New Orleans, La. -- A public hearing on the pros and cons of letting the tolls expire on the Crescent City Connection bridge drew some high-level state officials to Jefferson Parish Wednesday.
Parish council members pressed state officials for answers on whether the bridge will fall into disrepair, should voters reject an extension of the per-vehicle fee for crossing the bridge.
"The law was clear that the tolls were going to end in 2012 -- that was the promise made to the people. Let's keep the promise," said State Rep. Pat Connick (R-Marrero), who opposes extending the tolls.
Connick said motorists have paid $330 million in tolls since 1998. He said now there is a campaign of misinformation.
"They were told that if the tolls go away, they will shut down your ferry by DOTD, so that's one of the fear tactics, almost extortion in mind," said Connick.
Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri LeBas appeared at the public hearing said the state will continue to maintain the bridge, tolls or not.
"The maintenance of the bridge, just like we maintain all the rest of the bridges here in the state, we will do that for the Crescent City Connection," LeBas said.
But some other amenities would no longer be taken care of by the state.
"Grass cutting will be reduced. We will not provide the landscape maintenance because we do not provide that service throughout the state. And then the lighting... the state will pay for capital improvements to lighting, but not the everyday operation, maintenance costs of the lighting," LeBas stated.
Jefferson Parish officials have been saying for months that the parish could take over the cutting of the grass under the West Bank Expressway, which leads to the bridge, if the tolls expire. But parish leaders want guarantees that the parish would be reimbursed by the state.
"And make sure we get paid 100 percent of that, so we don't come out of pocket," said Parish President John Young.
Council Chairman Chris Roberts said too much remains up in the air about what will happen if the tolls go away. He criticized the legislature for not making sure there was a concrete plan in place.
"If we do or don't have the tolls is one thing, but what I want to know is, if the tolls go away, what is our plan? What can we expect, and how are we going to address the issues?" Roberts asked of Connick.
"Councilman Roberts, I've been asking that since '08, trying to do this. There's no plan in place because they need an excuse to keep the tolls in place," Connick said.
"Have you asked the governor to give you a plan?" asked Roberts.
"I've been begging for the governor... the governor is busy campaigning, all right," Connick said as he was peppered with questions by Roberts.
