Let’s Build the Best for Us

Connect Lafayette is a coalition of organizations and citizens who believe a thoughtful design for the I-49 Lafayette Connector will enhance our urban fabric.

Join us in support of this project and let elected leaders and stakeholders know the time to “Connect Lafayette” is now.

Show Your Support

Lafayette commuters annually spend an extra 26 hours of their lives and $715 out of their pockets because of traffic congestion.

Spend less time in traffic and more time living.

The status quo of the Evangeline Thruway is unacceptable.

81% of the Lafayette community believes the connector is important to the future of Lafayette Parish. Building the Connector is the key to unlocking benefits in our community.

Connectivity

Along the Evangeline Thruway corridor, the Connector will allow us to restore connections among Lafayette’s communities and neighborhoods, enhance connectivity to the Central Business District, expand pedestrian and bicycle mobility, and create new civic places and mixed-use districts where our community engages.

Revitalization

Crossing through the historic center of Lafayette, the Connector will accelerate its revitalization, and bring opportunity and access where it is badly needed.

A well-designed Connector can transform Lafayette’s urban core and northside neighborhoods along the Evangeline Thruway.

Shawn Wilson, Ph.D. Secretary of DOTD

Creating Urban Infrastructure

“I worked on this project as a USL student in planning, and now as Louisiana’s transportation leader. As a 20 year resident of Lafayette’s Northside, in the corridor, I am personally engaged in making certain this important project is done right. For the sake of our future, I remain committed to making this corridor a national model for urban infrastructure.”

Pastor Ken Lazard President of Senior Pastoral Alliance

Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity

“The Lafayette Connector presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catalyze major revitalization efforts for North Lafayette. This coalition aims to unify our community around this significant project so that we can reap the benefits of the investment and economic growth it can provide.”

Gregg Gothreaux President & CEO, LEDA

Encouraging Economic Development

“One of the best things a community can do to encourage economic development is build a road. If Acadiana and Lafayette wish to remain leaders in the south, we need to come together to improve our public infrastructure for safety, quality of life and economic development.”

Courtney Reynolds President of Greater Southwest Black Chamber of Commerce

Supporting the Lafayette Connector

“The Black Chamber is linking arms with the broader community in support of the Lafayette Connector, which provides game-changing opportunities to improve quality of life and connectivity in North Lafayette.”

David Mann Executive Director of I-49 South Coalition

The Time is Now

“The completion of I-49 South is within reach, and advocates across Louisiana realize the Lafayette Connector is a key component in getting it done. The time to act is now!”

Susan Holliday CEO, REALTOR® Association of Acadiana

Vital for Acadiana

“The I-49 Connector project is vital for the Acadiana region to take the next step in its infrastructure development and to continue to make Acadiana a better community in which to live and raise a family.”

Jan Swift

Enhancing Lafayette

“Lafayette is well positioned to capitalize on many opportunities when we finalize this important link in America’s interstate system connecting Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans. Overwhelmingly, the residents and business people located in Upper Lafayette Parish can testify that the time is now to build the Lafayette Connector.”

Add Your Voice

Much more than building a highway — the Lafayette Connector offers means to build safe, walkable neighborhoods; attract investment; and create economic opportunity for our children and grandchildren.

Job Creation & Economic Development

This highway is a catalyst project for our community. Connecting Lafayette and Acadiana to the rest of the nation will help diversify and strengthen our local economy.

Add Your Voice

Dramatically improving Lafayette’s infrastructure while aiding urban revitalization – Connect Lafayette is Acadiana’s future.

The latest from our blog.

TRIP Report: Lafayette area drivers waster $2,024

A new study from TRIP, a national transportation research group, shows that deteriorated, congested and unsafe roads cost Lafayette area drivers $2,024 annually. This cost was incurred from high vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and traffic congestion. A copy of their press release can be found here: TRIP Report 3/29/17