By Richard Meek
Contributing Writer

LAPLACE – In what has seemingly become an annual political skirmish, the future of the Reserve/Edgard ferry is once again a river of uncertainty.
A recurring scene is being played out as St. John the Baptist Parish leaders are huddling with lawmakers and officials from the Louisiana Department of Transportation attempting to not only to find a way to keep the ferry operating past June 30 but a long term solution as well. Last year a last-minute deal was ironed out between the parish and the DODT whereby the DODT swapped portions of state-owned highways for funding the ferry through the end of the state fiscal year.
If a similar agreement is not reached or permanent funding put in place there will be no venue by which to cross the Mississippi River in a parish of 46,000 residents.
Parish President Natalie Robottom said she has been meeting regularly with state transportation officials, including as recently as last week.
According to a parish spokesperson, “Nothing has been promised but DODT is currently exploring several proposals (presented by Robottom).”
Most officials agree maintaining the ferry is a priority and dropping anchor would create a parishwide hardship, especially for west bank residents. Compounding the complexity of the dilemma is the parish seat, along with the parish courthouse, is located in Edgard.
Also, the ferry serves as a major mode of public transportation for residents commuting across the river to work at one of the numerous chemical plants in the region.
But the challenge is to identify funding to keep the ferry, which began crossing the river more than 50 years ago, afloat.
Figures obtained through the parish office show the annual cost of operating the ferry is $2.2 million, but the revenue generated by tolls does not come close to covering the costs. The difference is picked up by the DODT, which is facing its own budget cuts.
“The state obviously has to come through with funding (from DOT) but we also need to look at different things like hours of operation, ridership, the fact that we’re allowing people to ride foot ferry-wise for free (50 cents on east bank only),” Rep. Gary Smith said. “And we’re only charging a very, very minimal charge ($1 for automobiles, on the east bank only).
“Those fees are outdated for the expenses and operation of the ferry. Those are things that have to be taken into account.”
Parish Councilman Art Smith, whose district includes Edgard, said he is concerned because the ferry provides a vital link from the west bank to the east bank. DODT figures show that 192,952 vehicles used the ferry in fiscal year 2011-12, or an average of 742 per day. Pedestrian riders were not documented.
“(The ferry) is like a lifeline for west bank residents,” Smith said. “It keeps us in touch with what is going on on the east bank.
“For us to have to go to St. Charles (Parish) or St. James to get right here is really not right.”
If the ferry were to be docked residents would be forced to cross the Mississippi River using either the Hale Boggs Bridge in Luling or the Veterans Bridge in Wallace. From Edgard to LaPlace a one-way trip through Wallace is 32 miles. The distance is 45 miles one way for via the Hale Boggs Bridge.
Of the parish’s 46,000 residents, fewer than 4,000 live on the west bank.
“Many of the residents who would be impacted by the ferry closure are elderly and low income, and most vital services are primarily located on the east bank,” Robottom said. “Our transportation system between both banks of our parish hinges on ferry service.”
“Since the seat of parish government is in Edgard, numerous residents still travel across (the river) for vital government services,” she added. “Without it our judicial system would not function at full capacity and numerous residents, particularly the elderly and underserved, would be most harmed.
“Without the ferry there will likely be additional complications to an already overburdened judicial system.”
Rep. Gary Smith said he has been involved in negotiations with DODT officials and expects those talks to continue when the Legislature convenes in April. But he was guarded when asked about the ferry’s future.
“When you’re in a budget situation like we are in this state (closure) is a real possibility,” Gary Smith said of a possible shutdown. “It’s a very expensive piece of equipment to run with expensive crew members.”
He added the parish is facing several obstacles, one being the close proximity of the ferry to neighboring bridges, at least by DOTD standards. In this case, Smith said, the state department views the bridges in St. Charles and St. James parishes as being in “relative close proximity.”
“We know that it makes for a long trip,” the state legislator said. “You’ll certainly have some people inconvenienced to the point where they may not be able to compensate by going around (to the closest bridges).”
The DODT’s cost benefit ratio compares ridership cost to the distance to cross at the nearest alternative river crossing.
Gary Smith said he has stressed to the DOTD the need to maintain the service, especially with Edgard being the parish seat.
“It’s been one of the strong points of keeping the ferry there,” he said.
“Here’s what I see: we lose the ferry, we’re going to eventually lose the courthouse because they’re going to make that a big point of emphasis,” Art Smith said. “You know that the bulk of the people live on the east bank so why not have the services on the east bank?”
“Losing the ferry would impact everything,” the councilman added. “We’re separated enough as it is. It puts the parish on two major different points.
“It’s an economic boom that businesses on the east bank are going to lose.”
Robottom said it is economically unfeasible for the parish to fund the ferry, an opinion that Art Smith does not dispute. But he was quick to add, “nothing is impossible.”
“We’ve got to figure out a way to keep in open,” he added. “The legislators must figure out a way to keep it open. We can’t sit by idle and allow the ferry to close.
“I know (Gov. Bobby Jindal) wants to save money, but at the same time you have to provide services for people.”
Several ferries have been closed across the state with legislative approval, and this year the White Castle ferry, which has not operated for several months because of maintenance issues, is scheduled to cease operations. The combined savings for the closing of the St. Francisville and Melville ferries is $2.7 million, figures show.
Closing the Edgard and White Castle ferries would result in a savings of $2 million, state record show.