Controversial tolls have taken a toll on Belle Chasse drivers.
After the completion of the Belle Chasse Bridge project, people in Plaquemines Parish began to get shocking bills outlining hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in tolls and fees.
A public-private partnership (P3) with Plenary Infrastructure manages the bridge, with tolls designed to repay construction costs.
Following the outcry, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the tolls at the beginning of October after many residents expressed frustration over unauthorized charges.
However, State Rep. Jacob Braud is taking further action.
“You would think you’re paying $1.13, but what would happen is, as you go through the bridge, you’d actually get charged $2.26. Plus, you’d get charged a $25 admin fee, and then you’d get charged the same when you left the parish,” Braud said. “Then, on top of that, when they mail you the bill, they’d charge you postage. So, you’d basically get a bill of $57.10.”
Braud introduced House Bill 488 to the House Appropriations Committee Monday and received a wave of support.
“I think the question ought to be, ‘How in the world did this ever happen?'” said State Rep. Timothy Kerner.
The measure would create what’s called the Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund. It would require monies in the fund to be used for the Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership project and stop the tolls for drivers.
The money would come from one-fifth of the state portion of severance tax revenues attributable to Plaquemines Parish that would have been deposited into the state general fund.
READ MORE:Bill to pay off the Belle Chasse Bridge project advances in the legislative session
