existed then was just a
sharp curve and not very attractive
for people. The one recently built
allows for more to get off and wind
back around to Ryan St. which
allows to stack more cars without
backing up onto the interstate when
development occurs with more traffic
coming into the downtown area.
2. Connect and make for continuous
service roads so that when new
visitors get off I-10 in a strange place
they can maintain visibility with and
get back onto I-10 without having
to meander through unfamiliar
neighborhoods.
3. At the ‘Diamond Exits,’ they wanted
Texas turnarounds at the west side of
Enterprise Boulevard and east side of
Kirkman St. to move traffic in the area
more efficiently when people come
to shop in commercial and retail areas
without unnecessary stacking and
sitting at red lights. This helps avoid
the traffic scenario that happened
once Nelson Road developed. Visitors
want immediate access and egress
into and out of those areas
"Now that these projects have
been completed, it makes
the I-10 corridor prime for
development," says Marshall.
Marshall says, “Now that these projects
have been completed, it makes the I-10
corridor prime for development. To give
you an idea of the magnitude of its
potential once developed, at 70,000 cars
per day, 25 ½ million cars per year pass
through Lake Charles. If we could get just
one day’s worth of cars to stop and spend
an average of $1000 per year ($2.73 per
day), that would bring $70 million of new
money into our local economy every year.
One stop at a gas station for a couple
gallons of gas covers that.
If we could get just one day’s
worth of cars to stop and
spend an average of $1000
per year ($2.73 per day)...
I-10 development in places like Gonzales
and even Scott have proven this point.
Gonzales used to be a pass-through until
the outlet mall and now Bass Pro Shop,
hotels and other prominent
developments along I-10 have made it a
destination stop where people all over
are actually targeting that area for visits.
So, what if we can develop our I-10
corridor, which has significantly more
potential, where we get a month’s worth
of traffic (30-days) to stop and spend that
same average of $2.73 per day. That
would bring $2.1 billion into our local
economy every year.
Put that $2.1 billion dollars
into our economy and it
would generate $105 million
for the state every year...
Our local sales tax rate is 10.75%, which is
one of the highest in the state. 5% goes
to state and 5.75% is split between the
city and parish. Put that $2.1 billion
dollars into our economy and it would
generate $105 million for the state every
year and $120,750,000 in local sales tax
revenues. The City of Lake Charles’
budget sales tax revenues for the entire
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March 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 6