## Region 8: Lafayette, LA CBSA

### **I. Geographic Boundaries, Political Jurisdictions, and Infrastructure**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="7.246527777777778in"
height="5.889583333333333in"}

Map 8.1: Lafayette, LA CBSA Major Highways

The Lafayette, LA CBSA, which includes Lafayette Parish and St. Martin
Parish, is located in the south central portion of Louisiana. According
to the United States Census Bureau, Lafayette Parish covers 270 square
miles and St. Martin Parish covers 817 square miles, for a total CBSA
area of 1,087 square miles. Lafayette, LA CBSA had a population of
239,086 according to the 2000 census, which includes 190,503 for
Lafayette Parish and 48,583 for St. Martin Parish. The 2000 population
of the state of LA was 4,468,976.

Interstates 49 and 10 run through the Lafayette, LA CBSA, as well as
Louisiana highways 167 and 90. Only Interstate 10 runs through both
Lafayette and St. Martin Parish. There is no fixed guideway public
transit system.

The Lafayette CBSA is approximately 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, 50
miles from Baton Rouge and 129 miles west of New Orleans. The Lafayette,
LA CBSA is located on the Vermilion River and is close to the Gulf of
Mexico and has a strong potential for hurricanes, flooding and other
natural disasters because of its location. The climate is humid,
subtropical with long, hot summers and short, cold winters. Located
close to the Gulf coast, the Lafayette CBSA is also at a high risk of
hurricanes, which usually occur from June to November.

Lafayette is located on the Vermilion River, which passes through the
center of Lafayette. Other significant waterways in Lafayette are Isaac
Verot Coulee, Coulee Mine, Coulee des Poches, Coulee Ile Des Cannes all
of which are natural drainage canals that lead to the Vermilion River.
Lafayette is the fourth largest city in the state of Louisiana.
Neighboring parishes to Lafayette Parish are St. Martin Parish and St.
Mary Parish on the east, St. Landry Parish to the north, Vermilion
Parish on the south and Acadia Parish on the west.

St. Martin Parish is located to the east and southeast of Lafayette
Parish. The parish is split into two parts. St. Martin is also
neighbored by St. Landry Parish to the north, Pointe Coupee Parish to
the northeast, Iberville Parish to the east, Assumption Parish to the
southeast and St. Mary Parish to the southwest.

**II. Agencies Operating in the Lafayette, LA CBSA**

+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+
| ###        | ### **J               | ### **Pop  | ##       | ###   |
| **Agency** | urisdictions Served** | ulation**  | # **Oper | **Sta |
|            |                       |            | ating**  | ff**  |
|            |                       | ###        |          |       |
|            |                       | **Served** | ### **   | ##    |
|            |                       |            | Budget** | # **S |
|            |                       |            |          | ize** |
+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+
| ### Loui   | ### Lafayette Pari    | 239,086    | #        | ###   |
| siana DOTD | sh, St. Martin Parish |            | ## \$2.3 | 5,000 |
|            |                       |            |  billion |       |
+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+
| ###        | ### Lafayette Parish  | 190,503    | #        | ###   |
|  Lafayette |                       |            | ## *(a)* | *(a)* |
|  City-Pari |                       |            |          |       |
| sh Council |                       |            |          |       |
+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+
| ### St. M  | ### St. Martin Parish | ### 48,583 | #        | ###   |
| artin Pari |                       |            | ## *(a)* | *(a)* |
| sh Council |                       |            |          |       |
+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+
| ### Lafa   | ### Lafayette Parish  | #          | ### A    | ###   |
| yette Tran |                       | ## 190,503 | pproxima | *(a)* |
| sit System |                       |            | tely \$5 |       |
|            |                       |            |  million |       |
+------------+-----------------------+------------+----------+-------+

### (a) = Not Available

### 

### **Table 8.1: Lafayette, LA CBSA Transportation Agencies** 

### **III. Transit Service Area: Bus Service Area**

### 

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="7.122916666666667in"
height="5.499305555555556in"}

**Map 8.2: Lafayette, LA CBSA Bus Transit Service Area**

**Lafayette Transit System (LTS):** The Lafayette Transit System (LTS)
is a bus system with 13 buses that encompasses 50 square miles and
serves a population of approximately 135,000 people. The LTS has
5,008,039 annual passenger miles with total operating expenses of
\$2,786,669 and capital funds expended of \$2,216,522. LINC stands for
Lafayette in a Century and refers to the Lafayette transit system
initiative to improve and advance transportation in the region.

### **IV. Number and Proportion of Minority, Below Poverty and Limited English Proficient Populations in Relation to the Transit Service Area**

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="7.375in" height="5.468055555555556in"}

**Map 8.3: Lafayette, LA CBSA Minority Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 50

Total Population of CBSA 239,086

Total Minority Population residing in CBSA 67,288

Regional Average of Minority Population in the CBSA 30%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average minority population 21
(42%)

Total Minority Population in the above average census tracts 47,493

Based on U.S. 2000 Census Data, the average minority population for the
Lafayette, LA CBSA is 30 percent. Census tracts located in the downtown
Lafayette region of the CSA show the highest concentration of minority
population. In the Lafayette, LA CBSA, four of the 50 counties have the
highest percentage of minority population, which is 10,895 out of the
239,086 total population, or less than five percent. There are 21
counties that have an above average minority population, which have a
total minority population of 47,493 and total population of 91,819.
Therefore, 38 percent of the total population reside in counties that
have an above average minority population.

[]{.mark}

In the Lafayette, LA CBSA, 12 out of 21, or approximately 57 percent of
the census tracts with an above minority population, are within the bus
service area; however, all census tracts with the highest range of
minority population fall within the bus service area. Nine census tracts
with higher than average minority populations fall outside of the
transit service area. These census tracts represent approximately 19
percent (44,989 persons) of the total CBSA population.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="7.372222222222222in"
height="5.401388888888889in"}

**Map 8.4: Lafayette, LA CBSA Below Poverty Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 50

Total Population of CBSA 239,086

Total Below Poverty Population residing in CBSA 39,477

Regional Average of Below Poverty Population in the CBSA 17%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Below Poverty population
22 (44%)

Total Below Poverty Population in the above average census tracts 25,173

The U.S. 2000 Census Data shows that 17 percent of the total population
in the Lafayette, LA CBSA is below the poverty level. The poverty map
shown above is very similar to the minority map shown on the previous
page. Census tracts located in downtown Lafayette region of the CSA show
the highest concentration of minority population. In the Lafayette, LA
CBSA, three out of the 50 counties have the highest percentage of
minority population, which is 8,372 out of the 239,086 total CBSA
population, or approximately 3.5 percent. There are 22 census tracts
with a total minority population of 25,173 that fall into the category
of having an above average below poverty population.

[]{.mark}

In the Lafayette, LA CBSA, exactly half, or 11 out of the 22 total
census tracts with an above average below poverty population, are within
the bus service area; however, all census tracts with the highest range
of minority population fall within the bus service area. The remaining
11 census tracts that lie outside of the bus service area account for
23.7 percent (56,751 persons) of the total CBSA population.

[]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="7.370833333333334in"
height="5.580555555555556in"}

**Map 8.5: Lafayette, LA CBSA Limited English Proficient Population**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 50

Total Population of CBSA 239,086

Total Population 5 years and older of CSA 221,495

Total LEP Population\* residing in CBSA 11,337

Regional Average of LEP Population\* in the CBSA 5%

Number ( %) of Census Tracts with above average LEP population\* 22
(44%)

Total LEP Population\* in the above average census tracts 7,465

\* LEP includes those 5 years of age and older

The limited English proficient (LEP) population in the Lafayette, LA
CBSA is five percent. Approximately 44 percent, or 22 out of the 50
census tracts in the Lafayette, LA CBSA have an LEP population above the
regional average. This is equivalent to 7,465 LEP population in the
101,900 total population within the 22 census tracts. The largest
proportion of above average LEP population in the Lafayette Parish is
shown in the west and northwest portion of the Parish.

[]{.mark}

The LEP map differs from both the minority and poverty maps in that the
highest concentrations of LEP are found outside both the downtown
Lafayette area and the bus service area. The largest proportion of LEP
population is found in the northern St. Martin Parish. Only eight of the
22 total census tracts with an above average LEP population fall within
the bus service area. LEP also has the smallest percentage of any other
factor within the Lafayette, LA CBSA. As a result, 14 census tracts with
higher than average LEP populations fall outside the transit service
area. These census tracts account for nearly 32 percent (75,277 persons)
of the total CBSA population.

**V. Number and Proportion of Zero Car Households: Greater than the
Regional Average**

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="7.372916666666667in"
height="5.389583333333333in"}

**Map 8.6: Lafayette, LA CBSA Zero Car Households**

Total Number of Census Tracts in CBSA 50

Total Households in the CBSA 89,536

Total Zero Car Households in CBSA 7,883

Regional Average of Zero Car Households in the CBSA 10%

Number (%) of Census Tracts with above average Zero Car Households 16
(32%)

Total Zero Car Households in the above average census tracts 4,438

The U.S. 2000 Census Data shows that 10 percent of the total population
is the average for households without vehicles in the Lafayette, LA CBSA
CSA. Sixteen of the 50 census tracts have a total population of 64,589
and zero car household population of 4,438, or approximately 2 percent
of the total population in the Lafayette, LA CBSA.

[]{.mark}

Like both the minority and below poverty populations, the zero car
households in the Lafayette, LA CBSA are mostly found within the bus
service area and all census tracts with the highest range of minority
population fall within this area as well. Six of the census tracts with
higher than average zero car households are outside of the transit
service area. These six census tracts account for 12.5 percent (29,795
persons) of the CBSA's total population.

VI\. Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlay of Below
Poverty Population

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="7.374305555555556in" height="5.59375in"}

**Map 8.7 Lafayette, LA CBSA Minority Population with an Overlay of
Below Poverty Population**

Map 8.7 shows that there is a strong correlation between the minority
population and below poverty population in the Lafayette, LA CBSA.
Seventeen of the 21 census tracts with an above average minority
population also have an above average below poverty population. As for
above average below poverty, only five census tracts that are above the
average below poverty population also are not above average for
minorities. In the seventeen census tracts that have both above average
minority and below poverty populations, there is a total population of
76,579, which consists of 42,366 above average minorities and 20,344
above average below poverty population.

VII. **Number and Proportion of Minority Population with Overlays of
     Below Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="7.375694444444444in"
height="5.298611111111111in"}

**Map 8.8: Lafayette, LA CBSA Minority Population with Overlays of Below
Poverty Population and Zero Car Households**

Map 8.8 shows that there is a high correlation between above average
minority, below poverty and zero car households in the Lafayette, LA
CBSA. The only noticeable difference between zero car households and the
other two categories is that above average zero car households seems to
be concentrated in two areas, in downtown Lafayette and in the southwest
portion of St. Martin County. Unlike minority and below poverty, there
are no census tracts with above average zero car households to the west
or northwest of downtown Lafayette. Twelve census tracts have an above
average regional minority population, below poverty population and zero
car households in the Lafayette, LA CBSA. These tracts contain a total
population of 49,616 with 31,271 minorities, 14,822 people that are
below the average poverty level and 3,619 zero car households. These
census tracts are located in downtown Lafayette and in the southwest
section of St. Martin County. As shown in the legend, the average
minority, below poverty and zero car household populations are 30, 17
and 10 percent respectively.

VIII\. Correlation Among Minority Population, Below Poverty Population,
LEP Population and Zero Car Households

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
  * *            *Minority*     *Below         *LEP*          *Zero Car*
                                Poverty*                      

  Minority       1                                            

  Below Poverty  0.87           1                             

  LEP            0.39           0.64           1              

  Zero Car       0.78           0.79           0.32           1
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

### 

### **Table 8.2: Lafayette, LA CBSA Correlation Coefficients**

### 

### Based on the coefficients highlighted in the table above, there is a high correlation (0.87) between minority and below poverty populations in the Lafayette, LA CBSA. The table also shows that there is a strong relationship between zero car households and the below poverty population (0.79), zero car households and the minority population (0.78), and LEP and below poverty population (0.64), in that order. The only two categories that do not have a strong relationship are LEP and minority and LEP and zero cars.

**IX. Natural Disasters**

The following table outlines the natural disasters that have occurred in
the Lafayette, LA CBSA between 1985-2005.

+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| **Event (s)**  | **Date**       | **Location**   | **Human | **Fi    |
|                |                |                | I       | nancial |
|                |                |                | mpact** | I       |
|                |                |                |         | mpact** |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Tornado        | March 2, 1988  | Lafayette      | 0       | \$25    |
|                |                |                | deaths  | million |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Flash Flood    | January 20,    | Lafayette      | 0       | \$5     |
|                | 1993           |                | deaths  | million |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Tornado        | January 6,     | Duson To Scott | 0       | \       |
|                | 1995           |                | deaths, | $70,000 |
|                |                |                |         |         |
|                |                |                | 8       |         |
|                |                |                | i       |         |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Thun           | November 2,    | Lafayette      | 1 death | \$1     |
| derstorm/Winds | 1995           |                |         | million |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Ice Storm      | January 12,    | Lafayette      | 2       | \$11.9  |
|                | 1997           |                | deaths, | million |
|                |                |                |         |         |
|                |                |                | 15      |         |
|                |                |                | i       |         |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Tornado        | November 21,   | Lafayette      | 1       | \$3.5   |
|                | 1997           |                | injury  | million |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Tropical Storm | September 9,   | Lafayette LA,  | 3       | \$21    |
| Francis        | 1998           | CBSA           | i       | million |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Flood /        | June 6, 2001   | Youngsville /  | 0       | \$5     |
| Tropical Storm |                | Lafayette LA,  | deaths  | million |
| Allison        |                | CBSA           |         |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Hurricane      | October 3,     | Lafayette LA,  | 3       | \$368   |
| Lilli          | 2002           | CBSA           | i       | million |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Tornado        | January 25,    | Lafayette      | 3       | \$1     |
|                | 2004           |                | i       | million |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Flash Flood    | May 12, 2004   | Carencro       | 0       | \$4     |
|                |                |                | deaths  | million |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Hurricane      | August 29,     | Lafayette, LA  | \(a\)   | \(a\)   |
| Katrina        | 2005           | CBSA           |         |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Hurricane Rita | September 23,  | Lafayette, LA  | 1 death | \$4     |
|                | 2005           | CBSA           |         | billion |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+
| Dense Fog      | January 12,    | Lafayette /    | 1       | \(a\)   |
|                | 2006           | Carencro       | death,  |         |
|                |                |                |         |         |
|                |                |                | 22      |         |
|                |                |                | i       |         |
|                |                |                | njuries |         |
+----------------+----------------+----------------+---------+---------+

\(a\) = Not Available

**Table 8.3: 20-Year History of Natural Disasters in the Lafayette, LA
CBSA**

*(Source: FEMA and NOAA National Climatic Data Center)*

The Lafayette, LA CBSA has been most prone to hurricanes, floods and
tornados as shown from the log of natural disasters in the area since
1985. The United States Geological Survey does not rate the state of
Louisiana as having a Moderate, High, or Very High Risk of earthquakes.

**X. Man-Made Disasters**

## 

Economic drivers in Lafayette include commercial, shipping, production
of sugarcane, rice, and cotton, dairy cattle, livestock, and petroleum.
The Lafayette, La CBSA has not had a man-made disaster in the last 20
years. The 2005 data from the U.S. Department of Transportation on
Hazardous Material Safety shows the state of Louisiana accounted for 2
percent of the hazardous materials incidents and 3 percent of related
deaths for the year.