DOTD announces permanent operation of second Plaquemine ferry
Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 11:19:08 AM
BATON ROUGE, La.- Today, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D., announced that the Department will permanently operate a second morning ferry at the Plaquemine landing, which was added last month to ease congestion and benefit traveling motorists.
“Governor Edwards and I both recognize the need for this additional service and its importance to Westbank residents and the region,” Secretary Wilson said. “DOTD is dedicated to not only providing quality roads and bridges, but also enhancing our multimodal services throughout communities, which includes waterborne transportation.”
The ferry’s hours of operation will be extended a half hour each weekday in response to additional demand which was identified during the prior period of operation. The ferry will now operate on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The second ferry had previously operated only until 8:30 a.m. each weekday.
The second morning ferry was added on August 29 in response to the unprecedented flood and the influx of commercial and personal vehicle traffic throughout the region. During that time period, it carried an additional 230 vehicles each day.
DOTD is committed to maintaining an integrated, balanced multimodal transportation system that provides mobility and connectivity for all Louisiana citizens. While there is much more to be done to relieve congestion on LA 1, this expanded ferry service will make commuting more manageable for those who choose this optional service. With statewide collaborative effort, the Department is diligently working to bring about meaningful change with sustainable revenues that allow for expanded and new capacity.
In June 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards announced the formation of the Task Force on Transportation Infrastructure Investment. The Task Force is working to find investment solutions to address transportation needs in Louisiana and will ultimately issue a recommendation to the Governor for legislative action in 2017. Regional task force meetings have been held in six metropolitan regions and will continue around the state through October. The Capital Region task force meeting is on October 14.
The Plaquemine Ferry carried more than 450,000 vehicles last fiscal year, which was a 12 percent increase from the previous year and due to the addition of a second afternoon ferry.
This additional morning ferry allows up to 120 vehicles per hour to cross the Mississippi River. For more information about available ferry services, click here.
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