By Richard Meek
Contributing writer

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom is urging residents to contact their elected officials in a last-ditch attempt to keep the Reserve/Edgard ferry operational.

Funding for the ferry has yet to be approved for the 2013-14 budget, and the current legislative session is scheduled to end June 6.

Robottom said she met with representatives from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Regional Planning Commission and parish legislators, but there has been no movement. She said several alternatives have been considered, but no agreements have been reached.

The parish was in a similar situation a year ago, but the ferries survived for one more year when Robottom and the DODT hammered out an agreement whereby the parish assumed responsibility for maintaining several state roads. She said a similar proposal has been made this year, but nothing has been resolved.

“Many of the residents impacted by the ferry closure are elderly and low income who need access to vital services located on the east bank of the Mississippi River,” Robottom said. “Also, with almost all medical facilities and services in St. John the Baptist Parish located on the east bank, the ferry provides critical transportation for west bank residents to access necessary health care services.

“The ferry is needed now more than ever.”

The parish courthouse is also located on the west bank, and many officials are concerned that will limit access and affect jury duty since residents will have to use either the Veterans Memorial Bridge in St. James Parish or the Luling Bridge in St. Charles Parish to travel to Edgard.  

Robottom has previously stated the parish does not have the financial wherewithal to finance the ferry, although she proposed funding a clerk to help collect fares. That proposal was denied by the DOTD, she said.

It has been reported that the ferry closing would result in the loss of jobs for 15 current employees.

Robottom reiterated that the parish endorses increasing the ferry tolls, which are currently $1 for a roundtrip. In 2012 the ferry transported approximately 193,00 vehicles, and thousands of pedestrians, a number that is not counted. The ferry operates with a $2 million budget.

Robottom estimates that the average cost for residents to use the Veterans Memorial Bridge to cross the Mississippi River is approximately $10.

“The impact of this closure goes far beyond the loss of jobs and affects the entire community,” Robottom said. “There is clearly room to increase the fare and maintain funding of the ferry, considering the amount of taxes provided to the state’s budget by business and industry within the River Parishes.

“Please urge your senators and representatives to work together.”