Transit plan hearings set in area

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 10, 2001

LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – Three public hearings on the establishment of a regional mass-transit system throughout the River Parishes are planned later this month. The purpose of the hearings, according to Brent Petit, chairman of the River Parishes Transit Authority, is to help establish where the transit needs are for potential riders. The first of the hearings is set March 27 at the West Bank Reception Hall in Vacherie. The second is set March 28 at the St. Charles School Board office in Luling, and the third is set March 29 at the Percy Hebert Building in LaPlace. All the hearings start at 6 p.m. Already, there are limited means of mass transit, split by parish, but nothing linking the parishes together. The Council on Aging and ARC supply a transit system in St. Charles and St. John parishes, while St. James Parish has a system operating weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Petit, at the transit authority’s monthly meeting in LaPlace on Wednesday, said this lack of a regional transit system is the biggest obstacle to economic growth. With all the funds spent on adult education, the problem remains to help people physically get to the training and to the jobs. Others in need of mass transit system include senior citizens unable to safely drive and young people too young to drive. More public forums are planned, including meetings with the business associations in each parish. Presentations are planned to the St. Charles Business Association on June 7 at Ormond Country Club in Destrehan at 8 a.m.; to the St. James Business Association June 13 at noon (place to be announced); and to the St. John Business Association that same date at 6 p.m. at Bull’s Corner in LaPlace. The River Parishes Transit Authority was created by the state Legislature and has two members from each parish and a seventh who is on the Workforce Investment Board. Members, besides Petit from Luling, include Corey Faucheux of Hahnville, Helen Banquer and Cindy Clarke of LaPlace, and Callen Hotard, Wayne Alexis and Arthur Harper Jr. of Lutcher. The River Region Caucus, made up of government officials of each of the River Parishes, developed the idea for the authority. The authority is also assisted by South Central Planning and Development Commission, which received a grant to help the authority develop the transit system.