By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – As part of the state’s efforts to streamline government workings, Gov. Bobby Jindal recently signed a bill abolishing 23 boards and commissions throughout the state.

According to a release from the governor’s office, “In many cases, this new law eliminates boards and commissions because the board or commission was never fully formed, or the board or commission is no longer serving the purpose for which it was created.”

One of the boards abolished by the action was the South Central Regional Transportation Authority, which was originally intended to oversee public transportation in an area that included the River Parishes.

As transportation in the area evolved, however, the duties that board was to perform were absorbed by the River Parishes Transit Authority.

Said Aislynn Costello of the RPTA, “We’re pretty sure it’s not going to have an impact on the RPTA.”

She said when local public transportation was getting off the ground, several different options were being considered, and she thought the South Central Regional Transportation Authority was one of those options that just never took off.