By Richard Meek
Contributing Writer

LAPLACE – Ferry service in St. John the Baptist Parish may come to an abrupt end July 31.
Parish President Natalie Robottom said Tuesday night that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development informed her funding is not available to extend the service through Sept. 1.
“We are continually working with the DODT,” Robottom said, adding she hopes to negotiate another extension.
The long-term future appears brighter, according to parish officials. Robottom said the parish has been approved for $1 million in funding through a Community Development Block Grant that will be dedicated to operating the ferry.
She added, however, her office is completing a lengthy application process that cannot be completed by the end of the month. She did say staff members are working to have all of the required information submitted by the end of August.
“The (grant) comes with requirements,” she said. “We are working through (the process) with diligence.”
Additional funding for the ferry will come through a slice of the $35 million the parish has been awarded in Hurricane Isaac funding. However, it remains unclear how much of that money will be dedicated to ferry operations.
If the DODT decides not to extend ferry service, Robottom said the parish would still be responsible for the roads included in the swap agreement. Those dollars would essentially be banked and could be used toward future DOTD projects.