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New Orleans’ most famous street could soon see sweeping changes if city leaders follow through on bold new safety recommendations after a New Year’s Day attack that killed 14 and injured dozens.
On Monday, the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation (NOPJF) released a statement about a major safety review conducted by Teneo Risk, a global security firm led by former NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton.
The report is blunt. Bourbon Street is dangerously vulnerable, and unless big changes are made, the city remains exposed to future attacks.
At the top of the list? Turning Bourbon Street into a permanent pedestrian zone. According to the report, vehicles pose a serious threat to the crowds that gather daily in the French Quarter.
In addition to the Bourbon Street changes, the report highlights weaknesses in emergency response access, officer staffing, coordination between agencies and the city’s intelligence capabilities.
Teneo found intelligence gathering by the New Orleans Police Department remains mostly reactive and lacks advanced tools and formal coordination protocols.

Pedestrians walk down Bourbon Street after it is reopened in New Orleans following a deadly terror attack. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)
The report was based on extensive research, including site visits, document reviews and interviews with city officials, law enforcement and community members. Teneo observed security operations firsthand during the 2025 Super Bowl and Mardi Gras 2025 and used those events to evaluate real-time vulnerabilities.

Fourteen people were killed when a man drove his truck down Bourbon Street New Year’s Day. (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)